Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1885-12-12

LIST day of July, lsSi, 33i, ,l25 persons borne up-
on IN" pension rolls, who were classified AS
follows; Army invaljds, 2iI4i6: widows
MINOR children and Dope dent relatives on
ucceu,ed soldiers, 7SIl; navy invalIds
2't5; navy widows, minor children and de.
pehdentS, Eb; survivors of the war of lsl2
255, and widows of those who have served IN
mat war E,2l2, About one man n ten of all
thoSc VINO enlisted in the late war is reported
as RECEIVING pensions, exclusive of the de-
pendents of deceased soldiers
On the LIST OF July 1873, the number of pen.
s,oherH was EA,S!l, aud the increase within
the ten years next thereafter was 1854.
"hlle there Is no expenditure of the public
FUNDS which the people more cheerfuiiy ap-
proved than that made in recognition Of the
services OF our soldiers, living and dead the
sentiment underlying the subject should not
he NltIdled by the introduction OF any fraud.
uleht practices. Therefore IT is fully as iu-
portant that the rolls should be cleanscd of
ali those who, by fraud, have secured place
thereon as that meritorous claims should be
speedily examined and adjusted. Tho re-
forms IN the methods of doing the business
OF this buerau, which paye lately been in
augurated promise better results in both
these directions,
THE MORMON QUESTION.
In the Territory of Utah the law of the
United states passed for suppre IS on of POI
lygamJ has been eT,efgeticalfy and ia thfuiy
executed during the past year with measure.
ply good results. number of convictions
have been secured f0runlawful eOhabitation,
and IN ONE cases pleas OF guilty have been
entcred,and slight punishment imposed upon
promise by accused that they would not
again offend against the law nor advi @,
counsel aid or abet IN any way, its violation
by Others
The Utah Commissioners express the opin.
ion, based upon such information as they are
able to obtain, that but few poYgamOus mar
rlages have taken place IN the territory dur
ing the last year. They further report that
while there can not be found on the registra-
ton lists OF voters the name OF It man actually
guilty OF pOygamy, and while none of that
class are holding Office, yet at the last elec.
ton IN the territory, all the officers elected,
except III one county were men Who, though
not actually hNlng III the practice OF polyg-
| amy subscribe to the doctrine of pOlyEamous
marriages as a Divine revelation and n law
unto all, higher and more binding upon the
co science than any human law local or
national.
Thus is the strange spectacle presented of
community protected by a biCan
form of Government to which they owe
allegiance, sustaining by their Suilrages u
principle and Il belief which sets at naught
that Obligation Of absolute obedience to the
laws OF the land which lies at the tounda ton
of republican institutions. The siren 9Th,
the pcrpatuity and the destiny OF the ma ton
rest upon our homes established by the law
Of God, guarded by parental care regula ted
by parental authority and sancttied by pa
entail love.
| T esc are not the homes Of polypamy. The
mothers of Our land, who rule the Nation as
they mold the characters and guide the
actions OF their sons, live according to Gods
holy ordinances, and each, secure and hap
| in the exclusive love OF the father of her
/ children sheds the warm light of true wo-
manheod, unperyerted ana unpOlIuted, upon
| all within her pure and wholesome family cir"
Gle.
These are not the cheercss crushed, and
| UnNOmdnly mothers of DOIykttuy
| There should be no relaxation in the firm
| but just execution of the law now in opera
! tion, and | should be glad to approve such
| further discreet legislation AS viii rid the
country OF this blot upon its fair fame.
Since the people upholding pOlygamy in
! our territories are reinforced by inning alton
| from other lands, | recommend that law be
passed to prevent the importation of Nor.
mons into the country.
CIVIL SERVICE.
| am inclined to think that there is no senti
| ment more general in the minds of the people
| of our country than conviction of the cor
rectncss of the principle upon which law en-
/ forcing clVil service reform is based. In its
1 present condition the law regulates only
part of the subordinate public positions
| throughout the country, 1t applies
/ test of fitness to applicants for these places
| by means IA competitive examination and
! gives large discretion to the commissioners
as TO the character of the examination and
many other matters connected with its eS'
| ecution. Thus the rules and regulations
! adopted 10y the Commission have much 10 40
| with he pracuGA usefulness OF thc statute
AMI with the rcsTts OF lis Application.
