The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-11-13

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That there should be but few hundreds
difference between the votes of the two great
parties in the great state of New York, is a
most remarkable circumstance, and, withal,
an unfortunate occurrence. The people Of
the country, would have been better satisfied
had the plurality been as many thousands
in favor of one candidate or the other,
as it really is hundreds. In such case there
would have been no suspicion that the de-
clared result was not the honest expression
of the voters of that great commonwealth,
no allegation of fraud on the part of either
party, and no temptation to doctor the re-
turns, or to count anybody out or in 1t
certainly is matter to be regretted that the
vote is so close as to give rise to charges Of
dishonesty in the canvass by any party, or
in any quarter. If Grover Cleveland has q
plurality of but one vote, all good citizens
will unite in the hope and desire that he
shall have the benefit of it, and on the other
hand, if Jas. G. Blaine has plurality, how
ever small, all men, regardless of their po-
litical predictions and affiliations, who have
the good of their country at heart, and who
desire the perpetuity of her free institutions,
will unite in a demand that he be not
wronged or cheated out of it in any man
ner whatever.
There are number of causes, the non
existence of any one of which would have
led to far different result in the Empire
state. Had the republican party placed in
nomination Judge Edmunds, President Ar
thur, Senator Sherman, Gen. Logon or Sec
rotary Lincoln, there would have been no in
dependent republican movement, no sulking
in the republican camp, no opposition in the
ranks of the party, Senator Conkling would
have been ON the republican stump and the
state would have been carried for the repub-
lcan candidate by sweeping majority. We
felt at the time that the nomination of Mr..
Blaine was great mistake and the result
has served only to convince us that we we're
correct in our Judgment.
But, notwithstanding the opposition to
Mr.. Blaine within the ranks of the party he
would have carried New York by decisive
majority, had it not been for the fanaticism
of the prohibition party which, being unable
to build up, was determined to tear down,
and which dealt deadly blow to the only
party in existence from which temperance
men could hope or expect any aid. Upon
that party rests the responsibility of the ex-
tremely close vote of New York.
But, with all these adverse circumstances
there can be no doubt that Mr.. Blaine would
have had a plurality in New York sufficiently
large to put the result beyond all cavil, and
out of the reach of all doubt had it not been
for that outrageously bigoted, unwarrsnted
and uncalled for expression rum, Roman
ism and rebellion" that fell from the lips of
Minister Burchard in New York city. This
alone was sufficient to turn thousands of
Catholic votes from Blaine to Cleveland.
Not only did it do this in New York, but it
had like effect all over the country, even
extending into our own quiet village, where
to our certain knowledge one vote at least
was so changed by it. Suppose it changed,
on an average, but one vote in each precinct
in the state of New York, had it not been
uttered Blaine would have had a plurality
reaching into the thousands.
In fact, from the very outset the republi-
can party has had series of adverse influ-
ences to contend with, and that it met with
the degree of success that actually crowned
its efforts is matter of congratulation. If
it shall profit by the errors and mistakes of
the past. it may reasonably hope for bril-
liant success in the future.