The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-05-17

, to subjugate the, will OF the people I,
| their ends, through the cultivation Of
tyrannical party spirit.
Every student Of our political histor,
knows that since the spoils system wa
inaugurated, corruption has steadily
grown from year to year, and SO long a
this system lasts, with all It's seduction
and demoralizing tendencies, corruption
will continue to grow. in extent AM
power, for patriotism and true merit vii
more and more becrowded out Of politi
cal life by unscrupulous selfishness. Tn,
war has only given a.sudden stimnlu
to this tendency, but without the war /
would have grown up, and 1t will no
cease to grow as long as the hot.bed o
corruption, the spoils system, lasts. ThI
skill In corrupt practices acquired by ont
generation Of spoilsmen will only be i'm
proved upon by the next. The result We
know. We have already reaped sc
great harvest OF disaster and shame
that, we repeat, il has now become the
first duty OF the American people to re-
establish the moral character OF the gov
ernment by thorough reform. VIVA,
can We do toward this end in the i'm,
pending national election?
In this respect, iellow.citizens, we con.
slider it cur duty to speak very plainly
Never were the cause Of good government
and the honor OF the American name
more Immediately dependent on the
character, ability and reputation Of the
men to be selected for the highest Offices
than at the present time. In. view Of the
grave circumstances at present surround.
ing us, we declare that the country can
not now afford 10 have any man elected
to the Presidency whose very name Is
not conclusive evidence of the most un.
compromising determination Of the
American people to make this pure
government. Our duty in this respect is
plain and imperative. It suttera no tri-
ding or equivocation. That worn-out,
clap.trap affair, promises in party
platforms, will no longer satisfy
il, neither will these fine profess
sions on the part Of candidates. 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 in the determination,
that at the coming Presidential
election, we shall support no candidate
who in public position ever countenanc.
ed corrupt practices or combinations,
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 ex-
posing and correcting the 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 cannot be counted on to crush cor
ruption, but for partys sake will conceal
it.
We shall support no candidate, how
ever conspicous his position or bril-.
liant his ability, in whom the impulses Of
the party manager have shown them
selves predominant over those OF the re-
former, for he will be Inclined TO continue
that fundamental abuse, the employ.
ment Of the government service as ma.
chinery for personal or party ends. :.
We shall support no candidate who,
however, favorably Judged by his nearest
friends, is not publicly known to possess
those qualities Of mind and character
which the stern task OF genuine reform re-
quires; for the American people cannot
now afford to risk the future Of the Re-
public in experiments on merely sup.
posed virtue or rumored ability, ID Be
trusted on the strength OF private re.
commendation. In one word, NJ pre-.
sent no candidate should be held
entitled to the support Of patriotic
citizens OF whom the question may
fairly be asked, is he really the man TO
carry through thorough going reform
Of the government Can he with Ger.
tainty be depended upon to possess the
moral courage aud sturdy resolution me-
ccssary TO grapple with the abuses which
have acquired the strength Uf established
custom, aud to this end firmly to resist the
pressure even OF his party friends? When.
ever there is room for such question, and
doubt Us to the answer, the candidate
should be considered unfit for this emer-
gcncy. This is no time for so.called
availability, springing from distinction
gained on fields Of action foreign TO the
duties OF thegovernment, nor for that far
more dangerous sort OF availability
which consists in this, that the candidate
be neither so bad as TO repel good citi.
zens, nor so good as to discourage the bad
ones, Passive virtue In the highest place
has too often been known to permit the
growth Of active vice below. The man
10 be entrusted with the Presidency
this year must deserve not only
the confidence Of honest men, bnt
also the fear and hatred OF the
thieves. He who manages TO conciliate
the thieves cannot be the candidate.
Every American citizen who has the
future Of the public and the National
honor sincerely at heart, should solemnly
resolve that the country must now have a
President whose name is already watch.
word OF reform, whose capacity and
courage for the work are matters Of
record rather than Of promise; who will
restore the simplicity, independence and
rectitude OF the early administrations,
and whose life will be a guaranty Of tidel.
ity and fitness; man at the mere sound
OF whose name even the most dishearten.
cd will take new courage, and all man.
kind will say that the Americans are in.
decd in earnest 10 restore the ancient
purity OF their government.
Fellow citizens, the undersigned in nd.
dressing you are not animated by
the ambition to form or lead a new polit'
ical party. Most OF us h4ye: long
been and still are warmly attached TO
their party associations, II would be most
gratifying 10 US to see all party action ig'
nored and candidate put forward whose
character and record answer these require.
ments, which the preseht circumstances
render imperative. We earnestly hope
and trust that it will be so. We shall
gladly follow such lead, and make every
effort in our power to render II success.
ful; but while we are ready to accept any
and every good result Of party action, we
affirm that the moral reform OF our pub.
lie concerns is infinitely superior in i'm
pOrtance to the interests Of any political
party. Glad to promote that reform
through party action, We shall
insist upon il, at all events,
should party action fail. Experience
teaches'us that the habitual submission
Of good citizens TO choice OF evils pre-.
sented to them by party organizations, Is
one OF the most prolific causes OF corrup'