Year: 1876

increases distrust, and an unstable
policy which increases uncertainty. The
people need to know that the Govern
ment is moving in direction of ulti-
mate safety and prosperity, and that it
is doing so through prudent and safe
conservative methods, which will be sure
to infict no new distress on the bust
ness of the country. Then the inspira-
ton of new hope and we'll founded con-
fdence will hasten, restoring the prices
of nature, and prosperity will begin to
return. The St. Louis Convention con-
cluded its expression in regard to the
currency bill by the declarations of its
convictions as to the practical results OF
the system of preparations. We believe
such system we'll devised, and above
all intrusted to competent hands fo1
execution, creating at no time an artif-
cial scarcity of currency, and at no time
alarming the public mind into with
drawal of that vast machinery of credit
by which IS per cent. of all business
transactions are performed and system
open to the public and inspiring general
confidence would from the day of its
adoption bring healing on its wings to
all barrrassed industries; set in motion
the wheels of commerce, manufactures
and mechanical arts; restore employ
ment to labor and renew in all its ma
terial sources the prosperity of the peo-
pie. The Government of the United
States, in my opinion, can advance to
the resumption of specie payment on
its legal notes in gradual and safe pro-
cesses, tending to relieve the present
business distress. If charged by the peo-
pie with the administration of executive
office, I should deem it my duty to
exercise my powers with which it has
been or may be invested by Congress so
as the best and soonest to conduct the
country to that beneficial result.


The convention Justly affirms that re-
form is necessary in civil service, necessa-
ry to its publication, necessary to econ
omy and efficiency, necessary in Or
der that the ordinary employment of
public business may not be the prize
fought for at the ballot-box, brief re-
ward OF party zeal instead of posts of
honor assigned for proved competency
and held for fidelity in public employ.
Tho convention wisely allowed that re-
form is necessary even more in the high
er grades of public service; the Prssi-
dent, Vice President, Judges, Senators,
Representatives, Cabinet Officers and
all others in authority are not private
perquisite, they are public trusts. Two
evils infest the official service of the
Federal Government-one is the preva-
lent and demoralizing notion that the
public service exists not for the business
and benefit of the whole people, but
for the interest of ofice-holders, who,
in truth, are but tho servants of the
people; under the influence of this per-
nicious error, public employments have
been multiplied, and the number of
those gathered into the ranks of Office
holders have already been increased be-
yond any possible requirements of the
public business; while the efficiency in


speculation, fraud, and maladministra-
ton in public business, from the high
est to the lowest places of power, have
overspread the whole service like lep-


rosy. The other evil is the organization


of the official class into body of polit-


ical mercenaries, governing caucuses


and directing the nominations of their
own party, and attempting to carry the


elections of the people by undue infu-


ence, and, by an immense corrupting
fund, Systematically collected from the


salaries and fees of ofice-holders. The
official class in other countries. some
times by its own weight and sometimes
in alliance with the army, has been able
to rule unorganized masses, even under
universal suffrage; here it has already
grown into gigantic power, capable Of
sitting the inspirants of a sound public
opinion, and of resisting an easy change
of administration. until misgovernment
becomes intolerable. A public spirit
has been stung to the pitch of civil
revolution. The first step in reform is
an elevation of the standard by which
disappointing power selects agents to ex-
ecute official trusts. Not less in import
ance is conscientious fidelity in the
exercise of the authority to hold to ac-
count and displace subordinates. The
public interests in an honest and skill
full performance OF ofof1icial trust must not
he sacrificed to the usufruct of incun,-


bents. After these immediate steps,
which will insure the exhibition of bette,
examples, we may wisely go on to the
abolition of unnecessary Offices, and
finally by patient and carefully organ
ization of better civil service system,
under test, wherever practicable, oi
proved competency and fidelity. While
much may be accomplished by these
methods it might encourage delusive ex-
pectations if I were to Withhold here
an expression of my conviction that
no reform of civil service in this coun.
try will be complete and permanent,
until its Chief Magistrate is constitution
ally disqualified for reelection; experience
having repeatedly exposed the futility o,
selfimposed restrictions by candidates OF
incumbents, no matter what may be theil
identity. In this way only the Presi.
dent can be effectually delivered from hi,
greatest temptation to misuse that pow


er and patronage with which the Exec


utiye is necessarily changed. Educated
in the belief that it is the first duty O


a citizen of the Republic to take hil
fair allotment, care and trouble in pub


lie affairs, I have for foIty years, as ,


private citizen, fulfilled that duty, ani


though occupied in an unusual degree