Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1876-04-22
Hon. Montgomery Blair'S Lerser
on the Presidency.

We publish below Hon. Montgom-
erv Blair's views as 10 the question
upon which the issue Of the presiden-
tial campaign should be made by the
Democrats aud the proper man to
represent that issue as the reform
We agree with him in
every particular, both as to the issue
and the man.
WASHINGTON, March Is, 1876.
DEAR SIR: ! have YOUR letter re-
for publication The views
expressed by me 10 recent CONVEX
salon with respect to the pending
Presidential contest. The SUN Of
them was that We ought to continue
the contest as We began in 1872, when
we agreed to folego all other issues
save that Of reform in the administra-
ton Of the Government. The adver-
sary then struggled and still strives,
with the help of the Hon. Ben Hill.
to keep alive the issues Of the war
for the purpose Of prolonging abuses
which, however great, go unchecked
while sectional strife holds the public
mind. We did not carry the elections
in 1872, because We were not fully
successful! in making the issue Of
reform. But We made such q begin
ming that the victory Of our adverse
ries has proved barren one. We so
far succeeded that q show of investi-
CATION had to be made. The Credit
Mobilier fraud, which. though well
known before to all public men, could
no, command public attention, now
absorbs it. Spoliation was checked.
Jay Cooke Il Co, who had largely
advanced the money to carry the
elections, could not be reimbursed by
Congressional Endorsement Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad bonds, and
therefore failed. The socalled inves-
tigating committees, organized not to
convict, were experts in finding out
how not to do it, and the Departments
helped them assiduously; but the
Independent Press did the work so
effcctually that large Democratic
majority was returned to the present.
House of Representatives. Unfortu-
nately this tide Of success, which
ass ured tho reformcrs Of the Govern
ment, this year has been arrcseed aud
turned back by The intrusion into the
canvass, last Fail, of another issue,
of which the Radicals have eagerly
and successfully availed themselves.
And their efforts is 10 bold On to that
issue, and make the Presidential cleo.
ton turn on the question Of resump.
ton, upon which they have won,
instead of upon the question Of reform,
upon which they have lost the day.
If they succeed in this, the result will
invariably be unfortunate for US.
Our friends have been beaten on this
issue, last Fall, in the States where
anti-resumption was strongest, our
vote in New York. tven (withou,
! v hich success for Us would be hope.
less) having been largely affected by
the attitude Of our friends in those
States, no rational mind can fail to
TO see that such an issue would
defeat US.
| 1t is plain, from the brief statement
of the situation, that our success
depends upon our ability to reinstate
tho issue Of reform IS the issue of the
canvass: and it is equally plain that
this is not to be done Ivy resolution
but by such action as will not only
proclaim it, but will, of itself, verify
it rs the issue to oil men.
The nomination of Tilden will, o
itself, force this issue, and make thu
election turn upon it. The friends o
other candidates object to the DomiDa
ton Of citizen of New York. snd
claim TIE nomination for tho West
But Jackson was not selected becaus,
he was a citizen Of Tennessee, Of
Jefferson because he was . citizen o
|! Virginia, or Grant lecause be was
for . short time in Illinois. Selection
on such ground has no political sig
ni6cance, and ignores altogether th,
only consideration upon which eau
didats ought 20 he selected, viz: n
the representative Of the idea sough
to he advanced. My preference fo
Tilden is only because bis nomination
would of itself force on the issue o
reform, which is our sure card in th'
pending campaign. do not doub
that the other geetlemen spoken o
would prove vigorous reformers. 81
I have no personal preference 70
Tilden over any one Of them, bu
neither of them is 50 identified will
reform in the public mind as Til
deu. They have either not bad tb'
opportunity. or have not availe'
themselves Of il, to manifest the reso
lutte purpose be has shown to purg
The State Of fraud and jobbing. The.
have not joined hands with politica
aLvcrssrics to overthrow and arraig
ar, con,ic, a. criminals the masic