The Cry Of Reform

In il recent speech in Boston, the Ilon. Charles P. Thompson spoke as follows: The great cry to-day is fOT reform. All declare that reform is necessary. The ltepublican party say that they wish to be retainedin power fot the purpose of effecting this reform. They have been in power for twenty years, and what has been the result? Have they not been like wicked men aiid seducers, who wax worst: and worseV Why, what necessitated tbi8 reform whieh is demandi-d on all sides V Is it not the action of that party, who novv demand that they be këpt in power for the purpose of reforming abuses? They have had tn fullest opportunity to reform if they desired. They have had year after year in whicli to reform, bnt still no advance bas been made in that direction. They said in 1808, el eet us once move and peáce and good felloWshlp shall bé tKe re'sult; we will reform all abuses. Wh&t was the result, was any accomplished in that direction Y Didn't they make the same claim in 1872? did they not make the saine claim in 1870? And are they not going to make the same claim in 1880? You know that that is to be the claim, and you know very well what will be the result if you trust them with power. What reform can you expect trom them ? Have their promisea been f ulrilled ? The peopeople of this country long ago lost conüdence in their promises. In 1876 thev said: We will not submit to this corruption. It eannot be endured. We have one of the most corrupt administrations that has ever cursed any people. We have an administration which is in league with comiption, and is sustained by every kind of l'raud. You then had the "VVhiskey Ring, the District of Columbia Ring and Naval Ring and numerous other rings, all sustained by the "Federal Government. And the people said they must elect a man President who was the embodiment of true reform ; and thought that Samuel ,I. Tilden, who liad put down the Tweed Ring, the CoalRing and the deadly foe of all corrupt rings, the man who was best iitted to put down the Whiskey Ring, the District of Columbia Ring, the Naval Ring, and all corrupt rings - just the man to take the lead in universal reform. But how did that party, which now asks to be perpetuated in power that it may effect reform, treat the voice and the will of the people ? The people of this country elected Samuel J. Tilden President by a majority of a quarter of a million of votes. Applause.] And this party which now claims that it ought to be supported by the people, on account of lts purpose and capaeity t o reform itself, showed its sincmty by defrauding the people of the President they had elected. This is the first step in reform. And the tirst act whieh this i'raudulently-inaugurated President performed was to rev.ard wlth places Oí horror and trust ttie men wIki were foremosl in the perpetuaüon of that fraud. Now they again ask the people to support theni. "VVhat can you expect if' you do this? Will they not be guilty of their old excesses and fraudsV Do they not want Gen. Grant for the-purpose of being enabled to rob the people, as they did during his administration 1 And is not this what they mean by reform ? There is no such a thing as separating State and national olitics. The party that we desire to administer the Federal Government is the party that we want to administer the State Government, You never can have two parties, one to attend to State issues, the other to attend to Federal issues. You must have the State and the Federal Government issues uncier the care of the Democratie party, if in power it will administer the State and Federal Governments upon the same principies, and it is the only.party that has shown a desire or capaeity to administer the government upon correct principies for the good of the whole people. Ví' CÖffli to vote we sliall not be being obliged to choos'é 'uetweèri two" evils. ïhere never was a more pernicious doctrine in marais or in politics than that we should choose between two evils. The duty of the people is Brst, laat and ahvays to choose neither of the evils, hut to choose the right. We are deterininedto serve neither adversaiy. "As tor me and my house re will serve the Lord." Something Las been said this evening with regard to the chances of success in MaMftchusetts. Now I ïpniember yery well of a person somewhat feeble in healtli -we are not in that condition, but are pretty strong and robust- having asked his physician what bis chances were of recovery, and being tokl he had one chance out of ten f or recovery, replied, "1 take that chance as the only One worth having." In this canvass, 1 take the chance of electing our candidato because it is the only chance worUi having. We hear now a great deal said about ecüuoiny. 1 am in favor oí ecohoinj and always have been. but there is something more urgent now 1hm economy even. We want an honesi adininistration of public afiairs. We are not so anxious to cut down the pay of a doorkeeper or even Ui havt the Governor take a tbousand dollars oiï from hissalary, as we want to have ihe government administered honestly lionorably, in the interests of tbc peo pie and upon sound, liberal, Democratie principies. If jou will elcct om cantlidate he will be cheaper at S10,000 than theirs at $4,ooo. We want a mai that is worth tbc money. Neifcher yoi nor Utf people of this country want U obtain services for less than their faii value. The people pay cheerf ully wha is lionestly expended for the public good in the administration of the (lov eminent, State or Federal. They don't want . ieir treasure stolen ; tba is where the cause of the complain comes in. ïhe administration of pub lic alïairs has been such that when person asks with regard to the salary of any office his facéis dull and un intereatiag; he does not care but little about that. But when he asks yoi what thestealingsare,his countenance is all aglow. And the public have go so in the habit of considering the sa ary of an ollice as an incidental matte and the perquisites as the substantia reward that an innocent young giii wlio was asked with regard to the o cupationof her father, 5aid"he lic wa a jaryman," and being asked it tna sutipoVted hini, re])li(Hl "that and th perquisites support hini lilxnally. AiuL the perquisitw of public office ar uever more hanestly made than th perquisites of the juryman. It i bribery, fraud and oorruption. Le every nian recordjat the polls his ap proval of Democratie principies; aui ind although wemay not then succeed depend upon it we shall have perormed an important duty tothe State, and let us keep in inind that "ïis not n inoitals to command wuccesp. We can do Letter, Horalio ; we can deserve t." [Applause.]