The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-05
cor. HENDRIcKs's LETTER.
The Epormitie- Of the svstem that Threatens
our Institutions.

In which you have formally notified me Of my
nomination by the National Democratic,C Conven-
tion at ST. Louis as their candidate forkhe ofiico
OF Vice President OF the United states. 1t Is a
nomination which | had neither expected nor
desired; aud yet l recognize and appre-
ciate the high honor done by
the Convention. The choice OF such
body, pronounced with such unusual unanim-
ity, and accompanied with so generous an ex-
preston Of esteem and confidence ought to out
weigh all merely personal desires and prefer
ences Of my own. It Is with this feeling, and I
trust also from d ep sense Of public duty, that
now accept the nomination. and shall abide
the judgment OF my countrymen.
IL would have been impossible for me to 40
cept the nomination II could rot heartily en-
dorse the platform OF the convention. l am
gritined, therefore, to be able unequivocay to
declare that agree In the PRINCIPLES, approve
the policies, and sympathize with the purposes
ennnoiated In that platform.
Inc Institutions OF our country have been
sDrely tried by the exigencies OF civil war, and,
since the peace, by selfish and corrupt man
ngement OF pubic affairs, which has shnmed us
before civilized mankind. BY unwlse and par
tial legislation every industry and interest OF
the people have been made TO suffer; aud In
the executive departments Of the Government
dishonesty rapacity, and venality have de-
bauched the public service. Men known TO be
have been degraded for fidelity to oflciol duty.
Public once has been made the means OF pri-
TO zee n class OF men who boast the friendship
OF the sworn protectors OF the State amassIng
fortunes by deirauding the public treasury and
by corruptin9 the servants OF the people. In
such crisis Of the history OF the country
rejoice that the convention at g.. Louis has 50
noby raised the standard OF REFORM Nothing
can be well with us or with our affairs until the
public conscience shocked by the enormous
evils and abuses which prevail. shall have de-
mAnded and compelled an unspaTiDg refOrma-
tion OF our National Administration, "in Its
head and In Its members" In such reforma-
n ON ~
President, Is comparatively a trining matter, II
the system which he represents anu which hes
remain. 1he President alone must not be
made the scapegOlt Tor the enormities of the
H. eatens the des,rcion Of pU our iSsss ana
In some respects mold that the present execu-
tive has been the victim Father than the author
leaders have been stronger than the President.
No one man could have created 1t, and tho
removal uf no one man can amend H. IL In
thoroughly corrupt, aud must be swept rem Orse-
lessly away by the selection Of a government
composed OF elements entirely new. aud pledged
To Radical reform
REFORMS NEEDED.
The frst work OF reform must evidently be the
restoration OF the normal operation OF the Con-
stitution Of the United States, with all its
amendments. The necessities OF war cannot be
pleaded IN a time Of peace the right of local
sell government as guaranteed by the Constitu-
and the centralized almost PERSONAL imperial
ism which has been pfactised must he d no
U
be lost.
Our financial system Of expedients must be
reformed. Gold and silver are the real standard
OF values, ana our national currency will not
be perfect medium of exchange until II shall
DO convertible at the pleasure OF tho holders.
AS have heretofore said one desires a
return TO specie payments more earnestly than
do; but do not believe that II will or can bo
reached In harmony with the Interest,", n. the
9 40 eso" Of Se BE- aS Wn f%, i%
punity. The financial policy Of the Govern
ment, n, indeed, It deserves tho name of poUcy
at all, has been In disregard OF those laws,
and therefore has disturbed commercial ana
business confidence, as well ns hindered re-
turn to specie payments. one feature OF that
policy was the resum ption clause Of the act OF
1873 which has embarrassed the country oy
the Anticipation OF compulsory resumption
snr witch no preparation has been made, and
without any ASSURANCE thhl ~ Moull De practl-
cable. The repeal of that clause IS necessary
that the natural operation OF financial laws
IN y be restored, that the business oi the cJun-
Try may be relieved from its disturbing and de-
pressing influence, aud that return To specie
payments MAY be facilitated By the Substitution
Of wiser anu moro prudent legislation, whlCh
shall manly rely on aJudiciOus system OF public
economies aud official fetrenchments, and above
all on the promotion OF prosperity In all the III
dustries of the people.
