New-York tribune., 1880-10-30
TO BUSINESS MEN.
LETTER FROM EX-sECRErARY MCCULLOUGH
QUESTIONS FOR MEN WHO DEMAND A PURE AND
EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERN
MENr IN THE INTEREST or THE WHOLE


QUESTIONS FOR MEN WHO DEMAND A PURE AND
EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERN
MENr IN THE INTEREST or THE WHOLE
PEOPLE.
TO theE eEdftor OF The Tribune
SIR: To no class of citizens Is the character OF
the Federal Administrations more important than
TO the business men Of the country. They are not
cfice-seekers, have they any interest IN those
who hold the public offices, beyond that which
arises from the manner in which official duties are
performed What they require Is, that such policy
should be- adopted and practically executed Dy INC
Government as would promote the interests OF tne
people, and the whole people. and that the ADMIN
istration of public affairs should be faithful anu
energetic. The election which is to be heiu on
Tuesday next is of peculiar interest Ihe country
Is now a very prosperous condition. ana the que9-
ton of commanding importance is-what snail DC
done or left undoue IN order that this prosperity
may be continued and increased
Now, while there is a great variety OF opinions
among them upon many political, hnanclai anu
economical subjects, the fair-mlnded and Thought
full business men of the Northern ard Western
states are very largely in accord upon the follow
ing:
First-That the control of the Government should
not be gwen to recently in arms to DESTROY
IT, and who still adhere the doctrines to establish
which they wagad the conflict.
| Sccond-That tine legal-teuder notes were issued
as a war measure. and that the Limitation upon
| their issue was act Of wisdom.
Third-That the National banking system when
IS open 10 ALL and by which the people are furnished
with a currency absolutely safe and current
! throughout the Union. is a vast Improvement upon
! the one which preceded it, and should be inaiu-
tanned until better one Is devised; that reOuIh
70 The State bank system would be foolish, ana That
a substitution of Government notes as perlna-
nent circulation for the notes of the National
banks would be a decided step toward ccntrallza-
ton. would make the currency question an abiding
poIitlcal question and the amount OF paper prom
is,s to be nut IN circulation dependent not upon the
| reouremeuts Of trade but upon the exlgencles and
caprices of parties.
Fourth-That the tariff, under which very many
| important branches of industry have been brought
into existence ana deveoped-however iIJudcious
| It may be IN many OF Is proyisons ana re7tllc-
tons-should be modified with exceeding careful
ness and with wise regard the interests dependent
upon it,
FTdh-That the honor Of the Government should
be Inviolably maintained by the iuhmeht oi al It's
obligations ID spirit as we'll rs letter
Now If. as [ have SAID and believe, the fair
minded and thoughtful business men Of the North
and West are very generally III accord upon these
polnts on whlcn side should their votes be cast IN
the approaching election, and are not the following
proper questions to be- couslderedf
FIrst-Is 1t not true that the southern States in
winch the right of secession Is st!u a
cardinal doctrinel are expecting 10 cast
solid vote in favor of the Democratic ticket; ana
Is il nor also true, although there are many thou
sands of honorable and patriotic men IA the Demo-
cratic party. tnat this ucket Will receive very
large support from Northern and Western men, who, If
rs, ,,,tI4 fttraI Iggf ffI u
rebellion gave httie lid and comfort TO the Govern
ne,t IN IL. efforts 10 suppress M Was II not the
Rrpubucan party, with MI Lincoln at its mead,
which prosecuted the war to successful conciu-
| s.ou and Is not TINS parry fairly entitled To ile
honor of having preserved the UuionF
>,coad-Was It not the Republican party that pms
restriction upon the issue of legal-tcnder notes.
and Is not the same party committed f not rs l
think 10 ought to be- to their retlremenU, to con-
fInuancc of TINS restrctOni On the contrary was
NOT tae Democratic party opposed to the issue Of
these nores Ia time of war, and are not the leaders
of tIs PARTY in the SoutI ana Westnow, IN time Of
o,ce In favor Of an increased not to say unlimited,
issue.
Tbjrf-Was not the National banking system the
cro,fiou IF the Republican party. and Is not the
D.mo.ratic party In most OF the S,arrs hostile TO
,bls system ami pledged TO overthrow lt-ou'rns
u0 substitute for the notes of the National banks
cept the notes of the Government. for the ISSUE OF
which. according To Old Democratic authorities,
there +. no warrant IN the Constitution
fourfh-Tle tariff unGIe5tiouaoy needs modIuea-
tions. I'm regard to the many articles IN common
u,e. IL is prohibitory and not merely protective
Changes are needed TO accommodate lt 10 the
changes winch have been made IN excise duties, aud
for M. restoration of shipping interest and the
epIirpemrnt of our foreign trade but Is the party
oIicb IN the south Is hostile 20 tariff for reyenue,
which would at the same tme encourage and sus-
ram home interests a the North has no definite
nolicv in REGARD TO IT, the party g winch the power
10 make the proper notifications should De III
trusted
Eg0h-The National honor can only be maintained
br tine pavuent Of the National debt according 10
tb. snrit Of the contract. Would tins honor be a,
safe nm the keeping of "A Solid South TO which the
National debt must always be "A rem. .nder of defeat
- and huulliaton) and "A small minority in the North
r. ern and Western States IN the keeping OF the
, Marty which stood Dy the Government when the
debt was created. and regards 1t a being IN par
the price PAID Tor the preservation OF the Union-a
Z drbr ever to be kept sacred the Union itseltf
- These are not new questions, but they are ques
tiops which should be carefully considered by voters
2 before their votes are cast HUGH MCCULLoCH.
Prince Ge0rgc County, Md.. Oct -. 1850