The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-18
INDEPENDENT CONFERENCE
The Address to the People.


New York, May 1G.
The following address hos been issued
by the political conference at the Fifth av-
enue hotel
Address to the American people Eel
low citizens A conference of citizens as
sembled 10 New York, sincerely desiring
70 serve the best interests of the American
people, beg leave to submit to your candid
consideration the following appeal The
national election is approaching, under
circumstances Of peculiar significance.
Never before in our history has the public
mind been so profoundly agitated by an
apprehension of the dangers arising from
the prevalencG CT corrupt tendencies and
practices in our political life, and never
has there been a greater reason for it. We
will not display here in detail the Distress
ing catalogue OF disclosures which, for
several years, have followed one another
in rapid succession, and seem TO have left
scarcely o single sphere of our political
life untouched. The records Of the courts.
of the state legislatures, and of the national
congress speak with terrible plainness, and
still they are adding to the ecandalors cx-
hibiti0n. While such state Of things
would under any circumstances, appear
present moment. We are about TO cele-
brate the one hundreith birthday of our
national existence. We have invited ma
tons of the earth in this great anniversary
to visit our land and TO witness evidence
of our material progress as well as the
working and effects OF that republican
e., - "-Htuly .so ga
fathers founded. Thus the most Inspiring
memories OF our past history are rising up
MI IN oil. \. r.. -
upon us the comparison Of what this re-
public once was, what it was intended to
be, and what il now is, aud upon thie VIC
have challenged the judgment of civilized
mankind conformity with our own. There
Is much OF which every American citizen
has just reason to be proud, an energy and
thrift, a power of thought and action, q
progressive spirit which in maguifcence of
result has outstripped all precedent and
anticipation. A history Astounding in illus
trations of heroic patriotism, fortitude
and wisdom greater freedom from
foreign wars and revolution and changes
OF government than most other nations can
boast of. Our republic, but century, old
and just issued from the only great civil
conflict we have had TO deplore, so strong
in resources and organization that it stands
in the formost ranks of the great powers of
the earth. And yet with all these splendid
results on record it can not be denied that
at no period during the century now behind
us the American people have been less sat-
isfted with themselves and that the centen-
NAL anniversary of the declaration of indie
pendence in so many respects to all Amer-
leans day of sincerest pride and rejoicing
10 felt to he in other respects not without
self-reproach and humiliation. OF this the
corruption revealed in our political life is
the cause. TO the honor of the American
people be 1t said, that every patriotic citi-
zen feels the burning shame of the spectacle
presented in the centennial year. There
the momentoes and monuments of the yir-
tues Of the past and here the shocking evil
dence of the decentralization and corruption
of the present. There the glowing eulogies
pronounced on the wisdom and purity of
the fathers, and here in marking contrast
the verdicts OF the courts, and the records
OF the legislative bodies illustrating the DO.
litical morals of to-day, and this before all
mankind, solemnly summoned as witness
to the exhibition and guest to the presi-
dent. Never was there cause for keener
modification, and keenly does it strike
every patriotic heart. How can we
avert such dangers and wipe
off such shame3 BY proving that
although tho government machinery
has become corrupt, the great body of the
people are sound and strong at the core,
and that they are honestly determined to
reform the abuses of our political life and
TO overthrow ct any cost the agencies of
evil that stand in the way Only such an
effort well directed and sternly perseyered
in until success is assured will save the
good name of the nation, prevent the pre-
vailing disease from becoming fatal and
restore TO its old strength the faith of our
people in their institutions At the impend-
ing national election various questions OF
great importance will be submitted to our
judgment. The settlement of the civil war
is constitutionally fixed, must be conscien
tiously maintained, and at the same time
the government strengthened in the general
confidence by the strict Observance OF con-
stitutional principles, and the old brother
hood Of the people revived by policy of
mutual justice and Cancellation. Our sol
emn and often repeated pledge faithfully
to discharge all national obligations must
be fulfilled, not only by the payment of
the principal and interest of our bonded
debt when due, but also the removal, not
later than the time provided Ivy the exist.
ing lawe, OF the curse of our redundant, ir-
redeemable paper currency, which not only
impedes the return of true prosperity, but
has also largely contributed to the existing
decentralization. These are grave ques-
tions and there are more we might touch
were 1t our purpose 10 lay down COM
plete political platform. But grave as they
are, still in our present situation we must
as American citizens recognize it as
our most pressing duty TO re.establish the
moral character of our government and TO
elevate the tone of our political life. Hon
est government is the first condition of en-
during national prosperity, power and
freedom. Without elementary virtues of
political as well as social life decay will
outstrip our progress. Our discussions and
struggles about other great questions and
principles will appear like mockery and
farce, il We permit our public concerns to
drift into that ruinous anarchy which cor
ruption must necessarily bring In its train,
because it DESTROYS the confidence of the |
people In their self government, the great
est calamity that can befall the republic. |
1t is simply question of life or death. A !