The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-17


and treating the oaicer the hired servant o. the
party and him for It's support stimulates corrup
tun aud places u under party protection, The system
which brings the organization OF parties under the con-
troll OF their most sclnshly interested and therefore
active cemeni-place holders aud place hunters
thus tending to organize standing army OF political
To be paid out OF the Treasury OF the
ernnent who by organized action, endeavor 10 subju
gate the will OF Tho people 10 their cLds through the
OF our political history knows that since spoils sys-
TEN was nansurated corruption has steadily crown
Iom year 10 year, and long AZ thus system
lasts, with all its seductions and dcmoralz-
ing tendencies corruption VIII continue TO
true merit win more aud more be crowded Of
political lie by unscrupuous sehshness. The war has
only given sudden stimulus to this tendency, but
without the war IL would have grown up and Will not
Ia grow long the hotcd OF corruption the
spoils system lasts The skill in corrupt practices
CURED by generation Of spoilsmcn Will only be I'M
proved upon by the next The result We know We
have already rsapcd great harvest of disaster aud
shame that repeat has become tho first duty
the American people to rcesabl the char
acier of the government by thorough reform What
we do toward this end IN the impending national elcc
uou Ia this respect fellow citizens, consider II
duty speak very plainly Never the Of good
government and Tho honor OF the American name moro
immediately dependent on the character. ability and
reputation OF the men 10 be selected for the highest
offices. lAppausel In view oil the grave clrcum-
stances at present surrounding we declare the
Try cannot now afford to have any man elected 10 tho
Presidency whose very name Is not conclusive cvi-
dence OF the most uncompronising determination OF
the American people to make this pure government
more. Applause our duty IN this respect
PLAIN and mpcrious. II suffers no trning or equiyo
cation The WORKOUT clap-irap OF tar promises in
party platforms Will not satisfy II; neither will mere
fine professions on the part OF candidates; not mere
words ale needed, but acts not nero platforms, but
men,
We therefore DECLARE and call upon all good citizens
10 Join u, that at the coming Presidential election
shall support no candidate who IN public position ever
countenanced corrupt practices or combinations or
mpedcd their exposure and punishment, or opposed
necessary measures OF reform
We shall support no candidate who, while possessing
official influence and power, has fac TO use hrs OPP
portunities IN exposing aud Correcting abuses coming
personal reasons and party ends has permitted
Them 10 tester on; Tor such men may DO
counted on, not to uncover and crush corruption,
but Tor the party's sake merely to conceal It. We
sh.ll support no candidate, however conspicuous his
position or brilliant his ability, in whom the
themselves predominant over those OF reform,
for he will be- inclined 10 continue that ianda.
mental abusethc employment Ol tho government SER
vice as machinery Tor 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 ana character which
the stern task Of genuine reform requires; Tor tho
American people cannot now afford to risk the future
OF the Republic IN experiments on merely sup
posed virtue rumored ability 10 be trusted
the strength OF private recommendation. zap
should be held entitled to the support OF patriotic
OF whom the question may iniry be asked s
he really the man 10 carry through tnoroughgoingr re-
form of the government? Can he with certainty be
depended upon possess the moral courage sturdy
resolution to grappe with abuses which have acquired
firmly the pressure OF his party frlcndsyn
Whenever there is room FOR such question lao doubt
MS to the answcr the Candidate should be considered
unfit for this emergency. This Is time for called
availability sprngng from distinction gained on fields
OF action foreign TO The duties OF government,
that lar dangerous sort OF availability which
sists in ths-that the candidate be neither SO bad as
10 rcpel good citizens nor SO good us to
Passive virtue the highest place has often
known TO permit the growth Of active vice below The
mat - he entrusted with The Presidency this year ust
hay do rynd mt mi a al mnn
but also the fear and hatred OF the thieves He who
manages to concatc the thieves cannot be the cand-
date for honest men. lApplause.) Every American
citizen who has the OF tho Republic the ma
tona honor sincerely ut heart should solcnly resolve
that the country must have Presidcn. whose
is already watchword OF REFORM whose capacity and
courage Tor the work are matters OF record rather
than promise; who will restore the simplicity nde
pendencc and rccttudc " the carly administrations, aud
whose life Will be guarantee Of his fidelity and illness
at tho more sound Of whose n:mo even tina most
drsheartcned will take courage and all mankind
VIII say Tho Americans indeed In earnest to
restore the ancient purity OF their government" TAP
plausc)
FELLOW CIrizgys-The undersigned in addressing
you not animated by the ambition to form or lead
now political party Most OF US have long been and
still warmly attached 10 their party associations.
