The Russellville Democrat., 1876-06-01
THE POLITICAL SITUATION. Letter from F. w. Bird, the Republican Party of
 Massachusetts.
"Can We Trust the Democrat
 ic Party?"

The Boston Herald publishes the following letter from F. w. Bird, appealing to his republican associates of the party, founded by Adrew and Sumner, Chase and Trumbull, to come out from Baby lon which is now ruled by Grant, Cameron, Morton, Conkling, Lo- gan, and Blaine. The importance of this manifesto will at once be recognized by all who are aware of the weight which MT. Bird has always had in the politics of Mas sachusetts:
 To Hon. Ethan Allen, chairman, etc,
 DEAR SIR: I regret that I shall be unable to attend the confer ence, on the Sth inst, to which you invite me. take occasion. however, to write some opinions of the political situation, which have long been struggling tor ut terance. 1 find myself em oar rassed by the wealth of materials, constantly accommodating; which invites a discussion, every day opening wider fields. In truth, whenever I have thought of talk ing my pen, the difficulties of the undertaking forced upon me this passage from "Childe Harold" Conld embody and embosom now
 Ihat which is most within me, could
 wreak
 My thoughts upon expression, and thus
 throw
 Soul, heart, mind, passions, feelings + into one word, And that word were lightning I would
 spsak.
 But that one word has not come to me. have schooled myself to silence; and now how shall l be- gin? For years 1 loved and trusted the republican party. q stood by it's cradle" ill Massa- chusetts when Samuel Hnar, Ste phen c. Phillips, Horace Mann, Charles Allen, Burlingame, An drew, Sumner, Wilson, Howe, Robinson-all gone to their re ward-were it's leaders. Of the living, Palfrey, Adams, Whittier, co operated with this noble array of martyrs bearing the republican banner without fear and withou. reproach. On a broader field, Lincoln, Chase, Seward, Trum bull, Schurz, led the republican forces from one triumph to an other in the battle for human rights. Under such leaders il 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 oi the partywhich they formed and to which they gave the insplra' tion of ideas. And now, who fol years have been the recognized leaders of the republican party: Grant. Cameron, Morton, Conk ling, Logan, Blaine, Look first upon that picture and then or this" and tell me how, for years past, I could fail to "Draw me ou of this crowd"
 Time would fail me to describ' the demoralization which ha naturally resulted to the entlr' party from this change ot leader ship; nor is it necessary. In daily journals have been so iille' with revelations of official maj feasance that the public stomacl has become nauseated and tn public conscience hardened; m til rascalities which a few year ago would have aroused universa indignation, noSy pail upon tn public sense. It is idle to dweI upon the past, except to lear lessons of present duty; and tha duty is reform. Upon this a good citizens agree; but they dlI fer widely as to methods. On tf three courses is open to us:
 First-A third party. Sine the melancholy failure of lS7: any attempt to renew the eHoI
 .eems well nigh hopeless. Ih