Year: 1876

cry which is now being set In motion
to accomplish this result. At the
present moment the choice is for one
out of thousands but so soon as the
various conventions shall have done
their work the choice will then be
narrowed down to one of two candi-
dates. In the first instance 1t may be
achoice out of several good candidates.
In the last 1t may or it may not be q
choice oftwo evils. It is quite impor-
tant then that every good citizen shall
see to it that the fountain be pure, so
that the stream which flows there
from be pure to the ocean. Pure and
upright eouusels must prevail at
the eucuses or else we have but little
hope OF the final results. What is
the present political outlook and what
does it portend of good or of evil to
our country? 1t may be well to calm
| ly consider at the Threshold of the
present campaign, the attitude of par
ties and of men as.viewed from other
stand points than that of our own. II
seems to be settled conviction thta
the presidential campaign is to be
handed over to the Republican and
the Democratic organizations. and
that all legal voters must be content
to speak through the one or the other
Of these parties what little they care
to say in a political way this summer.


There Is an independent vote more
or less numerous In every state, Re-
publlcanly inclined, which in the ag-
gregate hold the balance Of power, SC
many think, at least, and can elect
one or the other of the presidential
candidates. What has been the atti-
tude of the two parties toward this
independent element? Republicans
have virtually said to US, "Stand back
gentlemen, and wait until our caucus.
es and county conventions have been
held, and we have placed candidates
in the field, and then we will be gen.
erous enough to issue a long printed
public address to you, inviting you to
aid US in electing our men to office'n
The Democrats have said to US just as
plainly, 1--WE will unite with you in
your caucuses and conventions, in an
Independent way, and we will place a
ticket in the field and give it united
support" I say such has been the
attitude of the two parties toward US.
The result has been that we have q
Democratic Congress, and many OF
the old Republican states are now
Democratic. You say this comes OF
our disloyalty to the old party, and
that we are chargeable with the re-
suit which we both deplore. We say
it all comes from the obstinacy with
which you crowded upon US class Of
men, which you knew at the time we
could not support. Now, allow me to
suggest that this elimination and re-
elimination separates US wider and
wider and prepares the way for disas-
ters more deplorable than any we yet
complain of. The question then aris-
es what are the independent men to
expect from the Republican party and
it's leaders in the future? Are the
blunders of last year to be repeated
this? In your editorial of last week
you say that Church Howe can vote
the Republican ticket and no one can
hinder him. Exactly, but is he OF
others likely to do so IF they are to be
kicked out of the primaries? The
welfare of the whole country may
compel us to pocket many insults and
indignities and vote for Republican
President, whether we are permitted
to help in his nomination or not. The
Republicans can put up man wewill
not vote for, but 1t is too early in the
canvass to predict that they will, and
we much prefer to assume that they
have sufficiently learned the lessons
u
and respect the better element of the
earlier Republicans and give US man
we can all support. Now, the further
question arises, would they not be
more likely to do so if we all could
lay by the chickering's of the past and
unite our forces at thevery commence
ment of this campaign. and continue
with one accord until the ides of No
vember. The Independents are not
the men to go sneaking around or to
accept any but honorable terms of re.
conciliation. And this letter is writ
ten thus early to clear the way for


the activities which we mean to throw


into the political culdron, as oppor-


tunity shall seem to dictate. We say


then, most positively, but in the


spirit of conciliation, that if you have


any words of encouragement to offer


we will hear them noU, as a month


hence may find US in not so good a


mood for the consideration of plans


which are then fixed and unalterable.


1 await the expression of your feel


ings and sentiments, trusting what


ever you have to say, may be the ex-


preston of the men who give force


and ideas to the Republican policy of


to-day JARVIS S. CHURCH,





We call attention to the card of the
executive committee OF the State
Grange generating Church Howe