The Portland daily press., 1880-09-01
An Interesting Letter.
Supported Greeley and Tilden Will
Support Garfield and Arthur.

To Hon. r. p. Saunders, Chairman Of the No
tiondl Greenback State Committee of the
State Of Ne1c York. and also to the National
Greenbdck County Committee Of Os1oego
County, N. T.:
hereby resign the position of member Of
the State Committee for the Twenty-fourth
Congressional district of New York. / also re-
sign the position of Chairman of the National
Greenback County Committee of Oswego
county, N. y, and the following are some of
my reasons, briefly:
The progress of the times, with the forcible
logic of events and the dawn of the evidently
continuing prosperity have substantially done
away with causes which brought the Green
back party into existence, and the issues dur
ing this campaign will be between the two
great political parties The difference be-
tween their respective platforms is hardly per-
ceptible, yet that of the Republican party is
more positive and more clearly defined and is
more consistent with the history and traditions
independent voters most conscientiously sup
port? / claim to be an independent voter. The
first Presidential candidate 1 ever supported
was the lamented Horace Greeley in 1872. L
then believed it would be safe to trust him
with the reins of government. Then again in
1876 1 became satisfied that the Hon. S. J. Til
den, by his efforts to break up the old canal
ring and by his opposition to that other notori-
GUS ring, Tammany Hall, and by his general
efforts to reform the State government had
earned tie confidence and respect of indepen-
dent voters and supported him.
For certain reasons the two institutions above
named did not desire Mr.. Tilden's nomination
in 1880, and he was not renominated. About
two-thirds of the Democratic party consist Of
those who were engaged in the late rebellion
seeking to destroy the Union and in their un-
successful attemnt they met with severe finan-
cial losses. Mr.. Tilden as statesman Of con-
ceded ability and positive views thought it
necessary in 1876, in separate letter, to pledge
himself, if elected, not to favor any measure
by Congress tending toward the payment of
rebel claims. The different elements in the
Democratic party cannot harmonic upon any
of the principles of Government, but they can
all agree that they would like to succeed and
revive their old tradition OF 'To the victors be-
long the spoils," and with President who
has had no experience as a statesman irving TO
haimonize-those hostile elements in his party
both North and South, with the majority in
both houses and, perhaps, in his cabinet, from
the South, / believe they would produce con-
fusion, would disturb business interests at the
North, East and West, and would greatly re-
tard the progressive prosperity which is now
prevailing the whole country, and | do not
think it advisable TO disregard those great
growing interests by an unnecessary haste in
restoring the South to full control in the GEN.
eral Government.
that the administration under President Hayes
has been commendable and has dealt Justly
and even generously with the South. 1t has
passed through the ordeal of purifying the Re-
publican party and pacifying the South which
has prepared the Republican party for the con-
tinued confidence of the people, and at this
campaign it presents better record and is
more united and formidable than at any other
campaign since the close of the late war. L
have not been able to find Democrat who
could suggest single plausible reason why a
former Greenbacker or an independent voter
should now vote the Democratic ticket The
only one reason they advance is that there
ought to be change.
Would any prudent man believe that the
Southern political leaders could abandon on
the incoming of a Democratic administration,
their deep-rooted and lifelong convictions ON
the subject of State rights. Would it be wise
to place in power a party whose inclinationS
since their organization as party, have been
invariably to support, sympathize with and
advance the interests of their Southern lead
ers? Would independent voters believe that
Hancock, if elected, could ignore the men
who elected him and refuse to allow the old
canal ring and Tammany Hall to control the
appointments in the State of New York, and
also refuse to allow the Southern political and
military leaders to control the appointments
and organizations in National affairs? Should
= we disregard the safe principle of letting well
enough alone? Should we exchange the certain
ty of prosperity under Republican ascendancy
for the uncertainty and confusion which DEM
ocratic victory might bring upon us? Is
there any possibility of improvement by the
Democratic victory at the next election? Each
of these questions should answer in the neg
ative, and believe we ought to place the safe
guard of Republican President over a DEM
ocratic Congress Therefore L shall support
Garfield and Arthur for President and Vice
President. JOHN w. SHEA.
Pulaski,;tAug. 49, $780,