Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-07-30

ly 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 impractic-
able, and earnest efforts have been made TO
separate the great mass of ministerial Of
| ficers from PARTISAN influence and personal
control. Impartiality in the mode of ap-
pointment to be based on qualification, and
security of tenure TO be based on faithful
discharge of duty, are the two ends 10 be
accomplished. The public business will be
aided by separating the legislative branch
of the government from all control of ap-
pointments, and the Executive Department
will be relieved by subjecting appointments
TO fixed rules, and thus removing them from
the caprice of fsyoritism. But there should
be rigid observance of the law which gives
in all casses of equal competency the pref
orence to the soldiers who risked their lives
in defence of the Union.
entered Congress in 1868, and in a
somewhat prolonged service l never found
il expedient to request or recommend the
removal of a civil officer except in four in
stances, and then for non political reasons,
which were instantly conclusive with the
appointing power. The officers in the Dis
| IrlCI lppOlutsu W lGDlt
on the recommendation of my predecessor,
served as a rule until death or resignation.
/ | adopted at the beginning Of my service
| the test of competitive examination for APP
pointments TO West Point, and maintained
| II is so long as had the right by law to
nominate cadet. In the case of many Of
icers found that the present law which
arbitrarily limits the term of the cOmmIs-
sion offered a constant temptation to chan
| ges for mere political reasons. | have pub
/ lcly expressed the bslief that the essential
modification of that law would BE- INN anv
respect advantageous.
| NV observation in the Department Of
State confirmed the conclusions of my leg
| islative experience and impression me with
the conviction that the rule Of impartial ap-
pointment might with advantage be carried
| beyond any existing provision of the Civil
| Service law. 1t should be appliey to ap
poiutments in the consular service. Con-
! suIs should be commercial sentinelS-encir-
/ cling the globe with watchfulness for their
/ country's interests. Their intelligence aud
competency become, therefore, matters of
/ great public concern. No man should be ap-
pointed to an American consulate who Is
not well instructed in the history and re-
sources of his own country by which he is
sent. The same rule should be applied ey-
en- more rigidly to diplomatic service. The
people have the right TO the most efficient
agents in the discharge of puolic business,
aud the appointing power should regard
this as the prior and Interior consideration.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
/ Religious liberty is the right of every
citizen OF the Republic. Congress is for
prospecting the establishment OF religion,
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. -
For a century, under this guarantee, Prot
estant and Catholic, Jew and Gentle, have
worshiped God according to the dictates of
conscience. But religious liberty must not
be perverted 10 the Justification OF Offences
against the law. A religious sect, strongly
intrenched in one OF the Territories OF the
Union, and spreading rapidly into four other
Territories, ciaIms the right 10 destroy the
| great safeguard and imminent OF social or
der, and 10 practice as ! religious privilege
that which is a crime punished witn severe
penalty in every State OF the Union. Tne
sacredncss and unity oi the family must be
preserved rs the foundation Of all civil GOV
ernment, As the source of orderly admins
! tration, as the surest guarantee Of moral
purity.
The claim of the Mormons that they are
divinely authorized 10 Practise poiygamy
should no more be admitted than the cain
OF certain hedthen tribes, il they should
come among us. To continue the right o
human sacrifice. The law does not inter.
icre with what man believes; it takes cog.
niZance only of what no does. As citizens
the Mormous are cntitle to the same cIvi
rights ds others, and 10 these they must be
cOnhucd. Polygamy can never receive ma
tionai sanction or liberation by admitting
the community that upholds 1t AS State II
the Union. Like others, the MOrm,ns musi
learn that the liberty Of the individual cease,
where the rights oT society begin.
OUR CURRENCY.
The people ni the United States, though
often urged aud tempted, have never Seri.
ously contemplated the recognition of any
other money than gold ana sIiver-tai cur
rcncy directly ccnrer-ibe into .hem. They
have not done 80, they will not do, und eraDy
necessity less pressing than that OF despe-
rate war. The one special requisite Tor thC
com pieiioR OF our mOmentary system Is the
/. fixing of the relative values OF silver and
gold. The large use OF silver aS the money
OF account among Asiatic nations, taken il
OF the world, gives the weighuest reason.
for an international agreement in the pre- m.
ises- Oar government should not cease tt
urge this measure until common standard
OF value shall be reached and established
4 STANDARD that shall enabis the United
States to Use the silver from its mine, Is al
auxiliary to gold in settling the balances oi
Commercial exchange.
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The strength OF the Republic is !ncreas-
ed by the multiplication %: Lind holders.
Oar Laws shoaii iOJk 10 the judi:lous ell
cuuragement ui .lctuI. settlers on the pub
lie domain, whIch should hancefurth be
held as 4 sacred trust tor the benefit OF
those seeking homes. The tendency to
consolidate large tracks OF land IN the own
erShlp oi individuals o r corporations should
with proper regard 10 vested rights, be dis
couraged. One hundred thousand acres Of
land in the hands ui one man is far less
profitable to the nation IN every way than
/ when Its ownership Is divided among one
thousand mrn. The evil vi permitting large
tracts OF the national domain 70 be cOnSoli-
dated and controlled by the fc against the
G:any is enhanced when the pcrspus con-
trolling it are aliens. Ii is but iair that the
public .iand should be disposed of only to
actual settlers and To those who are citi-
zens Of tn { Republic or willing TO become
so.
our SHIPPING INTERESTS
Among our national interests one Ian
guishes-the foreign carrying trade. 1t was
seriously crippled in our civil war, and an
other blow was given 10 1t in the general
substitution of steam for sail IN ocean traffic.
| With i frontage on the two great oceans,
with freighIage larger than that OF any
other nation, We have every inducement 10
restore our navigation. Yet the govern
ment has hitherto refused its help. Il small
share OF the encouragement given BY tine
/ government To railways and To manutac-
lures, and small share OF the capital and
the zeal given by our citizens 10 those en-
terprises, wOuld have carried ou- ships TO
every sea and to every port. A law just en-
acted removes some OF the burdens upon
our navigation and inspires hope that this
great interest may at last receive its due
shaIe of attention. All efforts in this direc-
ton should receive enc ouragement.
sACREDNEss OF THE BALLOT.
This survey Of our condition as a nation
reminds US that material prosperity is but
: "a - a