Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1876-08-05
nESpRlcKs' LarrKR.

HENDRICKS LETTER.
SARATOGA, Aug. 3-Thc following
lis llendriok. IS letter.
INDIANAPOLIS, lnd., July 1 &c
Geaftemen-l have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt Of your com
mnnicaii1n in which you have for
uially notified me Of my nomination
by the national convention AT ST. Lou.
is AS their candidate for the Office of
iAvice president of the United States.
IL is a nomination had neither cs-
pecte,l nor desired, and yet recog.
me and appreciate the high honor
| ldoue me by the convention. The
choice of such Il body, and pronounc-
ed with such unusual unanimitv and
accompanied with SO generous an cs.
lpression OF esteem and confidence
ought To outweigh all merely person.
al desires and preferences of my own.
I.li is with this feeling, apd trust also
from a deep sense OF public duty that
now accept the nominations, aud
shall abide the judgment of my coun-
ttsmett. IL would have been impos-
slblc iur me to accept the nomination
ii ] could not heartily endorse the
platform of the convention. ! am
gralli.,d, therefore, TO be able une.
lqulvoeally to declare that | agree in
the principles, approve the policies
and sympa.hlze with the purposes
j enumerated iii that platform.
i The institutions Of our country
I have been sorely tried by the exigen-
cles OF civil war, and since peace, by
selfish aud corrupt management of
fpublic affairs, which has shamed us
ihefore civilized mankind, by unwise
Eand partial legislation, every in.
dustry and interest Of the people haye
been made to suffer, aud the executive
department of the government, dis.
honesty, rapacity and venality have
debarchcd the public service. Men
4 known 10 be unworthy have been
promoted, whilst others have been
! degraded for fidelity TO official duty.
The public ctlice has been made the
means Of private profit, aud the coun-
=Iiry has been offended by class of
men who boast the friendship of the
A sworn probators Of the state, amAssing
fortunes by defrauding the public
4 treasury and by corrupting the ser.
wants Of the people. In such a crisis
oil The history Ct our country, rejoice
that the convention ut ST. Louis has
SO noblv raised the standard ofrcform.
|, Nothing can be we'll with US, or with
our affairs, until the public conscience,
;, shocked by enormous evils and abuses
(which prevail, shall have demanded
and compelled an unsparing rcforma-
) ton Of our national administration in
Its head, and in its members in such
reformation. 1te1c removal Of Il sitfcit.
ollieer, even the president, is coin-
paratlvely triiling matter.
II the system which he represents,
: and which he has fostered, been as he
has been fostered, it is suffered to re-
main. The president alone must not
G oe made to scope with the govern.
o ernment for the emo mites of the sys.
II tenn which infects the public service
u aud threatens the destruction OF out
II institutions in some respects. holc
! that the present executive has been i
: victim rather than the suthor OF
stliat vicious system Of congressional
y and party leaders have been strouRer
n than the president. No one mar
a could have secreted, and the remova
: Of no one man can amend il. Ii i,
a thoroughly corrupt, ard must b,
s swept ftrnofselessly away by the SC
" lection Of II government composed o
,e elements entirely new and pledged tc
radical reform. The FIRST work of re
" form must evidently be a restoration
:. sof il normal operation of the cons,itu
r. ton Of the United States, with all it.
Iy amendments. The necessities of wa
c. can, be pleaded in time Of peace. Th,
- - right OF local self government AS guar
ID .anteed by the constitution must b.
$ everywhere restored and centralized
h Almost personal imperialism, which
" has been practiced, must be don
l,sfaway or the fir,t principles OF repub
e lican government will be lost
Of Oar financial system OF expedieat
! must be reformed. Gold and silve
/ are real standards OF value, and. ou
u natiohsl currency viii no, be per
III feet medium Of exchange until j. shal
ne be convertible at the pleasure of th
a holder, as ! have heretofore said
nd No one desires to return to speci
nj ipayment more earnestly than dc
ie / bu / do Il5t tbtffiiEys it viii Or gau-h
,t- reached in harmony with the interest
~ OF ,he people by Artificial Msssure
I'm for the contraction Of currency, an