Year: 1879




tisan politics. Their duties are the same
whatever party is in power, whatever policy
prevails.


As consequence, it follows that their
tenure of Office should not depend on the pre-
valence of any policy or the supremacy of any
party, but should be determined by their ca
pacity to serve the people most usefully, quite
irrespective of partisan interests. The same
consideration that should govern the tenure
should also prevail in the appointment, dis
cipline and removal of these subordinates. The
authority of appointment and removal is not
perquisite which may be used to aid friend or
remove partisan but is trust to be exer-
cised in the public interest under all
the sanctions which attend the obligation
| to apply the public funds only for
public purposes. Every citizen has an equal
right to the honor and profit of entering the
public service of his country.


Ifit is the right of the worthiest claimant to
gain the appointment, and the interest of the
people to bestow it upon him, it would seem
clear that wise and just method of ascertain
ing personal fitness for Office must needs be an
| important and permanent function Of every Just
and wise Government.


1t has long since become impossible
in the great Offices of those having
the duty of nomination and appointment to
| personally examine into the individual quail
1 fcations of more than a small proportion of
those seeking office, and with the enlargement
of the Civil Service that proportion must con-
tinue to become less. In the earlier years OF
the Government the subordinate Offices were so
few in number that it was quite easy for those
making appointments and promotions to per-
| sonally ascertain the merits of candidates.
Party managers and methods had not then be-
come powerful agencies of coercion, hostile to
the free and just exercise Of the appointing
power.


A large and responsible part of the duty Of
restoring the Civil Service to the desired purity
and efficiency rests on the President, and it has
been my purpose to do what is within my
power to advance such prudent and frugal
measures of reform as will most surely and
rapidly bring about that radical change of
system essential to make our administra-
tive's methods satisfactory to a free and
Intelligent people. By proper exercise of
authority it is in the power of the Execu-
tive to do much to promote such reform. But
it can not be too. clearly understood that
nothing adequate can be accomplished without
corporation on the part of Congress, and con-
siderable and intelligent support among the
! people.


Reforms which challenge the generally ac-
cepted theories of parties, and demand changes
in the methods of Departments, are not the
work of day. Their permanent foundations
must be- laid on sound principles, and in an
experience which demonstrates their wisdom
and exposes the errors Of their adversaries.


PARTISAN BLAcKMAM.


There are other administration abuses to
which the attention of Congress should be
asked in this connection. Mere partisan ap-
pointments and the constant peril of removal
without cause very naturally lead to an ab-
sorbing and mischievous political activity on
the part of those thus appointed, which not
only interferes with the due discharge of
official duty, but is incompatible with the
freedom of elections. Not without warrant in
the views of several of my predecessors in the
Presidential office, and directly within the law
| of 1871 already cited, endeavored by regula-
tions made the 22d day of June, 1877, to
put some reasonable limits to such abuses. It
may not be easy, and it may never perhaps be
necessary, to define with precisios the proper
limit of political action on the part of Federal
officers but while their right 70 hold and freely
express their opinions can not be questioned, it
is very plain that they should neither be al
lowed to devote to other subjects the time
needed for the proper discharge of their official
duties, nor to use the authority of their Office
to enforce their own opinions, or to coerce the
political action of those who hold different
opinions.


: In whatever aspect considered, the practice
of making levies for party purpose upon the


salaries of officers is highly demoralizing to the
public service, and discreditable to the coun-


try. Though an officer should be as free as any


other citizen to give his own money in aid Of


his own opinions or his party, he sheuld also
be as free as any other citizen to refuse tc
+ make such gifts. If salaries are but fail


compensation for the time and labor of the


officers, it is gross injustice to levy a tax upor
them. If they are made excessive in order
that they may bear the tax, the excess in ar


inderect robbery of the public funds. I recon-


mend, therefore, such a revision and extension


of present statutes rs shall secure to those il


every grade of official life or public employment


the protection with which great and enlight
ened Nation shall guard those who are faithful
in its service.


OUR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES


Have continued peaceful With Great Britain
there are still unsettled questions, growing Ou
of the laws of the maritime provinces and thu
action of Provincial authorities deemed to bt
in derogation of rights secured by treaty t.


American fisherman. The United States Min.
lister in London has been instructed to presen


demand for S105 ,305.02, in view of the dam.
ages received by American citizens at Fortune


Bay on the 9th day of January
1878. The subject has been taker
into consideration by the British Gov.
cIumeut, duu al carly reply Is anticipated


upon the completion Of the necessary prelimi-


nary examinations. The subject of our par
: ticipation in the Provincial fisheries as regu.
lated by treaty will at once be brought to tn,
: attention of the British Government, with
view to an early and permanent settlement o
the whole question, which was only temper
arily adjusted by the Treaty of Washington
Efforts have been made to obtain the remova
of restrictions found injurious to the exporta
f. tion of cattle to the United Kingdom. Som
correspondence has also occurred with regar,
3 to the rescue and saving of life and propert,
upon the lakes, which has resulted in import
D ant notifications of the previous regulation
Q of the Dominion Government on the subjec
9 in the interest of humanity and commerce.
THE FRENCH CABLE.


: The assent of the Government has bee
given to landing on the coast of Massachusett
: Of new and Independent Transatlantic cabl
/ between France, by way of the French islam
St. Pierre, and this country, subject to an
4 future legislation of Congress on the subject
r The conditions imposed, before allowing thi
q connection with our shores to be established
e are such as to secure its competition with an
4 existing or future lines or marine cable, an
q preclude amalgamation Herewith to provid
: for entire equality of rights to our Governmer
v and people with those of France in the
r the cable, and prevent any exclusive possessio
: of the privilege as accorded by France to tt
"a disadvantage of any future cable communics
v ton between France and the United State
# which may be projected and accomplished
i our citizens. l respectfully submit to yo,
70 consideration the Importance of Congression
i action in this matter.


is MINOR FOREIGN MATTERS.


The questions Of grave Importance wit


Spain, growing out of the incidents of IL


Cuban insurrection, have been, for the mo
n part, happily and honorably settled. 1t ms
OF reasonably be anticipated that the Commissic
4. now sitting in Washington, for the decision
'e private cases in this connection, will soon
ID able to bring its labors to a conclusion.
OF Some questions with Switzerland in fegal
ID to psuper and convict emigrants have arise
as but it is not doubtful that they will be a
p ranged upon a just and satisfactory basis.
oe With the German Empire frequent que
oe tions arise in connection with the subjects
at naturalization and expatriation, but the II
IN perial Government has constantly manifested


desire to strictly maintain and comply with
at treaty stipulations in regard to them.
OF Relations with Austria, Russia, Italy, Port
d. gal, Turkey and Belgium continue amicat