The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-27

touching the questions of finance and
economy,-of official honesty and integ
rity.
Among the people, as contra dis
tinguished from professed politicians,
the prominent question is, "What are
the best and most effective means Of Sc
curing an honest and economical ad-
ministration of lthe government, and an
early return to health and stability in
the various departments of business?
There is, and suppose always will
be, a class of restless and uneasy spirits
who thrive only in the midst Of turmoil
and strife. Some must shake the bloody
shirt, and move Heaven and earth, if it
were possible, to keep sleeplessly active
the worst passions Of our common na.
ture. On the ether hand there are
those who can do no less than persistent
ly proclaim their devotion to the ghosts
ofSccession and of slavery; but thanks
to the "sober second thought of the
people, these classes are rapidly dim!n-
ishing, both in numbers and influence.
By the results Of the war secession was
crushed and slavery extinguished.
With them, and in the same grave, by
virtue Of the provisions of the XIII and
XIV Amendments to the Federal Con-
stitution, there lie buried various CUES
tions' more or less intimately related 20
them, viz: claims for compensation for
slaves lost Or enamel pated-the pay.
men5 or assumption Of the COME derate
debt, and the payment or assumption Of
any. obligations incurred in aid of the
Rebellion.
Besides these, there are others, which,
If not covered by the express provisions
of these Constitutional mendments,
are within their spirit, and which
just and intelligent public sentiment has
settled and settled as efectually
could have been done by Constitutions
al provision. I refer to the question of
pensions to Confederate soldiers, to the
question Of compensation to those ell
gagged in the Rebellion for property
taken or DESTROYED by the Union forces
in the prosecution OF the war. and the
like.
| hold that all these questions are
foreclosel, and foreclo$ed forever: that
as to them, one and all, the dead have
buried their dead.-let their be neither
resurrection nor attempt at resurrectlon.
There are living and practical issues be-
fore us worthy our consideration, and
to them my labors in the campaign
will be confined.
In the fullest and broadest sense I
accept and endorse the platform adopt
ed by our National council at St. Louis,
and in the candidates there presented
to US for President and Vice President
| recognize men and statemen worthy Of
the best days Of the Republic. [ accept,
too, the platform adopted by your con-
vention, and without stopping to par;i-
cularize further, I have simply t. say
that in my judgment that, which by a
sad experience is now familiar to us as
the ''srasshopper plague" has assumed
such proportions, not only in respect
to the breadth Of country over which its
ravages have already extended, but in
reference also to the immense interests
involved, that it is transformed from Il
local to Il very grave national question,
and deserves to be met, considered and
dealt with as Of national Importance.
To these platforms presume to SUBJ
join :: RI INK by no means wholly my
own. Within the last few years there
has grown into vigorous life in Con-
gress system Of caucus dictotion in
respect to matters purely legislative, so
that the JUDI and conscience of in
dividual members on questions of gen.
eral legislation are passed into the keep
ing of an arbitrary and irresponsible
party majority. This system is preg-
nant with untold mischief, and demands
from every right-minded and indie
pendent man an indignant condemua-
ton.
With the expression of my apprecia-
ton of the kind and courteous manner
in which you, gentlemen; have dis
charged the duty committed to you, and
through you to the convention for the
honor of this nomination,
l am very truly yours,
E. I. WILDER.