The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-10-04
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.
HIS VIEWS ON THE POLITICAL sITUA.
TON.
why Gov. Ttlden IL the Man for the
Times.
From the Chicago Times, Oct. IL


MANsFIELp, O., Oct. l.-Scveral days
ago. Gen. Brinkerhoff of this city, adj
dressed a letter to the Hon. Charles
Francis Adams, requesting him to come
to Ohio and speak for Tildcn. II seemed
TO Gen. Brinkerhoh, as he said in the let
ter, that wor,l from Mr.. Adams would
be Of great value as coming from man
who was above the rcproach OF partyism
"A cool, conservative statesman, pos
sessed OF his countrymen's confidence,
and known to be influenced by high
and pure patriotism. l would not say
Gen. Brinkerhof put it in that style, but
his drirt was
~ THAT DIRECTION.
He said 10 Mr.. Adams that the men who
had constituted the liberal party of Ohio
looked up to him with respect; that OF
the Ohio delegation to the liberal conven.
ton in 1872, all Int two desired his nom.
nation: that now they were practically
under political ban, those of them who
had joined the Democratic party in sup
port OF Mr.. Tidcn being tainted with
the lack of great names among them,
Schurz and most of the others having
gone to the other side that they needed
the inspiring effect of some great mans
cooperation with them. and begged him
to come on.
10 this, Mr.. Adams wrote the follow
ing reply, which is here for the first time
given to the public. As the first utter
ance Of Mr.. Adams in tue campaign tfor
! his first letter OF acceptance amounted to
little or nothing, it possesses a peculiar
interest and value. 1t is calm, dispas-
| sionate. clear, and comes upon the heated
field OF presidential battle, cool breeze
from those lofty heights of
| Eternal INTELLECTUAL SNOW,
| in which the brains OF the Adams family
have always rested, from which the
eyes OF the Adams family have. since
the time of the original Adams, looked
down with analytical impartial gaze up
| on the strife. and humors and clashing
opinions Of less refrigerniive men.
Tbi. is the letter:
! QUINCY, Mass, sept. E.-GEy. H.
B.iSkERHoFF, Mansfield, O.-Dear Sir !:
| have to acknowledge the reception Of
your very fatterinx letter inviting We Ia
! address NY fellOw-citizens Of the state
OF Ohio on the present state OF political
affairs In the country. Ii is now a long
| while since ] have attempted such a
thing, and in the condition OF my phys
ical powers, especially OF my voice,
| must plead To be excused from undertak
| ing The service.
| The question before Us seems 10 resolve
| itself into this, whether a genuine reform
| OF the evils that have been brought on the
country under the Republican admins
\ tratiOn OF the last eight years is To he re-.
peated by continuing the same influence
In power, complete change, and intrust
| the prosecution Of reform Ia new and
| fresh set of men. The disclosures
OF the last few years distinctly
| prove that the whole existing organ
| iZation has been honeycOmbed with cor
| ruption which not even the most earn
est Efforts OF the honest men of the Re-
| publican party have been etfcctual to
check. 1t is plain that the confidence of
| the majority is not withdrawn from
those men who have been the most
| deeply compromised ~ their own con-
duct before the world, and that 1t has not
been placed in those who appear to have
| been the most strenuous and efficient
agents ia policy Of reform.
| have not word to say in derO2ation
| OF Mr. Hayes. But it seems to me al
| least very singular that In fearful crisis
like this, person should have been Sc
| lected who has thus far had no record on
| this guhiack AMI that inhiyinuat
| who had really committed himself by
| his previous course to the policy of re-
torn should have been seriously sup
| ported. The meagre vote given to Mr..
Bristow in the convention appears to
have embraced all the true enthusiasm
sincerely working for that one great OBJ
ject.
On the other hand, the action Of the
| convention at st. Louis shows wholly
different spirit. Not satisfied with max
| ing much the strongest declaration OF the
principles ON which they propose to pro-
coed, they went on directly TO nominate
| by q large majority a man who by his en-
ergetic and vigorous prosecution OF diff
hcult and dangerous task Of reform in his
own state had given the strongest pledges
TO the country. not simply OF his will,
but OF his power 10 meet emergencies of
| all sOIts' NJ NOuucT lidt all tie ItTOcIty
| OF the wolves and tigers who feed upon
the oiial OF the pubic crib should be
vented ON him. Their passion only goes
10 prove the justice Of their fears. The
| very fact OIL their yirulence should be in
the minds OF calm observers the most
convincing proof Of the wisdom Of the
choice. Mr.. 1flden is not called upon to
promise what lie will do in certain cmer.
gencies. What he has done Ia better
pledge than all the epitlets in the dicton.
aries,
Anotlcr ,tron. reason in my nliad tor
preferring Mr.. Tilden In this emergency,
Is that new and clear policy toward the
southern states may be inaugurated free
from all the Obstacles hitherto raised by
class OF the public men Of the north
VINO i've by iDgratitatiBg themselves
WIN every element remaining anon. us
Oh the cvii passions raised during the
war. 30 long a. this course is tolerated,
tnere VIII be no real harmony between
the sections. This is q favorable moment
LOT stamping this spirit or mslignity
, unaer our feet, by selecting man whose
Weii'khowh Harness and impartiality
may relnstate mutual confidence and
uiulna'eiy restore unity to the whole
peope. we need this much In the pres
ent low condition Of our pecuniary ar
iAts-we need il more TO fOrtify this
view OF our position by foreign nations.
In snort, the time has come for the in
AuXuI..loh OF wholly new and vigOr-
gus iohcy, by thoroughly competent
anu experienced man. That man, ]