Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-05-17
The Disgrace Of the Centennial Year.
Honest Government the First Com
ditiOn OF Enduring National
Prosperity.
No Man 10 be Supported for President
who is In the Least Tainted with
the Rascalities'Or Yillainies
Of Radicsllsm.
A Movement that Should Encourage the
Democratic Party to Nominate GOY-
ernOr Tilden, Of New York,
FOR President.

NEW YORK, May 16.-The gentle
men who met in the Fifth Avenue ho-
tel yesterday to confer upon the present
political situation, with special regard
to the Presidential canvass resumed
their session this morning.
Rev. DR.. WOolsey, the presiding pres
ident, announced that the committee on
address which he appointed yesterday
was ready to report, and Immediately
Carl SchuIz arose and read the follow
ing address TO the American people:
FELLOW CITIzBNs-A conference OF
citizens assembled in New York, sin.
ceTely desiring to serve the best interests
OF the American people, beg leave to
submit to your candid consideration the
following appeal:
A national election is approaching
under circumstances of peculiar signifi-
canoe. Never before in our history has
the public mind been so powerfully agi-
tated by spprehepsions Of dangers sris-
ing from the prevalence Of corrupt ten.
denotes and practices in our political
life, and never has there been greater
resson 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 success
sion, and seem to have left scarcely
single sphere of our political life un-
touched. The records Of courts, of State
legislatures, and of our national con-
gress spssk with terrible plainness, and
still they are adding to the scandslOus
exhibition. While such state OF things
would under any circumstances appear
most deplorabIe, it is peculiarly so at the
present moment. We are about to cele-
hrate the one hundredth birthday OF our
nationsi existence; we have invited the
nations Of the earth on this anniversary
to visit our land, and to wit.
ness the evidences Of our material
progress, as well as the workings
and effects of that republican govern
ment which, century ago, our fathers
founded; that the most inspiring men,
ories Of our past history, sfising up be-
fore US in the new glow Of life, forcing
on US q scomparisen Of what this republic
was once, what it was intended 10 be,
and what it now Is; and upon this we
have challenged tie judgment OF civil
lied mankind, cODjointly with our own.
There is much of which every American
citizen has Just reason to be proud-sn
energy and thrift, power OF thought
and action, q progressive spirit, which,
in magnificence, Of result, have out
stripped all precedent aEd anticipation;
q history aboundipR In illustrations Of
heroic patriotism ,fortitude and wisdom;
q gregtfr freedom from foreign wars and
revolutionary changes OF government
than most other nations can boast OF.
Our republic, but century old, and just
Issued from the only great civil conflict
We have had to deplore, so strong III re-
sources and organization that it stands
in the foremost rankOf the great powers
of the earth; and yet, with all these
splendid results on record, it cannot be
denied that at no time during the CEN
tury now behind the American people,
have they been less satisfied with them
selves, and that the Centennial anniVer-
sary Of the Declaration OF Independence,
in so many respects to all Americans q
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
life is the cause. To the honor Of the
American people, be it said, every Pc
triotic citizen feels the burning shame Of
the spectacle presented in this Centen-
rial year-there the mementOes and
monuments of virtue of the past, and
here the shocking evidence Of demorali.
zation and corruption CT the present;
there the glowing eulogies pronounced
on the wisdom and purity Of our fathers,
and here, in mockiDg contrast, the ver-
dict Of the courts and records OF the
legislative bodies, illustrating the politi-
cal morals of to-day, and this before all
mankind, solemnly summoned as a wit
ness to the exhibition and guest to the
! feast. Never was there eause for keener
modification, and keenly does it strike
every patriotic heart. How can we
avert such dangers and wipe off such
shame? By proving that although the
government machinery hiss become cor
rupt, the great body Of the people are
sound and strong at the core, and that
they are determined to reform tins
atu3es of our political life, and to
agencies Of evil that stand in the
wsy. Only such an effort, we'll
directed and sternIy persevered IN until
success is assured, will save the good
name of the nation, prevent the pre-
vailing disease from becoming fatal, and
restore to its old strength the faith Of
| our own people in their institutions. AT
| the impending national election various
| questions of great importance will be
submitted to our judgment for settle.
ment. The settlement of the civil war,
as constitutIonslly fixed, must be con.
scientiously maintained, and at the
same time the government strengthened
| in general confidence by the strict OBJ
serVance Of constitutional principles
and the old brotherhood of the people
| revived by @ policy Of mutual justicS
and Cancellation. Our solemn and often
repeated pledge faithfully to discharge
all our national obligations must be full
filed, not only by the payment OF tht
principal and interest OF our bonded
debt when due, out also the removal, ,uol
later than the time provided by existing
law, of the curse of our redundant ire
dsemsble paper currency, which 10
only impedes the return to true pros
perity, but has also largely cen
tributed to the existing decentralization
These are grave questions, and there
are more we might touch were ii ou
purpose to lay down complete pOlitica
platform; but grave as they are, still II
cur present situation we must, a
American citizens, recognize 1t as GU
most pressing duty TO re-es tablish tht
moral character OF our government, Sl1'
TO elevate the tone of our political life
Honest government is the first condition
of enduring national prosperity. With
out the elementary virtue OF political, q
we'll as social life, decay will oustTip Gu
progress, and our discussions and strug
gles about other great questions an
principles will appear like a mOcker
! and farce if We permit our public cor
: cerrs to drift into that ruinOus sDarch
which corruption must Decesssrl
bring in its train, because 1t destroys th
confidence of the people in their self-gO7
: ernment-the greatest cslsmity that CO
D beiall republic. 1t is simple que
: ton OF life or death. A co
: rupt monarchy may last by Il
g rule Of force, but 8 corrupt republic cEr
q not endure. 1t is useless TO console ou
a selves with the idea that the corTuptC