The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1876-10-06
The TOice of u Patriot.
LETTER FROM CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS
SOUND ADVICE FROM GOOD SOURCE.

The following letter was addressed to
! Daniel Magone, jr., the Chairman of the
| New York State Democratic Committee, in
response to an invitation to speak at "a mass
meeting of the Democracy of the city of
! New York at Cooper Institute held on Fri
day evening last. 1t is the boldest and
most aggressive declaration that has come
from any of the distinguished Liberal Re-
publicans who have declared for Tilden,
Hendricks and Reform:
QUINCY, Sept %, 1S76.-Dear Sir Alb
sence from the city has prevented me from
answering promptly your letter of the Goth
inst. If | were younger it would be an
agreeable duty tn perform the task to which
You invite me, but | have not done any.
thing of the kind for fifteen years, and am
now in my seventieth year. Should | ac-
cept one invitation it would probably give
rise to others which would have an equal
claim. My judgment is that | had better
stay at home. Yet l think | fully appre-
ciate the importance of this canvass. 1t is
narrowing itself daily more and more into
struggle between the people and the man
ayers who hold the official organization of
the country for their own exclusive benefit.
From the days of Credit Mobilier down to
the last exposures made by the investiga-
tions of the last congress there is only one
conclusion to be drawn, and that is the prev
alence of corruption almost everywhere in
the republican organization. The honest
men do, indeed, make brave and sincere
efforts to resist this baleful influence, but
they are too often defeated to raise any just
hopes of unlt.mate success. This struggle
has been going on for years. and no mate
rial change for the better has yet been ef-
fected. The time has now come for rad-
cal change, and the substitution of wholly
new influence tied up by no restrictions
other than the genuine wishes of honest
men Of all parties. When in a great popu-
lar convention of party to nominate a
candidate for the presidency, one gentle
men deeply comprom ised by the investiga
tiuns of a committee of the house of repre-
sentatives comes within twenty five votes
OF nomination, and another, who really
did honor to himself by fearless and effec-
tive exposures OF corruption III high places,
could not command many more than u
hundred votes, 1t seems to me that it is
high time for a change in the public opin-
ion. Neither is the case improved by
view of the manner in which the canvass
has been carried on. The great effort of the
republicans seems to be TO operate un the
popular passions excited during the late
civil war. Instead of repeating the honor
able call OF President Graut, Let lis have
peace y the cry is for raising what may
prove another war; And why is this
Only because the people in the southern
states choose To vote as they please. with
out regard to the corrupt combinations of
office holders all over the country, welded
by equally corrupt combinations of legis-
lators at the seat Of government to perpetu
ate their own power. Verify, verify, if the
people are wise they will lay down party
and seize the present opportunity to make
Change. l am very truly yours,
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.