Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1876-08-15

y
sorcly tried by the eXigences of civil
war. and since the peace by selfish and
corrupt management of public affairs,
which has shamed us before civilized
mankind, by unwise and partial legis-
laton. Every industry and interest
of the people have been made to suf.
fer, and in the Executive department
of the Government, dishonesty, ra-
pacity and venality, have debauChed
the public service. Men known to be
unworthy have been promoted, whilst
others have been degraded for fidelity
to official duty. Public Office has been
made the terms of private profit, and
the country has been offended to see a
class Of men, who boast the friendship
of the sworn protectors of the State,
amassing large fortunes by defrauding
the public treasury and by cOrrupting
the servants of the people. In such Il
crisisOf the history of the country, ]
rejoice that the Convention at st.
Loas has so nobly raised the standard
Of reform.
Nothing can be we'll with us or our
affairs, until the public conscience,
shocked by the enormous evils and
abuses which prevail, shall have de
manded and compelled an unsparing
reformation of our national admins
tratiOn, i'm its head and In its members.
In such a reformation, the removal Of
"a single officer, even the President, is
comparatively trifling matter, if the
system which be represents and which
has iOstered him as he has fostered it,
is suffered to remain. The President
alone must not be made the pe-gOat
for the enOrmities of the system which
infecls the public service, and threat
eus the destruction of our institutions,
In some respects, | hold that the pres
eht Executive has been the victim,
rather than the author, of that vicious
system. Congressional and party
leaders have been stronger than the
President. No one man could have
created it, and the removal of no one
man can amend it. 1t is thoroughly
corrupt and must be swept remOrseless-
ly away by the selection of a govern
ment composed Of elements of integri-
ty, new and pledged to radical reform.
The first work of reform must evident
ly be the restoration of the normal Ope
ration of the constitution of the United
States with all It's amendments. The
necessities of war cannot be pleaded
in q time of peace. The right of local
self-government az guaranteed by the
Constitution of the Union, must be
everywhere restored, and the central
lied, almost personal imperialism
which has been practiced, must be
done away, or the first principles of
the Republic will be lost, Our finan-
cial system of eXpedients must be re-
formed Gold and silver are the real
standard of value, and our national
currency will not be a perfect medium
Of exchange until it shall be convert.
Bile at the pleasure of the holder.
AS have heretofore sid no one de-
sires a return to specie payments more
earnestly than | do : but | do not be-
lievo that it will, or can be, reached in
harmony with the interests Of the
people by artificial measures or the
Capitalization of the currency, any
more than ] believe that wealth or
permanent prosperity can be created
by initiation of the currency. The
laws of finance cannot be disregarded
with impunity. The financial policy
of the Government, if indeed it de
serves the name of policy at all, mas
been in disregard of these laws and
therefore has disturbed commercial and
business interests, as we'll as hindered
u ltluli II W EtlCNlt pay lllNhAos CiAN ANth
ture of that policy was the Tesump-
ton clause Of the act of 1870, which
has embarrassed the country by the
anticipation of compulsory resump-
ton for which no preparation has been
made, and without any assurance that
it would be practicable. The repeal of
that clause is necessary that the natu-
raj operation Of financial laws may be
restored, that the business of the
country may be relieved from its dis
turbing and depressing influence, and
that a return to specie payment may
be facilitated by the substitution Of
wiser and more prudent legislation,
which shall mainly rely on n judi
cious system of public economies and
official retrenchments and above all
on the p o m o t n of prosperity
in all the industries of the people. |
do not understand the repeal of the Re
sumption clause of the act of 1875 to be
a backward step ia our return to specie
payments, but the recovery of false
step; and although the repeal may for a
time be prevented, yet the determine
ton Of the Democratic party on this
subject has now been distinctly declar-
ed, There should benO hindranCes put
in the way of n return to specie pay
ments, las such hindrance." Says the
platform of the st Louis Convention,
eve denounCe the resumption clause
of 1910 and demand its repeal'
thoroughly believe that by public econ
omy, by official retrenChment and by
wise finance, enabling us to accumu-
| late the precious metals, resumption at
an early date is possible, without pro-
! ducing an artificial scarcity of curren-
cy, or disturbing public or commercial
credit, and that these reforms, together
with the restoration of pure govern
ment, will restore general confidence
encourage the useful investment Ofcap'
| ital, furnish employment to labor and
relieve the country from the parasites
of hard times. With the industries OF
the people there have been many dis
| turbances. Our platform truly says
| that many industries have been i'm
poverished, our commerce has been de-
| graded to an inferior position on the
! high seas, manufactures have been
! diminished, agriculture has been en-
barrassed and the distress of the in
dustrial classes demands that these
things shall be reformed. The burdens
of the people must also be lightened 10y
a great change in our system of public
expenses, The profligate expenditure,
! which increased taxation from five
dollar per capita in 1860 to eighteen
! dollars in 1870 tells Its own story Of
! our need of fiscal reform, Our treatie:
! with the foreign powers should also
| be revised and amended i'm so far a,
| they leave citizens of foreign birth in