Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-12-16
THEMESSAGE.
Presidents mt Hayes's Annual Mes
sage to Congress.

increatts Z prosperity of our country. By the
favonttf Divine Providence we have been
ns pass yys5 wifa bsa e
pioynfeht for an Our people, and with con-
.entAeac aqhome, and with peace and friend
ship With other Nations. go.
The occurrence of the twenty fourth cleo
ton OF Chief Magistrate has afforded another
States % e1 hibit to the world significant ex-
ample f tho peaceful and safe transmission
frortfM pubic Servants whose terms of office
are Shout TO iexl1ire, to their newly chosen
SUCCESSORS, Thia example can not fail to i'm
p@hReh r
hcan institutions afford. The immediate,
citizens in the result OF the election, gives
gratifying assurance to our country, and to
its friends throughout the world, that Gov
ernlnan& based on the free consent of an in
telllgent and patriotic people possesses eie-
mentS of strength, stability and perinanency
not found in any other form, of government.
Continued opposition to the full and free en-
1oyment of the rights of citizenship, conferred
upon the coiored people by the recent amend
ments to the Constitution, still prevails IN
several of the late sIaveholding States. 1t
has perhaps, not been manifested in the re-
olence or intimidation. 1t has, however, by
fradh1ent practices in connection with the
ballots. with the regulations as to the places
ana manner OF voting. and with counting, re-
turning end canvassing the votes cast, in sue.
cessfnlly defeating the exercise of the right
presefVttive of all rights. the right of suf.
frage, which the Constitution expressly con-
fers upon our enlranchised citizens.
THE EQEAL-RIGHTs AMENDMENTS.
Itistlle desire of the good people ofthe whole
politics should disappear. They prefer that
no .seetToni' OF the country should be
unitta tin solid opposition to any other
prompt !, and hearty obedience nee to
the e,iualt rights amendments to the Constitu-
complete ohiteration of sectional lines in our
political contests: As long as either of these
amendments is flagrantly violated or disre-
garded, 1t is safe to assume that the people
who placed them in the Constitution as en-
bodxing the legitimate results of the war for
the Chiffon, and who believe them to be wise
and neeessary, will continue to act together,
and to insist that they shall, be obeyed. The
paraplount question still is to the enjoy
ment OF the right, by every American citizen
who hts the requisite qualifications, to freely
cast his vote and to have it honestly counted.
With tbis question rightly settled, the country
will be relieved of the contentious of the past;
bygones Will indeed be bygones; and political
and htsrty issues with respect to economy and
eft1ciency OF administration, internal improve
ments, the tariff, domestic taxation, educa-
ton, finance, and other important subjects,
will then receive their full share of attention
but resistance to and notification of the re-
suits at the.war will unite together in resolute
purpose for their support all who maintain
the authority of the Government and the per
petuity of the Union, and who adequately
appreyiaettileynlue of the victory achieved.
sentiment or feeling 10 any part of the people
of our country, to any of their interests.
The inviolability of the amendments rests
upon the fundamental principle of our Gov
eminent. They are the solemn expression of
the win of the people of the United States.
The sentiment that the constitutional rights
of all our citizens must be maintained does not
grow weaker. 1t will continue to control the
S Ser ne 6 OF the the county Happily, the
many parts of the country where opposition
to the Fifteenth Amendment has heretofore
prevailed, it is diminishing, and Is likely to
cease Altogether, ii firm and we'll considered
action is taken by Congress. trust the House
the right to Judge of the elections, returns
and qualifications of their own members. will
see tolit that every case of violation of the
lettep or spirit of the Fifteenth Amendment is
thoroughly investigated, and that no benefit
from such violation shall accrue to any per-
utive, with sufficient appropriations for the
purpose tQe prosecute unspaEingiy all who
have been engaged in depriring citizens of
the rights guaranteed to them by the Consti-
1t Is hot, however, to be forgotten that the
of citizenship is to be found in that capacity
for self-protection which can belong only to a
people whose right to universal sui suffrage is
at the command of the local and State author
itiesa in many cases, wholly inadequate to
furnish free instruction to all who need it.
This is especially true where, before enamel
patton, the education of the people was neg
1ected or prevented. in the interests of slav.
cry Firmly convinced that the subject of
popufstr education deserves the earnest atten-
ton of the people of the whole country, with
h
the Government of the United States, 1 re-
specially recommend that Congress, by suit
snppIe1Senf the local educational funds in the
several states where the grave duties and re-
spoisibilitfes of citizenship have been devolv
ed on Intoxicated people, by devoting to the
purpose grants of the public lands, and, ii
necessary, BY appropriations from the Trea-
Smry Q. do to promote free nonuar
edueaior ought to he done. Wherever gen
eral EDUCATION is found, peace virtue, and
social order prevail, and civil and religious
@is7a.I. THE CIVIL SERVICE.
In my former annual messages, 1 have
asked the attention of Congress to the urgent
necessity of a reformation of the civil service
system of the Governments. My views con-
pointments for personal or partisan consid-
eratiOnS, have been strengthened by my OBJ
o oil aand believe these dangers threaten
the stability of the Government. Abuses so
serious in their nature can not be permanent
w tolerated. They tend to become more
alarming with the enlargement of admins
tratiye service, as the growth of the country
in population increases the number OF officers
The reasons are imperative for the adoption
of fiSed rules for the regulation of appoint
mentas promotions and removals. establish
ing uniform method. having exclusively in
view IN every instance, the attainment of the
t Iess such method alone Is consistent with
the eqNel, rights of All citizens. and the most
econopical and efficient administration OF
CcTnRetitfve examinations. in aid Of impair.
tfal appointments and promotions, have been
conducted for some years past in several OF
the Executive Departments, and by my direc.
ton 4hfs system has been adopted in the Gus
tom .ttuyscs and Post-off1ces of the larger cit
les OF che country. In the city of New York
over two thousand positions in the civil serv-
ice Fave Been subject, ip their appointments
and senurs fplace, to the operation of pub
Hshed rules for this purpose, during the
mast two years. The results of these practical
trials have been very satisfactory, and have
conffr1ned my opinion in favor of this system
nj seIeC.fipn. All are subjected to the same
fe sta and the result is free from prejudice by
nersonal favor or partisan influence. It Sc
cures fof the position applied for. the best
onaliyythffons attainAble among the competing
aani9,icanta. 1t is an effectual protection from
the pressure OF importantly which, under any
other course pursued. largely exacts the time
and 1aftkntion of appointing officers. to their
1reat ffetfimens in the discharge of other Off,
ciaI duties. preventing the abuse of the serv-
lee for the mere furtherance of private or
marty pssrposes, and leaving the employees OF
he, iSoveInment, freed from the obligations
imposed by patronage, to depend solely upon
merit for retention and Advancement, and
With this constant incentive to 'exertion and
improvement.
an !, nigh degree in the offices where the rules
for appointments by competitive examination
have been applied.