Abraham Lincoln stands in our annals as the liberator of the slave, you may stand there, if you will, as the regenerator of our political life.”
Members of the League, we look forward to the year before us with high hopes. May we be permitted, when we meet again, to rejoice over accomplished results.
TO LUCIUS B. SWIFT
When I received your telegram of the 11th I was just on the point of leaving Washington for home. I agree with you completely and have preached the same doctrine to Messrs. Bissell and Maxwell. I have especially tried to convince Mr. Bissell, who is a well-meaning and sincere man, of the necessity of forming and making known a definite plan as to the object to be reached—a non-partisan service—and the means by which to reach it. I think I have made an impression upon him.
Did you notice the anti-spoils-system talk Mr. Bynum has been indulging in?
I have some reasons for hoping that there will be an improvement in the method of the Post-Office Department from this time on, and also that the civil service rules will soon be extended over the chiefs of division. The President and all the secretaries are profoundly disgusted with the things the spoils system has brought upon them, and I think we have a good chance of making a substantial advance. I shall keep up a vigorous correspondence with them. Our relations are in this respect all that can be desired.
