The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-05-25
INTERESTING LETTER FROM HON. E. w
BIRD OF MASS,

he'd with the Greeley movement in 1872,
has written letter in reply to an invita-.
ton to attend the conference of Liberal
Republicans at New York on the 9Th
inst, which has been published in the
Boston Herald, as follows:
For years | have loved and trusted the
Republican party. Il stood by it's era
die in Massachusetts, when Samuel
Hoar, Stephen c. Phillips, Horace Mann,
Charles Allen. Burlingame, Andrew.
Sumner. Wilson, Howe, Robinson all
now gone to their reward--were its lead
ers. OF the living, Palfrey, Adams,
Whittier, co-operated with this noble ar.
ray of martyrs bearing the Republican
banner without fear and without re.
proach. On broader field, Lincoln,
Chase, Seward, Trumbull, Schurz, led
the Republican forces from one triumph
to another in the battle for human rights
Under such leaders it was an honor to
serve. One by one most Of these great
men fell by the way, and all who survive
are excluded from the councils of the
party which they formed and to which
they gave the inspiration Of ideas. And
now, who for many years have been the
recognized leaders Of the Republican
party Grant. Cameron, Morton, Con.
king, Logan. Blaine. Look first upon
that picture and then upon this" and
tell me how FOR years past, could fail to
pray, DRAW me out Of this crow.'
Time would fail me to describe the de-
moralizatlon which mas naturally resulted
to the entire party from this change Of
leadership; nor Is 1t necessary. The
daily journals have been so filed with
revelations Of official malfeasance that
the public stomach has become nauseated
and the public conscience hardened;
until rascalities which few years ago
would have aroused universal Indignation,
now pail upon the public sense 1t is;
idle to dwell upon the past, except to
learn lessons Of present duty, and that
duty is reform. Upon tbs all good citi.
zens agree; but they differ as to methods.
One of three courses is open to us:
l. A third party. Since the mclan.
choly failure Of 1872, any attempt to re.
new the effort seems well nigh hopeless
The fatal defect in that movement was
that it was started and carried out as an
attempt to create Republican party.
Its purpose was mainly to prevent the re-
nomination OF Grant, and it would have
fallen to pieces, as its leaders designed it
should had the national Republican con-
vcntion nominated candidate who rep
resented the traditions and ideas of the
Republican, party. But it failed to pro-
vide for the contingency OF Grant re-.
nomination. Is assuming the names of
Liberal Republican, it could expect no
large accession Of numbers other than
Republicans. especially when it placed
nj the head Of its ticket one
than whom .ardly Republican in the
country was more obnoxious to the
Democratic masses. | saw then the mis-
take involved in the name OF the party
adopted by the convention, and labored
earnestly with the men who had the ear
Of the convention to secure the adoption
Of name which should truly represent
the real purposes Of the honest masses OF
the country, and that was the party of
national reform. That would have been
name 10 coniure with, and one which
would not have repclIed the Democratic
masses, without whose alliance success
was hopeless. Other counsels prevailed.
Other men did not feel as did, that the
needed reform could never come from the
Republican party. Other men distrusted
Grant dlsirus,ed the party tina.
created and sustained 'GrantiSm. The
inevitable result came. ami the expert
ment OF third party. IN my judgment.
is defeated tor a generation.
2. Reform within the Republican party.
Is this possible When did a party
promise a purer administrative policy
than the Republican party IN lis conven-
tions of 1865 and 1872 What have
they given us Let the revelations Of
the last three years, and especially of
the last four months, answer. | will not
revive the sickeaing details. Can the
country trust future professions and
pledges Admit that the Republican
candidate who to-day represents, specially.
purity and reform shall be nominated at
Cincinnati, and elected. He goes into Of
fee under the necessity Of taking consel
Of the men who have elected him.
Among these undoubtedly would be many
of the purest men of the Republican
party of the olden time but among them,
too, must be the men who have degraded
the Republican party and dishonored the
country The men who banished Sum.
ner and Greeley. Trumbuil and Schurz
from the councils Al the party must still
be recognized as supporters of the ad-
ministra,ion and as entitled to voice in
its policy. They are in the Senate and
control its action. They fill ali the i'm
portan, offices Of the country. Will c
Republican administration turn then
out Eighty thousand Republican office
holders are eating out the substance o.
the people. Here and there one has beer
detected in neiarious practices--hardly
an inhnitesimal fraction of the whole
Will Republican administration call it
devotces TO account for practices Learned
from their supportersl The Republican
press Of the country. with q few honor
able exceptions. is controlled By rogue'
of their apologis,s-
But We are told tina, new blood lper
Lisnl,fA =. s.,4