The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-08-10


neither expected nor desired, yet rec
ognize and appreciate the high honol
done me by the Convention. The choice
of such a body, and pronounced will
such unusual unanimity, and and accom-
panied with so generous an expression
of esteem and confidence, ought to out
weigh all mere personal desires and pref
erences of my own. 1t is with this feel
ing, and also trust from deep sense OF
plblic duty, that l now accept the nomi-
nation, and shall abide the judgment Of
my countrymen. 1t would have been
impossible for me to accept the nomina-
ton if l could not heartily endorce the
platform Of the convention.
ENDORSES THEORETICALLY THE PLATFORM
am gratifed therefore to be able une'
qulvocally to declare that agree in the
principles, approve the policies and sym
pathize with the purposes enunciated in
that platform.
ADMINISTRATION.
The institutions of our country have
been sorely tried by the exigencies OF the
civil war, and since the establishment of
peace, by selfish and corrupt manage
ment Of public affairs which has shamed
us before civilized mankind, by unwise
and impartial legislation, every industry
and interest of the people have been
made to suffer, and the Executive depart.
ments Of the government.
DISHONESTY, RAPACITY AND vENALITY
have debauched the public service. Men
known to be unworthy have been pro.
NOTED, whilst others have been degraded
for fidelity to official duty. Public Office
has been made the means of private
profit, and the country has been often
ded to see a class of men who boast the
friendship of the sworn protectors of the
State, amassing fortunes by defrauding
the public treasury, and corrupting the
servants of the people. In such crisis
of the history Of the country, rejoice
that the convention at st, Louis has 80
RAISED THE STANDARD OF REFORM.
Nothing can be we'll with us or with
our affairs till the public conscience,
shocked by the enormous evils and abu-
ses which prevail, shall have demanded
and compelled an unsparing reformation
of our National Administration in its
head and in its members. In such re-
formation, the removal ofa single officer,
even the President, is comparatively
trihing matter, if the system which he
represents, and which has fostered him
as he has fostered it, is suffered to re-
main, the President alone alone must be
made the sCapegoat for the enormities Of
the system which infests the public SER
vice, and threatens the destruction Of
our institutions. In some respects hold
that the present Executive has been the
victim rather than the author OF that VIC
ious system. Congressional and party
leaders have been stronger than the
President. No one man could have Gre
ated it, and the removal of no one man
can amend it, 1t is thoroughly corrupt,
and must be swept reGorselessly away
by the selection of government compo-
sed of elements entirelynew and pledged
to radical reform.
THE FIRST WORK OF REFORM
must evidently be the restoration of the
nominal operation of the Constitution
of the United States with all its amend
ments. The necessities of war cannot be
pleaded in time of peace. The right of
local self-government, as guaranteed by
the Constitution, must be everywhere re-
stored, and the centralized-almost per.
sonal-imperialism which has been prac-
ticed must be done away with, or the
first principles of the Republic will be
lost.
OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM
experiments must be reformed Gold
and silver are the real standards of val
ues, and our National currency will not
be perfect medium of exchange till it
shall be convertible at the pleasure of
the holder. As l have heretofore said
no one desires a return tospecie payment
more earnestly than do, but l do not
believe that it can or will be reached in
harmony with the interests of the people
by artificial measures for the contraction
of the currency, anymore than | believe
that wealth or permanent prosperity can
be created by the initiation of the curren-
Cy, The laws Of finance cannot be disre.
garded with impunity. The financial
policy of the government, if indeed it de-
serves the name of policy atall, has been
in disregard of those laws, and therefore
has disturbed commercial and business
confidence, as we'll as hindered a return
W speCle dyueuI'
THE RESUMPTION ACT-ITs REPEAL NECEs.
SARY.
One feature of that policy was the re.
sumption clause of the act Of 1875, which
has embarrassed the country by the an.
ticipation of compulsory resumption,
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 natural operation
of financial laws may be restored that
the business of the country may be re-
lieved from its depressing and disturbing
influences, and that return to specie
payments may be facilitated by the SUBJ
of wiser and more prudent leg
Il r,I;oI nIon