The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-24
POLITICAL REFORM.


ADDRESS OF THE UNITED STATES REFORM
ASSOCIATION
The Executive Committee OF the Republican Reform
Club the club rooms. No 80 Union square, last
evening, Mr.. Le Grand b. Cannon presiding There
was q full attendance OF the members OF the commit
tee there being present among Others the following:
Messrs John A. Weeks, Dorman D. Eaton, Hon. John
Jay Alexander Hamilton, Rev. H. w. Bellows. Elliot
c. Cowdin, General J. II. Van Aleu- John Il. Parson,
Albert Gaatin Browne, Jr. George L. Schuyler,
George H. Forster, George Walker General Francis C.
Barlow General H. L. Burnett John W. Ellis, General
Emerson opdyke and Cyrus Butler.
Il was announced that arrangements are perfected
for public meeting OF the club, and all sympaihizng
with its purposes and desires for political REFORM be
held at tho large hall of the Cooper Union Tuesday
evening June q
The committee appointed by the club to confer with
other organizations desiring to affiliate with for the
reformation of abuses by public officials reported
through Mr. Weeks address adopted by tho United
States Reform Association. This organization it was
stated has nearly $50 900 voters enrolled its books
and has well organized branches In twcnty-onc States
The following is a copy OF the address presented By
Mr.. Weeks
NEW York, May %, 1876
The United States Reform Association, organized for
the purpose oil arrestng, II possible the growth Of
abuses in the administration of the general govern
nal purity, deem the present suitable occasion to
submit to the people our views OF the political condi-
ton OF the country.
strength and one Of the best organized in the
United States.
lis fundamental principles are civil and religious
liberty equality OF all before the law, without regard TO
race creed nationality; rigid economy in the adj
mnjstration Of our national AFFAIRS and n thorough
reformation OF the abuses which have crept into it.
For than year we have been quietly gathering
strength and II has been greatly augmented by the re-
afr mi WuSn flnr
bcrs consist OF individuals unpedged 10 either OF the
great party organizations Of the country. We have
aid Of political managers We distrust the whole
scheme Of management, as now conducted, by which
the two principal parties dividing me country are con-
official patronage We look with detestation upon tho
distribution OF ONCE TO reward political partsans and
the appropriation of the public moneys for local and
personal Objects
We belong to the classes which gain their livelihood
ectly while the burden OF taxation and Of financial
prodlgalty appears at first glance TO be borne by prop
ss On abo We demand rersnoS
in expenditure. While public Offices In theory
created only tar as they are indispensable to ell
Gent administration Of tho government and are to be
bestowed the most deserving and capable, wo know
that fact they are unnecessarily mullplied that In
filling them fitness is often secondary considerations
that they frequently parceIled out assist members
OF Congress in their local canvasses and that the
Agement Of conventions and for defeating true expires
The popular WILL We insist tho correction
of these gross abuses OF political power. Ws insist
that the President in whom the prerogative OF nom
mating 10 Office Is vested by the constitution shall by
his authority and action carry effect the civil
service REFORM in which Congress has neglected to
unite
We claim no peculiar political influence But we
possess inc power which, IN inc orgsnizaton o. az
tor their protection against the improvidence aud The
faithIcssness OF those to whom they intrust tho
administration OF their affairs Oar strength lies in
our votes, and shall them where they will be
most effective Tor the reformation of abuse.
II Is for the people OF the country to determine
whether they will aid US in this effort in favor Of hon.
est government Their good name, their vital inter-
ess an% a. as that INC 10
for the Presidency, whom VIC are TO support shall DO
one who vii! carry out the reforms We have
whom sno pledge N words is needed We
insist that tho pledge shall be contained in the uniform
tenor Of hts life; that he shall be well known to the
whole country; that he shall be experienced in civil
affairs, and hat his connection with them shall fur
nsh the assurance that he will execute his trust
lcssly and without yielding to the selfish interests
which have had in the past so banelul an influence
upon the administration OF the government
Our claim TO be heard will DO understood when we
state that organization exists in twenty OF the
States that has 6j1 branches and that the number OF
enrolled members March last in OF the Mid
die and Eastern foows-Ncw York, 90 AS;
Massachusetts, q 134; Pennsylvania, 90 571 New Jcr
sey, i.,isi Connecticut li;vsL .nese numbers are
have been divided In the approaching national can
vass shall be united.
If candidate In whom we have confidence is pro-
sented for support, ho can, with our aid be
elected We think quite apparent that without 4 no
candidate can succeed IN either Of tho States above
named; and It is our firm determination
Tor any who does IN our judgment
fulfill the requirements which tho public honor and
safety demand We firmly determined TO sub
init no longer to the reign OF political abuse and we m
vic the cooperation Of oil frcncs Of reform for the
purpose Of putting an end TO H.
We do not propose to make any nominations at this
time We prefer to await the action OF the great
parties which preparing for the coming
candidate may be put in nomination whom we can sup
port II be otherwise the occasion Will suggest what
rs due TO ourselves and the cause We advocate: We
hold held by General Jackson, that tho Prcsl-
dcncy Is neither TO be sought Tor declined, and that
the people may properly support whom they choose
without regard 70 his personal wishes and without ask.
Ing permission to use his name.
Il all those who, though not within organization,
yet with Us IN opinion will mite with US
in action the result cannot DO doubtful on the other
hand. II they prefer to follow the lead Of po
ayers and surrender their Independence to the tyranny
Of combinations welded for partisan and personal pur
poses IN word, If they continue to be passive and
leave existing abuses unrefrcssed 1t requires powers
OF prophecy 10 ioretcll that the government viii sink
TO depth OF degradation. and the prosperity OF
the country will fall INTO disastrous Of de-
preston.
WILLIAM CROSBY LEONARD, General President
JOHN C. RYAN, Vice President
BERNARD STAIRS, Treasurer
ALBERT j. BUTLER Secretary
CHARLES +. CAMPBELL. SerRcant-at-ArmA
ExkcrTIyE COMMITTEE
CaIifonia-wniam W. Moore. samuel ). Nichols. Thomas
connsesicus-Robers 8. Ingerso. John Preston. James
Dslaware-rhomas> Iiafter George Scott John william
Iiinois-John Duane. Henry Meyer John ID. Townsend.
lndisna-Gcorgc simpson. Edward Walker Patrick J.
Lnrkin.
Iowa-charIes Campbell, James l.. Kane. william Lamb
Kansas-James Wild Arthur O'Leary August Hoffman.
Kentucky-Jacob Nelson James Burke. Philip Rcdman.
Mane-Thomas Scott, Edward Parker. William H. Jones.
Neutrality-suspicious. NJ Wilson. samuel Watson. Patrick
Boyle.
aaryland--MIehaeI >. Biman. Thomas +. Marsh and
James " hifc.
MiehI n-Frederiek II. Ryeron. william West and Gu
bert Y. Bennett
New overwhelmingly c. Hinos. Samuel Rollins and
George tirtcn.
New Jersey-James McDonough. George Young and VIII
lam A. Taife
New york-John W. Smith. John L. Freeman and
Thomas Gardner.
Ohio-iIugh o. Nell Albert 7. Remsen and Arson Muller
PennsyIyana-fhomas Bronson, James Casscy ard
Rhode Island william 4. Post Edward o.good and Mar
tin Finch.
,,Nginia-walser D. Butler, Edward Lowsry and james
w. Clark
venlonsEdward Green, Henry Tompkins and John W.
Priest
wi.sensInsohn Carroll. william saundsn and Patrick
II. sherman.