The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-17
BY. TELEGRAPH
TO THE 2ill DJ.
WHEELING REGISTER.
Associated Press Report. BY Western
Union Line, Office Northwest cor.
Of Main and 18th Sts.
DOMESTIC NEWS.
Address Of National Independent
Conference.

NEW YORK, May 49, The gentlemen
who met in the Fifth Avenue Hote
yesterday to confer upon the present
!. political situation with special regard to
the Presidential campnign resumed theil
session this morning.
The presiding president announced
that the committee on addresses ap.
pointed yesterday was ready to, report
and Immediately Carl Schurz arose and
70 "a the following address to the Ameri.
Can people:
FELLOW ClTIzENs:-A conference OF
citizens assembled in New York, sincere
ly desiring to serve the best interests OF
the American people, beg leave to submit
to your candid consi deration, the follow
ing appeal;
A national election is approaching un.
der circumstances OF peculiar significance.
Never before IN our history has the pub
lie mind been so profoundly agltated by
the apprehensions of the danger aris-
ing from the prevalence of the corrupt
tendencies and practices in our political
life, and never has there been greater
reason for it. We will not display here
in detail the distressing catalogue of dis
closures which for several years have
followed one another in rapid succession,
and seem to have lett scarcely single
sphere of our political life untouched.
The records of courts, of State Legisla-
lures, and of the National Congress speak
with terrible plainness, and still they are
adding to the scandalous exhibition.
While such state of things
would, under any circumstances,
appear most deplorsble condition. 1t is
particularly so at the present moment
| rs we are about to celebrate the one
hundredth anniversary Of our rational
existence and we have invited the nations
of the earth on this great anniversary
TO visit our land to witness the evidence
of our material progress as we'll as the
workings and effect of that republican
government, which century ago our
fore-tathers founded. That the most in
spring memories of our past history are
rising up before US in new
glow OF life, forcing upon us
the comparison of what this repub-
lie was once and what it was
intended TO be and what it now is and
upon this we have challenged the judge
ment OF civilized mankind conformity
with our own, there is much Of which
every American citizen has just; reason
to be proud; an energy and thrift, a
power of thought and action, progress
i've spirit, which in magnificence of re-
suits have outstripped all precedent and
antiquities, history alarming in Illus
trstions of. heroic patriotism, fortitude
and wisdom, a greater freedom from
foreign wars and revolutionary changes
of ofsovernment than most other nations can
be the boast Of the Republic, but century
old. and inst issued from the only great
civil conflict we have ever had to doplore,
80 strong in resources and organic alton
that it stands IN the foremost rank OF
the great powers of the earth. And yet
with all these splendid results Oh record,
Il cannot be denied that at no period
during the century now behind US the
American people have been less dissatis,
fed with them. That the Centennial
anniversary Of the Declaration OF lnde-
pendence, in most respects to all Ameri-
cans day of pride and rejoicing, is felt
In be in other respects not without self
reproach and humiliation. Oi TINS the
corruptions revealed in our political life
is the cause.
To the honor Of the American people
be it said, every patriot citizen feels
burning OF shame at the spectacle pre-
sented In the centennial year to them;
that these mementoes and monuments OF
the virtues of the past, and have the
evidence of decentralization and cOrrup.
ton of the present, the glowing eulogles
pronounced on the wisdom and purity Of
their fathers, and here in mocking con-
trast the verdict OF courts and records OF
legislative bodies illustrating the political
morals of to-day. and this before all man.
kind solemnly summoned as witness to
the exhibit and as guests to the feast.
Never was there greater cause for the
keenest modification, and keenly does IL
strike the loving, patriotic heart. How
can We arrest such dangers and wipe out
such shame3 BY proving that although
the government machinery has become
corrupt, the great body cf the peo-
ple are sound and strong at
core, and that they are determined to re-
form the abuses Of our polit cal lite, and
to overthrow, at any cost, the agencies OF
evil that stand in the way. Only such
AN effort, we'll directed and sternly per-
severed in until success is assured, will
save the good name Of the nation. pre-.
vent the prevailing disease from becom-
ing fatal, and restore to Its old strength
the faith of our own people ir their in.
stitutions. At the impending National
election various questions of great import
ance will be submitted to our
Judgment. The settlement Of the civil
war, as constitutionally fixed, must be
conscientiously maintained, and at the
same time the government strengthened cd
in general confidence by the strict oh.
servsnce of constitutional principles, ard
the old brotherhood Of the people re-
vived BY q policy of mutual justice and
Cancellation. Our solemn and often re.
peated pledge to faithfully discharge all
national obligations, must be fulfilled not
only by the payment of the principal
and interest Of our bonded debt when
due but also tbs removal, not later than
the time provid ed by the existing law, oi
the curse of our redundapt and irfedeem
able paper currency, which not only I'M
pedes the return Of true prosperity, but
has also largely contributed to the ek'
isting decentralization.
These are grave questions and there
are more we might touch were 1t our
purpose TO Law down q complete political
, platform; but, grave as they are, still IN ou'
present situation. we must, as American
citizens recognize Is our most press'ng
duty 70 re-establish the moral character
and 10 elevate the tsne Of our political
life. Honest government is the first con
ditiou of enduring national prosperity
power and freedom. Without
the elementary virtues Of ou'
political as we'll IS social lie
they will outstrip our progress:and dis
cussions and struggles about otner grsa'
. questions and principles will appear lik'
a mockery or farce. If we permit ou
4 - q L. ,<,st.