The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-10-11
A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT
Gives His Reasons for Voring the
Republican Ticket.
LETTER FROM JAMEs.o. LYFoRD, ESQ.

The following letter appears in the Concord
Monitor of Oct g.:
had hoped in this campaign to have re.
mained quiet spectator of political events,
and as quietly on election day deposit ballot
for the candidate of my choice. My personal
interests require all my time and attention;
and modesty forbade my presuming to criticlse
the action of q National Convention which
seemed to give such universal satisfaction to
the Democracy. But silence in my case after
the activ part have heretofore taken in pol
tiles. has caused unjust and unfavorable COM
ment. Now, as | have never hesitated to
speak openly my opinions. desire briefly to
state my reasons for repudiating the Democra-
cy:
am opposed to the success of the Demo-
cratic party in this campaign because its tri-
umpli means the endorsement of Tammany
and its corruption. With others Of that party
Ihad repudiated Tammany under Tweed in
1870. I reioiced when the St. Louis Conven-
tion ignored its dictation in 1876. / glored in
its defeat in New York city in 1878 And did
not propose to be counted i'll at the surrender
when the party capitulaied to John Kelly in
1880. When .Tammany threw down the
gauntlet to the DemCcracy and declared
that if Tilden was nominated it would defeat
the party, because Tilden had exposed and
punished its corruption, there was only one
honorable and consistent course for the Gin
cinnati Convention to pursue. That course
was to renomlnate Tilden and Hendricks.
pitch the key OF the campaign on its ability to
purify itself, and appeal to the country for its
support. Then, if defeat had come, honor
would still have been preserved. Now, if van
quishej, it will be defeat coupled with dis
grace. No matter how pure the personal char
acter OF its candidates, the stigma cannot be
effaced, that Tammany, which went down in
disgrace under Tweed, whose interference was
scorned at st. Louis, has again become the
head-centre of the Democracy, and is only
waiting success at the polls in November to
secure Its complete vindication and restoration
TO power Samuel j. Tilden may not be eth
er a political saint or political martyr; but
this fact stands out pre-eminently: lie was the
embodiment of all that there has been OF re-
form within the party since its exit from pow
er in 1860.
cratic party because it means the ascendancy
OF the same element Of the party South who
sold out its natural candidates in 1876, was
one oil those Democrats who believed that Til
den was elected in that campaign. / also be-
leved that he would have demonstrated that
fact to the satisfaction of :the whole country,
had it not been for the treachery of Southern
leaders like Lamar OF Mississippi, Gordon of
Georgia and Bogy of Missouri. For the sake
OF their own selfish interests they were "Good
Lord to Tilden before election, and "Good
Devil to Hayes after the votes were counted.
They cried for Hancock in 1880 as they cried
for Tilden in 1876. But who will be sponsor
Tor any greater amount of fidelity on their part
now than then?
am opposed TO the success of the Demo-
cratic party because the nomination of Han
cock and English leaves it without any living
issue to present to the country for its consider
alton and support. For four years it has shout
ed itself hoarSe crying fraud. 1t has been en-
blazoned ON its every banner. 1t has been the
thickest plank OF every platform, and it has
hllx fitau .txrk..
speech made since the Inauguration of Mr.
Hayes. Every other issue has been ignored
and the party has irittered away every oppor-
tunity to demonstrate its fitness for governing
the country and framing new issues, because
the rape OF the Presidency was crime never
to be forgotten or cOndOned.' Having staked
all upon the fraud issue, having made it paro-
mount to all else, and having in convention
snubbed both the head and the tail OF the
ticket OF 1876, the Democratic party presents
the anomalous feature OF appealing tor the
first time in its history, to the country, with
no other object than chance to divide the
spoils OF office.
In 1864 the party declared itfef opposed to
the war. In 1868 the issue was reconstruction
In 1872 it was peace and reconciliation. In
1876 it was economy and reform. But in 1880
it is simply change for the sake of change
Being neither Candidate for an Office. or
the expectant OF contract, know of no rea-
son why | should longer continue as a Dem
ocrat
One thing inore. My political education has
been that of States Rights Democrat. The
heretical part OF that doctrine was settled by
the war. But there is q part of the theory
Which stl adhere to- l believe that New
Hampshire has just as many rights as South
Carolina Where the interests Of my State or
section are opposed to those of another State or
saction, am for the interests OF my State
The tariff question is again leading issue
New England and New Hampshire are man.
ufacturing communities. The South IS a pro-
ducing country. New England desires pro-
tective tariff the South, free trade. There
fore, Oh the principles of the fathers, that
man is in duty bound to protect the interests
OF his State, am for the interests of New
Hampshire, protective tariff and the Repub
lican party. JAMEssO. LyFoRD.
Tilton, n. H., Oct 3, 1880.