The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-08-09
ADDRESS
OF THE
STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Democratic Conservative Party.

Inc peHilllr IfeSldeHl3dl GiectIOu, lHt
third since the war, will be followed by
such grave and important results, not
only to the people Of this State and of the
entire South, but to the whole Union,
that it cannot fail to excite, in all thought
full minds, the liveIiest interest and the
most profound solicitude.
In the election of 1868, the people OF
Mississippi were not allowed to participate.
In the election Of 1872, The result was
practically decided month before the
formal voting was held, and hence the
interest in it was Ianguid and lukewarm.
The pending election is, therefore,
practically the first since the close Of the
war, in which the people of this State
will have fair opportunity OF discharg
ing that highest Of all duties Of citizen
in the selection of a
Chief Magistrate Of the Union.
How much Of veal or woe for the peo-
pie, shall result from this election, Will be
seen from a comparison Of those periods
of our past history, in which the Govern
ment was administered by able and
patriotic men, who sought only the
public good, with those Yeas in which
incompetency and selfishness, and a
disregard of the public welfare were
conspicuous in the administrations
notable instance of the latter being the
last eight years.
The condition Of the whole country is
now such, that the greatest caution should
be exercised in The selection of the man,
who is to preside over lis destines.
Never before in the history of the
Union, was there sach universal distress
OF the people, nor so great waste and
extravaganza in public administration,
and never before such absolute aud cyni-
cal contempt on the part of rulers
| for the distressed condition of all
classes Of citizens. CAPITAL is boarded
| because it distrusts all securities offered
| for its investment. Labor is unemployed,
factories are stopped, and the products of
our fields are barely bringing the cost of
production. All industries are FRUSTRATED,
| and the very Well-springs of our National
prosperity seem to be unnaturally closed.
Notwithstanding all these distresses,
Radical leaders oppose all attempts to
reduce public expenditures, and all
efforts to reform abuses Of administration,
aud all measures to prevent plumber OF
the government. But recently a promi-
nent official delinquent was boldly
defended before the Radical Senate,
upon the plea of common infamy-a
common Radical usage to make unlawful
gains as perquisites of office.
The earnest endeavors of the Demo
cratic House of Representatives and of
liberal Republicans to secure economy
and reform, have been thwarted by
persistent opposition OF the Radical Senate
aud of the President.
This sad condition of affairs is not acct
dental; nor even Temporary, unless The
causes which have produced it be re-
moved. 1t results from governmental
action based on the false pretense, first
introduced into American politics by the
party now in power, that official place is
pecquisite, or property right of the in
cumbent, and not high trust 10 be held
only for the public good. From this
pernicious doctrine have grown the large
increase in official salaries and fees, the
creation Of new and useless Offices, and.
the appointment to office Of persons re-
lated 1p, Or IN some way bound to the
appointing power; and The consequent
neglect OF the proper discharge of official
'''tiss. From il also has sprung that
othor borosx, nov SO widely embraced
by the party in power, mat the 'ntsfest
of the parry is The supreme law ~ po-
litical action. Personal loyalty to party,
and to party leaders, has been substi-
tuted for devotion to the common good.
There can be no change for the better
in our condition, until there is change
radical and thorough-in the principles
and methods on which the government is
now administered There must be
speedy and thorough reform, or national
death-the overthrow of those great
maxims of popular freedom, on which
our fathers established the Unions sure
70 follow. Without such reform, orr
prosperity as a people, and consequent
ability to maintain the public credit, is
Continual official plumber
and abuse are ruin, both to the people
and to the public creditor. This false
Radical theory of personal government,
which assumes that public officials are The
masters, not the servants of the people, |
means reduction of all classes and cen |
ditions to an abject slavery, under SUD |
lection to corrupt rulers.
The necessity for reform has become so
that many Republicans have
united with the Democrats 10 secure it, |
To prevent the secession of others, the |
Radical managers process purpos5 |
to reform. These professions have often |
before been made by them, and are sent
forth as regular precursors of impor-
tant elections, but they have not, in any
been redeemed. They are but
pretenses Of q sort of death-bed repent
lnce, forgotten as soon as The exigency
which extorted them has passed away;
they are the last refuge of the detected !
by which he hopes TO escape
The punishment due to his crimes, and 10
acquire opportunities for the renewal of
his guilty career. Our Saviour accepted
he repentance Of the thief on the cross.
put the Omniscient One knew that the
renewed as we'll as cruc;ied, de-
tired no further opportunity for yheft Ii
would be fact unprecedented in history,
hat party which had for sixteen years
crown more and more corrupt on each
success, more and more for
,etful of the principles aud policies nee
ssary for good government, should sud
lenly, after new lease of power granted
" the people, and new endorsement
f its conduct. ecaa!.de to cease doing
vii. anG to reIinquish those practices o.
buse and plumber which had been the {
nain cause of its cohesion, as we'll as I
he leading aim of its administration. {
But if the Radical managers had the
'ower and disposition TO reform, still
hey should not be entrusted with {
onger continuance in power. The pub '
10 need now is, for party which shall {
eform the government, not one which {
hall profess desire 30 purify itself q
On the great issue of the canvass, Re c
olm, the Democratic party has placed 5
self in that position which challenges /
"a al r,;ro4;0y, Of tho couufrv and do q