The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-08-15
Governor Hendricks Letter.
SARAreGA,N Y, August 4 The fol-
lowing is Gov Hendrick's letter:
1NDIAYAroLIs, July "a, 1876.

a a
owing is Gov Hendricks letter: +,
1NDIAxAroLIs, July a, 1876. Ii
GKsrLEMEN I have the honor to ac.
knowledge the receipt Of your communi- I
cation, in which You have formally noti- I
fed me OF my nomination by the National
Democratic Convention. at St Louis, as
their candidate for the Office of Vice Pres
i,ent of The United States. 1tisa nomi-
nation which hal neither expected nor
desired, and yet recr gnizA and appre.
ciste the high honor done me by the Con-
vcntion. The choice of such hody,and
pronounced. with such unusual unanimi,
ty, aud accompanied with so generous an
expression of esteem and confidence,
oughttn outweigh all mere personal de-
sires and preferences Of my own. 1t is
with this feeling, and also from adcep
sense Of public duty, that
NOW ACCEPT THE NOMINATION
And abide by the Judgment OF my coun-
trvmen Itwould have been impossible
for me to accept the nomination il l could
not
HEARTILY INDoRsE THE PLATFORM
tOftho Convention lam sratiied there
rore, to be able, unequivocally, to declare
tina, I agree in the principles, approve the
policies, and sympa,hiz with the purpo-
ses enunciated in that platform. The IN
stitu,ions of our country have been sore
| ly tried by the exisencies OF civil war;,
and since the peace by selfish and .as
CORRUPT MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Which has shamed us before civlize,l
mankind. BY unwise and partial legisia-
ttion every industry and interest OF the
people has been made to suffer, and in the
executive departments Of the Govern
.ment dishonesty, rapacity and venality
have debauched the public service. Men
known to be unworthy have been promo
| ted, while others have been degraded for
fidelity to official duty. Public office has
been made the means Of private profit
and the country has been offended 10 see
a class of men who boast the friendshi 7
of the sworn protectors of the State
amassing fortunes by
DRFRAUDING THE PUBLIC TREASURY {,
And by corrupting the servants OF the
people. In such crisis Of the history OF
the country rejoice that the Convention
at St. Louis has SO nobly s.
i RAISED THE STANDARD OF REFORM
Nothing can be well with US, or our Of
S fairs, until the public conscience, shocked
, by the enormous evils and abuses whicl
r prevail, shall have demanded and com
|, pelled an unsparing reformation of ou
e National Administration, 'in its head ant
v in its members" In such reformation
q the removal Of single officer, even tn
e President, is comparatively trifiing mat
ter, il the system which he represents
G and which has fostered him as he has fos
b tered it, is suffered to remain. The Pres
e ident alone must not be made the scape
eI goat for the enormities of the syster
J. which infects the public service ant
II threatens the destruction of our instltl
y, tions. In some respects / hold that
s. THE PRESENT EXECUTIVE HAS BEEN II
" VICTIM
Rather than the author of that viciou
70 system Congressional and party leaf
:, ers have been stronger than the Pres
= : dent. No one man could have created
- and the removal of no one man ca
- - amend it Itis thoroughly corrupt, an
r must be swept remorselessly away by tt
6 selection of Government composed
81 elements entirely new, and pledged 70 u
:, work of radical reform.
r. THE FIRST WORK OF REFORM
IN Must evidently he the restoration OF u
R normal operation of the Constitution
ut the United States, with all its amen
"a ments. The necessities OF war cann'
m be pleaded in time Of peace. a
w. THE RIGHT OF LOCAL SELF GoyERNMEN
As guaranteed by the Constitution mu
be everywhere restored, and the centrs
Iized, almost personal, imperialism whi'
has been practiced must be done away,
the first principles Of the Republic W
!. be lost.
"a CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
ct Imost heartily indorse the section
no the platform which declares that the Ci'
ill., Service ought not to be subject to chan
mt at every election, and that it ought not
uil be made the brief reward of party re
its but ought to be awarded for proved Co
potency and held for fidelity in the pub
,rd employ. I hope never again to see
ss. cruel and remorseless prescription
,eed political opinions which has diseraced
loci Administration of the last eight years
Bad as the Civil Service now is, as
,cb know, it has some men of tried integr
and proved ability. Such men and su
les. men only should be retained in office.
eyi no man should be retained on any cons
no Grafton who has prostituted his office
on the purpose Of partisan intimidation
rch compulsion, or who has furnished nor
os.. to corrupt the elections. This is dt
for and has been done in almost every cou
this of the land. tits blight upon the m
do. ais Of the country and ought to be
Ste formed
nm OUR FINANCIAL SYSTEM
DIX OF expenditures must be reformed q
IRIS and silver are the real standards OF
L. ues, and our National currency will
one be perfect medium of exchange unit
ork shall be convertible at the will of the
cd der. AS have heretofore said, no
OF desires return to specie payments m
Tor. earnestly than / do, but | do not bell
see that it will or can be reached in harm
and with the interests of the people by
& fetal measures for the contraction OF
per- currency, any more than / believe
eas wealth or permanent prosperity can
hooi created by an initiation of currency.
1t OF laws Of finance cannot be disregar
with iDpuaity.
, oil REPUBLICAN FINANCES.
ious The financial policy of the Gov
ut it. ment, if indeed it deserves the nam
ired, policy at all, has been in disregar
sked those laws, and therefore has distul
they commercial and business confidenc
hem we'll as hindered return to specie
-~lHf