The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-10-05
NUMBER 8.

ability, fidelity or integrity, which q proper
administration of such Office demands. Tnis
sentiment would doubtless meet win gem
eral acquiescence; but opinion has deem
widely divided upon the wisdom and prac-
ticability of various rreformatory schemes
which have been suggested, and OF certain
proposed regulations governing appoint
ments to office. The efficiency Of such regu-
lations 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 par
ticular work in hand. 1t seems to me that
rules to be applied to the management OF
the public service may be properly con-
formed in the main to such as regulate the
conduct of a successful private business.
Original appointments should be based upon
ascertained fitness. The tenure of Office
should be stable. Positions or response
bility should, so far as practicable, be nneo
by promotion Of efficient officers The IN.
vestigation of all complaints and punlshmen3
of all official misconduct should be prompt
and thorough. These views which have
long held, repeatedly declared and uni
formly applied, when called upon to act, !
find embodied in resolution which, Of
| will add that by the acceptance Of public
| Office, whether high or low, one does not, in
| myjudgment, escape any OF his responsioil-
| ity as a citizen, or lose or impair any OF his
rights as . citizen, and that he should enjoy
| absolute liberty to think and speak and act
| in political matters according to his OVID
| will and conscience; provided only that he
honorably, faithfully and fully discharges all
The resumption of specie payments, ons
of the fruits of the Republican policy, has
| brought the return Of abundant prosperity,
and the settlement Of many distressing ques-
tions. The restoration of sound money, the
| large reduction of our public debt and the
burden Of interest, the high advancement Of
the public credit, all attest the high ability
and courage of the Republican party to deal
| with sneh financial nrnhlam1 as M hare-
after demand solution. Our paper curren-
cy Is now as good as gold, and silver Is per-
forming its legitimate function for the pun.
pose of change. The principles which
should govern the relations of these ele-
ments of the currency are simple and clear.
there must be no deteriorated coin, no de-
preciated paper, and every dollar, whether
of metal or paper, should stand the test OF
the worlds fixed standard.
The value of popular education can hard
ly be overstated, although its interests
must of necessity be chiefly confided to the
voluntary effort and individual action Of the
several states. They should be encour-
aged so far as the Constitution permits BY
the 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 the reach of every citizen, and that
no revenues OF States should be devoted to
the support OF sectarian schools.
Such changes should be made in the pres
lieve any oyer-burdened industry or c1ass,
and enable our manufacturers and artisans
to compete successfully with those OF other
lands. The Government should aid works
Of internal improvement, National in theiF
character, and should promote the develop
ment of our water courses and harbors
wherever the general interests Of commerce
require.
at the threshold of a Presidential election,
and the Republican party, in soliciting the
continuance of its ascendency, founded its
hope of success, not upon its promises, bui
upon its history. Its subsequent course has
been such as to strengthen the claims which
it then made to the confidence and support
of the country. On the other hand, consid'
erations more urgent than have ever before
existed, forbid the accession OF its opponents
to power. Their success, il success attends
them, must chiefly come from the united
support of that section which songht the dis.
ruption of the Union, and which, according
to all the teachings Of our past history, vii
, demand ascendency in the councils of ths
party to whose triumph it will have madt
by far the largest contribution. There Il
, the gravest reason for apprehension that tht
eXorbitant claims upon the public Treasury
by no means limited to the hundreds OF mil
lions already covered by bills introduced u
Congress within the past four years, woule
be successfully urged, the Democrati'
party should succeed in supplementing it
present control of the National Legislature
by electing the Executive also. There i
danger in trusting the control OF the who'll
law-making power Of the Government to I
party which has in almost every Southern
State repudiated obligations quite as sacred
as those to which the faith Of the Nation
now stands pledged. 1 do not doubt tha
/ success awaits the Republican party, ano
that its triumph will assure just, econom
icaI aud patriotic Administration. am
, respectfully, your obedient servant,
, (Signed) G. A. ARTHUR.
{ To the Hon. George F. Hoar, President o
the Republican National Convention.