Year: 1877

it is my earnest desire toregard and pro-
mote their truest interests of white and
of coiored people both and equally, and
put forth my best efforts in behalf of a
civel policy which will forever wipe out
in our political affairs the color line and
between north and south, to
the end that we may have not merely
united north or united south but
united country.


| ask the attention of the public to the
paramount necessity of reform in our civil
service. reform not merely as to certain
abuses and practices of so-called official
patronage which have come to have the
sanction of usage in the several depart
ments of our government but change of
the system of appointment itself, reform
that shall be thorough radical and COM
plete, return to the principles and prac-
tees of the founders of the government
They neither expected nor desired from
public officers any partisan service; they
meant that public officers should owe their
whole service to government and to the
people; they meant that the officer should
be secured in his tenure as long as his
personal character remained untarnished
and the performance of bis duties salts
factory; they held that appointments to
office were not to be made
nor expected merely as re-
wards for partisan services,
that merely on the nomination of mem
bers of congress as being entitled in any
respect to tne control of such applicants.
The fact that both political parties of the
country in declaring their principles prior
to election gave prominent place to the
subject of the reform of Our civil govern
ment. recognizing and strongly urging its
necessity in terms almost identical in their
specific import with those have here cm-
p.oycd must be accepted as conclusive
argument iu behalf of these treasures; i,
must be regarded as the expression of the
voice and will Of the whole country upon
this subject and both political parties are
virtually pledged to give it their universal
support.


The president Of the United States of
necessity owes his election to office to the
suffrage and Jealous iabors of political
party the members of which cherish with
ardor ard regard as of essential impor
tance the principles of their party organi-
zatiou; but he should strive to be always
mindful Of the fact that he serves his par
ty best who serves bis country best. 10
furtherauce Of the reform we seek and as
in other important respects a change of
great Importance | recommend an amend
ment to th2 constitution prescribing term
of six years for the presidential Office and
torbldding q reelection.


With respect to the financial condition of
the country L shall not attempt an extend
ed history Of the embarrassment and pros


tr,t nh IohS i Il,
past three years. The depression 10 all
our varied commercial and manufacturing
interests throughout the country which be
gan 10 Sept, 1873, still continues. 1t is
very gratifying, however, to be able to say
there are indications all around Us OF a
coming change to prosperous times.


Upon the currency question, intimately
connected as it is with this topic may be
permitted to repeat the statement made
IN my letter OF acceptance, In my Judge
ment feeling OF uncertainty inseperable
from all irredeemable paper curreucy with
its tiuCtuaiiyus OF values is one of the
greatest obstacles Of a return to prosper
ous times. The only safe paper currency
| is one which rests upon a coin basis
| and is at all times and promptly convert.
| ible into coin. | adhere to the views
heretofore expressed by me in favor OF
congressional legislation in behalf of al
early resumption OF specie payment auC
| | am satisfied not only that this is wise
| but that the interest as we'll as public
sentiment Of the country imperativel,


demand it.


Passing from these remarks upon tn,


condition of cur own country to conside


our relations with other lands we are re


minded by international complication


abroad, threatening the peace Of Europ


that our traditional rule OF non-iuterfer


ence in the affairs of foreign nations ha
proved Of great valor IN past times an
ought to be strictly Observed. The polic
lipaugurated by my honored predecessor
President Grant, of submitting to arbitra


ton grave questions in dispute betwee
ourselves and foreign powers points to


new and inc0mparably the best instrumer


tality tor the preservation ct peace an


will, as l believe, become q beneticen


example of the course TO be pursued /


similar emergencies by other nations, Il


unhappily, questions of ditfercDc


should at any time during the period c


my administration arise between the Un


ted States and any foreign government


will certainly be my disposition and N


hope to aid in their settlement 10 the sam


peaceful and honorable way, thus securin
TO our country the great blessings OF peac
| and mutnal good offices with all nations {


the world.


tellow-citizens: We have reached th
close of political contest marked with th
excitement which usually attends confess
{ between great political parties whose men


bers espouse and advocate with earne
faith their respective creeds. The circun
. stances were, perhaps,in no respect extra
, ordinary save in the closeness and the I'll
. certainty of the result For the first tin
r in the history Of the country it has bee
, deemed best in view OF the peculiar ci
cumstances of the case that objections an


questions in dispute with reference to II
. counting OF the electoral votes should
} referred to the decision of a tribunal a.
. pointed for this purpose. That tribuna


established by law for this sole purpose,i i
members all Of them of lor
. established regulations for integri
! and intelligence and, with the exceptio
! of those who are also members Of tt
: supreme judiciary. chosen equally frol
q both political parties; its deliberate
y enlightened by research and arguments
: . able counsel was entitled to the fulle
n confidence of the American people. |
y decisions have been patiently waited Il
j and accepted as legally conclusive by Il
: general judgment of the public. For Il
n present, opinion will widely vary as to Il
!. wisdom of the several conclusions announ
,, ed by that tribunal. This is to be anti
! lipated. In every instance whe
- matters Of dispute are made the subje
;. of arbitration under the forms of Ia
i human Judgment is never unerrlng and
- rarely regarded as otherwise than wro
- hrr tho ,,nsnonoSSfI,l IL, q.