The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1876-09-14
GEN. MCCLELLAN.
Fail Text Of his Letter 4" ~ friend on the
Relative Merits 0f the Democratic and
Republican Candidates. I1e II for
Tiidcn ana Democracy, Becnu>e
lie Believes Reform In Ever,
Branch Of the Government
u NpCcSslt,.


Hran"h of the Government
NrCcNslN
The following letter from Gen. MClcl
: Ian to n friend in New York will appca
in the New York papers of tomorrow
morning
CoBuRG, CANADA, August lG, 1876.
NY DEAR SIR Your very kind lcttcI
Of the tenth has reached me, and quite
: concur with you. Deeply impressed b,
: the gravity Of the issues involved in tn,
approaching presidential election anC
believing that the honor Of the Countr,
and the well being Of the people dcpcnc
) in no small degree upon the result, fee
compelled to depart from the rcservt
that has become habitual to me, and ex
) press the'earnest convictions that pres.
upon me. Under constitutional gov.
ernment the formation of political par.
ties is Il necessary consequence Of the di,
vcrsity of human minds and interests,
SentmentaliSts in their closets nav
dream Of an ideal republic, all of whose
citizens are perfectly wise, virtuous, and
consequently unanimous; but such a
dream can never be realized on this
earth, and we must recognize the fact
that political parties are not only ncccs-
Sary but beneficial, acting, az they do,
as checks upon each other. Expe-
rience has shown, in all constilu-
tional countries, that when any party
possesses uninterrupted power for a very
long time, especially when the minority
is too weak to interpose any efficient
check upon the actions Of the majority,
the tendency is that the leaders become
careless and reckless, forget that there is
any power to which they are response
bic, look upon office as personal pos
session and reward, rather than a public
trust, and learn to regard thci' tenure as
permanent. So, too, the legislative
bodies become inclined to Il system of
extravaganza, which cngendcrs corrup.
ton. facilitates the formation of rings
and finally destroys the prosperity of
the people. The only sure remedy in
such a case is that the people shall,
through the ballot-box, place the former
opposition in power. That our country
is now in the condition just described is
proved by the universal and peremptory
demand for complete reform by the pco.
pie, 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 question is whether they can trust
the professions Of their party, or whether
they must take the diSagrecabIC Stcp OF
breaking away from old political aSSoca-
tions, by leaving the party under whose
administration all the evils Of which
| they complain have grown up and act
with the democrats who, from the force
Ot circumstances, must necessarily be r".
formers have the highest respect for
the personal character and intelligence of
the republican candidate for the presi-
dcncy, and believe him to I've an upright
gentleman but it seems to M" quite i'm
possible that he can change the orgauHa-
ton and policy OF his party. The leader,
who control and shape its policy would
Inc the same after his election As now,
and it is idle 10 hope for any change in
them or under them. IT is now album
dainty evident that had not u democratic
been impossible to uncarth the NariOu.
instances Of maadminstratOn that have
come to light, and it is equal Y clear that
until the government passes into the
hands of the democrats we shall never
know the whole truth, whatever it may
be and we need to know the truth aS to
the past, that it may serve to guide Us in
the future. Believing, as | firmly do,
that every consideration of honesty and
sound craftsmanship, every true national
and individual interest, demands the
prompt inauguration of policy which
shall, in the briettrt practical time, re-
ducc every governmental expenditure To
the lowest point commensurate with
honor and efficiency regarding the re-
form OF the civil service in its hrnadest
sense, and with it the enforcement upon
office holders of the conviction that their
only business is to perform their public
duties, and not to manipulate party pol
itics, rs an inherent part of this reform
satisfied that it must be accom-
pli,hed by financial measures stead
lily directed toward the rc.umP'
tion 0t specie payments within
the shortest possible period, ! cannot for
Il moment doubt that these all imporl-
ant ends will he hest and in fact only,
attained by the election Of the randl-
dates of the democratic party. But
questions of finance and reform are not
the only ones which affect our present
and future. The recent war settled Tor
ever certain veXed questions; Tor cN-
ample, the asserted right of secession
has disappeared in a sea OF blood; sIav-
cry has been abolished, never 10 reap
pear; to the negro has been given the
rights Vi citizenship and suffrage. We
have nothing more To do with trc re-
suits save to accept them frankly. aud
watch they remain intact. After many
| trials and tribuIatiOns the states not
long since arrayed in arms against the
general government have re-e-stablishcd
their relations with the union and r.
gained their autonomy. Generous Cour-
tesy toward fallen, but most gallant
foe. and selfish policy, alike demand
that we should leave no just thing un-
done that will restore peace and well
being to the south, re-eStabliSh traternal
| feelings in the hearts of all our people
and cause of our recent enemies to he
proud of and love the government of the
union and its flag. The welfare of the
north il inseparabIe from that ol the
south, and our country can never attain
| its full force and vigor until peace, pros
perity and kind feeling reign through
out this broad domain. believe
that this end can I've best
reached by respecting the auto.
nomy of the individual states, 81 long ~
they respect the obligations OF the fed
erai compact. Allowed to govern them
selves, public opinion, selfrespect and It
regard for their own Interests will CO..
tainlv suffice to induce the southern
states To place good men in office and t.
enforce the laws. WhiIe OF the opinion
! that federal interference should never l~'
resorted tc, except in the eases provided
I all, thinl that