Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-07-21

fast disappearing. Prejudices have
yielded, while . growing cordiality
warns the Southern and the Northern
heart alike. Can any one doubt that
b. tween the sections confidence and
este nm are to-day more marked than at
any p.,riod in the sixty years preceding
the cleo. Hon Of President Lincoln ?
This is the -esult In part of time aud In
part Of Republican principles applied
under the lAv0rable conditions Of uni
formity. 1t would be q great calamity
to change these influences, under which
Southern Common wealths are learning
to vindioate civil rights and adapting
themselves TO the conditions OF political
tranquility and industrial progress. If
there be occasional and violent out
breaks in the South against this peace
full progress, the public opinion of the
country regards them AZ exceptional
and hopefully trusts that each will
prove the last.
Tho South needs capital and oocupa-
ton, not controversy. As much as any
part Of the North, the South needs the
full protection Of the Revenue laws
l WuACA Sno AsOPuDAiC0u R0Aby
Of the Southern States have already en-
tered upon . career Of Industrial de-
velopemsnt and prosperity. These at
least shonld not lend their electoral
votes 70 destroy their own future.
| Any effort TO unite the Southern
States upon issues that grow out Of the
memories of the war will summon
the Northern States TO combine in the
assertion Of that nationality which
wAs their inspiration In the civil
struggle.
And thus great energies which should
be united In common industrial de-
velopement will be wasted in hurtful
strife. Tho Democratic party shows
itself foe 10 Southern prosperity by
always invoking and urging Southern
political consolidation. Such q policy
quenches the rising instinct of patriot
Ism In the heart of the Southern youth
it revives and stimulates prejudice
1t substitutes the spirit of barbarie
vengeance for the love ofpeace, progress
and harmony.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The general character of the civil
service Of the United States under ali
administrations has been honorable
In the one supreme test-the collection
and disbursement of revenue-the record
of fidelity has never been surpassed in
any nation. With the almost fabulous
sums which were received and pai
during the late war scrupulous integrity
was the prevailing rule Indeed, through.
out that trying period 1t can be said u
the honor of the American name thai
unfaithfulness and dishonesty among
civil officers were as rare 81 misconduct
and cOwardice on the field of battle.
The growth of the country has con
! tinually and necessarily enlarged tho
civil service until now it includes 9
vast body of officers. Rules and
methods Of appointment which prevail
cd when the number was smaller have
been found insufficient and impractical
!. BILE, and earnest efforts have been mad,
to separate the great mass of ministerial
officers from partisan intuenc and
p ersonal control. Impartiality in tn,
mode of appointment to be based OF
qualification, and security OF tenure Il
be- based on faithful discharge of duty
are the two ends to be accomplished
The public business will be aided b.
separating the legislative branch o
, the Government from all control O
, appointments, and the Executive De
, partment will be relieved by subject
ing appointments to fixed rules, an,
, thus removing them from the caprice
: of favoritis,D. But there should b.
rigid observance Of the law which give
in all cases of equal competency the
r preference to the soldiers who riske,
/ their lives in defense of the Union.
: entered Congress in 1868, and il
: a somewhat prolonged service / neve
: found 1t es pedient to request or recon
: mend the removal of civil officer ex
!, cept in four instances, and then TO
n0n-political reasons which were in
t stantly conclusive with the appointing
power. The officers in the district, ap
, pointed by Mr.. Lincoln In 1861 upoi
} the recommendation of my predecessor
served,as rule, until death or resigna
ton 1 adopted at TIL, beginning o
: my service The test Of competitive
t examination for appointments at Yves
= Point, and maintained it 30 long as
: had right by law to nominate cadet
, In the case Of many officers found
that the present law, which arbitraril.
limits the term of the commission, OF
3 fered q constant temptation to change
! for mere political reasons. l have pub
licly expressed the belief that the essen
, tial modification of that law would be
: in many respects advantageous.
My observation in the Department o
{ State confirmed the conclusions of IN,
7 Legislative experience, and impressed In
} with the conviction that the rule of i'm
' partial appointment might with advan
j. tage be carried beyond any existing pro
: vision of the Cvil-service law. |
. should be applied to appointments il
the Consular service. Corsuls SHOULD
0 be commercial zen tinels-encircliug tn
globe with watchfulness for their coun
0 try 5 interests. Their intelligence an
. competence become, therefore, matter
d ofgrsat public concern. No mai
t should be appointed to an Ameria
:. Consulate who Is not we'll instructed i
i the history and resources of his ow
o country and in the requirements an
n Language of commerce In the country I
Q which he is sent The same rule shoul
70 be- applied even more rigidly to Secrt
z taries of Legation in Diplomatic Sci
}, vice. The people have the right TO tn
). most efficient agents in the discharge {
If public business, and the appointin
y power should regard this az the priC
Q and Interior consideration.
ISL THE MORMON QUESTION.
Religious liberty is the right of ever
y citizen of the Republic. Congress
forbidden by the Constitution to max
~ any law " respecting the establishmer
=. of religion, or prohibiting the free exc
= else thereof" For century, undo
a. this guarantee, Protestant and Catho!i
- Jew ahd GENTLE, have worshiped Go
. according to the dictates of conscienc
:, But religious liberty must not be pc
yartad tn the iusti n cation of OffenSi