II would DO most gratifying 10 US to see, by party
action candidates put forward whose character and
circumstances render imperative. Wo earnestly hopo
and trust ii will be So We shall gladly follow such
lead and make evary effort IN our power to render u
successful. But while We are ready 10 accept any and
every good result Of party action, We affirm that the
moral reform Of our public concern is infinitely supc-
nor IN importance TO the interests OF any political
party Glad promote that reform through party
action, shall insist upon II ut all events should
party action iail Experience teaches US that the
habtuai submission good citizens 10 choice Of evils
presented to them by party organizations is Of the
most prolific causes OF corruption In our politics.
The acceptance by the people Of the argument that
party may be bad and still entitled 10 the support
OF good because the other party Is still worse,
Will induce each TO consider how bad II may safely DO.
1t will strengthen in each the power OF the most
scrupuIous element, and subject the will OF the people
10 the subtle tyranny OF organization welded by those
who live by politics tApplause.) To break that ty-
ranny by stern refusal TO submit TO such choice Of
evils is the first beginning Ia the reform Of pollli
cal life. without this all other steps will prove
awaiting We shall sincerely rejoice TO the
sty OF independent action avoided We earnestly hope
that the efforts TO tins end being made by
The friends OF reform within party lines
will be crowned with success and that the just expccta
lions OF the people may not be doomed TO dsappoint-
ment. Indeed We are confident II all those 81 our
fellow citizens who IN their hearts agree with what
have said will only take the courage openly pro-
claim their convictions and purpose such manifesto
tor alone would produce an elect sufclent 10 secure
nominations and AN election inaugurating better
order OF things We therefore, appeal to all good ciii
zcns who lind their own sentiments expressed In this
address be they inside outside OF party nes) TO
rarizo their respective districts and communicate
with the Executive Committee appointed this meet.
ing that efficient corporation may become possible
Let no effort be spared III bringing the influence OF
patriotic public opinion 10 bear upon those Who IN tho
customary way arc soon to nominate the party cahdi
dates and then, in any event. let US be ready TO do
what the best interests OF the Republic demand.
national HE as the fathers opened the FIRST Theirs
the work OF independence ours is the work OF
reformation. The one Is as vital the other
then. Now, as then, every true American must have
the courage OF his duty.
CARL sCHuRZ Missouri. Chairman.
MARTIN BKfMMER. Massachusetts.
L. y. : FOSTER. Connecticut
PAIKE GOODWIN, New York.
JOHN W. HOYT, Wisconsin.
Aner Nr. Schurz had concluded the conference mp.
plauded the address Tor minute or two, and, when
silence was restored, Mr. Schrrz offered the following
resolution, which had been recommended by the COM
mittec:-
Resolved That executive committee be appointed with
add TO their number ont the recommends
lion embodied IN this address, and that this committee he
instructed 10 all proper TO ont the
Indicated In the address today adopted aud also
s conference larger meeting OF similar char
scter. " circumstances require IT,
ON motion the report was adopted, and another mo-
ton madc to appoint under the resolution eleven
or thirteen members as an executive committee.
Colonel THOMAS WENTWORTH HiGGrxsoy moved
amendment, that the committee consist Of ono men,