The Van Buren press., 1876-05-23
Proceedings Of the Conference and
addresses Of Leading Liberal Re-
public0ns.

Dispatches from New York. of the 10th,
say: The gentlemen who met In the Fifth
avenue hotel. yesterday. to confer upon the
present political situation with special regard
to the presidential canvass, resumed their ses-
sion this morning Rev. DIR. Wooisey presi-
ding.
The president announced that the commit
tee on address he appointed. Yesterday was
ready to report, and immediately Carl Shurx
arose and read an address to the American
people, the close Of which We give:
ITO the victor belong the spoils, aud never
were the cause Of good government and the
honor Of the American nation more immedl-
atsly dependent on the character, ability and
reputation Of men to be selected for the high
est offices, and In view Of the grave circum-
stances At present surrounding us. we declare
the country cannot now afford to have any
man elected to the presidency whose very
name Is not conclusive evldenc of the most
uncempromislng determination of the Amer
lean people to make this pure government,
once more, Our duty in this ease is plain and
imperative. 1t suffers no trifiing or equivo-
cation. Worn out claptrap-atfair promises in
party platforms will not satisfy 1t. Neither
will their fine expressions on the part of can.
didates. Not mere words are needed, but
acts; not mere platforms but men. We there
fore declare and call upon all good citizens to
join US that at the coming presidential election
we shall support no candidate who In any
public position countenanced corrupt practi.
ces or combinations, or strove to impede their
exposure and punishment. or neglected any
opportunity In exposing and correcting the
abuses coming within reach Of his observa-
ton. but for personal reasons, In party ends,
has permitted them to tester on. for such men
may be counted not to uncover and crush
corruption, but for party's sake merely to
conceal 1t more. Weshall support no candi-
date. however conspieuoae his position or
brilliant his inability in whom tha Impulses
OF party managers have shown themselves
predominant over those Of reform for he will
be Inclined to continue that fundamental
abuse the employment of government ma
chinery for personal or party ends. We shall
support no candidate who, however tayora-
bly, judged by his nearest friends. Is not pub
licly known to possess those qualities of mind
and character which the stern task of genr-
inc reform requires for the American people
cannot now afford to risk the future of re.
publican experiments on merely supposed
virtue or rumored ability to BIZ trusted on the
strength Of private recommendation. Our
generation has to open the second century OF
our national life, as the fathers opened the
first. Theirs was the work of Independence;
ours Is the work OF reformation. One Is as
vital as the other. Then every true Amerl-
can must have courage for the performance
Of his duty"
Carl Schurz. of Missouri, Chairman.
Martin Brimmoner. of Massachusetts,.
l.. F. g. Foster, of Connecticut.
Park Goodwin, of New York.
John W. Hoyt, Of Wisconsin.
Published by order Of the conference.
THEODORE WOLSEY.
President.
The address was received with great APP
plause and. without discussion. was unani-
mOnsly adopted.
The following resolutions. offered by Mr..
Schurz were adopted:
Resolved, That an executive committee be
appointed BY the chair, consisting the pres
ent business committee, with power to add to
their number at least one from each state In
the union, as far as possible and that this
committee be directed to use all proper means
to carry out the purposes Indicated In the ad-
dress to-day. Also to reconvene the confer
ence or large meeting of similar charac-
ter, II circumstances require It.
Adopted.