Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-26
Political Reform.
THE ADDRESS OF THE FIFTH AVENUE CONFER
ENcE-ADDREss TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

| TOlitiCdi bciOfm.
| THE ADDRESS OF THE FIFTH AVENUE CONFER
ENcE-ADDREss TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
FELLow-cITIzENs A conference of citi-
zens assembled in New York. sincerely de-
string to serve the best interests of the
American people, beg leave to submit to
your candid consideration the following ap-
peal:
A national election is approaching under
circumstances of peculiar significance.
Never before in our history has the public
mind been so profoundly agitated by an ap-
prehension of the dangers arising from the
prevalence of corrupt tendencies and prac-
tices in our political life. And never has
there been greater reason for it. We will
not display here in detail the distressing
catalogue of the disclosures which for sew
eral years have followed one another in
rapid succession and seem to have left
scarcely a single sphere of our political life
untouched. 1t cannot be denied that at no
period during the century now behind us
have the American people been less satisfied
| with themselves, and that the centennial
anniversary of the Declaration OF lnde-
pendence, in so many respects to all Ameri-
cans day of sincerest pride and rejoicing.
is felt to be in other respects not without
self-reproach and humiliation. OF this the
corruption revealed in our political lie Is
the cause. To the honor of the American
people be it said, every patriotic citizen feels
the burning shame OF the spectacle present.
ed in the Centennial year there the me-
nentos and monuments of the virtues Of
the past, and here the shocking evidence of
the Generalization and corruption OF the
present; there the glorious eulogies pro-
nounced on the wisdom asd purity OF the
~ 0f fha
verdicts of courts and the records Of legis-
Iatiye bodies illustrating the political NOR
ais of to-day. And this before all mankind
solemnly summoned a. a witness TO the ex-
hi5ition and guest to the feast. Never
was there cause for keener modification,
and keenly does it strike every patriotic
heart How can We avert such dangers
and wipe out such shame? By proving
that, although the Government machinery
has become corrupt, the great body OF the
people are sound and strong at the core,
and that they are honestly determined to
reform the abuses of our political life and
to overthrow, at any cost, the agencies OF
evil that stand in the way.
At the impending national election vari-
Gus questions of great Importance Will be
submitted to our judgment. The settle
Inents of the civil war As cOnstitutionally
fixed must be eonscientiOusly maintained,
and at the same time the Government
strengthened in general confidence by the
strict Observance of constitutional prlncl-
pies. and the old brotherhood OF the people
revived by policy of mutual justice and
Cancellation.
Our solemn and often repeated pledge
faithfully to discharge all national obliga-
tons must be fulfilled, not only by the pay
ment OF the principal and interest OF our
bonded debt when due. but also the remOv-
al, not later than the time provided by ex-
isting law, of the curse Of our redundant
irredeemable paper currency. which not
only impedes the return OF true prosperity,
but has also largely contributed to the ex-
isting Generalization.
These are grave questions, and there are
more We might touch. were 1t cur purpose
to lay down complete political platform.
But grave as they are. still IN cur present
situation We must. a. Americans, recognize
it a. our most pressing duty to re-establIsh
the moral character Of our Government and
10 elevate the tone of our political lie.
Honest government is the FIRST condition of
enduring national prosperity, power, and
freedom. 1t il a simple question OF life or
death. \ corrupt monarchy may last by
the rule Of force a corrupt republic can
not endure.
1t is useless to console ourselves with the
idea that the corruption among Us must be
ascribed solely TO the immediate effects OF
the civil war and will without an effort at
reform, soon pass away. There Is another
canse which j. not transitory, but threatens
10 become permanent. Ii Is that system
which has made the offices OF the Govern
ment the mere spoils OF party victory the
system which distributes the places OF trust
and responsibility as the reward OF party
service and the bounty OF fayorltism; the
system which appeals 10 the mean impulses
OF sefishness and greed as controlling mo-
tive of political action the system which
Gegrades the civil service to the level OF
mere party agency, and. treating the OH
Ger as the hired servant of the party and
taxing him for party support, stimulates
corruption and places 1t under party pro-
lection the system which brings the or
canizatlOn Of parties under the control OF
their most selfishly interested and, there
fore, most active element, the plaee-h0lders
and the place-hunters, thus tending to or
eauize a standing army OF political mer-
cenaries. to be paid out of the Treasury OF
the Government. who By organized action
endeavor TO subjugate the will of the peo-
ple to their ends through the cultIyatng of
a tyrannical party spirit.
Every student OF our political history
knows that since the spoils system was IN
augurated corruption has steadily grown
rom year to year. and so long As this sys-
ten lasts. with all its seductions and de-
moraiizng tendencies, corruption Will con-
time 10 grow in extent and power, Tor
patriotism and true merit will more and
more be crowded out of political lie by un-
scrupulous selfshness. The war has only
given a -udi len stimulus to this tendency,
but without the war it would have grown
up, and will not cease to grow as long "a
the hotbed of corruption-the spOIls system
lasts. The skill in corrupt practices ac-
quired by one generation Of spOilsmen will
only be improved upon by the next. The
next We know. We have already reaped
50 great harvest OF disaster and shame
that, we repeat, 1t has now ibecOme the tirst
duty of the American people TO re-establIsh
the moral character of the Government by
thorough reform. What can We do to-
ward this end in the impending national
election
Our duty in this regard is plain and i'm
perious 1t suffers no triiIng or equiyoea-
ton. The worn-out clap-trap ot iaIr pro-
misses in party platforms will not satisfy 1t
neither will mere fine professions on the
part of candidates, not mere words are
men.
We therefore declare, and call upon all
good citizens to join us. that at the coming
Presidential election We shall support no
candidate who in public position ever coun-
tenanced corrupt practices or combinations.
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 party's sake, merely to con-
ceal it.
We shall support no candidate. however
conspicuous his position or brilliant ms
ability. in whom the impulses OF the party
manager have shown themselves predoml-
nant over those of the reiormer ; for he will
be inclined to continue that fundamental
abuse, the employment OF the Government
service as 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 quail
ties 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 Epmored aolli-
ty to be trusted, on the strength OF private
recommendations. In one word, at present,
no candidate should be held entitled to the
support of patriotic citizens OF whom the
! question may fairly be asked; - Is be real
| ly the man to carry through a thorough
going reform OF the Government Can he
With certainty be depended upon to possess
the moral courage and sturdy resolution to
,rrapple with abuses which have acquired
tie strength of established custom, and to
tn, 9 end firmly to resist the pressure even OF
his party iriends?' Whenever there is
roor for such question land doubt as to
the snswer), the candidate should be con-