Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1889-12-07

paeS, ami uuls: '1ne reform of the civil
service VIII make no safe or satisfactory ed
vance until the present law and its equal adj
ministration ere well established in the con
hdence OF the people 1t will be my pleasure
as ~ Is my duty, TO see that the law is exc
cuted with iirlnness and impartiality.
The present clerical force of the civil ser
wee commits on Is inadequate, owing TO the
increased duties laid upon them by the
bringing OF the railway mail service under
the clvll service Law. Additional clerks are
recommended
The president dwelt at length upon the
question of the general government extend
ing aid 10 such states and territories as need
It in educational matters. He recommended
that congress make such an appropriation.
After referring to the great work of max.
ing removals and appointments the president
said:
: ut is not true that incumbency is a CON
elusive argument for continuance in office.
lmpartiality, moderation, fidelity to public
duty and good attainment in the discharge
OF 1t must be added before the argument is
complete.
when those holding administrative
offices so conduct themselves as to convince
just political opponents that no party con-
sideration or bias affects in any way the dis
charge of their public duties we can more
easily stay the demands for removals"
He thinks both ia and out of the classified
service, great benefit would result from the
adoption OF some system by which Office
holders would be graded by their faithful
ness and efficiency in the performance of
duty. lie has made such suggestions to the
heads OF departments and to the postmaster
general
'ILc c-lored people did not intruds them
calves rp'n la; hey were brought here in
clains and hold in the communities where
thy arc chiefly fond by cruel slave
cote. Happily for both races they are now
free. Iioy have, from standpoint of g-
noranco and poverty, which was our shame,
not tho!rs, made remarkable advances in ed
ucatlon and in tue acquisition OF poverty
they have, as PEOPLE, shown themselves TO
BE- friendly and iGithlul towards the white
rtcc, under temptations of tremendous
strength. They have their representatives
III the National &c lci2iies where a grateful
government has gatuor5d the ashes of those
who died III its dolensc.
They h}yc furnished to our regular
army regina ais t,I,U have Won high praise
from their colu'nuldiir. officers for C 1lraae
anl scidprly qualities. md for fidelity to tie
cmIs'Hl,ut cgc... III civil life they are now
the t"!tr5 O. tArsr communities making
their Illl contribution to the widening
streams of prosperity which these commune
ties are receiving. Their sudden withdrawal
would stop production and bring disorder
into the household as well as the shop Gen
orally they do not desire to quit their homes
and their employers resent the interference
of the emigration agents who seek to stimu-
late such a desire
But, Notwithstanding all this, in many
parts OF our country where the colored pop
nlation is large, the people of that race are,
by various devices, deprived Of any effective
exercise Of their political rights AID many
Of their civil rights The wrong does not
expend itself upon those whose votes are
suppressed Every constituency in the
Union is wrongcd
at has been the hope of every patriot
tnat sense OF justice and of respect for the
law would work a gradual cure of these fla
grant evils. Surely, no one suppCses that
tie present can be accepted as a Ie,.nanent
condition.
"If il is said that these communities must
work out this problem for themselves we
have a right to ask whether they are at work
upon it. Do they suggest any soiution9
when and under what condition is the black
man - have a free tallot! when is he in
fact, to have those full civil rights which
have 80 lorT been his IL laws when is that
etidality of influence which our form of gov
eminent has intended to secure to the cleo
tors to be roStnred2 This generation should
courageonsly face these grave questions and
not leave them as heritage of woe to the
candor, calmncss and great patience, upon
the lines of Justice and humanity, not OF
prejudice and cruelty.
mo question i'll our country can be at rest
except upon the firm base of justice and of
the law.
II earnestly invoke the attention of con
gress to the consideration of such measures
within its well-de1ned constitutional powers
as will secure to all our people a free exercise
of the right of suffrage and every other
civil right under the constitutional laws of
the United Stetes. No evil, however de
plorable, can justify the assumption, either
on the part of the executive or of congress,
of powers not granted, but both will be
highly blamable if all the powers granted
are not wisely but firmly used to correct
these evils.
1.-THE power to take the whole direction
and control of the election of members of
the house of representatives is clearly given
to the general government A partial and
qualified supervision of these elections is now
provided for by law, and in my opinion this
law may be so strengthened and extended to
secure on the whole better results than can
be attained by law taking all the processes
colored man should be protected in all of his
relations to the Federal government,
whether as litigant, juror or witness in our
courts, as an election of members of congress
or as peaceful traveller on our interstate
railways"
Referring to the humiliating fact that our
merchant marine is so inferior to that OF
other nations, not SO fortunately situated as
we are, the president stat IS: 81 recommend
that such appropriations be made for ocean
mail service, in American steamships, be-
tween our ports and those of Central and
South America China, Japan and the i'm
portant islands in both of the great oceans,
as will be literally remunerative for the scr
vice rendered, as will encourage the estab-
lishment, and in some fair degree equalize
the chances of American steamship lines in
the competitions which they must meet
/ That the American states lying south of us
were cordially cooperate in establishing and
maintaining such lines of steamships to their
principal ports, l do not doubt.
1--WE should also make provision for a
naval reserve, to consist of such merchant
ships of AmeTfrttn construction ami of q
specified tonnage and speed as the owners
will consent to place at use of government
in case of need as armed cruisers. England
has adopted this policy, and, as result, can
now upon necessity place upon her naval lis
some of the fastest steamships in the world.
A proper supervision of the construction of
such vessels would make their conversion
into effective ships of war very easy.
81 am an advocate of economy in our Ma
tional expenditures, but it is misuse of terms
to make this word describe a policy that
withholds an expenditure for the purpose OF
extending our foreign commerce. The en-
largement and improvement Of our merchant
marine, the development of a sufficient body
of trained American seamen, the promotion