Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-07-24

NATIONALITY Wnich was lheif inspiration IN
the civil struggle. And thus great energies
which should he united in q common indus
trial development will be wasted in hurtful
strife. The Democratic party shows itself
foe to Southern prosperity by always invok-
ing and urging Southern political consolda-
ton. Such policy qaenches the rising in
stinct of patriotism in the heart of the
Southern youth i, revives and stimulates
prejudice it substitutes the spirit of bar
baric vengeance for the love Of peace. pro-
gress and harmony.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The general character of the civil service
of the United States under all administra-
tons has been honorable. In the one su-
preme test-the collection and disbursement
of revenue-the record Of fidelity has never
been surpassed in any nation. With the al
most fabulous sums which were received and
paid during the late war. scrupulous in,eg-
rity was the prevailing rule. Indeed.
throughout that irving period it can be said
TO the honor of the American name. that
unfaithfulness and dishonesty among civil
officers were as rare as misconduct and cow
ardice on the field of battle
The growth of the country has continual
IL and necessarily enlarged the civil service,
until now it includes a vast body Of officers
Rules and methods Of appointment which
prevailed when the number was smaller have
been found insufficient and impraciicabe
and earnest efforts have been made to sep
arate the great mass OF ministerial officers
from partisan influence and personal control
4 lmpartalty in the mode of appointment 10
be based on qualification, and security OF
/ tenure to be based on faithful discharge of
duty are the two ends TO be accomplished
| The public business will be- aided by sep
arating the legislative branch Of the gov
eminent from all control Of appointments
and the Executive Department will be re-
4 heyed BY subjeciing appointments 10 fixed
rules and thus removing them from the ca
/ price of favoritism. But there should he ri.d
! observance Of the law which gives in oil
cases of equal competency the preference to
! the soldiers who rIskcd their lives in defence
/ Of the Union.
I entered Congress in 1868. aal IN a some
I what prolonged service never found i, en-
/ pedlent to request or recommend the remov-
/ al Of civil officer excep, IN four instances.
and then for non-political reasons which were
I instantly conclusive with the appointing
I power. The officers in the district. appoint
| ed hy Mr.. Lincoln in 1861, upon the recon-
4 menda,on Of my predecessor, served a. a
Z rule. until death or resignation. | adopted
al the beginning of my service the lest of
/ competitive examination for appointment, u
+ West Point. and maintained /, 30 long as
hal the right hy aw 10 nominate a cadet.
In the case Of many officers found that
! the present law which arbitrarily limits the
I term Of the commission offered constant
/ temptation to changes for mere political
+ reasons. | have publicly expressed the be-
+ lief that ;he essential modification of that
/ la~ would b. in mani respects ai,an'a-
gruus.
My observation IN the department Of
State confirmed the conclusions of NV legs
.ative experience, and impressed me- with
the conviction tina, the rule of impartial ar
po,n,ment nigh, with advantage Ne carried
beyond any existing provision o: the civil
service law II should b" applied 10 APP
pointmen', IN the consular service. Con-
su,s should be commercial Sentlncls-cnu!r-
cling tn" glohc with vatCh,u.n,s> for their
counlrys interests. Their intelligence and
competency become. therefore. matters Of
great public concern. NJ man sholld De
appointed 10 an American consulate. vino i
not wei. instructed IN the hi,tar, and re-
sources Of h.> uwn country, am ip tI, REL
qgremeut> a4I hn.uIst af commerce ID
the country TO which he = ,ca. lre same
rule should hc applied even more ris.d.y to
Secretaries ot Legation m Dur diplomatic
service, The people have TIE i-ht fn IT,
mos; efficient agents IN thu dl,,6u.e OF pub
lie business and the appp,a,in- power should
regard this a, the ps.pr and Interior y14.i!-
Grafton.
rHt MORMON question.
Religion, liberty i, the nigh, Of every ciu-
zen Of the Republic. Congress j, forbidden
by the Constitution 10 make any aS ".c-
speeding the establishment; Of religion. or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof For
century, under this guarantee. Protestant,
and Catholic. Jew and Gentle have Wor-
+ slipped God according 10 the dictates Of
conscience. Bat religion, liberty mus; not
+ be perverted - the Justification OF Oiien,e>
against the law. \ religious sect, strongly
/ lntEenched IN one Of the territories Of the
: Union, and spreading rapidly into four 9th
or territories, claims the night ID DESTROY
T the great safeguard and imminent 81 social
ardcr, and 10 practice a. religious priv
!ese that which l. crime punished Win
severe penalty IN every State Of the Union.
/ The sacrelne>, and unit, Of the lami., must
be preserved the foundation Of all civil
government. - the source of orderly admin
isiratIon, the sgyest guarantee Of moral
purity
The cam OF the Morm1u>. that 'acy are
dvineis authorized to pra tee ps.y.4my
shog.d no more BE admitted than tn. claim
. o! certain heather tribes II they should
come among Us, To continue the night Of
human sacrifice. The law does 10, Interfere
with what man believes ., takes cu,ni-
zance only Of what he DOES. A, citizens,
the Mormons are entitled 20 the same civil
( rights a. Others. and 10 these they mus, be
confined. Polygamy can ne,er receive
national sanction or liberation. hy admi;lin.
the community that upholds it i, a State III
the Union. Like Others. the Normon>
must learn that the liberty of tn, indi, idual
ceases where the risn;, Of society begin.
oUR CURRENCY.
The people Of the United States. though
often urged and tempted, have never serious
/ Is contemplated the recognition ofanS elmer
money than gold and silver and currency
directly convertible into them They have
not done 50. they will no, Do 80. under any
necessity less pressing than that Of Ie>pera,"
war. The one specIal requisite for the com
pletion of our monetary system is the txin.
of the relative values Of silver and gold.
The large use of silver the money NJ ac-
count among Asiatic nations. taken in cou-
hectlon with the Increasing commerce oi the
world, gives the weIghtIe>t reasons for an
international agreement IN the premises.
Our government should not cease 10 urge
this measure until a common standard Of
value shall be reached and established;
standard that shall enable the United States
TO use the silver from it, mines i, an aux
Hilary 10 gold in settling the balances Of
commercial exchange.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The strength Of the Republic i increased
By the multiplication of land holders. Oar
LAWS should look TO the judiclous encourage
ment of actual settlers on the public domain.
which should henceforih be held as a sacred
trust for the benefit of those seeking homes
The tendency to consolidate large tracts of
land in the ownership of individuals or cor
porations should, with proper regard for
vested rights, be discouraged. One hundred
tho sand acres of land in the hand, of one
man is far less profitable to the nation in
every way than when lis ownership i
divided among one thousand men. the
evil of permitting large tracts Of the national
domain TO be consolidated and controlled bv
the few against the many is enhanced when
the persons controlling it are aliens. Il is I
but fair that the public land should be dis.
DOsed OF only 10 actual SETTLERS and IN those