The Portland daily press., 1880-12-07

all our people anu with contentment at home
tions.
| The occurrence of the twenty.fourth e|ec-
| ton OF chief magistrate has afforded another
| opportunity to the people Of the United States
70 exnioit 70 tne world a significant example
| OF he peaceful and safe transmission of power
and authority OF government from public SER
wants whose term of office is about to expire to
their newly chosen successors This example
canntt fail to impress profoundly thoughtful
people OF other countries with the advantages
which republican institutions afford The i'm.
mediate general and cheerful acquescence of
all good citizens in the result of the election
gives gratifying assurance to onr country and
to its friends throughout the world that a GOV
ernment based on the free consent of intellj.
gent and patriotic people possesses elements of
strength. stability and permsnency not found
in any other form OF government
DrsFRANcHIsEMENT AT THE SOUTH.
Continued opposition to the full and free en-.
ioyment of the rights of citizenship conferred
upon the colored people by the recent amend
ments to the Constitution still prevails in sew
eral OF the late slaveholding States. 1t per-
haps has not been manifested in the recent
election to any large extent in acts of violence
or intimidation; it has, however, by fraudu.
lent practices in connection with ballots. with
the regulations as to the places and manner of
voting, and with counting, returning and can.
vassing votes cast, been successful in defeating
the exercise of the right preservative of ali
rights-the right of suffrage-which the Com
s,ituton expressly cenfers upon our enfran-
chised citizens. 1t is the desire of the good
people of the whole country that seetiona1ism
as factor in our politics should disappear
They prefer no section of country should be
united in solid opposition to any other section
Inc disposition to refuse prompt and hearty
obedience to the equal rights amendments
to the Constitution is all that now stands in
the way Of complete obliteration of sectional
lines in our political contests As long as
either OF these amendments Is fagrantly violat- |
cd or disregarded 1t is safe to assume that the |
people who placed them in the Constitution as
embodying the legitimate results Of the war
for the Union, and who believe them to be
wise and necessary, will continue to act to- |
gether and to insist that they shall be obeyed. |
The paramount question still is as to the en- |
Joyment OF the right by every American citi- |
zen who has the requisite qualifications to free |
y cast his vote and have it honestly counted. |
With this question rightly settled the |
of the past, by-gones will indeed be by. |
cones. Political ard party issues with re- |
spect to economy and efficiency of administra- |
ton, internal improvements, tariff, domestic |
taxation, education, finance and other impor- |
tant subjects will then receive their full share
of attention. But resistance to- and nullitica- |
tion of the results Of thewar will unite together
IN resolute purpose for their support all who |
maintain the authority of the government and |
perpetuity Of the Union and who adequately |
appreciate the value of the victory achieved. |
This determination proceeds from no hostile |
sentiment or feeling to any part of the people |
OF our country or to any of their interests.
The inviolability of the amendments rests upon |
fundamental principles of our government. |
They are the solemn expressions Of the will OF |
the people OF the Uniled States. The senti-
ment that the constitutional rights of all our |
citizens must be maintained does not grow
weaker. 1t will continue to control the move
ment OF the country. Happily the history of |
the late election shows that in many parts of |
the country where opposition to the fifteenth |
amendment heretofore prevailed it is diminish |
ing and likely to cease altogether If firm and |
well considered action is taken bv Congress. I |
trust the House. of Representatives and the |
Senate, which nave right to Judge of elec- |
tions and qualification of their own members,
will see to 1t that every case of violation of the
letter or spirit of the fifteenth amendment is |
thoroughly investigated, and that no benefit |
from such violation shall accrue to any person |
or party. 1t will be the duty of the Executive |
with sufficient appropriations f,r the purpose,
10 prosecute unsparingly all who have been en- |
gagged in depriving citizens Of the rights guar
anteed them by the constitution.
POPULAR EDUCATION.
1t is not however to be forgotten that the |
best and surest guarantee of primary rights of |
citizenship is to be found in that capacity for |
self protection which can belong only to peo- |
Pile whose right to universal suffrage is sup |
ported by universal education. The means at |
are in many cases wholly inadequate to
furnish free instruction to all who need it. |
This is especially true where before eman-
cipation the education of the people was
neglected prevented in the interest of |
slavery. Firmly convinced that the subject |
OF popular education deserves the earnest at |
tention of the people of the whole country |
with view to wise and comprehensive action |
by the government of the United States / |
respectfully recommend that Congress by |
suitable legislation and with proper safeguards |
supplement the local educa ional funds in |
several states where the grave duties and res |
possibilities OF citizenship have been devolv ed |
on uneducated people by devoting TO education |
the prpper grants of public lands, and if neces-
sary by appropriations from the Treasury of |
the United States. Whatever the government |
ton ought to be done. Wherever general |
education is found peace virtue and social |
order prevail and civil and religious liberty |
are secure.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In my former annual messages have asked
the attention of Congress to the urgent neces-
sity of reformation of the civil service system
cf the government. My views concerning the
dangers of patronage or appointment for per-
5onal or partisan considerations, has been
strengthened by my observation and expert
ence in the executive office, aud believe these
dangers threaten the stability of the govern
ment. Abuses SO serious in their nature can
not be permanently tolerated. They tend to
become more alarming with the enlargement of
the administrative service. The growth of the
country i'll population increases the number of
officers and pacemen employed. The reasons
are imperative for the adoption of fixed rules
for the regulation of appointments, pre- motions
and removals, establishing uniform method
having exclusively in view in everv instance
the attainment of the best qualifications for tho
position in question. Such method alone is
consistent with the equal rights of all citizens |
and the most economical and efficient admins
tration of public business.
Competitive examinations in aid of impair
tial appointments and promotions have been
conducted for years past, in several of the execu
i've departments, and by my direction this
system has been adopted in the custom houses
and post offices of the larger cities OF the coun-
try. In the city of New York over two thou
sand positions in the civil service have been
subject in their appointments and tenure of
place, to the operation of published rules for
this purpose during the past two years. The
re suits of these practical trials have be gu
very satisfactory and have confirmed my opin-
ion Ii favor of this system OF selection. All
are subjected to the same tests and the result
is free from prejudice by personal favor or
partisan influence. 1t secures for the position
applied for, the best qualifications attainable
among competing applicants. it is an efficient
protection from the pressure OF importantly
which, under any other course pursued,
largely ehacts the time and attention of the
appointing officers, to their great detrimeut
in the discharge of other official duties,
preventing the abuse of the service for
the mere furtherance of private or
political purposes, and leaving the employe
of the government free from obligations.
imposed by patronage, to depend solely upon
merit for retention and advancement and with
this constant incentive to exertion and i'm
.provement. These invaluable results have
been attained in high degree Fin offices where
rules for appointment by competitive exami-
nation have teen applied. A method which
has SO approved itself by experimental tests at
points where such tests may be fairly consid-
cred conclusive should be extended to all sub
ordinate positions under the government.
believe strong and growing public senti-
ment demands immediate measures for secur-
ing and enforcing the highest possible efficen-
cy in the civil service and its protection from
recognized abuses and that the experience re-
ferred to has demonstrated the feasibility of
such measures.
Examinations in custom houses and post Off
ces have been held under many embarrass-
ments and without provision for COMPENSATION
for extra labor performed by the officers who
have conducted them, and whose commend
able interest in the improvement of the public
service has induced this devotion of time and