tion clause Of the act OF 1875 TO he n backward
step In our return To specie payments, but the
recovery OF false step; and although the re-
peal may. for time, be prevented, yet the de-
| termination II the Democratic party on TINS
.utiect inns now be en- distinctly declared. There
should be no hndrances put IN the way Of re-
| turn to specie payments. :" As such hind
rance" says the platform of the st. Louis Con
| of the ac. Of 1915, aud demand its repeal"
Thoroughly believe that by public economy,
| by Official fetrenchments, aud by wise. nnance
enabling us TO accumulate the precious metals
resumption at an early period Is posslole, WIN
out producing an attlhelsi soareitS Oh eurrxn ,,,
| and that these reforms, together with the resto,
| ration OF pure government. VIII restore general
| confidence, encourage the useful INVESTMENT oi
| capital, furnish employment To labor. and re.
lieve the country from the paralysis Of hard
times" .......,
with the industries OF tue people there hav,
! been frequent interterences. Our platform truly
says that many Industries have been impoVer
lshed to subsliile few. Our commerce ha
| been degraded TO an inferior position on th'
high seas manufactures have deem diminished
ngTioulturo has been embarrassed, and the dls
| tress of the Industrial classes demands tina
these things shall be reformed.
Tho burdens of the people must also b.
ughtened hv "A great CHANGE IN our system o
public expenses. Ihe pronlgaie expenditure
which increased taxation from Eve dollar, re
capita IN 1850 to eighteen dollars in 1870 tells II
own story of our need ~ fiscal reform
Our treaties with foreign powers should ais
be reVisod and amended, in 50 Tar a they leAv
citizens of foreign blfth IA any particular les
secure IN any country on earth than lhey woul
be II they had been born on our own son an
the iniquitous coolie system which, through III
agency Of wealthy companies, imports Cnines
bOndmen, aud establishes species OF slavery
ana intetferes with the Just rewards ~ labor
our Pacific coast, should DO utterly abolished.
In the reform of our civil service most heart
ily indnrse that section OF the platinum while
declares that the cvil service ought NJ
10 hc subject to change at every election,
and thlt IL ought not to be made the brlI
reward Of party zeal" hut ought to be hwarde
for proved competency and held for nielity
the public employ" hope never agaM to DC
, the cruel md remoTseless prescription Tor p'
utlca opinions which has dlsgraced the aC
ministraiion OF the last eight years. Bad as th
civil service now IA, as all know, II has son
: men of tried integrity and proved ability, sue
| men, and such men only, should be ret ilned
> | office; but no man should be retained on az
consideration who has prostituted his oince
the purposes OF partisan intimidation or con
pulslon, or who has furnished money TO CORFU
= The elections. TEs Is done, and has been don
- | In almost every county of the land. 1t Is blig
u | upon the morals Of the country and ought
I be reformed.
y OUR SCHOOLS.
: or sectional contentious, and In respect
y our common schools have only this To sa
n That IN my judgment the man or party tn
II would involve our schools In political or sect
4 Tian controversy Is Hn enemy to the schoo
70 lho common schools are safer under the pr
!. ! tecting Cnre Of all the peQ, 10 than under I
control Of any party or sect. They must
neither soctaTan nor partisan, and there nt
" be neither division nor mlsapprupfiNlon
lr the funds Tor their support. Likewise ]
gard the man who would arouse or foster ),
l. tIonal animosites and antagOnisnis among
al countrymon IA "A dangerous enemy to his cou
IS try. All the people must he made % feel a
IL know that once more there Il established p'
| nose and policy under winch all Cltlkens