Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-08-01
THE INDEPENDENTS.
They Meet in Large Numbers
and Declare for Cleye-
land.


that general locality and inside the cor
ridors of the little theatre consultation
of the independents was busily carried
on. Among the more prominent faces
noticeable were George William Curtis
and Carl SchurZ. The latter was the
centre of an interested and animated
group. Clarence Bowen, of the
Independent, and others of
the seeding members of the Brooklyn
young republican club were present
The secretary made up lists of those
who were to be present, which showed
Massachusetts, more numerously rep
resented than any other state except
New York. Some of New Jersey and
Connecticut and coma from more dis
tant states were on the roll, which at
eleven o'clock was complete.
Among the Massachusetts delegates
here were the following: From Bos-
ton, Geo. w. Hall, FL. Lowall and J. B.
Gardner, Cam bridge, j. A. Fox, Geo.
w. Wright, II. B. Kern, Col. j. n.
Higginson A. NJ. Rowe and j. b.
Hoyer; Concord. Samuel Hoar, Arthur
j. Fuller and Messrs Chapman
and Hudron; Fall River, S. Borden:
New Bedford, F. B. Summers and W.
d. Lamson; Brooklyn, Theo. Lyman;
Quincy, E. S. Huntington, Josiah
Quincy, w. R. Rice, VIM. Everett,
Mr.. Slade, w. Oburn, and w. V. Kel-
Ter; Newton, Col A. A. Pope, Jr.; Can
ter j. F. OEer, f. F. Raymond and j.
S. Fellow; Chelsea, a. ID. Bassett; Ded-
ham, F. j. Stevenson: Lexington, Cor
nelius Wellington and C. S. OsgGcd.
There Were delegates from New Haven,
New Jersey, Rhode Island and Pennsyl-
vania.
Amoug the prominent members of the
independent party present were Carl
Schurz, Clarence w. Bowen, Benjamin
IL. Bristow, w. &. Buck and Francis G.
Barlow. The members Of the independ
ent executive committee of Massachu-
setts were all present. They are Charles
X. Goldman, president; Mosss Williams,
secretary. and Phineas Pierce, WinsIow
Warren, Geo. Fredericks, Mr.. Williams
and Mansfield Strong.
The committee on permanent organi-
zation recommended that a national
cor4mittee should be appointed, and the
chair appointed the following: From
New York, Carl Schurz, Theo- Bacon,
j ohm IL. Cowing, Charles B. Miller,
r. p. Bowker, George w. Folsom,
Ethan Allen Doty, George Green
and Horace E. Deming; from Massa-
chusctts, VIM. III. Forbes, Joseph Tuck
er, Joseph H. Walter, Samuel Hoar,
Phineas Pierce, George V. Leverett and
Winslow Warren; from Connecticut, S.
f. Baldwin, o. 2. Armstrong and r.
w. Farnam; from New Jersey, Daniel
Drake Smith, Simeon Huntington and
w. G. Peckham; from Pennsylvania,
f. B. Reevers, Stewart Wood and
Joseph Parish.
Chairman Goldman and Mr.. ClaflIn
of Illinois were added to the commit
tee.
Carl Schurz, in behalf of the COM
mittCe on resolutions, said there was no
intention to mako platform for a new
party, bat only to appeal for honest
government.
GeOr-e William Curtis read an ad
dlc:s which is as follows:
election of this year is moral rather
than political. 1t concerns the nation
al honor and the character and hon
csty of tie administration rather than general
policies of the government upon which the plat
forms of the parties do sot essentially differ 10
position taken by one platform is seriously trav
ersed by the other. Both evidently contemplate
the general agreement of public opinion vi on The
subjects which have been long in Controversy.and
Indicate an unwillingness to declare upon other
and cardinal questions the views which in the
disturb the parties within themselves. The
parties, indeed, now cohere mainly by
habit aud tradition, and since the great issues
which have divided them have been largely set
tied the most vital political activity has been the
cndeayor of good cit zens in both parties to al
just them to living issues and to make them ef
fectve agencies of political progress and reform.
