The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-07-25
THE INDEPENDENT MOVEMENT.

~~>~~~~ANANO
Committees Appointed = The Platform
Adopted.
NEW YORK, July ga meeting Of In
dependents opposed to Blaine and Logan
took place yesertday at the University Club
Theater, in this city. For an hour before
the time fixed, there was an unusual stir in
that generally quiet locality, and inside the
corridors of the little theater consultation
of Independents was busily carried on.
Among the more prominent faces notice
able were George William Curtis and Carl
Schurz
The hall was well filled when the meet
ing was called to order. The appearance
of George William Curtis on the platform
evoked cheers of applause. Mr.. Curtis
called the conference to order at near noon,
and welcomed the delegates. He read the
call for the conference, and when he reached
that portion which related to Republicans
'Who will not vote for Blaine and Logan
he was interrupted by applause.
Charles S. Goldman was elected Presi-
dent. The list of Vice Presidents and the
names of the Enrolment Committee were
read, including Carl SchurZ General Bar
lOW duu W IL DUudpdlbCt VI ndl ylduu. Lis
nominees were all elected.
After Chairman Goldman had concluded
his speech, Hon. Carl SchJirz moved that
committee be appointed TO act on resolI-
tons and the address Carried
Mr.. Curtis read communication from
the National Temperance Society. 1t was
referred to the COMMITTEE on Resolutions.
Horace e. Deming, of Brooklyn, said he
haIi icf Iot,;
it some work that would show it intended to
do some fighting during this campaign.
He moved that committee be appointed to
report a plan of permanent organization.
Carried, and committee was appointed
with Mr.. Deming as Chairman.
The Committee on Permanent Organiza-
ton reported in favor of the appointment Of
a National Committee. The report was
adopted, and the following were appointed:
New York-Carl Schurz Theodore Bacon,
John H. Cowling, Charles b. Miller, R. p
BOwker, George w. Folsom, Ethan Allen
Doty, George Walton Greene and Horace E.
Deming.
Massachusetts, Fl. Forbes, Joseph
Tucker, Joseph H. Walter, Samuel Hoar,
Phineas Pearse, George " Leverett and
Connecticut-S. E. Baldwin, o. P. Arm
strong and H. w. Farnam.
New Jersey-Daniel Drake Smith, Simeon
Huntington ana w. III PGCkQdn.
Pennsylvania-F. B. Reeves, Stewart Wood
and Joseph Parish.
The committees retired for consultation.
and short addresses were made by Colonel
Theodore Lyman and I. W. Higginson, of
Massachusetts, and Thomas Bacon, of Con-
necticut after which a recess of one hour
was taken.
I On reassembling the following platform
was adopted:
The paramount issue of the Presidential
election this yearis moral rather than polite
al. 1t concerns the national honor and the
character and honesty of the administration
rather than the general policies of govern
ment, upon which the platforms of the two
parties do not essentially differ. No position
taken by one platform Is seriously traversed
by the other Both evidently contemplate
the general agreement OF public opinion
upon the subjects which have
been long in controversy, and in
upon other and cardinal questions their
views, which in the present condition of
opinion might seriously disturb the parties
within themselves. The parties indeed, now
cohere mainly by habit and tradition, and
since the great issues which have divided
them have been largely settled the most vital
politieai activity mas been an endeavor of the
good citizens in both parties to adjust them
to living issues and to make them effective
agencies of political progress and reform.
The indispensable necessity of this course
mas long D0Gu apparent, IOr III II GlIQ0 OF pro-
found peace at home and abroad the most
threatening national peril is insidious
political corruption, which is mercenary and
demoralizing in spirit and has tendency to
result in what is well described by Senator
Hoar Of Massachusetts, as 1.-THE shameless
doctrine that the true way by which power
should be gained in the Republic is to bribe
people with Offices created for their service,
and that the true end for which it should be
used when gainedi is the promotion of selfish
ambition and qualification of personal re-
yenge.' But this doctrine, naturally, has pro-
duced results which are still more alarming.
A corrupt spirit and tendency have so rapidly
developed that they seek political power,
not only to crafty ambition and revenge, but
to promote gain. They deride appeals to public
conscience, defend the soied regulations
of public men by the bold assertion that all
public men are equally guilty, declare that
success in obtaining eminent position disposes
of every imputatiOn and suspicion of wrong
doing, and they despise all practical measures
to reform that system OF official patronage
which fosters dishonest politics, makes a
great party nom1nally responsible for the pro-
loDged and monstrouS fraud, and proclaimS
that it Is the duty of every citizen who, for
great and beneficent ends, has habtually sup
ported the party, to regard the success of the
party at the election without regard to
the character of those whom it selects as its
executive agents, to be a supreme national
necessity. tendency more fatal to public
welfare can not be conceived and when by
public Indifference or misunderstanding this
corrupt spirit Is able to demand that the
country shall approve it by according to it
the highest honor in its gift, every patriotic
citizen must perceive that no duty could be
more pressing, vital and imperative than that
of batting and defeating the demand.
Ii the Republican Convention had presented
candidate whose character and career were
the pledge of a reSOlute contest with the ten
denotes that we have described; if they had
foretold a stern dealing with political corrup-
ton and vigorous correction of the vast
abuses which long and undisturbed tenure of
success OF the candidate had promised inf1ex-
1ble honesty Of administration, publication
OF the Government, and the elevation OF
the party standard, every Republican voter
would have gladly supported the nomi
nation. But these are precisely the
anticipations which the nomination for
bids. 1t offers candidate who is unfit for g
leader, as is shown by his own words and his
acknowledged acts, which are of official rec
ord, to be unworthy of respect ana conf
dence; who has traded upon his official trust
for his pecun1ary gain; a representative of
mon, methods and conduct which public
conscience condemns, and which illustrates
the very evils which honest men would re-
form. Such a nomination does not promise
in the Executive chair an lnhexibe official
integrity, cool and wise Judgment O sole re-
gard fer the public welfare, and an unshrink-
ing discrimination to promote reform in the
civil service and eeaselessly 10 pursue and
punish public robbers of every kind and de-
gree.
The independent voters have generally sup
pOFhCu luG n6puDECuU HOIutudtlOHS dS more
surely promising reform than those of the
Democratic party. The Independents, how
ever, can not support nomination which is
the elimination of tendency that they
would correct. The Repu blcans can not
hope that under such leadership as we have
mentioned the abuses Of the past can be cor
rected or the party reformed.
We are very proud of the great record and
services of the Republican pa ~, but not with
our consent or connivance shall the record be
disqTaced. Every party must be emtnently
renewed by the intelligent independence of
its own members, or it will sink from an
agency to secure good g svernment into re-
morseless despotism.
The Republican party first sprang from
moral sentiment. 1t was the party of polite
al morality and personal liberty 1t appealed
directly to the conscience of the citizen. But
like all parties it was political agency not
to be worshiped but to be carefully held to
the spirit and purposes on which and for
which it was organized. II do not know
said Mr. Seward, thirty years ago, when he
left the Wing party to join the Republican,
Il do not know that it win always or even
long preserve its courage, its moderation and
its consistency. If it shall do SO it will Sc
cure and save the country. If it. too shall
become unfaithful, as all preceding parties
have done, it will, without sorrow and regret
on my part perish as they are perishlng. and
will give place to another and truer and bet
ter ene."
This reasoning must not be forgotten. 1t is
with profound conviction of its wisdom
that the Republicans, faithful to their party
but holding with the great Republican fathers