The people may well tru-t the Commissioner
| to execute the law with perfect fairness aud
! with rs little irritation rs is possible. But OF
course no relaxation of the principle which
| undcrlicS it, AID no weakening of the safe
guards which surround it can be expected.
! Experience in its administration VII ptoha'
/. -, . as
execution, but | venture to hope that we
shall never again be remitted TO the system
| which distributes public positions purely as
| rewards Tor partisan service.
Doubts NAY well be entertained whether
| our FoScrnm mt could survive the STRAIN OF a
continuance OF the system, which upon
c cry Change of Administration inspires an
! immense army of claimants tor othce TO lay
| Siege to the patronage OF government, en-
| crossing the time of public officers with the
| opportunities, spreading abroad the conla
/ gun of thcr disappointment and filling the
1 air with the tumult OF their discomfort
The alluremcnts of an immense number OF
! Offices and places exhibited to the voters ol
| the land and the promise OF their hestowa
| nrceogntion of partisan activity debauch
! the sun hrage aud rob political action OF
its thoughtful and delibcrativc char
setter. The evil would increase VITA
the multiplication of ohices consc
! qucut upon our extension aud the mama
/ lur office holding growing from It's indulg'
| cucr would perade our population so gen,
/ orally that patriotic purpose, tue support Oh
| principle the desire for the pubic good and
/ Soliritlle for the Nation 5 welfare would be
| nearly bHnished from the activity Of our
| party contests and cause them to degenerate
into gnoho. selfish aud dsgraceful strug
/ giles for the possess on OF 0ficc-puhhc place
! civil service reform enforced by law came
not too soon to check the progress of dc
! mOrali2HtiOn One of its effects, not enough
| regarded is the freedom II brings to the po
I litiCal action of those conservative and sober
men who. in fear OF the confusion and risk
att uding an arbitrary, aud sudden change
in all the public Offices with chang OF party
rule, east their ballots against such chance
Parties seem tn be necessary. and VIII con
tiuuc to exist nor can II nov be denied tha
/ there dIp legitimate advantages, nor diSton
nccted with office holding. which follow
! party supremacy
The Civil Service law does not prevent The
| discharge Of the lndoeut' or incompetent
! clerk. but il does prevent supplying his place
| with the unit party worker,
Thus, IN both phases is seen bonent IN th'
| public service,
And the people VINO desire good govern
mcnt. have secured tins statute. viii not re
| linuush its hcnctiJs without protest, non dr,
| they unmmdMl of the fact thai its iull ad
! vantageS can only be gained through tho
| complctc.goOd faith of those having IT'S oN
! ccution in charge and tins they VIII insls
upon | recommend that the salaries 0i IN,
| Civil Scrv &c Commissioners he lnCrta ed it
II sum more nearly commensurate 10 theiI
| important duties,
PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION.
The present condition Of the law relatint
| 20 the succession To the Presidency IN tn,
| event Of death, hisabl ty, or removal n
| both the President and Vice Pres
! ident. is such MS to require immediate amend
| ment. This subject has repeatedly been con
| sidered by Congress, but no result has bee'
| reached The recent lamentable death O
the Vice President and vacancies ut the SAINT
time IN all other offices, the mcumhents o
| which might immediately exercise the func
tions of the Presidential Office has cause'
| public anxiety and n just demand that u re
| currence of such u condition of affair
should not be permitted.
In conclusion commend to the wise car,
| and thoughtful attention of Congress thu
needs. the welfare and the aspirations %
| an intelligent and generous nation. To sub
| ordinate these 10 the narrow advantage
| of parilsanship or the accomplishment o
| selfish aims rs to violate the peoples trus
and bciray the peoples interests. hut Al
| individual sense of responsibility on IN
| part of each Of us, and stern determine
ton to perform our duty we'll must give n
! place among those who have added IN thei
| DAY and generate ION TO the glory aud prosper
ity of our beloved land.
lSlgncdl GROVER CLEvbLAND'
Washing on. December S, 1sSh