The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-08-05
THE DECISION AS TO A REMEDY.

where ask, in view Of these widespread yenal-
tiles and scoundrelisms, What is to be done?
II was suggested that the formation of third
party would in time meet the evil, and the
Conference stood ready to become the nucleus
of so forlorn hope. But the more consid-
ed dissatisfaction of both the existing political
organizations the signs Of desire for i'm.
provement, counseled u waiting and expectant
policy. 1t was resolved, in the first place, to
make an earnest appeal to the people, in or.
der to influence the Conventions about to
assembly, and, in the second place, in the
event that such an appeal should pass UNI
needed, to resort to Interior measures.
That there might be no mistake as to its
position, the Conference put forth this decla-
ration, which we may call New Declaration
of Independence, in every way worthy Of its
predecessor and of this great Centennial year;
We therefore declare and call upon all good
citizens to join us in it, and that at the com
ing Presidential election we shall support no
candidate who in public position ever coun.
I
or impeded their exposure and punishment,
or opposed necessary measures Of reform.
We shall support no candidate who, while
possessing official influence and power, has
failed to use his opportunities in exposing
and correcting abuses coming within the reach
OF his observation, but for personal reasons
and party ends has permitted them TO tester
on; for such men may be counted on not to
uncover and crush corruption, but for the
partys sake ready to conceal it.
We shall support no candidate, however
conspicuous his position or brilliant his abil
ty, in whom the impulses of the party mana
ger have shown themselves predominant over
those of the reformer; for he will be inclined
to continue that fundamental abuse, the en-
! ployment of the Government service as a
machinery for personal or party ends.
We shall support no candidate who, how.
ever favorably judged by his nearest friends,
is not publicly known to possess those qualities
of mind and character which the stern task
of genuine reform requires for the American
people cannot now afford to risk the future
OF the Republic in experiments on merely
| supposed virtue or rumored ability to be trust
ed on the strength ofpriyate recommendations.
In one word, at present no candidate
should be held entitled to the support of pa.
triotic citizens of whom the question may
fairly be asked SIS he really the man to
carry through a thoroughgoing reform of the
government Can he with certainty be de-
pended upon to possess the moral courage
and sturdy resolution to grapple with abuses
which have acquired the strength of estab.
lished custom, and to this end firmly to resist
the pressure even of his party friends?'
Whenever there is room for such a question
land doubt as to the answer the candidate
10. 4 81 Al
Every American citizen who has the future
of the republic and the national honor sin.
cerely at heart, should solemnly resolve that
the country must have President "whose
name is already watchword of reform; whose
capacity and courage for the work are matters
of record rather than Of promise who will
restore the simplicity, indepen, ence and rec
tltude of the early administrations, and whose
life will be n guaranty of his fidelity and fit.
mes; man at the mere sound of whose
name even the most disheartened will take
new courage, and all mankind will say: "The
Americans are indeed in earnest to restore
the ancient purity of the government"
The first three paragraphs of this eloquent
manifesto were intended to guard against the
nomination of that class of aspirers to the
highest Office which was aptly represented by
Messrs. Blaine, Conkling and Morton and
the remaining paragraphs were expressly
written and were understood to cover such
mere makeshifts as Messrs. Hayes and Hart.
rant, one or the other of whom it was feared
might be brought forward at the last moment
as compromise, and for the defeat of the
friends Of reform. | need hardly say that
these ringing sentences, as they were read to
the Conference by Mr.. Schurz, were received |
and adopted in the sense here given them,
amid the most tumutuous plaudits and con.
gratulations. Each man, as he heard the
sentences, made the application, and cheered
anew
Let us now see how this plain and unambi. |
guous manifesto was met by the respective
Conventions.
THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.
The Cincinnati Convention met on the 18th |
of June, and was organized in the interests of |
Mr.. Blaine, who was by far the most popular
name presented to the suffrage of the Con.
vention. Throughout the balotings, Mr.. |
Blaine, seriously smirched as he was by the |
recent publication of his oyertures to iobbery.
continued the leading candidate. Mr.. Bris.
tow, who, because Of his courageous onslaught
upon the Whisky Ring, had become the stan.
dard-bearer of the reformers, only succeeded |
in getting, at the highest, l2G votes out of
1855. The adherents of Blaine, Conkling and
Morton were largely in the ascendant and
might at any time have determined the result.
But they could not agree in their personal
preferences, and then, after seven ballotings,
at the instance of notorious trading politi-
clan of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Hayes of Ohio
Whose only vote had been that of his own
State, and q few individuals, 6s in ALL was
selected as the Deus er machina He was
selected because of his comparative insignif.
canoe. His neutrality of tint, it was suppos.
ed by the managers, would harmonic the
more pronounced colors. He was a man of
exemplary character, who had served honor
ably, though not conspicuously, in the war
and in Congress, and who, as Governor of
Ohio, had given general satisfaction to his
party. His talents were respectable, but no
more. He had never been leader in any
OF the relations, civic or military, in which he
had acted. In that respect all his competitors
were greatly his superiors. He had never
been, in any sense of the word, reformer.
Indeed, it is said, though cannot vouch for
the report, that he refused to accede to the
Of the New York Reform Club
when they were presented to him for accep-
lance. Certainly through all the dreadful
exposures, which as our address says, drought
shame to the face of honest Americans y he
had raised no voice of rebuke. In his candi-
dature for the Governorship of Ohio, he took
position in favor of the evasiye Resumption
act, but his opinions further than that were
either unknown or equivocal. He had simply
kept step with his party, acquiescing in all
its dilatory and ineffective measures, but never
pushing one inch in advance.
THIS a. A cnI TIE moi xnr ,rr t,, mn,