The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-06-01
Address Of the Liberals to the People
OF the United States.

The address to the American people adopted at
the recent Reform Conference held in New York
city opens ems up up with statement that never be-
profoundly agitated by apprehensions of dangers
arising from the prevalence of corrupt tendencies
and practices In our political life, and never has
play here in detail the distressing catalogue of
disclosures which for several years have followed
one anotherln rapid succession, and seem to ave
left scarcely single sphere of our political life
untouched. The records Of courts, Of State Leg
is!atures, and of the National Congress speak with
terrible p,sinness, and still they are adding to the
scandalOus exhibition"
things is most deplorable and peculiarly so at this
time, when we are about to celebrate the one
hundreth anniversary of our National existence,
our land, and to witness the evidence of our ma
terial progress, as we'll the working and effects
of that Republican Government which a century
ago our fathers founded.
of Independence, being in so many respects to all
Americans day of sincerest pride and rejoicing,
Is felt to be in other respects not without selfre
revealed in our political life Is the cause.
To the honor of the American people be it
said, every patriotic citizen feels the burning
shame Of the spectacle presented In the Centen.
NAL year-there the mementoes and monuments
of the virtues Of the past, and here the shocking
evidences Of the Generalization and corruption
Of the present; there the glowing enloeies pro.
and here, in hooking CONTRAST, the verdicts Of
courts and records cflegislative bodies llustrat-
ing the political morals Of to-day and this before
all mankind eolemnly summoned as q witness to
the exhibition and guest to the feast. Never
was there cause for kecner modification, and
keenly does it strike every patriotic heart
The question is then asked, How can we
proving (says the address) that, although the
Government machinery has become corrupt, the
great body of the people are sound and strong 1t
the my poes @
stand in the way
.Aner alluding to the great importance Of some
Of the questions involved in the impending Ma
tional election, the address says:
"Grave as they are, still, in our present situa-
ton. we must, as American citizens, recognize it
as our most pressing duty, to re-establish the
yate the tone of our political life. = Our
discussions and struggles about other great ques.
tions and principles will appear like . mockcry
drift into that ruinous anarchy which corruption
must necessarily bring in its train, because it de-
stroys the confidence of peOI lie in their self-gov
eminent, the greatest cslamity that can befall
republic. tits simple question Of life or death.
corrupt monarchy may last by the rule of force;
q corrupt republic cannot endure. IL is useless
to console ourselves with the idea that the cor.
immediate effects of the Civil War, and will,
without an effort at reform, soon pass away.
There 10 another cause which fs not transitory,
system which has made the offices of the Govern
ment the mere sport Of party victory; the system
which distributes the places of trust and re-
eponsibili,y as the reward of party service and
the bounty Of favoritism; the .ystem which sp-
peals to the mean impulses Of selnshness and
greed as controlling motive of political action;
The system which degrades the civil service to the
officer as the hired servant Of the party, and tax
ing him for party support, stimulates corruption,
and places it under party protection; the system
der the Control Of sbe most seshi y Rs
and therefore most active, elemen-tbe place.
holders and the place hunters-thus tending to Or
GAME a standing e Sf political
ment, who, by organized action, endeavor to
eubjupate the will of the people to their ends
through the cultivation of tyrannical party
:" Every student of our political history knows
that since the spoils system was inaugurated cor
ruPtion has steadily grown from year to year, and
lions and demoraiizing TENDENCIES, corruption
will continue to grow in extent and power, for
patriotism ana true merit will more and more be
crowded out Of political life by interruptions self
ishness.
g The war has only gwen q sudden stimulus to
this tendency, but without the war it wonld have
grown up. and will not cease to grow as long as
The hobed of corruption, the spois system, lasts.
The skill in corrupt practices acquired BY one
generation of spoilsme1 will only be improved
upon by the next. The result we know. We have
already reaped SO great harvest Of dieaster and
shame that, we repea', it has now become the
first duty Of the American people to re-establish
the moral character Of the Government by thor
*What can we do toward this end in the impend.
ing National election? In this respect, fellow
citizens, we consider it our duty to speak very
plainly. Never were the cause Of good Govern
ment and the honor Of the American name more
Immediately dependent on the character, ability
and reputation Of the men to be selected for the
highest Offices. In view Of the grave circum-
stances At present %' we declare
man elected TO the Presidency whose very name
lie not conclusive evidence Of the most uncom-
promising determination Of the American people
duty in this respect Is plain and imperative. The
worn out clap trap of fair promises in party plat
forms will not satisfy it; neither will these hne
professions ON the part Of candidates. Not mere
words are needed, but acts; not mere platforms,
but men; and we therefore declare and call upon
ell good citizens to join us, that at the coming
Presidential election we shall support NO candi-
corrupt practices or combinations, impeded their
measures Of reform. We shall support no candi.
power, has failed to use his oppo1tanites in ex.
posing and correcting abuses coming within the
reach of his observation, but for personal and
party ends has permitted them to tester on; for
such men may be counted on not to uncover and
crush corruption. but for the party sake merely
to conceal 1t more. 'tiG.' rls5.'' .-'s'
We shall support no candidate, however con.
epicuous his position or brilliant his ability in
whom the impulses of the party managers have
shown themselves predominant over those Of the
reformer for he will be inclined to contin ne that
fundamental abuse-the employment of the Gov
eminent service as machinery for personal or
psrty ends We shall support no candidate who,
however favorablyjudged by his nearest friends,
Is not publicly known to possess those qualities
of mind and character which the stern task OF
genuine reform requires, for the American people
cannot now afford to rIsK the future Of the Re-
public in experiments on merely supposed virtue
or rumored ability, to be trusted ON the strength
of private rec recommendation.
Tin one word, at present, NO candidate should
be held entitled to the support of patriotic citi-
zens of whom the question may be fairly asked:
ough-going reform Of the Government! Can he
.,ish IA donondnxl nnon Tn .,naaee. Al,