Year: 1877

4
not to be made nor expected merely as
rewards for partisan services, nor merely
on nomination OF q member Of Congress, as
being entitled in any respect to the control
OF such appointments. The fact that both
political parties of the country, in declar-
ing their principles prior to election, gave
prominent place to the subject of reform
OF our civil service, recognizing and strong
ly urging its necessity in terms almost iden-
tical in their specific import with those 1
have here employed, must be accepted as
conclusive argument in behalf Of these
measures. II must be regarded as the ex-
pressed and united voice and will of the
whole country upon this subject, and both
political parties are virtually pledged to
give IL their unreserved support. The
President of the United States, of necessity
owes his election to office to the suffrage
and Jealous labors OF q political party, the
remembrance OF which he will cherish with
ardor, and regard as of essential import
ance the principles Of their party organiza-
tien; but he should strive to be always
mindful of the fact that y5ga


BE SERVES HIS PARTY BEST WHO SERVES


.2H THE COUNTRY BEST. t


In furtheranee OF the reform we seek, and,
as in other important respects, change Of
great mportance, - recommend an amend
ment to the Constitution prescribing term
OF six years for the Presidential office, and
'forbidding REELECTION. aE
q. THE CURRENCY QUESTION. DID,.


With respect to the financial condition of
the country, l shall not attempt an extend
ed history of the embarrassment and pros
tration which we have suffered during the
past three years-the depression in all our
varied commercial and manufacturing in
terests throughout the country, which be-
gan September, 1878. There are indica-
tions ali around us of coming change to
more prosperous times. Upon the cur
.inflmafalU =
is with this topic, | may be permitted to
repeat here the statement made in my let
ter OF acceptance, that, in my judgment,
the feeling OF uncertainty, inseparable
from an iTrsdeemable paper currency, with
its fluctuations of values, is one of the
greatest obstacles Of a return to prosperous
times. The only safe currency is one which
rests upon coin basis, and is at all times.
and promptly convertible into coin. adhere
to the views heretofore expressed by me in
favor OF congressional legislation in behalf
of early resumption of specie payments,
and am satisfied not only is this wise, but
the interests as well as the public senti-
ment of the country imperatiVely demand
it.


FOREIGN AFFAIRS.


81 Passing from these remarks upon the
condition OF our own country to consider
our relations with other lands, we are re-
minded by the international complications





that our traditional rule of non -interfer-
ence in the affairs of foreign nations has
proved OF great value in past times, and
ought to be strictly observed. The policy
inaugurated by my honored predecessor,
President Grant, of submitting to arbitra
tion grave questions in dispute between
ourselves and foreign powers, points
to the new and incOmparably the
best lnstrumentality for the preser-
vation of peace, and will, as / believe,
become beheicent example OF the course
to be pursued in similar emergencies by
other nations. II, unhappily, questions Of
difference should, at any time during the
period of my administration, arise between
the United States and any foreign Govern
ment, it will certainly be my disposition and
my hope to aid in their settlement in the
same peaceful and honorable way, thus say
ing to our country the great blessings of
peace and mutual good offices with all the
nations of the world.


THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST.


Fellow citizens, we have reached the
close Of a political contest marked by the
excitement which usually attends the con-
tests between great political parties whose
members espouse and advocate with earn
est faith their respective creeds. The cir
cumstances were perhaps in no respect ex-
traordinary save in the closeness and the
consequent uncertainty of the result. For
the first time in the history of the country
it has been deemed best, in view Of the pc
culiar circumstance of the case, that the
objections and questions in dispute with
reference to the counting of the Electoral
votes should be referred to
the decision of tribunal ap-
pointed for this purpose. That, tribunal,
established by law for this sole purpose, its
members, all of them, men of long estab-
lished reputation for integrity and intelli =
gence, and, with the exception of those
yhoo oil nhar af hnG GrIr In
dietary, chosen equally from both political
parties-its deliberations enlightened by
the research and the arguments of able
counsef-was entitled to the fullest conf
dence of the American people. Its decisions
have been patiently waited for and accepted
as legally conclusive by the general judg-
ment of the public. For the present


OPINIONS WILL WIDELY VARY
as to the wisdom of the several conclusions
announced by that tribunal. This is to be
anticipated in every instance where matters
of dispute are made the subject of arbitra-
tion under the forms of law. Haman
Judgment is never unerring, and is rarely
regarded as otherwise than wrong by the
unsuccessful party in the contest. The
fact that two great political parties have in
this way settled a dispute in regard to
which good men differ as to the law no less
than as to the proper course to be pursued
in solving the question in controversy, is
an occasion for general rejoicing. Upon
one point there Is an entire unanimity In
public sentiment; that the conflicting claims
to the Presidency must be amicably and
peaceably adjusted, and that when SO
adjusted the general acquiescence Of the
Nation ought surely to follow. 1t has been
reserved for government of the people,
where the right Of suffrage is universal, to
give to the world the first example in his
tory of great nation, in the midst of a
struggle of opposing parties for power,
hushing its party tumults to yield the issue
of the contest to adjustment according to
forms of law. -


Looking for guidance Of that Divine Hand
by which the destinies of nations and indi-
viduals are shaped, L call on you, Senators,
Representatives, Judges, fellow.cit
here and everywhere, to unite with me in
earnest efforts to secure to our country the
blessing, not only of material prosperity,
but Of justice, peace and union-a union
depending not upon the constraint of force,
but upon the loving devotion of free peo-
pie-that all things may be so ordered and
settled upon the best and surest founda-
tions, and piety may be established among
us for all generations.