Year: 1876

on our Pacific coast should be utterly
abolished.


In reform of civil service ] most
heartily endorse that section of the
platform which declares that civil
service ought not to be subject to
change at every election, and that it
ought not to be made brief reward of
party zeal, but ought to be awarded for
proved competency and held for tideli-
ty in public employ. | hope never
again to see remOrsclGss prescriptions
for political opinions, which has dis
graced the administration Of the last
eight years. Bad as civil service now
is, all know it has some men of tried
integrity and proved ability. Such
men should be retained in office, but
no man should be erctainCd ON any con-
sideratiOn who has prOstituted his
Office to purposes Of partizan intimi-
datiOn or cOnipulsiOn, or has furnished
money to corrupt elections. This is
done and has been done in almost
every county in the land. IL is a
blight upon the morals Of the country
and ought to he reformed.


OF sectional contentious and in re-
spect to common schools | have only
this to say: That in my judgment,
the man or party that would involve
our schools in political or gcclariun
controversy is an enemy to schools
Common schools are safer under con-
troll of no party or sect. They must
be neither seCtaran nor partisan, and
there must be neither division or mis-
appropriation of funds for their sup
port. Likewise ! regard the man who
would arouse or foster sectional ami
mOsities and aHtagOnisms among his
COuntrymen rs a dangerous enemy to
his country. All people must be made
to feel and know that once more there
is established purpose and policy
under which all citizens OF every cor
ditiOn, race and color will be secure in
the enj OymCnt of whatever rights the
Constitution and laws declare or re-
cOgniZe, and that in controversies that
may arise the Government is not
partisan, but within its constitutional
authority the just and powerful
guardian of the rights and safety of
all. The strife between the sections
and between the races will cease as
soon as power for evil is taken away
from the party that makes political
gain out of scenes of violence and
blOOdshed, and constitutional authority
is placed IN the hands Of men whose
political welfare requires that peace
and good order shall be preserved
everywhere.


1t will be seen, gentlemen, that am
in entire accord with the platform Of
the Convention by which | have been
nominated as candidate for Office of
Vice President of the United States.


Permit me, in conclusion, to express
my satisfaction at being associated
with a candidate for the Presidency
who is first among his equals as a
representative of the spirit and achieve
ment of reform. In his official career
as Executive Of the great State of New
York he has in comparatively short
period reformed the public service and
reduced the public burdens so as to
have earned at once the gratitude of
his State and the admiration Of the
country. People know HIM to be
thoroughly in earnest. He has shown
himself TO be possessed of powers and
qualities which fit him i'm an eminent
degree fer the great work Of retorma-
ton which his country now needs and
if he shall be chosen by the people to
the high Office of President of the
United States, believe that the day
of his Inauguration will be the begin
ming of a new era of peace, purity and
prosperity in all departments of our
Government.


/ am, gentlemen,


Your Obedient servant


THOS. \. HENDRICKS.
To the Hon. JOHN \. MCCLERNAED,


Chairman, and others, of the Com


mittee of the National Democratic


Convention.