Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-06-29

sively to the several states and which the
democratic party has cherished fro N their
foundation, and resolved to maintain with
out Partially or preference for any class,
sect or creed, and with contributing from
the treasury to any false issue by which
they seek to light anew the dying embers OF
sectional hate between kindred peoples once
unDaturally estranged, but now reunited in
one indivisible republic and common des-
tiny.
Experience proves that efficient, economical
conduct of the governmental business is not
possible { its civil service be subject to
change a every election; be prize fought
for by bal It's; be reward of partizanship,
instead of ISIS OF honor assigned for proved
competency and held for fidelity in public
employ; thai the dispensing OF patronage
should DeitheI be a tax upon the time OF all
our public mtu nor the instrument of their
ambition. Here again professions falsified
In the performance attest that the party In
power can work out no practical or salutary
reform.
Reform is necessary even more In the
higher grades of public service.
President, Vice President, judges, Seua-
tors, Representatives, cabinet officers, these
and all others in authority are the peoples
servants. These offices are not a private
perquisite they are public trust.
When the annals Of this republic show the
late Speaker of the House OF Representa-
ttves marketing his rulings as q presiding
officer, three Senators profiting secretly by
their votes as Lawmakers, five chairmen of
leading committees OF the late House of
Representatives exposed In jobbery, q late
Secretary OF the Treasury forcing the bal
ance In the public accounts, q late Attorney
General Incorporating public funds. a
Secretary OF the Navy enriched or enriching
friends by percentages levied off the profits
OF contractors with his department, an EN-.
able speculation, the Presidents private Sec
rotary barely escaping conviction upon trial
Tor guilty completely In frauds upon the
high crimes and confessed misdemeauors
the demonstration is complete that the first
step In reform must be the peoples choice of
ease of one political organization infect the
body polite, and thereby making no change
OF men or party, we can get no change OF
measures and no reform.
All these abuses, wrongs and crimes, the
product OF sixteen years ascendancy Of the
republican party, create necessity for re-
form, protested by republicans themselves,
ventiOn and displaced from Cabinet; the
party's mass OF honest voters is powerless to
resist the 50. 900 office holders its leaders and
full civic revolution. We demand a change
of ey stem, change OF administration, a
change OF parties, that we may have a
change OF measures and OF men.
HOW 1T WAS RECEIVED.
The reading was frequently interrupted by
applause. The denunciation Of theresump-
ton act and demand for its repeal was re-
ee1ved with especial favor; At the conclu-
sion Mr.. Dorsheimer said the committee had
adopted and Endorsed, though not as q part
OF the platform, a resolution indorsing the
action of the House of Representatives In
cutting down appropriations. He exhorted
TO frmness. Also q resolution as to the lust
claims Of soldiers, sailors and widows and
orphans.
Report OF the Minority.
Mr.. Ewing, of OHIO, took the platform and
said at the request OF several members Of the
committee he presented the minority report
recommending striking out the following
clause in the majority, TO wit-"As such
hlndTance we denounce the resumption
clause of the act OF 1915, and we demand its
repeal" He proposed to substitute therefor
the following words:-"The law for the re.
sumption OF specie payments on the first of
January, 1879, having been enacted by the
republican party without elaboration in
Congress and without discussion before the
people, and being both Intellectual to secure
Its object and highly Injurious to the bust
ness OF the country, should be forthwith re-
Mr. Ewing moved and Mr.. Eaton, of Kan
sas, seconded the amendment thus sug-
gested.
Mr.. Ewing proceeded to state his objection
TO the clause proposed to be stricken out. 1t
denounced only one clause OF the resump-
ton act, that one fixing the time for resump-
ton, thus by Implication leaving all the
rest 10 stand as unObjectionabIe. The con-
structlon given to this will be that the demo-
cratic party wants resumption earlier than
1873. Another objection is that the resolu-
ton as reported falters with the question Of
which II treats. 1t commits the party 10 re-
ductton OF greenbacks and perpetuation of
the national bank system; leaves the Secre-
iary OF the Treasury perhaps with the power
sumption, q policy which the western de-
mocracy almost unanimously oppose The
resolution Of the committee supports by Inn
plication the bill for which the democrats
are not responsible, q measure which never
received democratic vote.
ROW OVER THE FINANCIAL QUESTION,
Time was called and much confusion en-.
COnSa0nenCa In
time for Mr.. Ewing. The chair ruled that
as objection was zaade time could not be ex-
tended: Mr.. Dorsheimer appealed for the
withdrawal OF the objection, and It was
Withdrawn, and by unanimous consent Mr..
Ewing was authorized TO proceed.
Another scene Of confusion ensued. Mr..
tions to hearing Mr.. Ewing further. Finally
Mr.. Ewing thanked the Convention for the
kindly spirit manifested towards him, and
lCries OF Ewing, order, order.l
Mr.. Cox, OF New York, rose to q point of
order, In which he was understood TO reflect
TO order by the chair and directed to take
MI lDorsheimer said he proposed right
here to make q straight issue between hard
we Will stand or fall. II you want soft
money give your votes to It's most distin-
gnss 6sd advocate y but ifyoI want to give us
stand by the platform as presented. ZAP
plause.l This is a compromise In which the
east has yielded so much as to have already
elected strong protest, numerously signed
by the eastern states. On this we stand or
fall. III you adopt the amendment of the
gentleman from Ohio then goodbye your
hopes; The committees report, hover, gives
US living chance of success. In cOnclnsion
he demanded the call OF states.
On the question, Mr.. Voorhees, OF Indiana
took the platform. He said Mr.. DorsheImer,s
issue was q false issue as stated by MIN,
There is no issue here of hard or soft money.
They were all In favor of resumption as soon
as healthfully practicable; whoever desires
IL earlier desires 1t for some private inn
proper purpose. He earnestly opposed any
attempt at forced resumption. The law had
been In force two years, and the country Is Q
per cent. further from q gold standard than
1t was when the law was passed. The natu-
raj law of legislation, II not unwise, Will
soon cover the u per cent. gap between gold
and paper. Let US leave the question to
these natural laws. Referring to Dorshei-
mer, he said the west had followed the lead
Of New York too long already, and it is now
time TO assert the power OF the mighty west.
(Applause.]
Mr.. watson, of Kentucky, urged the pol.
icy OF supporting the committee on the
report signed by twenty.nine OF Its members
after careful consideration, and asserting
the impolicy OF overturning that by the ex
cited action Of the convention. In its condi.
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