Year: 1876




Ex-SecretlIy BriStow had most enthusias-
tic reception at the Hayes and Wheeler rati6-
cation meeting in Cincinnati Thursday even-
ing. The audience united in one prolonged
and deafening cheer as he stepped before them
and interrupted him frequently with hearty
applause as he proceeded with his speech
The following are the main points of his
address:


RESUMPTION AND CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.


The platform commits the party fully and
squarely to the resumption of specie payment
[app!ausel, which is demanded alike by the
best interest of the people and the solemn
pledges of the Government. There must be no
step backward, but continuous and steady
progress toward resumption aud return to the
money of the Constitution. Every expedient
for the revival of our PROSTATE industries which
rails short OF absolute resumption and COM
plete fulhllment OF all our national obligations
will prove inadequate and deceptive. The
necessities of the country demand the restora-
tion OF confidence in business and commercial
transactions, and this will come only from a
stable currency and readiness TO discharge all
national liabilities according to the letter and
spirit of the undertaking.


The Convention has given us a simple and
easy method Of reforming our civil service,
which is neither more nor less than the prac-
tcal application in public affairs of the rule
which works SO well in private life, that every
man should mind his own business and leave
others to do likewise. Members of Congress.
whom the Constitution charges with legislative
duties, should not dictate appointments to
once as rewards for personal political service,
but should leave the Executive free to exercise
his constitutional functions in the selection of
ofhcers with reference to honesty, fideliry and
CanacltV nndar Of 10 oath 40 NoIra
care that the laws are faithfully executed
When this distinction between legislative and
executive functions comes to be fully recos-
nized and observed it will be easy enough for
the Executive TO reform aud elevate our civil
service. Without this it is impossible The
Convention has struck a blow at the very root
of the evil, and has indicated the true remedy
for the dangerous tendencies of q practice
which comes down to us from the Democratic
party. The platform pledges the party to
speedy, thorough and unsparing prosecution
and punishment of all public officers who be-
tray official trust IGreat applause. The Con-
vention did not stop to consider. as some would
have us do, whether such prosecutions and
punlshments would be hurtful to the party. 1t
has given public notice that pluntlerers of the
pu0llc revenue and corrupt officials, whe ther
Democrats and Republicans, must meet, as
they deserve, the rigors of our criminal stat
utes. The necessity for purity in the public
service, and the duty that rests upon us to pre-
serve and perpetuate our form of government,
demand strict observance ard lulfillment of
this pledges


NON sECTARIAN GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATION.
Recognizing fully the value of popular edu.
cation [applausel, and the absolute importance
of complete separation of Church and State
[applausel, the Convention has declared in fa-
vor of Constitutional amendment forever Sc
curing public fund or property for the support
of public schools against sectarian control or
influence. This is no abrdgment of religious
freedom. 1t leaves every man free to follow
the dictates of his own conscience in matters Of
religion, but prevents the use of money raised
by taxation for building up any sect or denom-
ination. The State must not be brought into
subjugation to the Church, nor shall any
branch OF the Church be put under tho foster
ing care of the State to the exclusion of other
sects. In a word, the standard which the par
ty has carried successfully through four sue
cessive national contests has not been lowered,
but advanced higher. The Convention which
assembled here last week has shown to the
world that it represented party of progress,
ready, willing and able to move forward in the
science of government, and to learn lessons of
wisdom in the school of experience.


THE CANDIDATES.


Upon this platform it has placed men who
bear honored names in our. country, the excel
| lence and purity OF whose public services and
| lives furnish a sufficient guarantee that the
principles announced will be carried out in let.
| ter and spirit. 1t has selected for its standard
bearers Gov. Hayes of your own State [cheersl,
| and William A. Wheeler of New York. Coy.
| Hayes is we'll known to you. Modest in bear
| ing toward his fellow men, one whose putty of
public and private character cannot be gainsaid,
1 intelligent, patriotic and sound in Judgment,


he will render still higher services as the occu-
i pant of the chair of Chief Magistrate of the ma
Il nd tha mo do
/ mand just such men fer public servants, and i t
i cannot be doubted that on an occasion of such
grand aud imperious necessity as the election of


President in this Centennial year OF our ma
| tional existence, both platforms and candidates
| will be carefully weighed. Happily for us the
| Cincinnati Convention bas so acted as to chal-
| lenge the closest and most careful scrutiny of
| both. The nomination of Gov. Hayes was an
| act of wisdom, and if elected, as do not doubt


he will be, he will give the country wise,
| patriotic and pure administration. Our nomi-
| nee for the Vice Presidency has also served his
| country faithfully and WELL As member of


the popular branch OF Congress, he has chal-
| lenged the admiration and won the esteem of


all who know him. His character is a tower Of
| strength. He is man of practical knowledge


of public affairs, of unquestioable ability, and


in full sympathy with the highest and best


principles of the Republican prrty.


UNITED PARTY.


There Is no substantial reason why every
| man who mas at any Time acted with the he


publican panty may not stand upon the Cincin-


natl platform and support the nominees. APP


plause.] Whatever causes of difference may


have existed heretofore are brushed away by


the wise and timely action of the late COnven-


ton. Casting aside forever all the petty differ


ences and disaffections that have arisen within


the party, let us once more present to the coun-


try an unbroken front, and with firm purpose


and high resolve move forward to another vic


tory, determined to perpetuate for ourselves
| and our pesterity all that has been secured in


the past, ard to advance still further the prin-


ciples upon which the party was founded.
| Applause.


Fellow-citizens of Cincinnati, l trust NAV


be pardoned for speaking of myself so far as tO


express my profound gratitude for the steadfast


confidence and unfaltering support you have


given me. No man ever owed more to any


community, and certainly none was ever more


keenly alive to the obligation. And yet l am


not vain enough to suppose that this has arisen


from any merit of my own. 1t has been be-


cause you have supposed me to be, IN some


sense, the representative of an idea, princi


pie which lies near your hearts. Let me be-


seech you, stand fast to that principle, increase


and strengthen my obligation to you by earn.


est, hearty and united support of Hayes and