The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-05-05

lost great opportunity, but you have
struck blow at the con fdencc The people
have in themselves. and for long time,
| popular reform movements VIII mol rise
again under the weight of the discic
which you will have brought upon them.
II is possible if we do not rise to the
PULL HIGnT OF OUR DUTY
il is possible il, instead of following the
grand impulse of the popular heart, we
attempt to control and use this movement
by the old tricks of political trade, or
frttcr away our zeal III sm6ll chickering's
and mean, selfish aspirations. We have
come together to give shape, point and
practical productive force 10 this great
uphcaval OF
| THE POPULAR CONSCIENCE.
! 1t is our business to lay down certain
| principles ard propositions Of policy, and
we have to present to the suf'rngcs of the
people for the highest offices of the rcpub-
lie those who, if elected, are to carry those
principles and propositions into living re-
nlity. AS TO our platform, we shall be
wise enough II Keep our mind on those
things which the republic stands most i'm
mediately in the need Of The very fact
of our having come together is proof of
in what we promise to the people, be hon
est and straightforward, and not attempt
to cheat those whom we ask to follow our
lend by dcccitful representations.
As To THE Men
whom we shall present for the high cxecu-
tive Offices of the government, let us, | en-.
treat you. not lose sight of the fact that
great reforms, the overthrow of invetcratc
abuses and the establishment of better
order of things, are not accomplished by
mere promises and declarations, but re-
Yuire the wise and energetic action of
! statesmen. Il. this il 10 be truly reform
movement, and if 1t be not merely on
paper, it must be embodied in the iGen we
cntrust to redeem the spirit of reform to
practical action. IL You want to know
how reforms are not executed, look at
those now in power. You will hardly ex-
eel them in profusion OF high sounding
professions, and You will never excel them
in the ar:
HOW Not TO Do IT.
Reform must become curse in the
hands OF those who do not understand it,
or do not care for it. lfyou mean reform
cntrust the worl, TO none but those who
understand and honestly do care more for
II than their own personal ends. Pardon
me if express myself on this point with
freedom and frankness. ! have not, | AS
sure you, come here for the purpose of
urging the claims or advancing the inter-
est of any one man against all Others. !
have come here with sincere and
ARDENT DEVOTION
to cause, and to use my be-, endesvors
10 have that cause put under the care of
l H. 4 -
cerity, and who possess those qualities of
mind and heart which will make it safe in
their keeping. ] earnestly depreca,c the
cry we have heard so frequently, Any.
body to beat Grant There il something
more wanted than To beat Grant We d,
not merely want another,f4but We want
better president than We now have. W.
do not want mere change Of persons il
the administration OF the government
. We want the overthrow Of II pcrnciou
system We want the eradication OF fla
/. grant abuses; we want the infusion Of
|, loitier moral spirit into our political or
ganism; W. want II government which I'll
best people of the country will he prou
of. Not anybody can accomplish that, AN
!. therefore away with the cry
! "ASYRoDY TO nEhT GRANT"
.e u cry too parity too unworthy of the gre;
q enterprise in which we ARE Engaged. | d
o not struggle for the mere punishment
= an opponent, or II temporary lease {
c power. There is to me II thing no les
: nay, more important even than our FL,
= cess in this campaign, and that is TINT I'll
e American people shall not be dsappointe
l in the fruits which our victory is to beal
. If We should fail to select men who vii
/, carry out the
BENEfICENT REFORMS WE CoNTEMpLAT
then, let me say boldly 1t would be bette
hhd this movement never been undertaken
for the continuance Of those in power
those who possess IL now, would NEAR
only relornatory movement deferred
and an,opportunity still coming, while our
failure now would mean great reform
movement sunk 10 the level OF II farce; Il
great opportunity lost, and tie hope OF
the people turned into encouragement
and disgust. Let US discard at hast the la
tai error Into which many seem to have
fallen, that no craftsmanship is REQUIRED to
conduct the affairs Of u great gov crn,nent
| candidly believe the people are waking
up to the truth, for, unless | greatly mis-
take the spirit Of this day what the peo-
PIE now most earnestly demand is, no, that
mere good intentions, but that II superior
| intelligence coupled with
SUPERIOR VIRTUE
should guide our affairs; not that merely
an honest and popular man, bu. that a
statesman be put Mt the head of our gov
| eminent. In selecting candidates for
office, politicians are accustomed to dis
cuss the question Of availability. VIVA,
docs availability mean in our case ? Let
us look Tor the best men we have, and,
among the very best, let Us select the
strongest. The people honestly desire u
thorough reform OF our government /;
they want not only..a change but chdnge
for the better; they want also therefore
10 be assured that it will be for the better,
and that the best candidate j. likely 10 be
the most available. If we present men
to the suffrage Of the people whose char
acter and names appeal to the loitiest in
stincts and aspirations of the patriotic
citizen, we shall have Oh our side that
which ought 10 be, and ! trust will be, the
ruling arbiter OF political contests.
TuE CONSCIENCE or THE NATION.
Ii that be done, then success will be
certain then we can appeal a. the minds
aud hearts, to the loitiest ambition of the
people. With these arguments and en-
treaties which can spring only from IA
clear conviction of right, then we shall not
appeal IN vain fnr sntp.rt A.. tl,.xn az .u