The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-09-25
An Honorable Alliance. Not Fusion.

Ah AAOhoHouss <NhiNuSes MOI u FuStOus
NEwyAao, Mich. Aug. 90.
Col Norton:
Task space in the Sentinel to explain to
our brethren In other States the nature Of
the alliance formed by the Greenbackers Of
Michigan with the Democrats upon the
electoral ticket. The State ticket Is Of in
terest to us alone, and has been formed as
joint ticket with Gen Begole at the head,
to be supported by both parties. Prior to
the publication of Gen. Buffers letter the
sentiment of nearly NIL Greenbackers in
this State had crystallized into demand
for straight Butler and West electoral
ticket; and allow me to say right here that
ut no time would it have been possible TO
have secured division of electors on any
plan which should prevent an official count
OF the votes cast for Butler and West. But,
recognizing the commanding ability and
political wisdom of Benjamin +. Butler.
his suggestion i'll his letter of fusion with
the minority party on electors impressed
our convention. After considerable dis
cussion, a plan was agreed upon and
adopted by the two conventions which is
honorable and fair and absolutely Sc
cures to Butler men the assurance
that their votes shall count, if Mt
all, for the candidate of their choice. The
plan adopted is simple and plain and emi-
nenly fair. Michigan is entitled to thirteen
votes in the electoral college. Twelve
electors We're agreed upon. six by each con-
vention, not as Butler electors or Cleye-
land electors, but as twelve honorable men
who should stand pledged to carry out the
instructions of the convention electing
them. Then the Greenback convention
| elected Moses W. Field. of Detroit as a
thirteenth eleetor, who with the twelve al
ready chosen should make ~ the Butler
| electoral ticket. The Democratic conven-
tion elected John W. Flanders as its thir.
teenth elector, and with twelve he makes
up the Cleveland electoral ticket. Thus it
will be seen that the popular vote for Field
and Flanders, as representatives OF Butler
and Cleveland will be returned officially and
then If the remaining twelve electors, COM
mon to both tickets, are elected they stand
pledged to cast their votes in the electoral
college for Butler and Cleveland in propor-
tion us the vote of Field is to Flanders, or
rice rersa. II Field receives 1 Of the vote,
Butler has eight electoral votes. In fact this
mode of voting allows the voters outside of
the Blaine and Logan minority to vote direct
ly for President, thus anticipating in meas
ure the time when this shall be the method
of choosing our chief executive. Of course
there is the possibility of giving one elector
to Blaine in Michigan, but the Butler men
propose to save that disgrace to the State
by giving Mr.. Field, as Buffers represent
atiye, plurality vote, and thus secure one
sincere, pure Butler elector. This method
| secures friendly rivalry between the two
parties to the alliance, strengthens our State
ticket and forces no man to sink his politi-
cal identity in the campaign. We recognize
the fact that the majority of the rank and
file of the Democratic party of Michigan
are in hearty sympathy with the Butler
letter and platform, but their party in
national convention have adopted a plat
form antagonistic to some of the vital prin-
ciples which We, as Greenbackers, have
contended for during the past eight years,
and which General Butler also champions.
Hence there can be no such thing as fl-
sion between the two parties, but such m
alliance as we have formed in no way pre-
vents fair, and honest criticism of the Dem
ocratic platform during the campaign.
We are not voting for or supporting Coy :
ernor Cleveland, or his principles, but do
stand by our own standard bearer and his
principles, which are also our own. | trust
that in Illinois similar plan may be adopt
ed and that when the ballots are counted
III November the records OF the State shall
show the popular vote cast for the peoples
candidate, Benjamin +. Butler. Irul,
yours, WILLIAM ID. FULLER.
Why Gen. Butler Declined to BE Feaste,l.
Sir: want to call the attention Of the
| soldiers TO something that Gen. Butler said
several years ago, when he was not eandi-
| date for Congress. or for Governor, or fot
| President. Just Us he was recalled from
New Orleans, Gen. Butler was rendered Il
| public dinner by the merchants of New
York. He declined the honor. These were
| his reasons:
Il too we'll know the reyulsion Of feeling
with which the soldier in the field occupy
ing the trenches, racing the sentinel'r
| weary path in the blazing heat, or watch
ing from his. cold bisouae tho stars shut
out by the drenching cloud, hears Of feast
ing and merry making at home by those
| who ought to bear his hardships with him
and the bitterness with which he speaks oi
those who, thus engaged, are wearing his
uniform. Upon the seorching sand, and
under the hrain-trylng sun Of the Gull
| naast I haya fna snuah shara1 that faatfnf