Huntsville gazette., 1889-12-07

vance until the present law and its equal ad-
ministration are well established in the con-
fidence of the people. 1t will be my pleasure,
as it is my duty, to see that the law is exc
cuted with firmneSs and impartialityn
The present clerical force of the civil SER
vice commission is inadequate, owing to the
increased duties laid upon them by the
bringing of the railway mail service under
the civil service law. Additional clerks are
recommended.
The president dwelt at length upon the
question of the general government extend
ing aid to 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:
''It is not true that incumbency is a con-
elusive argument for a continuance in office
Impartiality, moderation, fidelity to public
duty and good attainment in the discharge
of it 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 in 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. He has made such suggestions to the
heads of departments and to the postmaster
general.
"The colored people did not intrude them
selves upon us; they were brought here in
chains and held in the communities where
they are chiefly found, by a cruel slave
code. Happily for both races they are now
Free They have, from a standpoint of ig-
vxr,io ch
not theirs, made remarkable advances in ed
ucation and in the acquisition Of poverty.
They have, as a people, shown themselves to
be friendly and faithful towards the white
race, under temptations 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 defepse.
'They have furnished 20 our regular
army regiments that have won high praise
from their commanding officers for courage
| and soldierly qualities, and for fidelity to the
enlistment oath In civil hfe they are no"
| the Jollers or une1r communities making
| their full contribution to the widening
| streams of prosperity which these comnuni-
| 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 bne eHlgfaUlOn agents VINO seek 10 sLiinu-
| 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 and many
cf their civil rights The wrong does not
expend itself upon those 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 respect for the
law would work a gradual cure of these fla
grant evils. Surely, no one suppCses that
| the present can be accepted as permanent
| condition
| ''If 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 sOlutiOns
when and under what condition is the black
| man to have a free ballot! when is he, in
| fact, to have those tull civil rights which
have so long been his in lawl when is that
| equality of influence which our form of gov
| ernment has intended TO secure to the cleo
| tors to be restoreds This generation should
courageonsly face 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 iusticn and humanity, not of
| prejudice and cruelty.
| mo question In our country can be at rest
| except upon the firm base of justice and of
| the law.
| 81 earnestly invoke the attention of con-
greSs to the consideration of such measures
within its well-detined constitutional powers
as will secure to all our people 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,
/ xko<1 l...% l<AL L.
| 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 50 strengthened and extended to
secure ON the whole better results than can
be attained by a law taking all the processes
of such election into Federal control. The
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 cur
merchant marine is so inferior to that of
other nations, not SO fortunately situated as
4 we are, tIlt pIcSiucnU ftCOIuiucnu
| 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 inn
portant islands in both of the great oceans,
as will be literally remunerative for the Ser
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, do not doubt.
1--WE should also make provision for a
| naval reserve, to consist of such merchant
ships of American construction and of a
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 liz.
some Of the fastest steamships in the world.
A proper supervision of the construction of
I such vessels would make their conversion
| into effective ships of war very easy.
81 am an advocate of economy in our Ma
ttonal 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 sufficient body
1 - traf A ha Of