Huntsville gazette., 1884-08-02
FREE EXERCISE OF THE FRANCHISE.

FREE EXERCISE OF THE FRANCHISE.
As have heretofore maintained, in order to
achieve the ideal perfe :5ion of u popular gov
ernment, it is absolutely necessary that the
masses sho lid be educated. This proposition
applies itself with full force to the colored
people of the South. They must have better
educational advantage; and thus be enabled
to become the intellectual peers of their
white brethren, as many of them un:
donbtedly already arr. liberal
school system should bs provided
South, and the colOred people be made as
capable OF exercising the duties of electors
as the white people. In the meantime it is the
duty of the National Government to go be-
yond resolutions and declarat ons on the sub
lect. and to take such action as may lie in its
pow or to secure the absolute freedom of Ma
our Congress may cease to contain members
representing fictitious maJor1tleS OF their
people, thus misdlrecting the popul ir will
concerning National legislation, aud es-
pecially to the end that, in Pre- 'idcntial con-
tests, the great business and otheriaterests of
the country may not I've placed in fear and
trembling, lest an INSCRIPTIONS minority
should succeed in S iiing the wishes of The
majority. In accordance with the spirit of
the last resolution OF the Chicago platform,
measures should be taken at once to remedy
this great evil.
PAUPER LABOR.
Under our liberal institutions the subjects
and citizens of every nation have been wei
come TO nome III our mlQSC, ana on
pliance with our laws to a cooperation in our
Government. While it is the policy of the
Republican party to encourage lne oppressed
OF other nations andAofier them facilities for
becoming useful and intelligent citizens in
the legal definition of the term, the party has
ne er contemplated the admission of class
of servile people who are not only unable to
comprehend our institutions, but indiSposed
to become q part OF our National family or to
embrace any higher civilization than their
own. TO admit such immigrants would be
only TO throw retarding element into the
very path of our progress. Our legislation
should be amp protective against this dau-
ger, and ii not sufficiently so now should De
made SO TO the full extent allowed by our
treaties with friendly powers.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
The subject of civil service administration
is problem tnat has eccupiel the earnest
thought of statesmen for number OF years
past, and the record will show that toward its
solution maay results of Il valuable and com
prehensive character have beel attained by
the Eepubl can party since It's accession TO
power. In tae partisan warfare made upon
the latter with the view of weakening IL in
the public confidence gIelt deal has teen
alleged in connect on VITA the aDu g OIL the
civil se-vice the party making The indiscrlm-
mate charges seeming 10 have entr1ly 1Or-
gotten that il was under the full sway of the
Democratic organization that the motto TO
tue vlctOrs belong the SPOTS became car
d1ndl article i'll the DemOc atIc creed.
nth the determination to elevate our Gov
ernmental administration to stan tard or
Justice, excellence and puDlIc morality the
Republican party has Sc iulously endeat Ored
TO lay the foundation OF a system which shall
reach thc hignest perfection under the plastic
hand o. time and accommodating experience.
IBD problem is one OF lar greater lnir cacy
than appears upon its superficial cons1dera-
tion anu embraces the sub-queStions OF how
10 avoid t he abuses possible TO the gOdglncnt
OF an Immense number OF appointments IN
the hands OF the Executive; OF how to give
encoura cement to and provoke emulation IN
the various Government employees, in order
that they may strive for proficiency and rest
their hopes of advancement upol the attrI-
butcS OF Official merit, good conduct and eX-
emplary honesty; and now best to avoid the
evilS OF creating a privileged class IN the Gov
ernment service, who in imitation OF Euro
pean prototypes, may g radually lose all prod-
cency an value in the belief that they pos
sess ii he calling only to be taken away in
case OF some tagrdnt ablSe.
The thinking, earnest men of the Repub-
lican party have made no mere wordy demon
Strat.On upon this subject; but they have en-
deavOrei to, quietly perform that which their
Opponents are constantly promising without
perior ming Under Republican rule the re-
suit has been that, without engrafting any OF
the Objectionable features of the European
systems upon our own, there has been steady
and even rapid elevation of the civil service
in all OF its departments. until it can now be
sta ed. without fear of successful cOntradic-
ton, that the service is more just, more cffl-
cient and purer in all of its features than ever
ment; and ii defects still exist in our system,
tie country can safely rely upon the Rcpubi-
can party as the most efficient instrument for
their removal.
am in favor of the highest standard of ex-
ccllence in the administration of the civil SER
vice. and will lend my best ef6rts to the ac-
complishment OF the greatest attainable per-
fection in this branch of our service.
POLYGAMY.
The Republican party came into existence In
a # DpmDcratic
of slavery and polygamy. The first of these
has been buried beneath the embersO of civil
war. The party should continue its efforts
until the remaining iniquity shall disappear
from our civilization under the force of faith
fully executed laws.
PENSIONS FOR SOLDIERS.
There are other subjects of Importance
which Iwould gladly touch upon did space
permit. l limit myself to saying that, while
there should be the most rigid economy OF
governmental administration, there should be
no selt-defeating parsimony, either in our do
nestle or foreign service. Official dish onesty
should be promptly AMI relentlessly pun
ished. Our obligations to the defend
ers of our country should never be
d9rgotte;n and the the tho liberal system
sh0u not be imperiled by adverse leeisla-
ton The law establishing a Labor Bureau,
through which the interests of labor can be
plac ID in an organized condition, regard as
a salutary measure. The eight hour law
should be enforced as rigidly as any other. We
should Increase our navy to degree enabling
us to protect our coast lines, our CONNER e,
and to give us a force in foreign waters
which shall be respectable and proper
represen tative of a country like our
own. The public lands belong to the people.
and should not be alienated from them, but
reserved for free homes for all desiring to
possess them, and finally, our present Indian
policy should be continued and improved up
on as our experience in its admi inislration
may from time to time suggest. have the
honor to subscribe myself, sir, your Obedient
servant JOHN A. LOGAN,
10 the Hon. John B. Henderson, Chairman Of
the Committee.