Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-07-19

/ 49,
vention, but recent usage permits me to add
some expression of my own views. The right
| and duty to secure honesty and order in popu'
lar elections, is q matter SO vital that / muat
stand in the front. The authority of the ma
tional government to preserve from fraud
and force elections at which
its own officers are chosen, is chief point on
which the two parties are plainly and intensely
opposed. The acts of Congress tor ten years
have in New York and elsewhere done much to
curb the violence and wrong to which the bal
lot and count have been again and again SUBJ
jected sometimes despoiling great cities, some
times sitting the voice of faa whole State, often
stealing not only in Congress, but on the bench
and in legislatures numbers of members chosen
| by the people.
| The Democratic party, since gaining posses-
sion of the two houses of Congress, has made
| these laws the object of bitter and ceaseless
assault and despite all resistance has hedged
| them with restrictions, cunpingly construed,
| ts battle and paralyze them. This aggressive
| majority boldly attempted to extort
| from the executive bis approval
| of various enactments destructive OF
| these election laws by revolutionary
| threats, that constitutional exercise of the
veto power would be punished by withholding
appropriations necessary to carry on the gov
| errment. and these threats were actively car
ried out by refusing needed appropriations
| and by forcing an extra session OF Congress,
which lasted for months, and resulting IN con-
cessions to the usurping demand, which are
| likely in many States to subject the majority
to the lawless will of minority. Ominous
signs of public disapproval alone subdued
| this arrogant power into sullen surrender for
| the time being of part of its demands.
The Republican party has strongly approved
the stern refusal of its representatives to suffer
the overthrow of statutes believed to be salu-
tary and. Just. 1t has always insisted, aud
now insists that the government of the United
States of America is empowered and in duty
bound to effectually protect the elections de-
noted by the constitution as national More
than this the Republican party holds as the
cardinal point in its creed, that the government
should, by every means known to thesconstitu-
ton, protect all American citizens everywhere
in full enjoyment of their civil and political
rights AS great part of its work OF recon-
struction, the Republican party saved the bal
lot to the emancipated slave as his right and
defense. A large increase in the number OF
members of Congress and OF the electoral col
lege from the former slaveholding States was
the immediate result.
The history Of recent years abounds IN EVIL
dence that in many ways and In many places,
especially where their number has been great
enough to endanger Democratic control, the
very men by whose elevation to citizenship
this increase of representation was effected
have been debarred and robbed of their voio3
and their votes. It is true that no State stat
ute, or constitution, i'll so many words,
denies or abridges tho exercise of
their political rights, but bodies employed to
bar their way are no less effective. 1t is
startling thought that the increased power de-
rived from the enfranchisement of the race
now denies its share in governing the country,
welded by those who lately sought the over
throw of the government, is new the sole re-
lance TO defeat the party which represented
the sovereignty and nationality of the Ameri-
can people in the great crisis of our history.
Republicans cherish mono of these sediments
which may have animated them during the
actual conflict of arms. They long for full and
real reconciliation between the sections which
were needlessly and lamentably at strife. They
sincerely offer the hand of good will, but they
ask in return q pledge of good faith. They
deeply feel that the party whose career is SO
illustrous in great and patriotic achievements,
will not fulfill its destiny until peace
and prosperity arc established in all the land,
nor until liberty of thought, conscience and
action, and equality of opportunity, shall not
be merely the cold formalities of statute, but
living birthrights which the humble may conf
dently claim, and the powerful dare not
deny.
The resolution referring to the public service
seems to me deserving of approval. Surely, no
man should be an incumbent of an Office, the
duties of which he is for a cause unit to per-
form, who is lacking in the ability, fidelity or
integrity which proper admins ration OF
such Office demands. This sentiment would
doubtless meet with general acqulescence. but
opinion has been widely divided upon the
wisdom and practicability Of various reforma-
tory schemes which have been suggested, and of
certain proposed regulations governing appoint-
ment to public Office. The efficiency of such
regulations has been distrusted mainly because
they have seemed to exalt mere educational and
abstract tests above general business capacity,
and even social fitness for the business in hand.
It seems to me that rules to be applied to the
conformed in the main TO such as regulate
the condnct OF successful private
business. Original appointments should
be based upon ascertained fitness. The ten ure
of office should be stable. Positions of respon-
siblity should, SO far as practicable, be filled
by promotion Of worthy and efficient officers.
The investigation of all complaints and
conduct should be prompt and thorough.
These views, which | have long
held, repeatedly declared and uniformly ap-
piled when called upon to act, find embodied
in the resolutions, which of course l approve.
will add, that by the acceptance of public Of
fee, whether high or low, one does not in my
Judgment escape any of his responsibility as q
citizen, and that he should enjoy absolute
liberty to think and speak, and act in political
matters according to his own will and con-
science provided only that he honorably, faith
fully, aad fully discharges all his official duty.
The resum ption of specie payments, one OF
the fruits of Republican policy, has brought
the return of abundant prosperity and the set
tlement of many destracting questions. The
restoration of sound money, the large reduction
of our public debt and burden of interest, the
high Advancement of public credit all attest
tho ability and courage of the Republican party
to deal with such financial problems as may
hereafter demand solution. Our paper curren-
cy is as good as gold, and silver is performing
its legitimate function for the purpose OF
change. The principles which should govern
the relations of these elements OF currency are
simple and clear. There must besno deteriorat-
ed coin, no deprecated paper, and every dollar,
whether of metal or paper, should stand
| the test of the worlds fixed standard.
! The value of popular education can hardly
be overstated. Although its interests must of
necessity be chiefly confined to voluntary effort
and individual action of the several States,
| they should be encouraged so far as the consti-
! tuition permits, by generous cooperation Of
| the national government. The interests of
| the whole country demand that the advantages
of our common school system should be
brought within reach of every citizen and that
no revenues of State should be devoted to the
support of sectarian schools.
| Such changes should be made in the present
| tariff and system of taxation as will relieve
;y,Jr ,r oIoce opd o,oLIe