The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-10-16
NDw OR NEVER.

The following is from CHARLES
FRANCIS ADAMS letter to the Young
Mems Democratic Club Of New York
city.
"The experience Of the last eight years
of shameful profigscy in the direction
of public affairs, beginning with the
history of the Credit Mobilier and con-
GLIDING with the exposures made during
the last session of Congress, points to but
one safe result 10 be arrived at in the
presen, election. That result is thor
oagh change of administration. l, for
one, am tired of compromises with cor
ruption and pledges of future amend
m ant, while the fatal influences that have
brought us TO disgrace continue IN the
a,cendent. Unless the people speak this
wear in an unequivocal manner there will
be no thorough reform possible here
after.
The last sentence is especially signif
cant. Governmental reform cannot be
nut off TO more convenient season. We
must have it now or never. And it is
fact which honest and patriotic citizens
ought not to forget, that the Republican
party, VIII ch from 1860 to 1872 was pro-
fuse in its professions of reform, has
dropped them altogether in the campaign
of 1876. Neither in the platform adopted
at Cincinnati nor in HAYES letter of ac-
ceptance, nor in his previous career as
public man, can there be found a single
ulmistaksble and emphatic promise thai,
IN the event of Republican success, re-
form will be promptly inaugurated and
persistently maintained. On the other
hand, we have only to read Republican
newspapers and Republican speeches to
see that the reform mask has been drop
ped altogether, and that the organs and
LADDERS of the party are opposed to any
and every movement in the direction Of
reform.
MIR. ADAMS tells most solemn truth
when he says: "Unless the people speak
this year in an unequivocnl manner,
there will be no thorough ru'.-m posi-
BILE hereafter" The question submitted
TO the country Is reform or 70 reform.
If the people declare by their votes that
no change for the better is necessary, be-
cause things are well enough as they
are, is it likely the Republican party will
force upon tho people something they
have Just SAID they do not want? When
was there ever party that was more
virtuou, than the popular pressure COM
pclled it to be? When was there ever
d party that went right when the popu-
lar voice encouraged 1t to go wrong?
If HAYES is elected, we shall have
better President than the present in
cumbent but the party to which ne be-
long. will DO vastly worse. Republican
victory will stamp reform into dead
issue. If i. is ever resurrected, 1t will be
when too late. The current of national
corruption can be stemmed If taken now
Give il four more years to gather
strength and momentum and no human
lnstrumentslity can xrrest its headlong
course. The Government has reached
the crisis of it, fate. 1t cannot stand
still. 1t must grow better, or it must
grow worse. 1t must be reformed, or it
must pass from one graduation of decay to
another until Generalization ends in de-
s,ruction. Nom is the accepted time;
nor is the day ofsalvstion. This oppor-
tunity lost and no other will come,
"though we seek it carefully and with
tears"