Year: 1879

oAuSihoAO uPhcto


which is condemned as a crime by the


laws of all civilized, communities
Throughout the world. The law for the


suppression of this offence was enacted


with great unanimity by congress more


than seventeen years ago, but has re.


manned, until recently, u lock in the


territory of Utah becanse,of the pecu,
liar difficulties attending its enforce
ment. The opinion widely prevailed
among tile citizens of Utah that the
law was in contravention OF the consti-
tutional guarantee of religious freedom.
This objection is now removed. The
supreme court of the United States has
decided the law to be within the legis-
lative power of congress and binding as
rule of action for all who reside
within the territories. There is no
longer any reason for. delay or hesita-
tion in its enforcement. 1t should be
firmly aud effectively executed. If mot
sufficiently stringent in its provisions,
it should be amended, and, in aid of
the purpose in view,I recommend that
more comprehensive and more Search
ing methods for preventing, as well as
Furnishing the crime be provided. If
necessary to secure obedience to the
law, the enjoyment and exercise of the
rights and privileges of citizenship in
the territories of the United States may
be withheld or withdrawn from those
who violate or oppose the enforcement
of the law ON this subject.


= NATION WITH A BIG N.


All sectional and state attachments,
demanding that all over our wide ter
ritory the name and character OF cit
izen of the United States shall mean
one and the same thing and carry with
them unchallenged security and respect
1 earnestly appeal to the intelli-
gence and patriotism of all good citi-
zens of every part of the country, how
ever much they be divided in opinions
on other political subjects, to unite in
compelling obedience to existing laws
aimed at the protection Of the right of
suffrage. l respectfully urge upon
congress to supply any defect in these
laws which experience has shown, and
which it is within its power to remedy.
1 again invoke the cooperation of the
executive and legislative authoritiesof
the states in this great purpose am
fully convinced that if the public mind
can be set at rest on this paramount
question of popular rights, no serious
object will thwart or delay the complete
pacifcation of the country or retard the
general diffusion or prosperity.


On the subject of


CIVIL SERVICE REFORM,


the president says it is the duty of
Office holders to obey the legal instruc-
tions of those upon whom that author
ity is devolved and their best public SER
vice consists in the discharge of their
functions irrespective of partisan poll
tics. Their duties are the same what
ever party is in power and whatever
policy prevails. As a consequence it
follows that their tenure of Office should
NV uCPChu uPOh tnO VI any
policy on the supremacy of any party
tbut should be determined by their ca
pacity to serve the people most nsefully
quite irrespective Of partisan interests.
The same considerations THAT should
govern the tenure should also prevail in
the appointment, discipline and remov-
al of these subordinates. The authori-
| ty of appointment and removal is not
a perquisite which may be used to aid a
friend or reward partisan, but is n
trust to be exercised in the public inter
| est under all the sanctions which at
tend the obligation to apply the public
fund only for public purposes. Every
citizen has an equal rightto the honor
and profit of entering the public SER
vice of his country; the only just ground
of discrimination is the measure of
character and capacity he has to make
that service most usful to the people.
Except in cases where upon just and
recognized principles as upon the theory
of pension offices and promotions are
bestowed as rewards for past services.
Their bestowal upon any theory which
disregards personal merit, is an act of
injustice to the citizen as well as a
breach of that trust subject to which
the appointing power is held In the
light of these principles it becomes of
great Importance to provide inst and
adequate means, especially for every
department and large administrative
Office where personal discrimination on
the part of its head is not practicable
for ascertaining those qualifications to
which appointments and removals
should have reference. ~


STOPPING THE BORDER RAIDS.


| 1t is qualification to be able to an
nounce that the judicious and energet-
ic action of the military commanders of
the two nations on each side of the Rio
Gande under the Instructions of their
respective governments, raids and dep
relations have greatly decreased and
in the localities where they were for
merly most destructive, they have now
almost wholly ceased. In view of this
result entertain confident expecta-
tion of the continuance of prevalence
Of quiet on the modification of the two
countries. The third installment Of
1