Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-16
THE INDEPENDENT MOVE.
MENT.
Formidable Movement by the Intellect
ual Leaders and Members of the
Republican Party.
An Array Of Strong Names-Signiflcant
and Pointed Speeches Cor.
ruptiOns of Radicalism.


hundred prominent gentlemen from va
rlous parts OF the country assembled 81
the tIith Avenue hotel to-day to attend
the political conference called by VIII
liam Z. Bryant, Horace White, Theodore
ID. Woolsey, a. II. Bullock and Car
SchurZ. Secretary Lodge called the
meeting to order and read the call. The
following were appointed permanent Of.
ficers: President-TheOdOTe D. Woolsey.
Vice-President4-G. G. Fogg, New
Hampshire; G. w. Willard, Vermont;
ii. l.. Pierce, Martin Brimmer, Julius
II. Seelye, Mark Hopkins and J. +.
Clark, Massachusetts; Leonard Bacon
and Joseph Cummins, Connecticut; +.
HszaId and L. Wentworth Higginsoa,
Rhode Island; w. g. Bryant, John Jay,
0. Ottendorfer, E. SslomoD, Il. r. Wood,
Cyrus w. Field, Charles Butler and
Samuel Osg JOd, New York; Thomas
Balcb, Henry Lea and William Welsh,
Pennsylvania; Ex. Governor Miller snd
j. d. Cox, Ohio; Colonel Martin, Indj-
ara; John III. Bryant and Robert Col
yer, Illinois; w. l.. Davis and F. w.
Horn, Wisconsin; John M'Neil and
James s. Rollins, Missouri. Secretaries,
H.C. Lodge, Massachusetts; +. A. Walk
or, Connecticut; II. A. Brown, Penn
sylvania; A. Ricenne, Ohio, and E..
Clarke, Missouri.
President WOolsey said that for eight
or ten years past the country had been
growing politically worse; leading and
strong men OF the Republican party had
made the country blush with shame,
and now this meeting was called to de.
eide what was best to be done to remedy
matters.
Carl Schurz thanked the audience for
such large attendance. 1t was a good
sign, he said, when men came forward
aud showed their political indepeDd-
ence; every citizen should see that the
party he belongs to is a good one; none
have been invited here but men not
Oveiawed by any party, and such as are
known to have the best interests of the
country at heart. The Independents, it
is said are on the fence, but it is owing
to the vast quantity of mud on both
sides of the fence; they are afraid to de-
scend; the object of this conference is
to promote and further the interests of
the country.
Park Goodwin, Judge L. S. Foster,
Connecticut; J. w. Hoyt, Wisconsin:
Martin Brimmer, Massachusetts; and
O~AA hCSAANAH SBPOaAAOu o
to draw up some definite plan OF action
and take such other measures as may be
deemed necessary, and report to the coz
vention.
Mr.. Osgood spoke as follows: at is
every mans duty to be q patriot, be he
clerical or lay. OF late the government
has been separated from that high NOR
atty necessary, ana scouting politicians
In ava aFpglt into nffian vEJl 81
and most damDable class. We do not
like the White House. An unpleasant
Odor has arisen all around it; and while
believing that the present incumbent is
not bad man, yet his associates are
bad, and he has placed men in office
who have made us all hang our heads
by their misdeeds. We want q man in
tIat office intelligent, honest, capable,
high toned AID fearless" Applause.
franklin M'Veigh, OF Chicago, said
he came on, as he was interested in Mr..
Bristow, and thought the conference
was also; he did not know what would
be done, but thought that the composers
Of the conference were mere boys in poI-
tiles; that they were too abstract, and
should get down to something personal
and definite. \.
Charles Francis Adams, jr., said he
would not fire eff his gun, like Mr..
M'Veigh, until he first saw his bird.
Laughter He preferred waiting fer a
report OF the committee before presum-
ing that nothing positive would be done.
Mr.. II. A. Bowen, OF Philadelphis,
said that rigorous course of politics in
Philadelphia had excluded every man
Df respectability from Cffice. Public
honor USo hoOraAaH
seemed to be the aim of
life. Money, money, was all the cry.
Youth was corrupted and manhood put
to shame. We desire to put a stop TO
these things and preserve our govern
ment from destruction.
Mr.. VIM, O. Bryant begged to be ex-
cused fom speaking.
DR.. LeOnsrd Bacon said he came to
hear and learn. The issue before the
to day is M oral one. Will we
pay our debts? We have acted in bad
'aith, and our notes are to-day living
lies on their faces. Offices are sought
solely for profit and not for honor.
Prof. Julius Seelye said he did not be-
ieve we had fallen into degenerate
imes. Cases Of corruption were few
the number Of persons in
JulCCs w Q CSit 1CiOl IL Oil IuGSS Ll4AuRSs I
)y having a President who will think |
lis office a solemn trust-a self.forget- |
ing man, COSTA geOJs, above suspicion,
md who will appoint men to office on |
merit, and remove only for cause.
Colonel Higginson, Of Rhode Island, !
aid the party was ;OtteTiDg from it's |
7ery strength, but u little stirring I'D |
would do it no harm.
Mr.. Welsh, Of Philadelphia, said it |
vas question whether we were slaves |
II not. He thought not. The people |
we're in the hands Of wiley office seek
rs, and required to be shaken over the |
'ottOmless pit before waking up. We |
want good men in office to save the |
OuntIy, and must have them, or we
lad better apply for annexation to Bra
il.
Mr.. SchuIz announced that the COM |
nittee had arduOus duties, and could |
lot report tlis eV,nrp. An address to |
be people of the United States was
eing drawn up, but it WAS not ready |
'et; also some resolutions.
The conference adjourned until to-
morrow.
NnDTEE EEpN A. uH,EHHnDWHTEEs