PENNSYLVANIA. 



057 



the direct results of the personal government, un- 

 wise legislation, vicious tinunciul policy, extrava- 

 Snce, and corruption of the Kepublicuu purty. They 

 clare 



1. That the civil service of the Government has 

 become corrupt, and is made the object of persons! 

 gain, and infidelity to public tniM linn become the 

 rule and not the exception. We believe that hon- 

 esty, capacity, and fidelity, are the only tests of fit- 

 ness for public station, and that the wholesome pen- 

 alties of the law should be used with rigor to en- 

 force official accountability. 



2. That the recent and repeated exposures of fraud 

 and corruption in the administration of public uffuirs 

 call for a searching and thorough investigation of 

 the conduct and condition of every brunch, of the 

 public service, to the end that all corrupt practices 

 may be brought to light, and that all who have 

 abused and betrayed their public trusts, whatever 

 may be their station, may be exposed and punished ; 

 nnd we urge those in charge of this subject ut Wash- 

 ington to a prompt, thorough, and exhaustive exam- 

 ination of their respective fields of labor. 



8. That retrenchment and economy are indispen- 

 sable in the Federal, State, and municipal adminis- 



tration as an essential means toward lessoning the 

 burdens of the people; and we commend thu effort! 

 of the majority of the House of Representatives fur 

 the reduction of the expenditures of the Federal 

 Government to a just standard, and their <! u rmi- 

 nation to lessen the number of useless officials. 



4. That general amnesty of all persons implicated 

 in the late rebellion against the Government of the 

 United States who have not alreudv been relieved 

 from disabilities by the action of Oongress and of 

 the President would be an allowable and proper 

 exercise of Governmental power in the year of the 

 Centennial celebration of American Independence, 

 and that the recommendation of such measure by 

 President Grant in a public message and its indorse- 

 ment and passage by a Republican House of Repre- 

 sentatives at a former session constitute full proof 

 that such a measure is fit, judicious, and timely. 



5. That we approve of those provisions of the State 

 constitution which protect not only the school-funds 

 but other public moneys from appropriation to sec- 

 tarian uses, and that they fitly illustrate the doctrine 

 of the separation of Church and state, which al- 

 ways has been a cardinal one with the Democratic 

 party. 



IIARRISBURG, FROH THE WEST BANE OF THB BUSQCEHANNA. 



6. That the statute for the resumption of specie 

 payments on the 1st day of January, 1879, is impos- 

 sible to execute. It is a deliberate proclamation 

 that at that date the United States will go into bank- 

 rupt -y. It paralyzes industry, creates distrust of 

 the future, turns the laborer and producer out of 

 employment, is a standing threat upon the business- 

 men, and ought to be forthwith repealed. 



7. That gold and silver are the only true basis for 

 the currency of the republic, nnd that Congress 

 should take such steps for the resumption of specie 

 payments as will most surely and speedily reach that 

 result, without destroying the business interests of 

 the people. 



8. That the present depression of all our national 

 industries, which checks the wholesome flow of cap- 

 ital through the channels of enterprise, and denies 

 to honest lubor a decent livelihood, is the direct, in- 

 evitable fruit of extravagance, and of reckless and 

 dishonest Republicans tampering with the finances 

 of the country ; and we denounce the authors of 

 that legislation as officials who have unsettled the 

 foundations alike of the State and of the home. We 



VOL. xvi. 42 A 



call upon the people to aid us to halt them in this 

 fatal career, nnd to set their faces in the direction 

 of practical measures which shall eventuiilly enable 

 the Treasury of the United States to keep its plight- 

 ed faith with rich and poor alike. We demand leg- 

 islation through the power of the Federal Govern- 

 ment which shall give us performances for promises, 

 and restore solvency to the nation by restoring prop- 

 erty to the people. 



A resolution presenting the name of the Hon. 

 Jeremiah S. Black as the candidate for Presi- 

 dent was laid on the table, and the delegation 

 was instructed to vote as a unit on all subjects. 



The Republican Convention was held at 

 Ilarrisburg on the 29th of March. Edward 

 McPherson presided, and J. D. Cameron, Wm. 

 R. Leeds, H. M. Hoyt, and R. W. Mackey, were 

 chosen as delegates at large to the National 

 Convention, and fifty-four other delegates were 

 appointed. Benjamin H. Brewster headed the 



