Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1876-08-16
GOVERNOR HENDRICKS LETTER.

TsnrAsApot,s Julv d 1g76-GrN.
r1rMyN - have he honor 10 nc.
KNOWLEDGE the recent of vour com.
munication. in which You have formally
notified me of nv nomination by the
National Democratic Convention at
81 Ion;s as their candidate for tho
of,,ce Of Vice president Of Tho limited
states IL il n nomination which |
had neither expected nor desired, and
vet / recognize and appreciate the
biob honor done me bv the Convention.
T6e choice Of sucb n body pronounced
with such unusual unanimity, and ac-
companied with so generous an ex.
preston of esteem and confidencc ought
10 outweigh ALI merely personal desires
and preferences of nv own. tits with
this feeling and | trust also from a
deep sense OF public duty, that / shall
now accent the nomination, and shall
abide the judgement of nv country.
men. IL would have been impossible
for me TO accept the nomination if ]
could not heartily indorse the platform
of the Convention. | am eratified
therefore. TO be able uncouiyocally tc
declare that | agree in the principles
approve the policies, and sympathize
with the purposes enunciated in that
platform.
THE STANDARD OF REFORM.
The institutions of our country have
been sorelv tried by the exiqencies OF
civil war and since the peace. by sci.
fish and corrupt management of public
affairs. which have sbamed us before
civilized mankind. Bv unwise and
partial LEGISLATION every industry and
interest Of the people have been made
to suffer. and in the Executive Depart.
ment of tho Government dishonesty
rapacitv and venality have debauched
the public service. Men known TO be
unworthy have been promoted. while
Others have been deqraded for fidelity
to official duty. Public Office has been
the means of nrivate nrofit and tho
country has been offended 10 see n
class oi' men who boast the friendship
of the sworn nrotectors of the State
amassing fortunes bv defrauding The
nubl;c Treosnrv and bv corrupting The
servants Of thc peonle In sucb n crisis
az tho history af tbo country rejoice
tbot tbo Convcntion at 81 Iouis has
90 noblv raised the standard of reform
Nothing can be well with us or with
our Affairs mill The nublic conscience
shocked bv the enormous evils and
abuses which prevail sboll have do.
manded and cnmnelIed an unsnar;no
reformation of our national odministra
lion n,n he head and ;,s members ,
In sucb n reformation tho removal of \
single officer even the President i,
comn.rotivelv n trf,;ng matter ~ IN,
svsiem which be rcpresents and bn,
f3stercd him as be has fostered II !,
suffered IN remain The presiden,
alone must NOT be made the scanegoa,
for The enormities of the system which
inlects tho nublic service and threaten,
the destruction Of our institutions. In
some respects | hold that the present
Executive has been the victim, rather
than the author OF that vicious system
Congressional and party leaders have
been stronger than the President. nc
one man could have created 1t, and INC
removal Of no one man can amend II
1t is thoroughly corrupt and must be
swept remorsclcssly away by the selec
tion ofa Government entirely new, and
pledged to radical reform.
The first work Of reform must cvi
IDENTIFY be the restoration of the norma
operation Of the Consultation OF The
United States, with allits amendments
The necessities ofwar cannot be pleaded
in time Of peace. The right of loca
sclfgovernment, as guaranteed by th'
Constitution OF the United States, mus
be everywhere restored, and the cen
tralixed (almost personaD imperialism