New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-05
CLARKsoN y. POTTER'S ADDRESS.

The report was agreed TO-
CLARKsON y. POTTER'S ADDRESS.
The Chair appointed Messrs. Schell and
Beebe a committee conduct tle permanent chair
man to the platform On the appearance of Mr. Potter
e was greeted applause and proceeded to address
tue convention. as follows:
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION: thank you FOR the
you do IN selecting me % preside over your ac-
ton. the able gentle who discharged with 50
Innc success h. Glif lt and delicate duty OF presiding
over your organization in ms opening address naturally
referred 10 the great wrong Whlch mas bceh uOue
eTnment in excluding IRON Office that great states
the people hai selected Tor their
Cnef MIgIsrIte-i wrong due to the unconstl-
tutiona protection Of fraudulent returning boards b.
Federal troops and 10 the reegaton by Congress OF us
duy OF determining IN disputed eloctofai votes 10 q
commission Is, indeed IS fortunate a. un tAp;cie
tue minority candidate, t4ls wr'nsfuy Installed
IN place, should nave aIopiei q COURSE toM3tu wy
southern Sasos at once CONSTITUTIONAL ana WISE anu
iust. Whatever may nave been Inc motives Whch IN
nueuced hn, whcthei just anu lOlS pt'4lD.,sH' Ot
selfish ca cdld,l9n as 10 What was tue peter
P rins iO that f5e course he mas pursued
toward the S,utn the only wise. jdsi, AMI a. We
think Constitutional course for MN 20 adop aud deeply
feel the wrong INA was doue 10 me people lh 'lci
ing An 10 be elected, dh the danger 10 our institutions
cured, also m3er mat n respect 10 his acous now
that installed oil C. he IS entitled to b. treated
wltn ustic anu ldsed wltn fairness. Bnt while com
mening as do conduct VI tAe Presdent toward tlr
South, should not forget that seli-g5yernmrnt
dom; for you VII observe tnat owe It to tue acc-
dents Of the Cinc nau Convention that tle Repuoc s
wisely anu Justly the Southern States instead oil
one gOGd pursue the cruel ana tyraunOus policy Of
uls predecessor. Had that convention selected 10
their candidate some other OF the promlueni names
before them might still have an Administration
ready To repeat the orders Of Dure, aud enforce them
W!.n the al OF sheridan; and We gut thus nave s
contued ronc oa the sJutn me sd ne measures or Op
prossiou same organ zIdOn 10 control the eOored
vote the same support vi petDtg rule the sane
EFFORT 10 make tue prosperity OF t1ut elton subordinate
10 his potcai use, 60 WncA heretofore Dscu SUBJ
iectel. Now, whether geat States shall nave
ie right TO govern tIImseyes, snail b. kept undo
er4i troops. question that ou-ht not o. be left de-
pendent Oh any mans viii, nOr 10 the accidental GA3ee
OF any convention. Sucl things ought ID D. sttedby
Jaw, and b. beyond dlscreloni aui while we may
be used IL has lrn into the hands of nose tnat use II
as wisely and justly as Mr. HIVES mas done in ms re-
gard. We never snail nave discharged our Hdy 70 ouf
selves. ciiren, and 10 good goycrnm, nj uhtl we
have dOnc our part to put an eau 10 hIoh Oh .hhss
tnat admits OI such abuse; thtt put t4e protection %
the people OF al me states against military usuFlal'h
aLd car yct-Ddg government under fixed ANA npar-
tai laws, and removed beyond the discretion OF yOii
ton OF auy man.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
But the action OF President toward the South il not
the only part OF his conduct which has been remarkable
Although more dependent upon the support Of the Office
holders than perhaps any President who preceded him.
since his majority in three principal states hardly
eouaed the number Federal 0ice-hOldes, yet he de-
cIared patronage for Wncl MS followers con-
tended snall moi ue gwen them Whether II this be
really meant ms party Will nim Ia may Wei be
doubted Already leading Republicans declare in- pur-
pose 10 be imractcd1e ana 10 De III pare a9aAuongd'
ds no buJ Republicans get once HIS
dl and lis action denounced and repudlited 40 tac
convention OF his parry in the chief state OF the Union
Far 10 irO1 m1 To speak OF the fIt'iuehes dcuoL
VI tnout respect The evils arising from our system OF
Ciyll aud IRON tne magnitude or the fedeiai
be l 81 tAem ought 10 b. favored, and, for myself,
say heartily respect the President ana MS advisers
IN iu,t 50 TAI tuey earnestly aud honestly cudcaV-
ornx carry into eject he reform to winch tney MAKE
''''''' LIMITED AND LOCALIZED GOVERNMENT.
But should nc succeed N Withholding from ns follow
err the patronage to secure which they outraged the
whole system OF free government the cure OI existing
evils woud s,i DO uncertain aud transient. Here, again,
Republican reform proposes only personal reformation
ersouai government by IL .yes il better than
persO government ny Grant, out the reformation pro-
D sed Is ia administration. No one believes mat,
li The choice OF tuc convention Cincinnati fallen
upon Mr. CJnKiing, MI Morton, Or Mr. BLAINE, we should
have heard Of sucd method or dIsvOsilg OF Federal
parOna5e pOpOed by the President; anu Therefore,
II President can effect such reOrm IL VIII be purely
"a personal and temporary one. beginning and ending
with him. No. We shall never secure real CIV.
service reform unt have = cuange IN the power OF
appointments Wnen al end i pue 90 tue Capitalization
OF All app hiInehts ~ the President distributing the ap
pJnDcnC OF local officers ~ some way 70 the localities,
and nang tne tenure OF subordinate officers for fixed
time, tine eV Oi this enormous ENecu I've patronage "h
be ended "a patronage greater Dy lar tnan that
in the begl4ninx 50 insignificant ana unior-
seen tnat the fathers fah.d 10 III IKE any provision
in respect OF whatever From tae beginning of This
Government there has been Dut one permanent party,
tuat great Democratic party wmeh You represent l. Is
ana purpose should be to secure rgnts and remove
AIMS nv law 10 taa5 end It ought, tninK take
steps Wulch VIII Intno ouCb UNI - IclAAA'Hb
bOrs fOrD ddep such interference by Federal troops
MAD N l. III sllua possible an1 10 make such changes
m tne fundamental law as sdal llmlt tHe power Oi
the President over appointments ana regulate
ne fet,ure OF Office by law not Dy party Zeal
or Executive wh, but. s thinK, IL sI0nd 20 DeyOni
even THIS and remembering the Increased power WAch,
win increasing crntrZa ion ana wealth, nave come 90
mn Al law a. sil s.rct The powers OF Congress over
Jr claims, subsidies. grants dnd All An Is Oi person
81 mi .n,ci legislation, IL hts been found necessary
10 utt the Legislature Of tne great safes ana suVAd
larry out the pune pies Of the fathers ~ conforming t
,ayt-ou, of lne COnsJIoutun 70 e1lsB eNIiS "iA 10
lie present con ltOn Oi things III. .i.
r ours .yes, tHIs STATE, certain o. success ~ onlJ
romans la .s wisely aud narm JulOu3y oar selection
a, tur eu1l dtes u Dc CHOSEN al Tue cOhiu- eoc'l
and rem uDer.ug always tne hl,n CHARACTER AM p-
nss o our uarty to MAINTAIN us ACTON 4Dot cI' P Coi
md carry IL forward IN the interest Oh real REFORM aHU VI
sound ana Just government