The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1876-08-17
A D D E s
OF THE
STATE EXEGUTIVE--..COMMITTEE
OF THE
Democratic Conservative Party.

Democratic Conservative Party.
FIX. Dem. AND Con. PATTY,
JACKSON Miss, August 3, 1876.
TO the People of UssSissippi::
The pending Presidential election,
the third since the war, will be followed
by snch grave and important
suits, not only to the people of
State and of the entire
but to the whole Union,
that it cannot fail to excite, in all
thoughtful minds, the l~iveliest enterest
and the most profound solicitude.
In the election of 1868, the people of
Mississippi were not allowed to partici-
pate. In the election 1872, the result
was practically decided a month before
the formal voting was held, hence the
interest Ill it was languid 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 a fair opportunity of dischag-
ing that highest of all duties of citizen
shIp-participation in the selection of o
Chief Magistrate of the Union.
How much of veal or woe for thepeo-
pie, shall result from this election, will
he seen from a comparison of those pc
mods of u past history, in which the
Government was administered by able
and patriotic men, who sought only the
public good, with those years in which
incompetency and seltishness, 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 oyer its des,
TIMES.
Never before in the history of the
Union, was there such universal dis.
tress OF the people, nor so great waste
and extravaganza in public administra.
tion, and never before such absolute
and cynical contempt on the part of ru-
lers for the distressed condition of all
classes of citizens. Capital is boarded,
because it distrusts all securities offered
for its investment. Labor is unemploy.
ed, factories are stopped, and the pro,
ducts of our fields are barely bringing
the cost of production. All industries
are Frustrated, and the very wells
springs of our National prosperity seem
to be unnaturally closed. Notwith-
standing all these distresses, Radical
leaders oppose all attempts to reduce
public expenditures, and all efforts tc
reform abuses of administration, ano
all measures to prevent plunder of the
government. But recently a promi.
nent official delinquent was boldly de.
Tended before the Radical Senate, upon
the plea of a common infamy-a common
Radical usage to make unlawful gains
as perqisites of office.
The earnest endeavOrs of the Demo.
cratic House of Representatives aud OF
liberal Republicans to secure economy
and reform have been thwarted by
persistent opposition of the Radical
Senate and of the President.
This sad condition of affairs is not
accident; 0 even temporary, unless
the causes which have produced it be
removed. 1t results from government
tai action based on the false pretense,
introduced into American politics by
the party now in power, that official
place is a ~perquisite, or property-right
of the incumbent, and not a high trust
to be held only tor the public good.
From this pernicions doctrine have
grown the large increase in official sala>
ries and fees, the creation of new and
useless offices, and the appointment tc
office of persons related to, or in some
way bound to the appointing power;
and the consequent neglect Il the prop
er discbssge az Official dut11 From i
also has ftrung THAI other heresy, nov
sawidely embraced by the party is the
supreme law Of political action. Per
sonal loyalty to party, and party
leaders. has been substituted for devo-
ton to the common good.
There can be no change for the better
in orr condition. until there is q change
radical and thorough-in the princi-
pies and methods on which the govern
ment is now administered. There must
be speedy and thorough reform. or sna-
tional death-the overthrow of those
great maxims of popular freedom, on
which our fathers established the Union
is sure to follow. Without such re-
form. u prosperity as a people, and
consequent ability to maintain the pub
lie credit, is impossible. Continual
official plumber and abuse are ruin, both
to the peOple and to the public credi-
tor. This false Radical theory of per-
eonal government. which assume
that public officials are the mas
ters. not the servants of the people.
means a reduction of all classes and
conditions to an abiect slavery, under
subsection to corrupt rulers.
The necessity for reform has become
G, apparent that many Republicans
hove united with the Democrats to Sc
cnre it. 70 prevent the accession of
others. the Radical managers profess a
~nnrpose to reform. These professions
have often before been made by them,
ond are sent forth rs regular precursors
of ~important elections, but they have
Do+ in anv instance, been redeemed.
They are but pretenses of a sort OF
deatb-bed repentance. forgotten as
tbe ~eyieency which extorted them has
m,ssed away: they are the last refuge OF
tha detected malefactor, by which he
hones TO escape the punishment due to
Lie crimes. and to acquire opportuni>
Ties for the renewal of his guilty career.
Our Saviour accepted the repentance OF
thief on the cross. brit the ON
nisciept One knew that the sufferer, re
as we'll as crucifed, desired no
opportunity for theft. !twould
n fact unprecedented in history,
that a party which had for sixteen years
O and more corrupt on each
succeeding success, more and more for
petful of the principles and policies nee,
essarv for good government, should
suddenly. after a new lease of power
granted by the people{ and a new en-
iorsement of its conduct, concluded to
cease doing evil, aud to relinquish
hose practices of abuse and plumber
had been the main cause OF Its CO.
besion. as we'll as the leading aim OF Its
ADMINISTRATION. But if the Radical
had the power and DISPOSE
lion to reform, still they should not re
entrusted with a longer continuance in
nower. The public need now is, for a
partv which shall reform the govern
not n which shall profess a de-
sire to purify itself.
On the great issue of the canvass,
Reform, the Democratic party has plac-
al~l