Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-08-16
FACTS
FOR
Independent Voters.
A REFORM PLEDGE.


REFoRM CONFERENCE AT New
York, ON THE 10th OF
MAY, 1876.
"The settlements of the civil war
as constltutionally fixed, must be con-
scientiously maintained, and at the
same time the government strength
ened in general confidence by the
st,ict observance of constitutional
principles, and the old brotherhood OF
the people revived by policy of NUT
ual justice and conciliation.
"Our solemn and ott-repeated pledge
faithfully to discharge all national OBJ
legations must be fulfilled, not only by
the payment of the principal and in
terest Of our bonded debt when due,
but also the removal, not later than
the the time provided by the existing
law, of the curse of our redundant, IT,
redeemable paper currency, which not
only impedes the return Of true pros
penty, but has also largely contributed
to the existing decentralization"
"These are grave questions, and
there are more we might touch were
it our purpose to lay down complete
political platform"
"But, grave as they are, still In our
present situation we must, as Amerl-
can citizens, recognize it as OUR MOST
PRESSING DUTY to re.establlsh the
moral character of our Government,
and to elevate the tone Of our political
life. Honest government is the first
condition of enduring national pros
perity, power and freedom. Without
the elementary virtues Of political as
we'll as social life, decay will out-strip
our progress. Our discussions and
struggles about other great questions
and principles wiN appear like em0chery
and farce, if we permit our public
concerns to drift into that ruinous an
archy which corruption must neces
sarly bring in its train, because it de,
stroys the confidence of the peop,e in
their self government-the greatest
calamity that can befall the republic
, 1t is a SIMPLE question OF life Oh
DEATH
Sin view of the grave circumstan
ces at present surrounding us, we de-
clare the country cannot now afford te
have any man elected to the presiden
cy whose very name is not conclusive
evidence of the most uncompromislne
determination of the American people
to make this pure government once
more.
"Our duty in this respect is plain
and imperious. 1t suffers ~ tritllns
or equivocation. The wcrn-out clap
trap of fair promises inparty platforms
will not satisfy it ; neither will mere
fine professions on the part of candi-
n dates. Not mere words are needed
v but acts not mere platforms, bu
y men,"
y "We shall support no candidate
e who, however favorably judged BY hi
g nearest friends, is not publicly know
I to possess those qualities of mind ant
$ character which the stern task of gen
. uine reform requires, for the Ameri'
!, can people cannot now afford to rls|
;. the future of the Republic in expert
+ ments on merely supposed virtue o
!, rumored ability to be trusted on tn
strength of private recommendation.
"This is no time for called avail
a ability springing from distinction
y gained on fields Of action foreign t
the duties of government, nor for tina
far more dangerous sort of availabillt
9 which consists in this, that Il candi
8 date be neither so bad as to rept
good citizens nor so good as to dis
y courage bad ones. Passive virtue
! the highest place has too often bee
e known to permit the growth OF aetiv
b vice below
,. ga MAN TO BE ENTRUSTED
7. WITH THE PRESIDENCY THI