Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-07-19

and adapting themselves TO the conditions o.
political tranquility and industrial progress
If there be occasional and violent outbreak:
in the South against this peaceful progress
! the public opinion of the country regard:
them as exceptional and hopefully trusts thai
each will prove the last
The South needs capital and occupation
not controversy. As much as any part OF
the North,the South needs the full protection
of the Revenue Laws which the Republican
party offers. Some of the Southern States
have already entered upon career of indus
trial development and prosperity. These, al
least, should not lend their electoral woes Il
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 &c
combine in the assertion of that nationality
which was their inspiration in the Civil
struggle. And thus great energies which
should be united in a common in1ustrisl de
velopment will be wasted in hurtful strif-
The Democratic party shows itself foe 10
Southern prosperity by always Invoking and
urging Southern political consolidation. Such
a policy quenches the rising instinct OF
patriotism in the heart of the Southern youth
it revives and stimulates prejudice; it sub>ti-
tntes the spirit of barbaric vengeance for the
love OF peace, progress and harmony.
THE Civil SERVICE
The general character of the civil service
OF the United SAFES under all administrations
has been honorable. In the one supreme test
the collection and disbursement of reve-
nue-the record of fidelity has never been
surpassed in anv nation. With the almost
fabulous sums which were received and paid
during the late war, scrupulous integrity was
the prevailing rule. Indeed, throughout that
trying 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 cowardice on the field of
battle.
The growth of the country has continual,
and necessarily enlarged the civil service
until now it includes vast body
of officers Rules and methods of appoint
ment which prevailed when the number was
smaller have been found insufficient and i'm
practicable, and earnest efforts have been
made TO separate the great mass of minis
| terial officers from partisan influence and
personal control. lmpartiality in the mode
of appointment TO 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 bv separating the Legislative branch of
the Government from all control of
appointments and the Executive Department
will be relieved by subjecting appointments
! to fixed rules and thus removing them from
| the caprice of favoritsm But there should
be rigid observance of the law which gives
in all cases of equal competency the prefer
ence to the soldiers who risked their lives in
defense of the Union.
| | entered f'Duprpss N 1912 and in a somn-
what prolonged service | never found it
eXpedient to request or recommend the
removal of civil officer except in four in
stances, and then for non-politca reasons
which were instantly conclusive with the
appointing power. The officers in the dis
trict, appointed by Mr. Lincoln in 1861 upon
the recommendation of my predecessor
served, as rule, until death or resignation.
| adopted at the beginning OF my service the
test OF competitive examination for appoint
ments to West Point and maintained
it 50 long as | had the right by law to
nominate cadet In the case of many
off, ers | found that the present law which
arbitrarily limits the term of the commission
offered a constant temptation to changes tor
mere political reasons. | have publicly
expressed the belief that the essential moii-
tication of that law would be in many re-
spccts advantageous
NV observation in the Department of State
contirm The conclusions of my legislative
experience. aud impressed me with the CON
victon that the rule of impartial appointment
might with advantage be carried beyond any
existing provision of the Civil Service Law
1t SHOULD be applied to appointing nts in the
consular service. Consuls should be com
merciaI Notwithstanding the globe with
watchfulness for their country's Interests,
therefore. matters of great public concern
M man should be appointed to an American
consulate, who is not well instructed in the
history ana resources of his own country. and
in the requirements and language of com
| merce in the country to which he is sent.
The same rule should be applied even more
rigidly to Secretaries of Legation in our
Diplomatic service. The people have the
right to the most efficient agents in the dis
charge of public business and the appointing
power should regard this as the prior and
Interior consideration.
THE MORMON QUESTION.
Religious liberty is the right of every citi-
zen of the Republic. Congress is forbidden
by the Constitution to make any law respect
ing the establishment of religion, or prohibit
ing the free exercise thereof" For century,
under this guarantee, Protestant and Catholic,
Jew and Gentle, have worShlped bOu ac-
cordiug to the dictates of conscience. But
religious liberty must not be perverted to 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, claims
the right to destroy the great safeguard and
imminent Of social order, and to practice as a
religious privilege that which is a crime pun
ished with severe penalty in every State of the
Union. The sacredness and unity of the
family must be preserved as the foundation
of all civil government, as the source of
orderly administration, as the surest guaran-
tee of moral purity.
The claim of the MormOns that they are
divinely authorized to practice poygamy
should no more be admitted than the clam Of
certain heathern tribes. if they should come
among us, to continue the rite of human sacri-
fee. The law does not interfere with what a
man believes it takes cognizance only of what
he does As citizens. the Mormons are en-
titled to the same civil rights as others and 10
these they must be confined Polygamv can
never receive national sanction or federation
| by admitting the community that upholds it
as a State in the Union. Like others. the
| MOrmons must learn that the liberty of
| TIE individual ceases where the rights of