The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-17

parties under the control of their most sell
fi1hly interested and therefore most active
element -plsce holders and place hunters
thus tending to organize standing army
Of political merccnariee, to be paid out of
the treasury OF the government, who by
organized action endeavor to subjugate the
will of the people to their ends, through
the cultivation of tyrannical party spirit.
Every student of our political history
knows that since the spells system was in
augurated corruption has steadily grown
from year to year, and go long as this sys-
TEN lasts, with all its seductions aud de-
moralizlng tendencies, corruption will con-
tinue to grow in extent and power, for
patriotism and true merit will more and
more be crowded out of political life by
INSCRIPTIONS selfish ness. The war has
only given sudden impetus to this tend
ency, but without the war 1t would have
grown up, and will not cease TO grow rs
long as the hot bed of corruption, the
spoils system, lasts. Still in corrupt prac-
tices acquired by one generation Of
spoilsmen will only be improved up
on by the next. The result we know.
We have already reaped so great a
harvest of disaster and shame that, we re-
peat it has now become the Just duty of
the American people to re. establish the
moral character of the government by
thorough reform. What can we do to-
ward this end in the impending national
election ? In this respect, fellow citizens,
we consider it our duty to speak very
plainly. Never were the cause of good
government and the honor of the American
name more Immediately dependent on the
character, ability and reputation of the
men to be selected for the highest offices.
In view of the grave circumstances at
present surrounding US we declare the
country cannot now afford to have any
man elected to the presidency whose very
name is not conclusive evidence Of the
most Incorporating determination of the
American people to make this pure gov
eminent once more. Our duty in this re-
spect is plain and imperious. 1t suffers
no trifling or equivocation. The worn out
claP-!rap affair promised in party plat
| forms will not satisfy it, neither will mere
fine professions on the part of candidates.
Not mere words are needed, but acts not
mere platforms, but men.
We therefore declare and call upon all
good citizens to join us, that at the COM
ing presidential election we shall support
no candidate who in public position ever
ccuntenanced corrupt practices or combina-
tons, or impeded their exposure and pun
ishment, or opposed necessary measures of
reform. We shall support 10 candidate
who, while possessing official influence and
power, has failed to use his opportunities
in exposing and correcting abuses coming
within the reach of his observation, but
for personal reasons and party ends has
permitted them to tester on, for such men
may be counted on not to uncover or
crush corruption, but for the party's sake,
merely, to conceal it. We shall support no
candidate, however conspicuous his posi-
zion or brilliant his ability, in whom the
impulses of the party manager have shown
themselves predominant over those of the
reformer, for he will be Inclined to con-
tinue that fundamental abuse the employ
ment OF the government service as ma
chnery for personal or party ends. We
shall support no candidate who, however
favorably judged by his nearest friends, is
not publicly known 10 possess those quail
tics OF mind and character which the stern
task of genuine reform requires, for the
American people cannot now afford to risk
the future of the republic in experiments
on merely supposed virtue or rumored abb
lity, to be trusted on the strength of prl-
vate recommendations In one word, at
present no candidate should be held en-
titled TO the support of patriotic citizens of
whom the question. may fairly be asked
"ls he really the man to carry through
thorough reform Of the government Can
he with certainty be depended upon to
possess the moral courage and sturdy rcso-
luton to graphic with abuses which have
acquired the strength of established GUS
tom, and to this end firmly to resist the
pressure even of his party friends.
Whenever there is room for such ques-
ton and doubt as to the answer the candi-
date should be considered unfit for this
emergency. This is no time for so-called
availability springng from distinction gain
ed on fields of action foreign to the duties
of government nor for that far more dan
gerous sort of availability which consists in
this That the candidate be neither SO bad
as to repel good citizens, nor so good as to
discourage the bad ones. Passive virtue in
the highest place has too often been known
to permit the growth of active vice below.
The man TO be entrusted with the presi-
dency this year must have deserved not
only the confidence of honest men, but also
the fear and hatred of thieves. He who
manages to concliate thieves cannot be
candidate for honest men. Every Amer
lean citizen who has the future of the re.
public and the national honor sincerely at
heart, should solemnly resolve that the
country must now have president whose
name is already watchword of reform
whose capacity and courage for the work
are matters Of record rather than of prom
Use who will restore the simplicity, indie
pendence and rectltude of the early ad-
mnis,rations and whose life will be
guaranty of his fidelity and fitness. A
man at the mere oound Of whose name
even the most disheartened will take now
courage and all mankind will say "The
Americans are indeed in earnest to restore
the ancient purity of their government"
Fellow Citizens The undersigned, In
addressing you. are not animated by the