The necessity of this course has long been Rppar-
ent, for in a time of profound peace at home and
abroad, the most threatening national peril is the
nsidious political corruption, the mercenary and
spirit and tendency the result of
what is well described by Senator Hear of Massa-
chuSsttS as the shameless doctrine that
The true way by which power should
he gained in the republic is to bribe people with
offices created for their service, and the true end
for which it should be used when gained is the
promotion of selfish ambition and the gratifca-
ton of personal revenge"
But this doctrine naturally has produced re
suits which are still more alarming. The cor
rupt spirit and tendency have so rapidly de
veloped that they seek political power not only
promote private gain They decide Sp-
peals to public conscience, defend the
Soiied regulations of public men by
bold assertion that all publ men are equally
guilty. declare that success in obtaining eminent
po ititns dlsposes of every imputatioa and sris-
picion of wrong doing and despIses all practical
measures to reform the system of official patron
age which fosters dishonest politics, makes a
great party nominaily responsible for prolonged
and monStrouS fraud, and proclalms 1t the duty OF
every citizen who for great and benettcent ends.
has dabitually supported a party. 10 regard the
success or the parrr Mt election without regard to
the character of those whom it selects as Its
executive agents to be the supreme national ne
cess,ty a tendency more fatal to public
welfare cannot be conceived. and when by public
indifference or misunderstanding this corrupt
spirit is able to demand thai the country shall ap-
prove it according to its highest honor IN its GIT
every patriotic citizen must perceive that no duEy
could be more pressing. vital ard imperative than
that of battling ard defeating the demand. II the
republican convention had presente- candidate
whose character and career were the pledge OF a
resolEte contest, with the tendencies that we have
d, scribed if they had foretold stern dealing
of the vast abuses, which long and undistufb-
rJ tenure of power by any
Tartv is sure to breed, if the success of the can
didate had promised infiexihle hsnesty Of ad,
IainiStralion. publication of the government and
elevation Of the party standard, every repub
lean voter would have gladly supported the nom
nation But these are precisely the ahtictp2-
tinns which ths nomination ferbids. II offers
candidate who is an unfit leader, as shown by his
own words and his acknowledged acts. which are
Of official record. to be unworthy OF the respect
anl confidence, who has traded upon his official
trust fer his pecuuiary gain representa-
tive of men, methods and coa2uct
winch the public conscience condemns, and which
Illustrate the very evils which hsneSt men seek
to reform. Such nomination does not promise
in the executive chair infexihle official iRtegrity
cool and wise Judgment 8 sole regard Tor pubic
welfare. and an unshrinkins determination To
prorlote reform in the civil service and cease
ieSs!v 10 pursue and punish public robbers cf
every kind and degree. Independent voters
have generally supported the regular
republican nominations more surely
promising than those of the democratic party
The independents however, cannot support
aomination which is the cuiminauon OF the ten
dency which they would correct The republic
ans cannot hope that under such leadership as We
heve mentioned the past can be corrected or tBe
party reformed. We are very proud OF the great
record and services OF the republican party. but
not with our consent or connIyance shall
the record be disgraced. Every party
must be freqsently renewed by the intelligent
Independence Of its own members or it will sink
from an agency TO secure good government into
a remoceleSs deSpotism- The republican party
first Sprang into existence from moral Sentlae L
1t was the party of political morality and CT per
sousl liberty. II appealed directly to the con
science Of The citizen. but Ike all par
tlss u be worsSppsd Tss '' But to e s Carefully
held to the spirit and purposes on which and for
which i was organized. 4 do not know said
Mr.. Seward, thirty years ago when ne leit the
thet It viii always even long preserve lis cour
age. its moderation and its consistency u
shall do 50 il will secure and save the country II
it. too shall become unfaithful al preceding
parties have done, it will without sorrow or regrt
on my part perish as they are pc EhIng. an1
VIII give place 10 another trler and
better one This reasoning must not De forgot
ten, Il IS with the profound conviction OF Us
wisdom that republicans are faithful 70 t41elr
party, hui holding with the great republican
fathers that political morality aad psrify OF sd
ministration more precious than party. are
now constrained to oppose the republican preSi-
dental nomination in the interest OF what they
believe 10 be pure repubicanism OF pubic wei
tsTre, and q the honor OF the American nslse.
Tse republican nomination has for time
SIpSrSeded all other issues bT rzts-