Middletown transcript., 1876-08-12

d pointed out clearly the necessity for re
d form, he proceeds to tell how that reform
d should be brought about:
4 The first work Of reform must evi
+ dently be the restoration of the norma
= operation of the Constitution of th,
United States, with all its amendments
The necessities Of war cannot be pleaded
y 10 time Of peace; the right Of loca1
: self-government as guaranteed by the
s Constitution ofthe Union must be every
. where restored. and the centralized
almost personally imperialism which has
been practised must be done away OF
' the first principles Of the republic will
be lost.
I'll THE FINANCIAL QUESTION
is handled in such manner as must
disappoint his adversaries who had
hoped to find great difference Of opin-
ion between him and Gov. Tilden on
this subject. He advocates a gradual
return to specie payments to be accom-
plished as speedily as the business and
commercial interests Of the country will
allow. On this subject he says: Our
financial system Of expedients must be
reformed. Gold and silver are the real
standard of values, and our national
currency will not be perfect medium
Of exchange until it shall be convertible
at the pleasure Of the holder. As I
have heretofore said. no one desires a
return to Specie Payments more earn
estly than | do but l do not believe
that it will or can be reached in har-
mony with the interests Of the people
by artificial measures for the contrac-
tion of the currency. any more than |
believe that wealth or permanent PROS
perity can be created by an initiation of /
the currency The laws of finance can
not be disregarded with impunity. The
financial policy Of the Government, if,
indeed, it deserves the name of policy
at all, has been in disregard of those
laws, and therefore has disturbed COM
mercial and business confidence, as well
as hindered return to Specie Pay
ments. |,
ADMINISTRATIVE ExTRAvAGANcE.
The extravagant expenditures of the
administration are severely condemned
and reform advocated: The burdens of
the people must also be lightened by !
great change 10 our system Of public
expenses. The proaigate expenditure
which increased taxation from five dol !
lars per capita in 1860 to eighteen dol
ars in 1870 tells its own story Of our
lsed of fiscal reform. !;
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM ),
The civil service reform plank Of the ;,
It. Louis platform deprecating the n
removal of men from Office on n
ccount OF political opinions meets with :
he writer's hearty approval and be ia +
ors the retention in Office of men of =,
tried integrity and proved ability" no
natter what their political opinions or ol
:,
After expressing his disapproval of M
overnmental interference with the pub \.
schools for political purposes be closes az ~
is letter with declaration Of an entire bs
yreement with the principles Of the ed
arty platform He says: 4;
It will be seen, gentlemen, that am -
! entire accord with the platform Of ~
e convention by which l have been A.
as a candidate for the Office a.
Vice-President Of the United States -
ermit me, in conclusion, to express ~,
y satisfaction at being associated with - -
candidate for the Presidency who is 80 =.
st among his equals as representa- ~ -
7e Of the spirit and Of the achieve "a,
ents of reform In his official career ~
the Executive of the great State of -,
Nv York, he has. in comparatiy civ 49, ~
ort period, reformed the public ser. fro o
,e and reduced the public burdens, SO ~ ~
to have earned at once the gratitude ho,
his State and the admiration Of the ~ ~
'ntry. The people know him to be ctr, M
roughly in earnest; he has shown we,
nself to be possessed Of powers and y
alities which 6t him, in an eminent .ro
,ree. for the great work of reforma- soc s
which this country now needs j; and dec
le shall be chosen BY the people to .o .eo
high Office of President Of the o.s ,.s
tied States. believe that the day of -. ,
Inauguration will be the beginning wor ~
new peace. purity and prosperity 4
Ill departments of our Government. .oc,
N gentlemen, your obedient servant, ;ue e'
THOMAS A. HENDRIcKs. .as as
the Hon. John A. McClernand, and Gri
thers of the Committee Of the Ma Il a
onal Democratic Convention. VIA