Year: 1875

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE STATE COMMITTEE OF


Observation-Disclosures ADVICE TO THE REPUB-


LIcAN PARTY-GET RECRUITS AND PUT TRIED


MEN TO THE FRONT.


BosroN, Mass, Sept IL, 1875


The following letter from Vice President Wilson, ad-
dressed to member Of the State Committee, will be


NATrcK, Mass Sept 10 1875.


DEAR SIR have received your invitation 20 attend
conference Of leading Massachusetts republicans
TO consider their duties in the coming
election While IL will not be in my power
TO be present. | cannot but express to you
and all other republicans the socitude | feel and
have felt for many months In regard to the position and
prospects of the republican party Of this Common
wealth and of the whole country Surely the hour has
come for all Massachusetts republicans to forgive, for
get and unite and to place our State in the same com,
mandng position she has hitherto occupied That
Massachusetts which stood in tho days of trial so
nrmy and with such persistent steadiness
in support OF the rights Of man, the
unity Of the nation and the authority Of
the general government does not occupy the
leading position she held is painfully true That
the old Commonwealth which at each of the last three
Presidential elections gave to Lincoln and TO Grant
majority of rs 600 has lost of its former prestige
republicans are compelled, with unwonted humiliation,
TO confess. Your proposed meeting take II, is by
full and frank consultation and comparison Of views, TO
to regain what has been lost and to place Nassa-
chuscts in lts recognized position among
publican States Certainly this object Is worthy OF tho
thoughtful consderae and unselGsh attention of every
republican who would faithfully serve either his party
his country. In these consultations and comparI-
sons II should be remembered that nothing will be
gained by lowering the standard in regard to principles
measures or men. Human rights have ever been the
watchword and inspirations the guiding star and dom
mating idea of the republican party II with either
honor safety take no step backward Mistakes have
been made in the State and in the nation.
Some entrusted with official position
have proved themselves unworthy. But public
attention has been aroused and directed to such mis-
takes and misconduct Republican presses and Con-
ventions have spoken and are speaking loudly for
form of abuses and for the removal of fathless and
incompetent officials. Mistakes, too, have been cor
rected and are being corrected unaithiu officials have
been dismissed and the public voice mperativey de-
mands that all such shall be. And there is increasing
evidence that the party in whose ranks is found so
much OF the worth and character of the country looks
with regret as it was expressed by a British
statesman upon every hour that passes over
recognized and unrefomed abuses Is there, them or
can there be sufficient why the republican party
containing the masses of liberty loving and patriotic
who fought the battles of the rebellion and piloed
the country through the stormy night Of civil war
should be displaced in the commonwealth nation, or
voluntarily relingush the helm OF State to the demo-
cratic party, with its past or present record?


In your consultations and comparison of views trust
you will place little confidence IN party discipline
In the present temper of the country it has lost much
of its potency 1t has seemed me and now seems TO
me, that the way to strengthen the republican party
Massachusetts, and in other States is TO put it right
the living issues that divide the country with the prn-
ciples and purposes clearly expressed and honestly
avowed that there need be neither misapprehension
mistake to open WIDE its doors and make the invitation
and promised welcome full and free Not only should
recruits be sought but those who belonged
ranks and helped TO swell ITS victories, and who for
cause without have left it, should be pressngy
invited to return It's tried and trained leaders should
be brought to the front again and their wisdom sought
for counsel and guidance the effort what
has been lost and 10 restore to the party its former
prestige and power. Republicans should look peril
in the face and meet the present emergencies
with prudent wise and healing counses They
should act too. in spirit of sefabnegation
prepared to sacrifice for the all personal aspra
tons. Candidates for public stations high or low,
should to it that their individual aims and ambi-
ons and their personal rvares should be allowed
TO be burden hindrance TO our now imperlled
cause, and that, in the presence Of the dan
gers that menace the party and the ma
ton, something of the spirit that prompted the
seIfdenying ordinance of Cromwell's time should
animate them and secure like sefsacrihce now. With
this policy still confident the republicans can re-
gain their complete ascendancy Massachusetts, re-
cover lost States continue to guide the counses of the
nation and complete, without reaction, their grand
work of unity and liberty, reconstruction and
ciliation Truly yours, H. WILSON.