The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-06
THE MASSACHUSETTS ADDRESS.

THE MASSACHUSETTS ADDRESS.
Some weeks ago several representative
men of the republican party Of Massachu-
setts-represenistlves of its morals and its
brains, of its intelligence, honesty and in
tegrity-met at Worcester TO take counsel
together relative to the present condition of
the republican party and the country. 1t
was something unusual, something new, TO
see this class of men step aside from the
ordinary concerns of life and take an active
interest in current politics, and their ac-
ton, therefore, provoked much unfriendly
and unfavorable comment. 1t looked to
professional politicians and chronic Office
seekers very much as if their occupation
was gone, and they endeavorcd to sneer
the conference down, but it met, COM
pared views, and has now concluded its la.
bors, and issued the following very sensible
address to the people of Massachusetts
Actuated by no local or personal pur-
poses, claiming no authority except what
rightly attaches to men holding the essen
tial principles OF repubicaDism in truth
and sincerity, jealous of the honor of the
party of Andrew, Wilson and Sumner, yet
painfully concious of an alarming spirit of
indifference and carelessness in the per.
Torrance of duty at the primary meetings
and of dissatisfaction with the result of
caucus management, we address you, to
urge jealous devotion to the trusts and
resumption of the activities Of citizenship.
Our purpose IS to remind you of the duty
that republicans owe to their party fer the
sake of their country.
However much we may differ as to
causes, we are heartily united in believing
that there is but one practical method by
which distrust can be allayed, confidence
restored and national success assured, and
rhetoric of platforms, emb0dyy In In them.
selves the popular demand for honesty and
independence. To this popular demand
mere partisanship must yield.
The republicans of Massachusetts, have a
present and an urgent duty. Nothing is
more important than the candidates to be
nominated by the next national convention
shall be men whose names are already
watchwords of reform, whose capacity and
courage for the work are matter of record
rather than of promise, who will restore
the simplicity, independence and rectitude
OF the early administrations, and whose
lives Will be guaranty of their fidelity and
illness. Under no other leadership is sue
cess desirable or possible.
The time is suspicious. In this centen-
nial epoch all minds revert to the austere
virtues Of the fathers of the republic, illus
trious not more by their wisdom and cour-
age than by their probity and fidelity in all
public stations.
If the republican party of to-day fails in
any way to represent the higher standards
of the national purpose and life, it is not
because the great body of the republican
voters are not true men. The need is that,
waking to the crisis, they assert their will
and suffer none but fit opponents OF their
convictions to direct the party councils
Fellow republicans, Massachusetts must
be right. We repeat that we speak with
no other authority than that of comrades
in the ranks. We desire no conflict with
the regular agencies of our organization.
we seek not to lead, but rather to aid the
popular instinct by a word of timely warn
ing. DO not leave the calcuses in the hands
OF those who make politics business.
Let us bear in mind the imperative duty
OF selecting our most disnterested, honest,
hrm and independent citizens to represent
US as delegates to the state and district con-
Ventions. We offer no names OF national
candidates, desiring only such as are with
out fear or reproach Let us send dele
CATION to the national convention of such
high personal character and firmness that
the sentiment of Massachusetts will not be
misrepresenied, nor her voice ignored
men who believe that the great need of the
hour, rising high above all partisanship, is
the need of the most honest and capable
man in every public office.
DO not let the occasion pass. Give one
hour from your occupations or your leisure
to the caucus. Thus only can you infu-
ence the choice of the candidates who shall
lead the republican party in the coming
election.
So far 50 good. There is nothing in the
address to which we cannot give a most
hearty assent. The advice is timely and
much needed, but will it be suffered to rest
here Will these eminent gentlemen con-
tent themselves with giving advice, and
then learning their fellows to act upon it,
or not, as may accord with their conven-
fence or self-interests? 1t is all well
enough to say "Do not leave the caucus
-" in the hands of those who make politics
"a business 1t is easy enough to say
~, o"N WIN main iioPhho, Wiiilan n.
Stearns, William Hyde, William S. Tyler,
James Russell Lowell, James Freeman
Clarke and the two or three hundred other
gentlemen, who signed the call, personally,
attend the caucses, personally labor with
their fellow republicans, personally urge
the selection of proper delegates, personally
oppose the selection of unfit men, no mat
Ter how popular they may be 2 Will these
men, and such men as these, personally en-
counter the Benjamin f. Buffers, fight a
hand to hand contest with them tor the
supremacy, and never yield until victory is
gained and none but fit opponents of their
" convictions are suffered TO direct the
councils of the republican partyS While
they have been taking counsel together,
while their address is yet fresh from their
pen, Benjamin F. Butler has added an
other to his triumphs, and the senate of the
United States has refused to consent 10 the
appointment of Richard II. Dana, jr., as
minister to England. Small consolation in