National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-10-14
HE THROWS UP TnE SPONGE.


HE THROWS UP THE SPONGE.
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, who is the in
clrnation of civil-service reform and has
been for years laboring to stamp that fea-
ture of idiotic nonsense upon the character
of the Government, has at last stranded his
frail bark upon the sturdy rocks of public
opinion. In other words, he has retired
from the craftsmanship of the Richmond
County Republican convention, which hon
ored him with representative position in
the Saratoga convention. Mr. CURTIS mas
attained whatever distinctive position he
has achieved in politics through his connec-
tion with Hdrper's Weekly journal of
marked popularity with the Republican
party. That party has honored him with
distinguished consideration on that account
far beyond what his developed political i'm
tegrity has deserved. He has arrnyed his
civil-service reform notions against the well
fare of the Republican party, in so far rs he
has substantially insisted that a citizen
holding Office under the Government for
feited some of his dearest rights as such,
under which much of his political useful
ness has been handicapped. While Mr..
CURTIS feels justified in circumscribing the
privileges of u citizen when he has the for
tuue or misfortune, as the case may be, to
| hold Office under the National Government,
he claims for himself the largest liberty in
resisting the nominations of the Republican
party if they are not strictly in accord with
his individual preferences.
Under this condition of things Mr. CUR
tbs has subjected himself to the severe crit
icism of his fellow-citizens resident in his
county, and strange to say, he has 50 fal
respected that opinion as to throw up the
sponge and resign as chairman of the coun-
ty convention, in n letter from which we
make the following extract.
1t is with sncerest regret that have learned
that i, cent expressions of my views has deeply
panied many Republican friends in Richmond
| County whose good opinion is very dear to
me. But these friends, with whom my politi-
cal association has been so long continued and
so cordial, will understand that while / de-
| plore my grave difference of opinion, eau ask
| the assurance of my RepublCansn only from
my own conscience. We may honestly differ
rs to the methods by which the cause is to be
|
differences of view there has been no seriou:
misunderstanding between MS. Under exist
| ing circumstances, however, there ought to be
| no misapprehension whatever, and beg
therefore, through you, respectfully to Ole
my resignation AS chairman of tho convention
that the members may have s.n opportunity o
declaring whether in their Judgment the in
terests Of the party can better be promoted b.
its acceptance. With great respect, l AN
very truly, yours
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
This resignation was promptly accepted
by the county convention at its recent ses
sion, thereby advising Mr.. CURTIS that hi
detection and advice to Republicans t,
scratch the ticket nominated at Saratog
are not indorsed by the Republicans of hi
county. This should satisfy the editor q
Harper's Weekly, which he has CONVERTS
into an engine of mischief against the Re
publican party, that he has violated the RI
publican sense of right, and he should M
only retire from any prominence in tn
party, but from the editorial management
of journal which draws its chief suppol
and who feel aggreved that he should i
, any degree have prostituted Harper's Week
to the advancement of the Democratic part
and its interests The proprietors of tn,
able journal will learn in due time that tn
tactics of its editor in conducting its ed
r torials adversely to the Republican intcl
est finds no approval within the Republica
5 party Of the country. They cannot affoi
to offend the Republican party and continr
that ofIense beyond the moment when pu
lie aversion is definitely manifested.