Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-03

poned until that time, which was done, subject
| 70 the same provision contained in the original
order Is 70 States in which an eligible list was
| sooner obtained
As result of the revision Of the rules Of the
| new classification, and Of the inclusion OF the
Railway Mail Service. the work of the Commits
non mas been greatly increased. and the pres
| ent clerical force is found 90 be inadequate. I
recommend that the additional clerks asked BY
the Commission be appropriated for.
| Inc DUTY OF appointment 10 devolved by the
o9nsututlon or by the law, and the appointing
| officers are properly held TO a high RESPONSE
bility in its exercise. The growth Of the
country and the constant increase of the civil
list have magnifed this function of the Execu-
tive disproportionslly; IL can not be denied,
! however. that the labor connected v,,h ,bis
necessary work is increased often 20 the poiut
OF actual distress, by the sudden and excessive
| demands that are made upon an incoming
administration for removals and appointments.
But, on the other hand, il is not true that
incumbency is conclusive argument for q
continuance In Office. 1mpartislity. modera-
ton, fidelity 10 public duty. and good attain
ment IN the discharge Of il must be added
before the argument Is complete. When those
| holding administrative Offices conduct them
selves as TO convince just political opponents
that no party consideration or bias affects in
any way the discharge of their public duties,
we can more easily stay the demand for re-
| movals.
am satisfied that both in and out Of the
| classified service great benefit would accrue
from the adoption Of some system by which the
| officer would receive the distinction and BEN
eht that, in all private employments, comes
4 from exceptional faithfuness and efficiency in
the performance Of duty.
| have suggested TO the heads Of the Execu-
tive Departments that they consider whether
record might not be kept in each Bureau Of all
| those elements that are covered by the terms
"faithfulness" and efficiency" and a rating
made showing the relative merits of the clerks
OF each class, this rating 10 be regarded as .
test OF merit In making promotions.
nave also suggested TO the Postmaster-Gen-
upon the basis Of the reports 10 the Department
and OF frequent inspection. indicate the rela-
1--WE merit OF postmasters of each class They
VIII be appropriately indicated in the official
mat great stimulus would thus be given to
the whole service do not doubt, and such
record would be the best defense against in
considerate removals from Office.
| NATIONAL AID TO EDUCATION.
The interest Of the General Government in
the education Of the people found an early eX-
preston, not only IN the thoughtful and some
times warning utterances of our ablest states
men, but in liberal appropriations from the
common resources for the support of education
IN the new States. No one will deny that il rs
OF the gravest national concern that those who
hold the ultimate control of all public affairs
should have the necessary intelligence wisely
education has heretofore taken the form of
land grants, and in that form the constitutional
power OF Congress TO promote the education
OF the people Is not seriously questioned. 1
90 not think 1t can be successfully questioned
when the form is changed to that Of a direct
grant OF money from the public treasury.
Such ala should be, as 1t always has been.
suggested by some exceptional conditions. The
sudden emancipation of the slaves of the
South, the bestowal Of the suffrage which soon
| followed, and the impairment of the ability of
the States where these new citizens were
chiefly found TO adequately provide educa-
tonal facilities, presented not only exceptional
but unexampled conditions. That the situa-
ton has been much ameliorated there is no
doubt. The ability and interest Of the States
have happily increased.
But great work remains TO be done, and
| think the General Government should lend its
AID. AS the suggestion of a national grant in
aid of education grows chiefly out OF the condi-
ZION and needs OF the emancipated slave and
his descendants, the relief should as far ar pos
slole, while necessarily proceeding upon some
| general lines, be applied TO the need that sug-
gested 1t. 1t is essential, If much good is TO be
accomplished. that the sympathy and active
| interest OF the people of the States should be
enlisted, and that the methods adopted should
be such as to stimulate. and not TO supplant
| local taxation for school purposes
| As one Congress can not bind a succeeding
one IN such a case, and the effort must, in
| some degree, be experimental, 1 recommend
that any appropriation made for this purpose
be SO limited in annual amount and as 20 the
| time over which it Is to extend as will on the
one hand, give the local school authorities op-
portunity to make the best use OF the frst years
allowance, and on the other deliver them from
the temptation TO unduly postpone the assump-
ton OF the whole burden themselves.
WHITE AND coLoRED.
The colored people did not intrude them
selves upon us; they were brought here in
chains and held in the communities where they
are now chiefly found by a cruel slave code.
happily for both races they now free.
| They have, from a standpoint of ignorance
and poverty, which was our shame. not theirs,
made remarkable advances in education and in
| the acquisition of property. They have. as a
people, shown themselves 10 be friendly and
| faithful towards the white race, under tempta-
| tlons OF tremendous strength. They have
| their representatives in the national cemeteries
where a grateful Government has gathered the
ashes of those who died in its defense They
have furnished to our regular Army regiments
that have won high praise from their COM
| handing officers for courage and soldierly
qualities, and for fidelity to the enlistment
| oath. In civil life they are now the toilers Of
their communities, making their full contri-
button to the widening streams of prosperity
which these communities are receiving. Their
sudden withdrawal would stop production and
| bring disorder into the household well as
the shop. Generally they do not desire to quit
their homes, and their employers resent the
interference of the emigration agents who seek
to stimulate such desire.
But, notwithstanding all this, in many parts
of our country where the colored population il
large the people of that race are, by various
devices, deprived Of any effective exercise OF
their political rights and of many Of their civil
rights. The wrong does not expend itself upon
those whose votes are suppressed. Every con-
stituency in the Union is wronged.
1t has been the hope of every patriot that .
sense of justice and of respect for the law
would work gradual cure of these fragrant
evils Surely, no one supposes that the present
can be accepted as a permanent condition. IL
| it is said that these communities must work
out this problem for themselves We have q
| right to ask whether they are at work upon it.
Do they suggest any solution? When and
under what conditions is the black man to
have a free ballot? When is he in tact TO have
| those full civil rights which have SO long been
his in law? When is that equality of influence
which our form Of government was intended
to secure TO the electors to be restored? This
generation should courageously face these
grave questions aud not leave them a her
itage Of woe to the next The consultation
| should proceed with candor, calmness and
great patience; upon the lines of justice and
humanity, not Of prejudice and cruelty. No
question in our country can be at rest except
upon the firm base of justice and of the law.
/ earnestly invoke the attention of Congress
to the consideration of such measures within
its well-defined constitutional powers as will
70 all mr. Of H.