The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-05-04


those whom We ask TO follow our lead by
deceitful Representations. AT the men
whom we shall present for the high exec.
utive offices Of the government, let ns, l
entreat, not lose sight OF the fact. The
great reforms, the overthrow Of inyeterate
abuses, the establishment Of better order
Of things are not accomplished by mere
promises, but require the wise and ener.
getlc action Of statesmen. II this 10 to be
truly reform movement, and II II be not
merely on paper, II must be embodied In
the men we entrust with the power to On.
force the spirit Of reform into practical
action. II you want TO know how reforms
are not executed, look Of these now In
power. Youcan hardly excel them In the
profusion Of high sounding professions,
and you will never excel them In the
art Of chow not to do It" Re.
form must become 0 farce In the
hands Of those who either do not
understand II or do not care for II. II
you mean reform, lentrust the work to
none but those who do understand, and
honestly docare, and care more Tor II than
their own personal ends. Pardon me II
express myself on this point with free.
dom and frankness. ! have not, / assure
you, come here for the purpose Of urging
the claims or advancing the interests Of
any one man against others, ] have
come here with 0 sincere and ardent de.
votion to cause and to put be under the
care Of men who are devoted TO II with
equal sincerity and possess those qualities
Of mind and heart which will make II
safe In their keeping. Iearnestly depre.
cate the cry we have heard 60 frequent,
anybody to beat Grant" THERE'S some.
thing more wanted than to beat Grant.
Not anybody who might by, cheap popu.
larlty or by astute bargains and combina.
tions, or by all the tricks Of political wire.
pulling, manage to scrape together votes
enough to be elected President. We do
not merely want another, but we want q
better President than we now have. We
do not want mere change oil persons In
the administration Of the Government.
We want the overthrow Of 0 pernicious
system. We want the eradication Of the
tlagrant abuses. We want the infusion
OF a loftier spirit In every political organ.
ism. We want agovernment which the
people of this country will be proud Of.
Not anybody can accomplish that, and
therefore awaylwith the cry Anybody
to beat Gran" cry too paltry, too un.
worthy OF the great enterprise in which
we are engaged.
lido not struggle for the mere punish.
ment Of an opponent, or temporary lease
OF power. There Is to me q thing no less;
nay, more important even than our, sue:
cess in this campaign, and that Is that the
American people shall not be disappoint.
ed In the fruits which our victory Is to
bear. II We should fail to select men who
will carry out the beneficent reforms we
contemplate then, let me say It boldly,
then It would be better had this move!
ment never been undertaken, for the con.
tinuance Of those In power who possesses
it now would mean only the reformatory
movement deferred and an opportunity
still coming, while our failure now would
mean great reform movement sunk to
the level Of farce, great opportunity
lost and the hope Of the people turned
into encouragement and disgust. Let US
discard at least the fatal error into which
many seem to have fallen, that no states.
manship is required TO condcut the affairs
Of a great government. I candidly be-
lievc the people are waking up to the
truth, for unless greatly mistake the
spirit Of this day, what the people now
most earnestly demand Is not that mere
good intentions, but that a superior intel
llgence, coupled with superior virtues,
shall guide our affairs, not that merely an
honest and popular man, but that q
statesman be put at the head Of our gov.
crnment. "A
In selecting candidates for office, politi-
clans are accustomed to discuss the ques.
ton Of availability. What does ayaiIa.
bility mean in our case9 Let US look for
the best men we have among the very
best. Let us select the strongest The
people earnestly desire thorough re.
form Of our Government. They want not:
only change, but a change for the bet
ter. They want also. therefore, to be as.
sured that 1t will BIZ for the better, and
that the best candidate Is likely to be the
most available. live present men to the
suffrage Of the people whose character
and names appeal TO the Hottest instincts
and aspirations Of the patriot citizen, we
shall have on our, side that which, ought
to be. 1fthat be done, then success will
be certain. Then we can appeal to the
minds and hearts, to the Hottest ambition
OF the people. With these arguments and
entreaties, which can spring only from q
clear conviction Of right, then we shall
not appeal in vain for their support to
those Of our tellow.citizens who hitherto
were separated from US by party divisions
who desire honestly 10 work for the best
interests Of the country in this crisis, and
whom We shall welcome with fraternal
greeting in this struggle for great cause,
whether they call themselves Democrats
or Republicans. Then we shall successful
ly overcome these prejudfces which
now confront US, and the insidious
accusation that this great Convention
Is mere gathering Of disappoint.
Cd and greedy politicians will fall
harmless at our feet, for we shall have
demonstrated by our action that we were
guided by the purest and most patriotic
Of motives. And this can be done. Let
us despise as unworthy Of our cause the
tricky manipulations by which, TO the
detriment Of the Republic, political bodies
have been go frequently controlled. Let
us In the face Of all things to be accom-
plished rise above all petty considerations.
Personal friendship and State pride are
noble sentiments; but what Is personal
friendship, what Is State pride, compared
with the great duty We owe to our COM
mon country and the awful responsibility
resting upon our action. As sensible men
we know that not every one of-as can be
gratified by the choice Of his iavorite,
Many Of US will have 10 be disappointed !;
but in this solemn hour our hearts should
know but one fayorite, and that Is the
American public.
Pardon me for these words Of warning
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