Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-03-09

WE HyolNlullo lNoSll pNlOllo Oul CIu
man in whose breast that faith has
been darkened is naturally the sub
ject of dangerous and uncanny sug-
gestions. Those who use unlawful
methods, if moved by no higher mo-
tive than the seltishness that prompt
ed them, may well stop and inquire
what is to be the end of this. An I'M
lawful eXpendient cannot become a
permanent condition of government.
If the educated and influential classes
in community either Practice or
cOnnive at the systematic violation of
laws that seem to them to cross their
convenience, what can they expect
when the lesson that convenience,
or a supposed class interest is a
sufficient cause for lawlessness has
been well learned by the ignorant
classes? A community where law is
the rule of conduct and where courts,
not members, execute its penalties is
the only attractive field for business
investments and honest labor.
The duty devolved by law upon
the president to nominate, and by
and with the advice of the senate, to
appoint all public officers whose
appointment is not otherwise pro-
vided for in the constitution or by act
of congress, has become very burden
some, and its wise and efficient dis
charge full of difficulty. The civil
list is so large that personal
knowledge Of any large number of
the applicants is impossible. The
president must rely upon the repre-
sensations of others, and these are
often made inconsiderately and with
out any just sense of responsibility. l
have right, think, to insist that
those who volunteer or are invited to
give advice as to appointments, shall
exercise consideration and fidelity.
A high sense of duty and ambition
to improve the service should
characterize all public officers. There
are many ways in which the convent
ence and comfort of those who have
business with our public officers may
he promoted by a thoughtful and
obliging officer, and ! shall expect
those whom / may appoint to justify
their selection by a conspicuous
efficiency in the discharge of their
duties. Honorable party service
will certainly not be esteemed by me
a disqualification for public office
but it will in no case be allowed tC
serve as a shield for official neglig
ence, incompetency or delinquency
1t is entirely creditable to seek public
Office by proper methods and with
proper motives, and all applicants
will be treated with consideration
But l shall need, and the heals o
departments will need, time fOl
inquiry and deliberation. Persisten
importantly will not, therefore, b.
the best support of an application TO
Office. Heads ofdepartments, bureaus
and all other public office-holder,
having any duty connected there
with, will be expected to enforce tn
civil service law fully and withou
evasion. Beyond this obvious dut.
l hope to do something more to ad
vance the reform of the civil service
We shall not, however, am sure, b
able to put our civil service upon
bipartisan basis until we hav
secured an incumbency that fair
minded men of the opposition will
approve for impartiality and integri
ty. AS the number of such in tn
. civil list is increased, removals iron
office will diminish.
!, Referring to the treasury surplus
Mr.. Harrison said it was a seriou
evil. Expenditure should always b
f made with economy and only upO
, public necessity. Wastefulness, pre-
fligacy and favoritism in public eH
penditures is criminal. 1t will h
, the duty Of congress wisely to fore
: cast and estimate these extraordinary
r demands, and having added them t
, our ordinary expenditures to so &C
; just our revenue laws that no cor
, siderable annual surplus will remain
3 We will fortunately be able to appl
{ to the redemption Of the public del
3 any small or unforeseen excess {
, revenue. This is better than to RI
, duce our income below our necessar
{ expenditures. 1t is quite possible
, ] am sure, to effect the necessary n
) duction in Om revenue withOU