The Portland daily press., 1883-09-27
Mr. Chamberlain,s Letters

QT. AQdIu d AGII6TE.
We do not print the two letters written
By Hon. D. Fl. Chamberlain (which appear
elsewhere,l because we agree with every
view they contain, bnt because they are the
earnestly expressed JUDGMENTS of an able
man, practical politician, sincere deyotee
of the grand principles of the Republican
party, and conspicuous representative of
that large and increasing body of intelligent
men who think with courage and independ-
ence on political issues and vote in obedi-
etce 10 their coz vctions rather than at the
behest of any committee or any majority.
Mr.. Chamberlain is not one of those men
who think without acting, who talk one
thing and do another or do nothing. When
he was Governor OF South Carolina he was
as eager and as courageous in contendne
against abuses in the Republican party as
he IS now, and he is distinguished among
the carpet-bag Governors of Southern
States for his freedom from taint Of colrup-
ton, for his determined efforts to reform
the party in South Carolina SO that it would
be worthy of he confidence aud support OF
honest men and for his vigorous champion
ship. in the face of the Ku Klux democracy
OF the equal political rights of all men, Ee
is no carpet knight, no fair weather sailor
He went into Richmond with Sheridan and
he held the Capitol in Columbia againsl
Wade Hampton's red-shrted and red-hand-
ed Democrats until President Hayes CON-
la1 A., 1T
er of violence or of calumny, have dismayed
him, and he is to-day what he has ever
been, steadfast supporter of the fuDda-
mental principles and progressive policy OF
the Republican party. But he has no more
federation for the corrupt spoils system
when employed by readjusteis in Virginia
or Republicans in New York. than when
employed by Democrats in South Carolina
or Massachusetts.
These two letters, with the one written 10
Mr.. Walker of Massachusetts, which was
printed few days ago, appear to US to have
much more than ordinary Importance as an
indication of what the earnest independents
in the Republican party desire, and of the
way in which they may be expected to apply
the principles by which they are actuated.
While it is true that with regard to his duty
in the last campaign in New Rork Mr..
Chamberlain did not agree with Mr.. Curtis
and many others with whom he would
doubtless act in most cases, be gives reasons
for his opposing judgment, the force of which
will be conceded. He cond~nned the fraud
committed by the State Central Committee
as vigorously as they did; but he did not re-
gard Judge Folger as an accomplice before,
or after, the fact, and he did regard him as
an honorable man, possessing superior quail
fications for the office, whom Republicans
therefore could support without counte-
nancing wrong. We can understand
that reasoning if we do not agree with it,
and we can also understand how other Re-
publicans, knowing how certain the machine
Is to count the success of candidates as a
condonemeHt of all means employed in NOM
mating them, felt it to be their duty to re-
frain from supporting Judge Folger.
Concerning the duty of southern Republic
cans in any exigency Mr.. Chamberlain has
earned the right to speak with something
like authority. No man in the north better
understands their case or more earnestly
desires to have their condition improved;
but he believes that they cannot handle
pitch without being defiled, that they cannot
profitaby purchase privileges by consenting
to iniouities like reputation. His counsel
to the Republicans of Virginia is to stand
fast by the right rather than yield it for a
temporary political advantage. This is good
counsel for Republicans everywhere. Their
first duty is not to obtain offices and power
but to maintain the righteous cause.
This duty is what ambitious politicians are
apt TO forget. The path of the nation is
strewn with the unhonored -aves of States
men who had forgotten it. The truest Repub-
licans, the bravest Republicans, the wisest
Republicans are those who are faithful to
Republican principles, and who will contend
for them even when the organization is
ready to abandon them in order to catch the
votes of their revilers. The victories which
the Wing party and the Democratic party
won when they had subrHitted to The slave
power did not strengthen them There is a
warning in their fate.