The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-04

priated for the duty
The growth of the country, and the consequen
increase of the civil list have magnified thi
question OF the executive disproportionately
1t cannot be denied, however, that the labo
connected with this necessary work is increased
often to the point OF actual distress by the sud
den and excessive demands that are made upoI
the incoming administration for removals an(
appointments, but, on the other hand that in
cumbency is a conclusive argument; for con
tinuanoe in office Of impartiality, moderate
fidelity to public duty, and good attainment II
the discharge OF ii must be added before the ar
gument is complete; and when those holding
the administrations OF office so 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 see the demand for removals
! am satisfied that Tin both in and out classified
| services great benefit would accure from
| the adoption of some system by which the
officer would receive the destination and benefit
| that in all private employmentS come from the
| expectation OF faithfulnesS and efficiency in
the performance of duty. have suggested to
| the heads of executive departments that they
| consider whether record might not be kept in
| each bureau of all those elements that are COW
| cred by the terms faithfulnesS and efficiency,
| and rating made showing the relative merits
OF clerks in each class; this rating to be re-
garded as test OF merit in making the pro-
motion.
have also suggested to the postmaster-gen-
eral that he can upon the basis OF the reports TO
| the department and Of frequent inspection, in
dictate the relative merit Of postmasters OF each
class. They will be appropriately indicated in
the official register and report of the depart
ment. That great stimulus would thus be
given to.the whole service do not doubt, and
such record would be the best defense against
! removals from office.
THE INTEREST OF THE
general government in the education of the peo-
pie found an early expression not only express
sion not only in the thoughtful and sometimes
warning utteranceS of our ableSt statesmen but
in liberal concentrations from the o
| sources for the support OF education in the new
states. No one will deny that it is of the gray
est national concern that those who hold the ul-
innate control OF all public affairs should have
the necessary intelligence wisely to direct and
determine them. National aid to education has
heretofore taken the form of land grants and
that from the constitutional power of Congress
to promote the education of the people Is not
seriously questioned. l do not think il can be
successfully questioned when the form is
changed to that of direct grant of money from
the public treasury that such aid should
| be, as it always has been, suggested by
some exceptional conditions. The sudden
emancipation Of the slaves, the bestowal of the
suffrage which soon followed, and the impair
ment of the ability of the states where those
new citizens are chiefly to be found, adequately
provided with educational facilities, presented
not only exceptional but unexampled condi-
! tons. That the situation has been much
ameiorated there is no doubt The ability and
| interest of the states have happily increased,
! but great work remains to be DONE and
! lllnk Lle general SlOQlQ lena It's
aid. AS the suggestion of a national grant in
aid of education grows chiefly out of the condi-
! tons and needs of the emancpated slaves and
their descendants, the relief should, as far as
| possible while necessarily proceeding upon
some general lines, be applied to the need that
suggested it. 1t is essential, if much good is
to be accomplished, that the sympathy and &C
| tive interest of the people of the states should
be enlisted, and that the methods adopted
| should be such as to stimulate and not to sup
plant local taxation for school purposes. AS
one Congress cannot bind succeeding one in
such case, and as the effort must in some de-
gree be experimental, l recommend that any
] appropriation for the purpose be so limited in
annual amount, and as to the time over which it
| is to extend as well, on the one hand to give
local school authorities an opportunity TO make
the best use of the first years allowance; and,
on the other, to deliver them from temptation
to unduly postpone the assumption Of the whole
burden themselves
RIGHTS OF THE COLORED PEOPLE.
The colored people did not intrude themselves
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 are now free; they have, from
q 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 people, shown them
selves to be friendly and faithful towards the
white race under temptations OF tremendous
strength. They love their representatives in
the national cemeteries, where a grateful gov
eminent 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 the commanding officers for courage
and soldierly qualities, and for fidelity to the
enlistment oath. In civil life they are the toll
ers OF their communities, making their full con-
tribution to the widening streams OF prosperity
which the communities are receiving Their
sudden withdrawal would stop production and
bring disorder in the household, and generally
they do not desire to quit their homes, and their
employers resent the interference OF
the emigration agent who seeks to stimulate
such desire. But, Notwithstanding all this, in
many parts Of the country, where the colored
population is large, the people of that race are,
by various devices deprived of any effective ex.
ercise of their political rights. The wrong does
not eXpend itself upon those whose whose votes
are suppressed. Every constituency in the
union is wronged 1t has been the hope of
every patriot that sense Of justice and Of re-
spect for the law would work gradual cure Of
these fragrant evils. Surely no one supposes
that the present can be acceptedas permanent
condition.
II it is said that these communities must work
out this problem for themselves. We have 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 free
ballot? When is he, in fact, to have those full
civil rights which have so long been his in law?
When is that equality of suffrage which our
form of government intended to secure to the
electors to be restored? This generation should
courageouSly solve these grave questions and
not leave them as heritage 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 case 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
secure 10 all our people the free exercise OF the
right of Suffrage and every other civil right
under the constitution and laws OF the United
States No evil. however dpOlOrablp iuSfifU
the assumption, either on the part Of the execu-
tive or Of Congress, of powers not granted, but
both will be highly blameable if all the powers
granted are not wisely and firmly used to correct
these evils. The power to take the whole direc
ton 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
strengthened and extended to secure on the
whole better results than can be obtained by a
law letting all the process Of such elections into
federal control. The colored man should be
protected in all OF his relations to the federal
government whether as legitimate juror or
witness in our courts, an elector of members
of Congress, or as peaceful traveller on our
interstate railways.
MERCHANT MARINE.
There is nothing more justly humiliating to
the national pride, and nothing more hurtful to
the national prosperity, than the inferiority of
our merchant marine, compared with that of
other nations whose general resources Of wealth
and seacoast lines do not suggest any reason
for supremacy on the sea. 1t was not always so,
and our people are agreed think, that it shall
not continue to be so. 1t is not possible in this
communication to discuss the causes of the de-
cay OF our shipping interests, or the different
methods by which it is proposed to restore them.
The statement of few well authenticated facts
and some general suggestions as to legislation,
is all that is practicable.
The great steamship lines sailing under the
flags OF England France, Germany, Italy and
Spain and engaged in foreign commerce, were
promoted and have since been and now are
literally aided by grants OF public money in one
form or another. 1t is generally known
that the American lines Of steamships
have been abandoned to an unequal