The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1876-08-30
A STRONG ENDORSEMENT.

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ConuHu, CnnGdn ururt 10, lH6.
Ny DEAR SIR--Yom very KIND Icttor
of the l0th has reached me-, and ] quite
concur with YOU
Deeply impressed Wy the gravity OF
the issues involved IN the approaching
Presidential election, believing that the
honor Of the country and the we'll being
Of the people depend in no amaIldcpce
upon the result, ! feel compelled 10 or-
part from the reserve that has become
habitual to me and express the earnest
convictions that press upon me
Under constitutional government
the formation of political parties is
necessary consequence of the diversity
of human minds and interests Senti.
mcntalists in their closets may dream
of an ideal Republic all of whose citi-
lcns are perfectly wise, yituous, and
consequently unanimous, but such u
dream can never be realized on this
earth, and we must recognize the fact
that political parties nre not only ncccs-
sary, but beneficial, acting as they do ns
checks upon each other Experience
has shown, in all constitutional coln,
tries that when any party possesses I'M
interrupted power for very long time,
especially when the minority IL too
weak TO intorpose any efficient check
upon the actions of the majority, the
| tendency is that the leaders become
careless and reckless forget that there
i! any power to which they are rcspon-
siblc, look upon Office MS II personal pos
session and reward, rather than II public
trust, and learn to regard their tenure
rs permanent SO, too, the legislative
bodies become inclined to II system of
lrXtrayagance, which cngender5 comup-
ton, facilitates the formation of rings,
and finally destroys the prosperity Of
the people.
The only sure remedy in such case,
is that the people shall, through the
bnllot-box place the former opposition
in power,
That our country is now in the con
dition just described is proved by the
universal and pcrcmptory demand for
complete reform by the people without
regard loparty.
Among Democrats there is no doubt
MS to the manncrin which the change
should be accomplished.
With many Republicans the question
is whether they can trust theproIcssious
of their party, or whether they must
take the dis0greeablc step Of breaking
away from old political associations 10y
leaving the party under whose admins.
tration all the evils Of which they com.
plain have grown up and act with tire
Democrats who, from the force of cir
cumstanccs, must necessarily be rcIur-
mers.
have the highest respect for the per.
sonal character and intelligence of the
Republican candidate for the Prcsidcn.
cy, and believe him to be an upright
gentleman. But ii seems to me quite
impossible that he can change the on.
ganization and policy of his party.
The leaders who control and shape
its policy would he the same after his
election as now, and it is idle to hope
for any change in them, or under them.
1t is now abundantly evident that
had not n Democratic House been
elected in 1874, it would have been inn
possible to uncarth the various in
stances OF maladministratio that have
come to light, and it il equally 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, M ! firmly do, that every
consideration of honesty and sound
craftsmanship, every true national and
individual interest, dcmandstho prompt
inauguration Of policy which shall, in
the briciest practicable time reduce
every governmental expenditure to the
lowest point commensurate with honor
and efficiency regarding the reform of
the civil service in its broadcast sense,
and with it the enforcement upon office
holders of the conviction that their only
business is to perform their public du-
ties, and not TO manipulate party poll
tics, rs an inherent part of this REFORM
satisfied that it must be accompanied
by financial measures steadily directed
towards the resumption of specie pay
ments within the shortest possible
period, can not for II moment
doubt that these all-important ends
will be best, and in fact only, attained
by the election of the candidate of the
Democratic party.
But questions of finance and reform
are not the only ones which affect our
present and future
The recent war altered forever some
vexed questions; for example, the as
serted right Of secession has disappeared
in sea Of blood; slavery has been abol.
ished never to reappear to the negro
has been given the right to citizenship
and suffrage, We have nothing more
to do with these results, save to accept
them frankly, and watch that they re.
main intact. After many trials and
tribulations, the States not long since
arrayed in arms against the general
government, haze re-established their
relations with the Union and regaincd
their autonomy
| Generous courtesy toward fallen
but most gallant foe, and selfish policy,
alike demand that we should leave no
just thing undone, that will restore
peace and well-being to the South, re.cs-
tablish faternal feelings in the hearts
of all our people, and cause our recent
enemies to be proud OF, and love the
government of the Union and its flag.
The welfare of the North is inseparabie
from that of the South, and our country
can never attain its full force and vigor
until peace, prosperity and kind feeling
reign throughout its broad domain.
lbelieve that this end can best be
reached by respecting the autonomy of
the individual States, 80 long MS they
respect the obligations Of the Federal
compact
Allowed to govern themselves, public
opinion, selt-respect and regard for
their own interests will certainly suffice
to induce the Southern States to place