New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-17
THE FORLORN HOPE.

nAYpER TO TIE FRoNT-HURRY UP YOUR OLD
CALUMNIEs SOON, OR THEY WILL BE USELESS
BLAINE, MULLIGAN. ETC
70 the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: As it is now but few weeks TO the Chicago
Convention we must be very near the belt of de-
traction through which a prominent candidate
passes to success. AS the Grant boom becomes
daily more spasmodic and hysterical, and as the
Blaine boom deepens into heavier thunders, we may
look any day for meteOric shower of ISLANDERS
upon the head of Mr.. Blaine. Indeed. the first
drops-or, shall we sag aerolites f-of that shower
have already begun The Journal of Civilization,
sharing YOUR convictions as to who Is the
leading candidate has moved promptly to the front
with its whole rather biggedy-piggledy assortment
of slanders-some thoroughly fresh and strictly
original. Others OdorOusy STALE and Others, oddly
enough, showing themselves staunch, eternal
principles even through the disguise of SANDER
thrown over them. If gross ignorance and reckless
inveracity constitute civilization, then Civilization
is justified of her Journal, and we may predict with
confidence motley of scandals rather dam
THY hsped on one page rather coarsely limned on
another but all counted in as part of that moral
reform which is to introduce a higher element into
politics.
religious newspaper here and there which ekes
out its circulation by bribing subscribers with
chromos q Doctor of Divinity here and there who
never squares up his debts, but whose Society Is
forced each year meet in the vestry and pay MS
butchers bills, dozen or so young men from the
colleges. burning for renOwn, but burdened as yet
with no heavier responsibility than tennis ana
tafy and all the trucuent virtue OF Massachusetts
will now fall into line, and like the man who hired
a stced for funeral, Will keep up with the process
sion if it kills the horse Politics will be so purified
Nucf nd stanph Of VlrtuOUS
scandal from the ten righteous mon in our Republic
can Sodom that we shall long for little quiet hon
orable, unOstentatIous vice.
Come now, Messieurs Les Assassns q proud
country waits to see which of you Will be the first
to follow the lead of our lofty j. o. c. High
hearted young Republicans of Massachusetts,
chivarous Leaguers of Pennsylvania, which one
of you is ready to take the bloody shirt from the
hand of Thomas Mast and 1aunt it in derisiOn over
the grave of ChisOm or in the face of the fleeing
thousands of the African exodusf Or Will you win
immortality out of the Credit MObiler, from which
the only man who plucked o stable credit
was the candidate whom you cOnfront1
There are the Mulligan letters-though by
this time that scandal stinketh. for it hath
been dead four yearS-was indeed slain at Its birth
by the strong hand it was bred to sting, and the
age of miracles is past-but perhaps Boston, with
her infinite resources of muck and pluck. might
stir up the mass once more. and set a few maggots
crawling merely to illustrate the height of her
own great argument. Or you might Jog your giant
intelects to join issue on the Silver question,
which, in its day, not so very long ago, was duly
cursed with bell, book and candle but since the
European States have been taking it into consider
ation and seriously debating, not to say admitting
the absolute necessity of bimetallic currency our
Sweet Chariots have swung perceptiby lower, and
SO 4tx-h I'd q ailvar mOralist n him.
self alongside the best financial authorities of the
globe without finding himself uncOmfortably near
the "demagogue whom he denounced. The
Chinese question undoubtedly appeared to offer a
good handle opposition, yet it somehow slips in
the hold. Apart from the fact that all American
people, and even all New-England citizens, are not
30 absolutely aghast as Massachusetts at the
spectacle Of man vigorously differing in opinion
from themselves there is slOw y fltcring into the
thoughtful mind the conviction that there is
something in the Chinese Question after oil. The
sentmentalists as sOnorOus as ever. The senti-
mentalists are always the last to be permeated by
O fact. But the wOrkingmen, with minds stimu-
lated by necessity. are rapidly developing suspi-
cion that they have some rights which Govern
ment is bound to respect, whether sentmentalists
do or not and that this country is owned by
Americans and not by any foreigners whatever,
and that the first duty of Government whether
National, OF State, or family, Is toward its own
and not toward another's. They see,
also, that our Government is slowly swinging
around to the same position and In send
ing abroad commission to modify the
treaty and restrict immigration, virtually yields
the whole question. 1t Will not be easy to array the
workingmen, the rank aud file of this country
against the man who first the danger and took
position against it, at the cost of bringing upon
himself tie odium of the whole sincere sentiment
taty of the East, and the rich and powerful corpora
tions Of the Western Coast. If Kearney had not
been put in Jail he would have done Yeoman's SER
vice Tor MeSsleurs Slanderers at this juucture but
his electiOneerng was cut of untmely and the lips
of Q thousand Young Republicans are sealed to ST.
hence behind bls prison walls.
The y. o. L. has shown its good will, but has at
the same time exhibited great lack of invention
and enterprise. In fiction the probabilities and the
unties should be strictly observed. AS an arra
ment o threat the presentation OF the j. o. Z. Is
but beggarly. Its only effect is to reveal the pow
erty of the slandererH resources. An ADLER hand.
more robust ingenuity must create stronger mis-
siles, the attempt will be dIscredltaDIe even 10
the Youngest Republicans.
Wherefore, Messleurs Les Assassins since the can
didate must he attacked in order to give you the
cry, that no candidate must need defence,
the breach and make the attack your
selves rather than have the play stop
be wise in time-in the very short time that must
capse between May and June 8. DO not throw
away all your advantages by copying French
chivalry and waiting for each other. Run, rush,
leap to SANDER. There needs but O little more
hardihOod to pluck the crown which now rests on
the brow of Nastness and place it on your own.
The nomination Of MIR. Blaine IS most imminent.
He has gone in and out before the people for twenty
experience observation pride, lOve--ali make III his
favor. Even Islander may not avail, but Islander is
the only force from which there is any hope of
cess SANDER is not q sure nor q stalwart weapon
but now, mine own dear little boys, there Is no way
but this T.D.w.
Brooklyn May 4, 1880.