780 



UNITED STATES. 



grow, as long as the hot-bed of corruption, the spoils- 

 system, lasts. The skill in corrupt practices acquired 

 by one generation of spoilsmen will only be im- 

 proved upon by the next. The result we know. We 

 nave already reaped so great a harvest of disaster 

 and shame, that, we repeat, it has now become the 

 first duty of the American people to reestablish the 

 moral character of the Government by a thorough 

 reform. What can we do toward this end in the im- 

 pending national election ? 



In this respect, fellow-citizens, we consider it our 

 duty to speak very plainly. Never were the cause 

 of good government and the honor of the American 

 name more immediately dependent on the character, 

 ability, and reputation of the men to be selected 

 for the highest offices. In view of the grave circum- 

 stances at present surrounding us, we declare the 

 country cannot now afford to have any man elected 

 to the presidency whose very name is not conclusive 

 evidence of the most uncompromising determination 

 of the American people to make this a pure Govern- 

 ment once more. 



Our duty in this respect is plain and imperious. 

 It suffers no trifling or equivocation. The worn-out 

 clap-traps of fair promises in party platforms will 

 not satisfy it ; neither will mere fine professions on 

 the part of candidates. Not mere words are needed, 

 but acts ; not mere platforms, but men. 



We therefore declare, and call upon all good citi- 

 zens to join us, that at the coming presidential elec- 

 tion we shall support no candidate who in public 

 position ever countenanced corrupt practices or com- 

 binations, or impeded their exposure and punish- 

 ment, or opposed necessary measures of reform. 



We ah all support no candidate who, while possess- 



ing official influence and power, has failed to use his 

 opportunities in exposing and correcting abuses 

 coming within the reach of his observation, but for 

 personal reasons and party ends has permitted them 

 to fester on ; for such men may be counted on not 

 to uncover and crush corruption, but for the party's 

 sake ready to conceal it. 



We shall support no candidate, however conspic- 

 uous his position or brilliant his ability, in whom 

 the impulses of the party manager have shown 

 themselves predominant over those of the reformer ; 

 for he will be inclined to continue that fundamental 

 abuse the employment of the Government service 

 as a machinery for personal or party ends. 



We shall support no candidate who, however 

 favorably judged by his nearest friends, is not pub- 

 licly known to possess those qualities of mind and 

 character which the stern task of genuine reform 

 requires ; for the American people cannot now afford 

 to risk the future of the republic in experiments on 

 merely supposed virtue or rumored ability, to be 

 trusted on the strength of private recommenda- 

 tions. 



In one word, at present no candidate should be 

 held entitled to the support of patriotic citizens, of 

 whom the questions may fairly be asked, "7s he 

 really the man to carry through a thorough-going 

 reform of the Government ? Can he with certainty 

 be depended upon to possess the moral courage and 

 sturdy resolution to grapple with abuses which have 

 acquired the strength of established custom, and to 

 this end firmly to resist the pressure even of his 

 party friends ? " Whenever there is room for sucb 

 questions, and doubt as to the answer, the candidate 

 should be considered unfit for this emergency. 



GREAT SEAL Of THE UNITED STATES. 



A convention under the name of the Prohi- 

 bition Reform Party assembled at Cleveland, 

 Ohio, on May 17th. A series of resolutions 

 was adopted, and candidates for President and 

 Vice-President were nominated. The resolu- 

 tions were as follows : 



The Prohibition Eeform party of the United States, 

 organized in the name of the people, to revive, en- 

 force, and perpetuate in the Government the doc- 

 trines of the Declaration of Independence, submit, in 

 this centennial year of the republic, for the suffrages 

 of all good citizens, the following platform of the 

 national reforms and measures : 



1. The legal prohibition in the District of Colum- 



bia, the Territories, and in every other place 

 to the laws of Congress, of importntion, exportation, 

 manufacture, and traffic of all alcoholic beverages, 

 as high crimes against society; an amendment, to 

 the national Constitution to render these prohibi- 

 tory measures universal and permanent ; and the 

 adoption of treaty stipulations with foreign powers 

 to prevent the importation and exportation of all 

 alcoholic beverages. 



2. The abolition of class legislation and of special 

 privileges in the Government, and the adoption of 

 equal suffrage and eligibility to office, without dis- 

 tinctinn of race, religious creed, property, or sex. 



3. The appropriation of public lands in limited 

 quantities to actual settlers only ; the reduction of 

 the rates of inland and ocean postage, of telegraphic 



