Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-12-18


has surrendered to the less scrupu-
lous section of his party, who now
seem likely to control the nations
policy.
ABOUT THE SOUTH.
On this head he says:
Continued opposition to the full and free
enjoyment cf the rights of citizenship, con-
ferred upon the colored people by the recent
amendments 10 the constitution, still pre-
walls in several of the late slave-holding
states. 1t has, perhaps, not been manifested
in the recent election to any large extent IN
acts of violence or intimidation. II mas,
however, bY fraudulent practices in connec-
ton with the ballots, with the regulations
as TO the places and manner OF voting ana
with counting, returning and canTaSslng
the votes cast, been successful in defeating
the exercise OF the right preservattVe OF all
rights, the right of suffrage, which the con-
stftutiOn expressly cOnfers upon our enfran-
chiSed citizens.
These are the words of a man who
knows that there is no exceptional
condition in the south as regards
the exercise of the franchise, but
cannot bring himself to discard alto
gether what his party still treasures
up as trump cards to use in political
emergencies. The absence of any
possible pretext for it eompels him
to abandon the theory of intimida-
ton and violence, and he falls back
on that of fraud, bribery and false
counting. He pretends to no evil
dence for this assumption but the
loose assertions of partisan press,
and ignores the fact that there are
just as heavy charges rife in the
political atmosphere as regards the
elections in the north. We think it
likely that there has been more or
less of fraud and bribery in the
south, and we are sure that there
have been oceans of 1t in Indiana,
New York and Pennsylvania, and
plenty of intimidation in the factO-
ries of New England, but there is
absolute indecency in president
grounding upon loose reports Of this
sort, unsustained by evidence, a
recommendation to congress to pur-
sue a differential policy as regards
one section of the country against
which there is no more evidence
than there is against the other.
ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
In my former annual messages 1 have
asked the attention Of congress to the urgent
necessity of a reformation ofthe civil service
system of the government. My views con-
corning the dangers of patronage, or appoint
ments for personal or partisan cOnSidera-
tions, have been strengthened by my
observation and experience in the executive
office, and / believe these dangers threaten
the stability of the government. Abuses so
serious in their nature cannot be perma-
nently tolerated. They tend to become
more alarming with the enlargement OF adj
ministratiVe service, as the growth of the
country in population increases the number
of officers and placemen employed.
The reasons are imperative for the adOp-
tion of fixed rules for the regulation of APP
pointments, promotions, and removals.
establishing uniform method, having eX-
clusiyely in view, in every instance, the
attainment of the best qualifications for the
position in question. Such a method alone
Is consistent with the equal rights of all
citizens, and the most economical and eff
cient administration of the public business.
On this head the president evil
IDENTIFY feels himself to be on the
defensive. He is conscious that
there is a gross contradiction be-
tween his professions at his acces-
sion to Office and his practice when
established in it. He commenced
his public declarations with the
most solemn protests against MAX
ing Office the reward of partisan
services, and he has filled the New
Orleans custom house with a gang
of the most INSCRIPTIONS knaves
who aided in constructing the dis
gushing tissue of fraud and forgery
by which his defeat in the election
of 1876 was converted into a shame
less rape of the highest office of oar
government. He tries to lay the
fault of his inconsistency on con-
gress, which failed, as he says, to
legislate as he advised. But there
was no need of congressional inter-
ventiOn to provide against this scan
dial. As president he had absolute
control over these appointments
congress had no power over them
the senate could only refuse to con-
firm, and certainly could not dictate
to him the appointment of any in-
The only compulsion
which dictated such appointments
was the presidents own dread of
exposure at the hands of the men
who counted him in, should they fail
to reap their reward in the form of
Hence the utter break
down of every attempt at remedy |
for the master evil OF our political |
system, the evil which has already |
our government from a
republic into bureaucracy, from a
by the people into a
by Office-holders.
Mr.. Hayes would have done bet |
ter for his reputation as president if |
he had retired without any further |
illusions to civil service reform.
ABOUT GRANTIsM.
The following is introduced into |
what the president has to say about /
affairs;
l commend TO the attention Of congress
he great services Of the commander-in- I
,hief OF the armies daring the war for the 4
Union, whose wise, firm and patriotic con-
luct did so much 10 bring that momentOuS /
conflict TO close. The legislation of the !
United States contains many presidents for 4
he recognition of distinguished military /
merit, authorizing rank and emolumentS 10 i
De conferred for eminent services 10 the \
An act of congress authorizing
he appointment of n captain general Of the /
lrmy, with suitable provisions relating TO
retirement and other details,
would, in my Judgment, be altogether fitting
nd proper, and would be warmly approved
~ the country.
1t has really nothing TO do with
affairs, but is intended to
promote the creation of an Office for
he purpose Of giving Gen. Grant a