The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-23


who would votefor Blaine, there were FIVE Re
publicans who would vote for Cleveland
+. Clatln, OF Illinois, said there was a very
strong Cleveland element among the Republic
ans in the West
President Seelye, of Amherst. said he was not
prepared to join the Democrats but he was in
favor Of having seperate candidate. He also
MADE al plea for temperance principles
Inc committee on permanent organization
recommended that national COMMITTEES should
be appointed and the chair appointed the follow
ing From New York, Carl Sehurz,
Theodore Bacon, John H Cowing. CHARLES
3 Miller, r. r. Bower, George p Folsom,
Ethan Allen Doty, George Walton Greene and
Horace E. Deming; from Massachusetts VIM.
a Forbes Joseph Tucker, Joseph IL Walter
Samuel Hoar Phineas Pearse, George V. Lever
ett and Winslow Warren; from Connecticut-S
=. BALDWIN o. E. Armstrong and a. w Far
man; from New Jersey-Daniel Drake
smith, Simeon Huntington and w G. Prather;
from Pennsy ylyania, T. b. Reeves, Stewart Wood.
and Joseph Parish. Chairman Goldman and
Mr. Clat1in OF Illinois, were added to the com
Carl Schurz in behalf of the committee on
resolutions said there was no intention to make
platform for the new party, but only an ap.
peal Tor good government.
Geo VIM. Curtis read the address, which is
as follows:
THE INDEPENDENT ADDRESS
The following is the independent Republican
platform:
The paramount issue Of the presidential election
OF this year is moral rather than political 1t con
Germs the national honor and character and honesty of
tne rather than the general policies Of
the government upon which the platforms of the
two parties do not essentially differ. No position
taken by platform is seriously trayersed bv the
other Both evidently contemplate general agree
ment or public opinion upon subjects which have been
long IN controversy, and indicate unwlngness to
declare upon other and cardinal questions views
which IN the present condition of opinion
might disastrousy disturb the parties within
themselves. PARTIES indeed now cohere mainly by
haolt and tradition and since the great issues which
have divided them have been largely settled the most
vital political activity has been the endeavor of good
citizens in both parties to adjust them to living issues
aud make them effective agents Of political progress
and reform
The indispensable necessity Of this course has long
been apparent, for in time of profound peace at
home and abroad the threatening national peril is
lnsldious political corruption and the demorazing
what is well described by Senator
Hoar, Of Massachusetts as t,the Shameless
doctrine that the true way by which power should be
gained in the Republic is to bribe the people with
offices created for their service and the true end for
which it should be used when gained in the promo
tion of selfish ambition and the qualification of
sonal revenge But this doctrine naturally has aro
duced results which are still alarming Cor
rupt spirit and tendency have so rapidly developed
tnat they seek political power not only to crafty
o1ton and revenge but to promote private gain. They
deride appeals to public conscience defend the soiIed
regulations OF public men by the bold assertion that
all public equally guilty declare that success
In obtaining eminent position dsposes of every irnpu-
taon and suspicion Of wrong doing and despising all
practical measures to reform the system of official
patronage which fosters dishonest policies pro.
claims as the duty of every citizen who for great
and beneheent ends, has habitually supported the
party to regard the success of the party at elections
without regard to the character of those whom it Sc
ects as It's executive agents. to be supreme national
necessity; tendency more fatal to public welfare
cannot be conceived, and when, by public
indifference misunderstanding this corrupt spirit
IS able to demand that the country shall approve by
according to it the highest honor in its gift every
patriotic citizen must perceive that duty could be
more pressing vital and imperative than that Of b-
Hing and defeating the demand
If the Republican convention had presented can
ddate whose character and the pledge of
resolue contest with the tendencies that we have
described If they had foretold stern dealing with
political and vigorous correction Of
abuses which long and undisturbed tenure Of power
by any party is sure to breed if the successfuness Of
the candidate had promised inhexibe honesty Of ad
ministration, publication of the government and eeva
ton of the party standard every Republican voter
would have gladly supported the nomina-
pations which the nomination forbids. It
offers candidate who is unfit leader shown BY
his own words and his acknowledged acts which are
the official record to be unworthy respect and con-
hdence who has traded upon his official trust for this
pecuniary gain; representative of men, methods and
conduct which the public conscience condemns,
and which illustrate the very evils that
honest men would reform Such nomination does
not promise in the executive chair nexible official
tegrity calm and wise Judgment sole regard for the
public welfare, and unshrnkiug determination to
promote reform in the civil service and ceaselessy to
degree.
Independent voters have generally supported the
republican nominations as more surely promising re
form than those of the Democratic party Independ-
ents, however, cannot support nomination which is
the elimination of tendency that they would correct
The Republicans cannot hope that under such leader
ship as we have mentioned the abuses Of the
past can be corrected the party reformed.
are very proud of the great record and the services
of the Republican parity but not with our consent or
connivance shall the record be disgraced Every
party must be eminently renewed by the intelligent
independence of its members or it will sink from
agency to seek good government into remorseess
despotism.
The Republican party first sprang from moral
sentiment It was the party Of political morality and
of personal liberty 1t appealed directly to the
science of the citizen But like all parties it was
Pofss ga agency not Ss,a 70 be worshpsd but
purposes on which and for which it was organized.
II do not know, said Mr. Seward thirty years ago,
II do not know that it win always or even long pre-
its courage its moderation and its consistency
# it shall do 50, it will secure and the country.
If it, too, shall become unfathfu all preceding
parties have done, it will without regret on
my part, perish as they perishng and will give
place to another and truer and better
one" This reasoning must not be forgot
ten It is with the profound conviction
of it's wisdom that Republicans faithful to their par
ty but holding with the great Republican fathers that
political morality and purity of administration are
more precious than party are now constrained to OPP
pose the Republican presidential nomination, in the
interest Of What they believe to be pure Republican
ISM Of public welfare, and Of the honor of the Ameri
can name.
The Republican nomination has, for time super
seeded all other issues by raising the question Of o
cal honesty This question cannot be avoided except
upon the plea that the official character Of the cand
date need be considered and that in order to se
cure a party President the members of the party
ought for any candidate who has been regular
ly nominated. This is plea beyond which party
madness cannot CO. and acquiescence in it would
qure the surrender of the serespect of every voter
There could be candidate unfit that this plea
would not support.
Upon the practical questions of tariff and finance,
and other questions upon which both parties are
divided within themselves are also divided in
ion We shall vote therefore, in the choice Of repro
sentatves and other officers according to our ndvid-
ual opinions of their potcavews and their personal
character. Divided other questions united
in the conviction that the foundation of Office and
honor should be pure. and the highest Office in the
country should be filed by of absolutely unsus-
pected integrity.