The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1876-09-06
GEN. GEO. b. McCLELLAN'S
LETTER. -.

O44Ns WIOs he MCO1A1AAAAhN- -
LETTER.
He Appeals to His Old Conn
rades to stand by Him for
Tilden and Reform.
The following patriotic and able
letter from Gen. Mcclellan is just
published: s seSe
CoBURa, CANADA, Aug. Is, '76.
My. DEAR SIR: Your very kind
letter of the 10Th has reached me,
and I quite concur with you.
Deeply impressed by the gravity
of the issues involved in the APP
preaching Presidential election, be-
lieVing that the honor of the country
and the well-being of the people de-
pend in no small degree upon the
result, I feel compelled to depart
from the reserve that has become
habitual to me, and express the earn
est convictions that press upon me.
Under a constitutional govern
ment the formation of political par
ties is necessary consequences of
the diversity of human minds aud
Interests. Sentimentalists, in their
closets, may dream of an ideal Re
public, all of whose citizens are per
fectly wise, virtuous, and, conse-
quently, unanimous; but such a
dream can never be realized on the
earth. and we must recognize the
fact that political parties are not
only necessary, but beneficial, acting
as they do as checks upon each
other. Experience has shown, in all
constitutional countries, that when
any party possesses uninterrupted
power for a very long time, especial
lly when the minority is too weak to
interposea any efficient check upon
the actions of the majority, the. ten
dency is that the leaders become
careless and reckless, forget that
there is any power to which they are
responsible, look upon Office as a
personal possession and reward,
rather than public trust, and learn
| to regard their tenure as permanent.
ESo, too, the Legislative bodies be-
come inclined to1a systemlof extra
vac gance, which engenders. corruption.
facilitates the formation of rings,
and finally destroys the prosperity
of the people. fl e 9as
The only sure remedy in such a
case, is that the people shall, through
! the ballot-boxs place the former op-
position in power. asganJ 5seal
1 rr,.. ia IN a
condition just described is proven
by the universal and peremptory de-
mand for complete reform by the
people without regard to party.
Among Democrats there is no
doubt as to the manner in which the
] change, should be accomplished.
With many Republicans the ques-
ton is whether they can trust the
professions of their party, or whether
they must take the disagreeable step
of breaking away from old political
associations, by leaving the party
under whose administration all the
evils of which they complain have
grown up, and act with the Demo
Gratis, who, from the force of cir
! cumstances, must necessarily be re.
formers.
T I have the highest respect for Che
personal character and intelligence
of the Republican candidate for the
Presidency, and believe him to be
an upright gentleman; but it seems
!, to me quite impossible that he can
change the organization and policy
Fof his. party. s5sf ts
h The leaders who control and shape
hts policy would be the same after
j his election as now. and it is idle to
hope for any change in. them. or an
der them.
3 It is now abundantly evident that
5haa not a. Democratic House beer
iEelected IN 1874, 1t would have beer
impossible, to sunearth the the vari
Gus instances of malaIministratfon
that have come to light, and it is
equally eIear that until the Govern
s meht passes into the hands of the
Democrats, we shall never know the
I whole truth, whatever it may be
and ne. need to know the truth as tc
the past, thar il may serve TO gaide
us in the future. a.z sas
81 Believing. as firmly do. tha
consideration OF honesty and sounc
craftsmanship, every true nationa
and individual interest, demands th,
prompb b@iBaHguFation of a polio,
which shall, in the briefest praetie
pdsable time. reduce every government
al expenditure to the. lowest poin
commensurate with honor aud effici
ency ;.regarding the reform of th'
EciVil services in its broadcast sense
and with it tue enforcement upol
Office holders of tfie conviction tha
, their only business is to- perform
| their public duties. and not to ma
! nipnlate party politics As al inhel
TENT part ofttis reforms satisfied chs
/. it must BE 0rDpanied bY financia
J measures steadily directed toward
! the resumption OF specie payment
within the shortest possible period
Il / cannot for a moment doubt tlla
1these all imp portant ends will be bes
and in fact only ys attained by tn
r detection of the0 candidate of tn
Democratic party ''s..a s..,s. y go g g.
H