Year: 1876

lie system, which, through the
agency of wealthy companies,
! imports Chinese bondsmen,
and establishes a species of
slavery and interferes with
the Just rewards Of labor or
our pacific coast, should be
utterly abolished.


In the reform of our civil
servhe l most heartily en-
dorse that section OF the plat
form which declares that the
civil service ought not to be
subject to change at every e.
lection, and that it ought not
to be made the brief reward
of party zeal, but ought to be-
awarded for proved compe-
tency, and held for fidelity in
tie public employ. l hope ne
yer again to see the cruel and
remorseless prescription for
political opinions which has
disgraced the Administration
of the last eight years. Bad
as the civil service now is, as
all know, it has some men of
tried integrity and proved a
bility. Such men, and such
men only, should be retained
in office. But no man should
be retained, on any condi-
ton, who has prostituted his
office to the purpose of parti-
san intimidation or compul-
sion, or who has furnished mo
ney to corrupt the elections.
This is done, and has been
done in almost every county
of the land. 1t is a blight up
on the morals of the country,
and ought to be reformed.
Of the sectional contentious,
and in respect toour common
schools, l have only this to
say: that, in my Judgment,
the man or party that would
involve our schools in polit-
ical or sectarian controversy
is an enemy to the schools
The common schools are, so
far, under the protecting care
of all the people, than under
the control of any party or
sect. They must be neither
sectarian nor partisan, and
there must be neither divis-
ion nor misappropriation of
the funds for their support.
Likewise, [ regard the man
who would raise or foster sec
tional animosities and antag-
onisms among his country
men as a dangerous enemy to-
his countrymen as 4 danger
Gus enemy to his country
All the people must be made
to feel and know that, once
more, there is established
purpose and policy under
which all citizens of every
condition, race and color will
be secure in the enjoyment of
whatever rights the constitu-
ton and laws declare, or re-
cognize, and that in contro-
versies that may arise, the Go
vernment is not a partisan,
but within its constitutional
authority the just and power
full guardian of their rights
and safety. All the strife be-
tween the sections and be-
tween the races Will cease as
soon as the power for evil is
taken away from a party that
makes political gain out of
scenes of violence and blood
shed, and the constitutional
authority is placed in the
hands of men whose political
welfare requires that peace
and good order shall be pre-
served everywhere.


1t will be seen gentlemen,
that [ am in entire accord
with the platform of the con-
ventiOn by which / have been
nominated as a candidate for
the office of Vice President
of the United States.


Permit me, in conclusion,
to express my satisfaction at
oeing associated with a can
didate for the Presidency who
is first among his equals, as
representative of the spirit
and of the achievements of re
form. In his official career as
as the Executive of the great
State of New York, he has,in
a comparatively short period,
reformed the public service
and reduced the public bur-
den, so as to have earned, at
once, the gratitude of his
State and the admiration of
the country The nenpla knoxu