The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-07

,,r< nr THE ST. LOUIS PLATFORM AP-
rr4vFn-THE STANDARD OF REFORM
rp.rD-GO0D OLD LANDMARKS TO BE
rr>ToKED-rINASCIAL roLICY-ClVH.-
SERVICE HEroHM-sTRIFE BETWEEN THE
>y.~rIOE> SOON TO CEASE-A COMPLIMENT
rr TILnEN.
Ylr following is Governor Hendricks 5
l,,,.r .. acceptance
I.gTtN.raLIS. july 24.-Gcntlcmen,-I
,.,y, fh,, hunorto acknowledge the receipt OF
,..r communication in which YOU have
formally notified me OF my nomination by
.a. National Democratic Convention mt st.
: .,.i> =, their candidate for the office Of
y:.e-Prc>idcnt OF the United States. 1t is
., n,Wnation which neither expected nor
j. i. and vet recognize and appreciate
~. li.A honor by the Convention. The
choice Of such body, pronounced with
.g.i unusual Unanimity, and accompanied
with - generous IN expression OF esteem
and confidence. ought to outweigh merely
,ar-onai desires and preferences OF my own.
TIE COUNTRY 5 TRIALS.
T. j with this feeling, and [ trust also
from deep sense OF public duty, that L
nos accept the nomination, and shall abide
the Judgment OF my countrymen. 1t would
hay, been impossible for me to accept the
nomination If could not heartily endorse
the Platform OF the Convention. am graf
;,iri. therefore. to be able uncquivocally to
declare that | amrcc in the principles, ap-
rrnyrt the policies. and Svmpathizc with the
purposes cnunciatcd in that platform. The
institutions uf our country have been sorcly
tried hv tie cXigcncics Of civil war, and
since nracc hv a selfish and corrupt man.
agvmcnl If public affairs which has shamcd
IL before civilized mankind by unwiSc and
partial legislation.
OFFICIAL. pEPRAvlTY.
Every industry and interest OF the people
have been made 10 suffer, and in the eXecu-
tive dcpartments OF the Government dis
honesty, rapacitr, and vcnality have de-
luuchcd the public service. Men known to
hc unworthy have been promoted. whilst
other, have been disgraced for fidelity to
official duty. Public Office has been made
tho means Of private profit, and the country
has been offended to see class OF men who
boast the friendship Of sworn protectors OF
the state amasSins fortunes by defrauding
fhc 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 noblv raised
the standard of reform.
TIE PUBL1C CONSCIENCE
Nothing can be well with lis or with our
Affairs until the public conscience, shocked
hv the enormous evils and abuses which
prevail. shall have demanded and compelled
Al un>larin@ reformation OF our National
Administration, in its head and its members.
la I,h r,,fn tln nj cf q Gin n Ia
officer even the President. is comparatively
atrilng matter il the system which he re-
presents. and which has fostered him us hc
l.u> to>trrcd ii. Is suffered to remain.
GENERAL GRANT. 70
The President alone must not be made
the >capcgoat for the enormities Of the svS
tenn which infccts the public service and
threatens the destruction OF our institu
tipu>. Ia some respects | hold that the pre-
,cnt Executive has been the victim rather
;han the author OF that vicious system
congressional and party leaders have been
stronger than the President. No one man
could have created it, and the removal OF
no one man can amend it. 1t is thoroughly
corrupt, and must be swept remorselessly
uway by the selection OF 4 government com
posed OF clements entirely new and pledged
10 radical reform.
SPECIE PAYMENTS.
The first work OF reform must evidently
hc the restoration Of normal operation o.
the Constitution OF the United States, Will
all its amendments. The necessity OF wal
cannot be pleaded in q time Of peace. The
right Of local self-governmcnt is guaranteed
by the Constitution Of the Union, and must
be everywhere restored and centrallzcd
The almost personal imperialism which has
been practiccd must be done away, or the
first principles Of the republic will be lost
uur financial system OF eXpedients must De
reformed. Gold and silver are the rea
standard OF values, and our national cur.
rrncy will not be 4 perfect medium OF eN.
change until it shall be convertible at the
pleasure OF the holder. AS have hereto
fore said, no one desires q return to specie
payments more earnestly than / do; but
DO not believe that it will or can be reached
III harmony with the interests OF the people
by artificial measures for contraction OF the
currency any more than believe wealth or
permanent property can be created by an
Imitation OF the currency.
FINANCIAL POLICY.
nc laws OF finance cannot be disregarded
WIN lmpunity. The financial policy Of the
Government, if indeed it deserves the name
OF pofcy at all, has been in disregard OF
those laws, and therefore has disturbed
commercial and business confidence as we'll
rs hlndcred return 10 specie payments. One
feature OF that policy was the resumption
clause OF the act Of 1875, which has embar-
rtssed the country by anticipation OF COM
pulsory resumption for which no prepara-
ton has been made, and without any ASST
rance that il would be practical
The repeal OF that clause is necessary that
the natural operations OF financial laws may
De restored, that the business OF the coun-
Try may be relieved from its disturbing and
depressing influence, and that return to
specie payments may be facilitated by the
substitution OF wiser and more prudent
legislation, which shall mainly rely on q ju-
Glclous system OF public economies and Of
nclai retrenchments, and above all On the
PROMOTION OF prosperity i'll ali the indus
uies Of the people.
PUBLIC ECONOMY.
do not understand the repeal OF the re-
sumption clause OF the act of 1875 to be q
backward step in our return to specie pay
nEntS, but recovery OF false step; and
ahhough repeal may for q time he prevented,
me determination OF the Democratic party on
tnls u. subject has now been distinctly declared.
ihere should be no hindrances put In the
way ot a return TO specie payments, Gas
90 caeh hindranee," says the platform OF the
M nt. Louis Convention, sis to denounce the
lnesumption clause OF the act OF 1875, and to
uehiand its repeal"
thoroughly believe that by public econo-
KY, W Official retrcnchments, and by wise
uuancc, enabling us In accumulate fhe nra-