Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-08-12

[Signedl SAMUEL j. TILDEN.
Cen. w. b. Franklin, Hon. j. j. Abbott,
Hon. H. j. Spaunhorst, Hon H j. RedIeld,
Hon. +. s. Lyons and Others, Committee.
MIR. HENDRICKS LETTER.
SARATOGA, N. Y, Aug. 4.-The following Is
Mr.. Hendricks letter Of acceptance:
INOIANAPoLIs, July 81, 1876.
GENTLEMEN: have the honor to acknowledge
have formally notified me of my nomination by
the National Democratic Convention at st.
Louis, as their candidate for the Office Of vice
president of the United States.
1t is q nomination which had neither expec-
ted nor desired, and yet recognIze and appre-
ciate the high honor done me by the convention.
such unusual unanimity, and accompanied with
30 generous an expression Of esteem and conf
dence ought to outweigh all merely personal de-
sires and preferences OF my own. II is with this
feeling, and trust also from deep sense of
public uuty, that now accept the nomination
and shall abide the judgment of my countrymcn.
THE PLATFORM INDoRsED.
1t would have been impossible for me to accept
the nomination if could no. heartily indorse
the platform of the convention. am gratiiied,
therefore. to be able, unequivocally. 70 declare
cies and sympathize with the purposes enuncia-
country have been sorely tried by the exigencies
and corrupt management OF public AFFAIRS which
has shamed us before civilized mankind. BY
unwise and partial legislation every industry
FER. i:' and in the executive departments OF the
have debauched the public service. Men known
to be unworthy have been promoted, whilst
others have been degraded for fidelity to Official
duty. Public Office has been made the means of
private profit, and the country has been offended
to see class of men who boast the friendship
fortunes by deirauding the public treasury ana
by corrupting the servants OF the people.
THE QUESTION OF REFORM.
In such crisis of the history of the country,
rejoice that the convention at st. Louts has so
nobiy raised the standard of reform. Nothing
can be well with lis or with our affairs until the
public conscience, shocked by the enormous
evils and abuses which prevail, shall have de-
manded and compelled an unsparing reformation
OF our national administration, in its head and
III Its members. In such q reformation the re-
m0val OF single officer. even the president, is
comparatively trihing matter. if the system
which he represents, and which has fostered
him as he has fostered 1t, is suffered to remain.
The president alone must not be made the scape-
goat for the enormlties of the system which in
iects the public service and threatens the de-
structiOn of our institutions. In some respects
victim rather than the author of that vicious
system. Congressional and party leaders have
been stronger than the president. No one man
could have created it, and the removal of no one
man can amend 1t. 1t is thoroughly corrupt,
and must be swept remorselessly away by the
selection OF u government composed OF elements
Ill.
The first work of reform must evidently be the
restoration of the normal operation of the con-
stitulon of the United States with all Its amend :
ments. The necessities of war cannot be plead
cd In Il time OF peace. The right of local self
government as guaranteed by the constitution
must be everywhere restored, and the central
1Zed, almost personal Imperialism which has
been practiced must be done away with. Or the
first principles of the republic will be lost.
THE FINANCES.
Our financial system Of expedients must be
reformed. Gold and silver are the real stand
ards 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 have heretofore said, no one desires u return
to specie payments more earnestly than do; {;
but do not believe it will or can be reached in
harmony with the interests of the people by ar
ti1clal measures for the contraction of the cur
rency, any more than believe that wealth or
permanent prosperity can be created by an in
be disreghr1ed with Impunty. The financial
policy OF the government, If, indeed it deserves
the name of policy at all has been in disregard of
those laws, and the result has disturbed COM
mercal and business confidence we'll as him
dered return to specie payments. One feature
of that policy was the resumption clause of the
act of 1875, which has embarrassed the country
by the anticipation of q compulsory resumption
for which no preparation has been made, and
without any assurance that it would be practi-
cable. The repeal OF that clause is necessary
that the natural operations of financial laws may
be restored, that the business of the country
may be relieved from its disturbing and depress-
ing influence, and that a return to specie pay
ments may be facilitated by the substitution of
wiser and more prudent legislation, and which
shall mainly rely on judicious sy stem of public
economy and official reirenchment, and above
all on the promotion OF prosperity in all the
industries OF the people. do not understand
the
REPEAL OF THE RESUMPTION CLAUSE
OF the act Of 1875 to be u backward step in our
return to specie payments, but the recovery of II
false step; and although the repeal may for u
time be prevented, yet the determination OF the
Democratic party on this subject has now been
definitely declared There should be him
ORANGES put in the way of II return to specie pay
lnents. 'As such u hindrance," says the plat
form OF the St. Louis convention. 1--WE denOunce
the resumption clause of the net of 1873 and de-
mand its repeal" thoroughly believe that by
public economy, by .ilicial retrenchments and
10y Wise finance. enabling us To accumulate the
precious metals, resumption Ut early period
Is possible without producing an artificial scar
city OF currency or disturbing public or COM
mcrcial credit, and that these reforms together
with the restoration OF pure government will re-
store general confidence. encourage the useful
Investment Of capital, furnish employment 10
labor and relieve the country from the paral ysis
OI hard times.
With the Industries of the people there have
been frequent interferences our platform truly
says that many Industries have been Impovcr-
lsheu 10 subsidlZe Il few; our commerce has been
degraded to an inferior position the high
culture has been embarrassed. and the distress
OF the Industrial classes demands that these
things shall be reformed.
THE BURDENS OF THE PEOPLE
Must ALSO De lISnteneu Dy great change
system of public expenses. The prohIgate "
pcnditures which increased taxation from So per
capita in 1850. to $lS in ls7O tells its own story
OF our need of Official reform Our treaties with
foreign powers should Also be revised ana
amended in so far they leave citizens of
foreign birth in any iriculsr less secure In any
country on earth than they would he IL they had
been born upon our soil. The iniquitous Coolie
system, which, through the agency of wealthy
companies. imports Chinese bOndmen and estsb-
fishes Il species Of slavery and interferes with
the just rewards of labor on our Pacific coast
should be utterly abolished. In the reform or
our civil service, l most heartily indorse that
section of the platform which declares that the
civil service ought not to be subject to change
at every election, and that it ought not to be
made the brief reward OF party Zeal, but ought
10 be awarded for proved com petency aud held
Tor Hide ity IN the public employ. nope never
again to see the cruel and remorseless proscrip-
ton for political opinions which has dlsgraced
the administration OF the last eight years. Bad
as the civil service now is, as all know, It has
some men OF tried integrity and proved ability.
such men and only such men should be retained
in office, but no man should be retained on any
N