Year: 1877

the country, is the improvement of the in
tellectual and moral condition of the
people. Universal suffrage should rest
upon universal education. To this end
liberal and permanent provision should be
made for the support of free schools by the
Sta'e government, and, if need be, supple
mented by legitimate and firm national
authority. Let me assure my countrymen
OF the Southern States that it is my earnest
desire to promote their truest interests,
the interests of the white and of the colored
people, both and equally, and to put forth
my best efforts in behalf of civil policy
which will forever wipe out from our politi-
cal affairs the color line and the distinction
between North and South, in the end that
we may not have merely a united North or
united South, but united country.


| ask the attention of the public to
the paramount necessity of reform in
our civil service-a reform not merely as
to certain politial abuses and practices of SO.
called official patronage, which have come
to have the sanction OF usage in several de-
partments of our government, but change
In the system Of appointments itself is the
reform that shall be thorough, radical and
complete return to the principles and prac-
tlces of the founders of the government.
they never expected nor desired from pub
lie officers any partisan service. They
meant that public officers should owe





eminent and to the people. They meant
that the officer should be secure in his tenure
as long as his personal character remained
untarnished and the performance of his
duties satisfactory. They held that appoint.
ments to Office were not to be made nor
services, nor merely on nomination of men,
bers of Congress as being entitled in any
respect to control of such appointments.
The fact that both political parties of the
country, in declaring their principles prior
to the election, gave a prominent place
to the subject of the reform of our
civil service, recognizing and strongly
urging its necessity in terms almost identical
In their specific import with those [ have
here employed, must be accepted as a con-
elusive argument in behalf of these
measures. 1t must be regarded as an ex-
preston of the united voice and will of the
whole country upon this subject, and both
political parties are virtually pledged to-
give it their unreserved support.


The President of the United States of
necessity owes his election to office to the
suffrage and jealous labors of a political
party, the members of which cherish with
ardor and regard, as OF essential importance
the principles of their party organization !;
but he should strive to be always mindful of
the fact that he serves his party best who
serves the country best.


X,
In other respects, l recommend an amend
ment to the Constitution, prescribinga term
of six years for the Presidential Office and
forbidding reelection.


With respect to the financial condition of
the country shall not attempt an extended
history of the embarrassment and prostra-
ton which we have suffered during the past
three years. The depression in all our varied
commercial and manufacturing interests
throughout the country, which began in
September, 1873, still continues. 1t is very
gratifying, however, to be able to say that
there are Indications all around us of q
coming change to prosperous times.
Upon the currency question, intimately
connected as it is with this topic, may be
permitted to repeat here the statement made
in my letter of acceptance, that in my judg-
ment the feeling of nncertsinty inseparabIe
from an irredeemable paper currency, with
its fluctuations of values, is one of the great
est obstacles of a return to prosperous times.
The only safe paper currency is one which
rests upon coin basis, and is at all times
and promptly converted into coin. I adhere
to the views heretofore expressed by me in
favor of Congressional legislation in behalf
of early resumption of specie payment, and
am satisfied not only that this is wise, but
| that the interests, as well as the public
sentiment of the country, imperatively de.
mand it.





dition of our country to consider our reia.
tions with other lands, we are reminded by
international complications abroad, threat.
ening the peace of Europe, that our tradi-
| tional rule of noninterference in affairs of
| foreign nations has proved of great value
in past times, and ought to be strictly OBJ.
| served. The policy inaugurated by my
honored predecessor, President Grant, of
submitting to arbitration grave questions in
dispute between ourselves and foreign
| powers, points to the new and in
comparably best instrumentality for
| preservation of peace, and will
as I believe, become the benefcent example
of the course to be pursued in similar emer.
| gencles by other nations. If, unhappily
questions of difference at any time durin g
| the period of my administration arise
between the United States and any foreign
government it will certainly be my disposi
ton and my hope to aid in their settlem ent
in the same peaceful and honorable way
thus securing to our country the great bless
| lngs of peace and mutual good offices with
| all nations OF tie world.


| Feilow-citiZens, We have reached the close
of a political contest marked by the excite
ment which usually attends the contest be
| tween great political parties whose members
| espouse and advocate with earn est faith theil
respective creeds. The circumstances were
perhaps in no respect extraordinary, save
|
tainty of the result. For the tirst tine in
the history of the country it has beer
deemed best, in view of the peculiar
circumstances of the case, that the
objections and questions in dispute


with reference to the counting OF tn.


Electoral votes should be referred to tn,


decision of tribunal appointed for thi


purpose. That tribunal established by Law


for this sole purpose, its members all O


them men of long established reputation TO


integrity and intelligence, and with the ex


ceptions of those who are also members 0


the Supreme Judiciary, chosen equally from


both political parties, its deliberation en-


lightened by the resear ca and the argume Mt
of able counsel, was entitled to the fulIes
confidence of the American people. Its de
, cisions have been patiently waited for an,
accepted as legally conclusive by the geners


judgment of the public. For the presen


opinion will widely vary as to the wisdom
| of the several conclusions announced b
that tribunal. This is to be anticipated
In every instance where matters of disput
are made subject of arbitration under tn
. erring and is rarely regarded as otherwis
than wrong by the unsuccessful party in tn
contest. The fact that two great politics
!. parties have in this way settled disput
!. in regard to which good men differ as
the law, no less than as to the prope
j | COURSE ~ uS puEsucu III SolViuS the Que
ton in controversy, is an occasion fo
general rejoicing. Upon one point there


entire unanimity in public sentiment-tbs
: conflicting claims to the Presidency must
amicably and peaceably adjusted, and ths
', when so adjusted the general acquiesence {
the nation ought surely to follow. 1t has bee
, reserved for government of the peopl
where the right of suffrage is universal, t
give to the world the first example in histor
:. of great nation, in the midst of a struggl
of opposition parties for power, hushing i
. party tumults to yield the issue of the col
: test to adjustment according to th
7 forms of law, loo king for tt
guidance of that Divine han
Q by which the destinies of natior
l and individuals are shaped. / call upo
you, Senators, Representatives, Judge
: fellow-citizens, here and everywhere,
i unite with me in an earnest effort to secul
to our country the blessing, not only
;, material prosperity, but of justice, peat
!, u and union-a union depending not upon Il
J constraint of force, but upon Il
: loving devotion of free people that q
e things NAV be SO ordered and settled upc