The Portland daily press., 1876-05-17

words nerGtd but aciO1S, ROT uieTe plat
forms but iDeu. We therefore declare, and call
upon all good citizens TO JON US, that al the
coming Presidential campa,gG we shall support
no candidate who ia private position ever eouu-
tenaDced corrupt pract,ces or combina ions, or
impedtd their punishment, or opposed neces-
sary measures OF reform.
We shall support no candidate who while
possessing official Influence and power has
failed to use bis opportunities in exposing aud
correcting the abuses coming within the reach
o. his observation, but for personal reasons and
party ends has per mtted hem TO foster on.
For such men may be counted not to uncover
and crush corruption, but for the party's sake
merely to conceal it.
We shall support no candidate however con-
spicuous his position or brilliant his ability in
whom the impulses of the party manager have
shown themselves predominant ever those OF
the reformer, for he will be inclined to con.
tinue that fundamental abuse in the employ of
the government service as machinery for per-
sonal 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 and character which the stern task of
genuine reform requires, for the American
people cannot now afford to risk the future OF
the republic in experiments on merely suppos-
ed virtue or rumored ability to be trusted on
the strength of private recommendations. In
one word at present no candidate shoald be
held entitled to the support OF patriotic citizens
of whom the question may fairly be asked, Is
he really the man to carry outa thorough going
reform of the government? Can he with Ger
tainty be depended on to possess the moral
courage and sturdy resolution 10 grapple with
abuses which have acquired the strength OF es-
tablished custom, and to this end firmly resist
the pressure even of bis party friends? Wher-
ever there is room for such question and doubt
as to the answer the candidate should be con-
sidered unfit for this emergency. This is no
time for so called availability springing from
distinction gained on the fields OF action for
eign to the duties of the government, nor for
that former dangerous sort of availability which
consists in this that the candidate be neither
so bad as to repel good citizens, nor so good as
to discourage the bad ones. Passive virtue in
the highest place has too often been known to
merit the growth of active vice below The
man to be intrusted with the Presidency this
year must have deserved not only the conf
dence of honest men. but also the fear and
hatred of the thieves. He who manages to
cultivate the thieves cannot be the candidate
for honest men.
Every American citizen who has the future
of the republic and the national honor serious
| ly at heart should solemnly resolve that the
country must now have President whose
name is already watchword of reform, whose
capacity and courage for the work are matters
of record rather than of promise; who will re-
store the simplicity, independence and rect-
tude of the early administration and whose
| life will be guaranty of his fidelity and fit
| ness; man, at the mere sound of whose name
| even the most dishearteDed will take new
courage and all mankind will say: "The Amer
| leans are indeed in earnest to restore the an
| Gent purity of their government"
| Fellow.eitizens, the undersigned in address,
| ing you are not animated by ambition to form
| or lead new political party. Most of us have
| long been and still are warmly attached to their
| party associates. 1t would be most gratifying
to us to see by party action candidates put for
ward whOSA character and record thnsa
| requirements which present circumstances rem
| der imperative We earnestly hope and trust
| it will be So. We shall gladly follow such a
lead and make all effort in our power to render
it successful. But while We are ready to accept
any and every good result Of party action, we
affirm that the moral reform of our public con-
Germ is infinitely superior in importance to the
interests of any political party. Glad to pro-
mote that reform through party action, we shall
| insist upon it at all events. Should party &C.
ton fail, experience teaches us that the habitu-
| al submission of good citizens to choice of evils
| presented to them by party organizations is
one of the most prolific causes of corruption in
our politics. The acceptance by the people of
| Still entitled to the support Of good men be-
cause the other party is still worse, will induce
each to consider how bad it may safely be. 1t
will strengthen in each the power of the most
INSCRIPTIONS element, and subject the will of
| the people to the subtle tyranny of an organiza-
| 70 break that tyranny by stern refusal to
| submit to such a choice of evils is the first be-
ginning in the reform of our political life.
Without this all other steps will prove unavall-
ing. We shall sincerely rejoice to see the ne
cess!ty of independent action avoided.
We earnestly hope that the efforts to this
end being made by the friends of reform with
in party lines will be crowned with success and
that the first expectations of the people may
not be doomed to disappointment Indeed, we
fall IF fall o,f
who in their hearts agree with what we have
said, will only take courage openly to proclaim
their convictions and purposes, such a nantes
tation would produce an effect sufficient to Sc
cure nominations and an election which would
be the Inauguration CT better order of things
We therefore appeal to all good citizens who
find their own sentiments expressed in this ad
dress, be they inside or outside of party lines
to organize in their respective districts and
communicate with. the executive committee
appointed at this meeting so that efficient CO.
operation may become possible. Let DO effort
be spared in bringing the influence of a pa
| triotic public opinion to bear upon those who in
| the customary way are soon to nominate the
party candidates, and then in any event let us
be ready to do what the best interests Of the
| republic demand. Our generation has to open
the second century of our national life as the
fathers opened the first Theirs was the work
of independence. Ours is the work of reforma-
ton. The one is as vital now as the other was
then. Now as then every true American must
have the courage of his duty.
Mr.. SchuIz moved that the address be signed
by the officers of this conference as well as the
executive committee. Carried
The committee which drew the address was
constituted committee to use all proper
means to carry out the measures in it, and be
| empowered to add member from each state
| in the Union.
Conference then adjourned sine die.