The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-05-20
THE REFORM MOVEMENT.
The Political OcalaW aEs In Council
TAeiF Addresses, Etc.

On Monday last there was meeting
in the Fifth Avenue hotel, New York, of
the political scalawags, who, failing to
achieve their personal aims inside the Re.
publican party, hope, by third party
movement, to achieve them otherwise
In pursuance Of this purpose, these pollt-
zeal fanatics and schemers illuminate an
address, which amounts TO nothing more
than the spiders invitation TO the
fly. We extract from it the following
paragraphs:
Every American citizen feels burning
shame 1t the spectacle presented by the
decentralization and corruption Of the pres
cnt as compared With the wisdom, purity
and honesty Of our fathers, and this Is
made evident to all mankind. Every
patriotic heart asks, how can we avert
such dangers and wipe of such shame !.
The answer Is, by proving that, though
the machinery has been corrupt. The
great body OF the people are honestly de.
termined to reform the abuses Of our Do
litical life at any cost, and restore the
faith Of the people in their institutions in
the coming election. We must con.
scientiously maintain the settlement of
the civil war as cOnstitutionally fixed, and
at the same time strengthen the Govern
ment by . strict observance OF con.
stitutional principles, and the old BROTH
erhood will be revived by policy of mu.
tual justice. We must fulfill our solemn
and repeated pledge to discharge all ma.
ti0nal obligations not only BY payment
Of principal and interest Of the
bonded debt when due, but remove
not later than the legal appointed
time the curse Of our redundant ire
deemable paper currency, which Is largely
the cause Of our troubles. Our most
pressing duty Is to establish the moral
character OF our government, elevate the
tone Of our political life. without which
the national prosperity, power and free
dom are impossible. A corrupt m monarchy
may last by the rule Of force, q corrupt
Republic cannot endure. Our late civil
war Is not the only cause Of our cOrrup.
ton the system which has made offices of
the Government. the spoils OF party, vic.
tory Is not transitory but threatens to be.
come permanent, 1t distributes the places
OF trust and responsibility as reward OF
party service. 1t appeals to The mean
impulses OF greed and selfishness as con-
trolling the action. 1t degrades the civil
service to the level Of mere party agency;
treats the officer as hired servant Of the
party; taxes him for party support.
The place holders and place
nuntSrs Whu 10 organize a
standing army Of political merccnaries 10
be paid from the government treasury
Every student OF Political history knows
that since the sp0ils system was inaugu.
rated corruption has steadily Increased
and 1t will increase a. long as this system
continues. for such system will crowd
/ out OF political life men Of patriotism and
true merit. The war only stimulated
corruption, which would have grown
without war. What can we do toward
securing reform in the coming election /?
The country cannot afford the election of
man to the presidency whose very
name IL not evidence Of the most uncom.
promising determination to make this
pure government once more, No
worn out clap-trap Of fair promises will
satisfy our duty. Acts OF candidates, not
words. are our need.
The address, therefore, calls upop all
good citizens to join in the coming cleo.
ton to support no presidential candidate
who, as a public servant, cOuntenanced
corrupt practices or organizations, or
impeded their exposure and punishment.
or opposed reform; to support no candi.
date. however enfluential, who, as an Off.
cial, failed to use his power In Correcting
abuses, but for personal or party reason.
permit them to tester; to support no.
body whoses impulses Of the party mana.
ger have shown themselves predominant
over those OF the refermer; TO support no
candidate not publicly known to possess
tnose qualities OF mind and character
wplch the stern task Of genuine reform