The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-03


power refusing to lit up those who had gone astray
and were now suffering, by policy of generous con-
citation and the craftsmanship Of common sense
We observed this, and at the same time reckless
and greedy party spirit In the name OF great or
ganization crowned with the laurels Of glorious
achievements, striving 10 palliate or Justify these
wrongs and abuses, 10 stiIe the moral sense
OF the people and TO drive them by
tyrannlcal party discipline not only 10 submit
To this for the present but to perpetuate IT, that
the political power OF the country be preserved in
the hands OF those who possessed IT, He who calmly
and impartially surveyed this spectacle could not
fail to be deeply alarmed, not only at the wrongs
that had been and were being perpetrated, but Mt
rise up against them. The question might Wen
have been asked Have the American people be-
to their national harmony, to the purity OF their
political life, to the integrity OF their free nstitu
tions to the very honor OF the American name that
they should permit themselves to be driven, like
flock OF sheep, by those who assume to lord II
over as% That question has nov nov i sound
OF Independence, the love Of liberty the republican
pride OF the American people are not dead yet, and
do not mean to die and that answer IL given in
thunder tones by the Convention Of American free
men here assembled. Indeed, those who, three
months ago, first raised their voices did SO with an
without response; but the volume OF that response
has now far exceeded their anticipations. The
court Of narrow prejudices, OF selfish craftsmanship,
which but yesterday seemed to stop every free pull
satiOn OF the popular heart is suddenly burst asun
der The patriotic citizen rises above the partisan
We begin to breathe again as frceuien. We
dare again to call things by their right names. We
have once more the courage to break through the
receptions with which the popular mind has been
befogged. We feel once more that our convictions
OF right and wrong are our own and that our votes
belong to the country, and thus we de6anty set
our sense OF duty against the arrogance OF power
like the buge blast OF dOomsday The summons IL
resounding North and South and East and West; the
conscience OF the people which seemed dead mas
are docking togetaer, and here We are let me hope
ay, do hope, with fearless determination to do our
whole duty as ifnothing could withstand movement
so rressttbly inspiring Indeed the breath OF victory
~ In the very air which surrounds US ana that VIE
tory will not escape from grasp If we true 10
our mission. But you must bear with me If in this
hour OF enthusiasm, when our hearts are big with
proud presentiments, address to you word Of
soberness. We have grand opportunity before us
grand and full OF promise We can crush cOrrup-
ton In our public concerns; we can give the re-
vvive the authority of the Jaws; we can restore to
full value the constitutional safeguard of our ltber
ties VIC can infuse higher moral spirit into our po-
Utical life; we can reanimate In the hearts Of the
whole people in every section OF the land u fra
ternal and proud national feeling. We can do all
this; but we can do it only If, throwing behind Us
the selfish spirit OF political trade, We obey the
purcst and oftiest inspirations OF the popular up
rising which sent here. A great opportunity, IL
is great as the noblest ambition might desire but
equally great-nay to my mind fearful--is the re-
sponsibility II brings with It, An opportunity like
this momentous period In the history OF nation,
an uprising OF the people snch rs we behold, will not
occur every day nor every year, for it must spring
from the spontaneous Impulse or the popular mind.
Disappoint the high expectations brought forth
by that spontaneous impulse, and you have not
only lost great S" r., yon ye nf4
themselves, and Tor a long time popular reform
movements will not rise again, under the weight OF
the dlscredit which you win have brought npon
them. Ia II possible that such should be the result
of our dongsy IL IL possible if we do not rise to
the fun height Of our duty II Is possible H. insnaa
heart, we attempt to control and use this move
ment by the old tricks Of the political trade or
mean selfish aspirations. We have come together
to give shape, point and practical productive force
to this great upheaval OF the popular conscience.
IL il our business to lay down certain principles
and propositions OF policy and we have to present
to the SURFACES OF the people men for the highest
ofoes OF the republic, who, II elected are to carry
those principles and propositions into living
reality. As to our platform, we shall be wise
repuSc stands most in need Of The very fact Of
our having come together proof OF our substantial
agreement. Let MS only, IN what We promise to
attempt to cheat those whom we ask TO follow our
lead W deceitfnl representations. A 70 the men
government let W., cntrcat you, not lose sight OF
the fact that great reforms, the overthrow or In
der ~ things, are not accomplished by mere
promises and declarations but require tine wise
and energetic action OF statesmen II this is to he
truly reform movement and N Il be not merely on
paper Rnt IL must be embodied in the men we trust
with t;e power to infuse the spirit OF reform into
practical action. II yOu want to know how reforms
are not executed look at those now in power You
will hardly excel them In the prOlllslOn Of high
sour.Iin0 professions, and YOU win never excel
them In the art OF how not to dol Reform must be-
come farce in the hands OF those who either do not
understand it or do not care for It, Ifyon mean re-
form entrust the work to none but those who I'M
derstand it and honestly do carc--and care more
for IL than for their own personal ends. Pardon
me IL I express myself on this point with freedom
and frankness. l have not, assure you, come
here for the purpose OF urging the claims or adj
vancing the interest OF any one man against all
Others have come here with sincere anu ardent
devotion TO "a cause. and to use my best endeav0fs
to have that cause put under the care OF men who
are devoted TO 1t with equal sincerity, and possess
II safe in their keeping. earnestly deprccate the
cryw have heard 80 frequently Anybody to beat
Grant" There IL something more wanted than TO
beat Grant. Not anybody who might by cheap pop
uarity, by astute bargains and combinations, or
by all the tricks OF political wrepulling manage to
scrape together votes enough to he elected Presi-
dent We do not merely want another, but we
want a better President than we now have We
don't want mere change OF persons In the
administration OF the government; we want
the overthrow OF pernicfous system We
want the eradication Of Migrant abuses.
We want the infusion of loltier moral spirit into
our political organization. We want government
which the best people OF this country will be proud
or Not anybody can accomplish that and there
cry too patry, too unworthy OF the great enter
prise In which we are engaged. do not struggle
porary lease of power. There IL to me thing no
less, nay, more, Important even than our success In
this campaign, and that is that the Ameri-
can people shall not be disappointed In the
fruits which our victory Is to bear IL we
should fail to select men who win carry
then, let me say 1t boldly, II would ne better had
this movement never been undertaken. for con
tinuance Of those in power who possess IL now
would mean only reformat0ry movement deferred
and an opportunity lost. Still, while our
failure now would mean great reform movement
sunk to the level OF u farce, II great opportunity
lost and the hope OF the people turned into dis
enlargement and disgust, let rs discard ut least
the fatal error into which many seem to have fallen,
that no craftsmanship Is required to conduct the
affairs OF great government. l candidly
believe the people are waking up To
th for ntln mis-
the spirit OF this day, what the people now most
earnestly demand IL not that mere good intentions,
but that superior intelligence, coupled with SUI
perior virtue, should guide our affairs; not that
merely an honest and popular man but that d
statesman ne put at the head OF our government.
In selecting candidates for office politicians are ac
customed TO discuss the question OF availability.
What does availability mean in our casey Let us
look for the best men we have, and among the very
best let us select the strongest The people ear
ncsty desire a thorough reform OF our government.
They want not only change but q change for the
better. They want also, therefore, to be assured
that IL will be for the better and that the best
oidatc IL likely to be the most available. IT we
nrpscut men To the surfaces n the upopc whose