Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1884-06-14
THE FIRES OF DEFEAT.
From the New York Times, Rep.l

From the New York Times, Rep.l
1t Is best, after all, that James G. Blaine
should be the candidate Of the republican
party. His nomination has been urged with
earnestness and sincerity by a majority of that
party, and the majority must rule in this
country, even when it is in the wrong. The
party new appeals to the country with u cam
didate who stands for something. He repre-
sents the average of republican principles and
purposes, OF republican honor and conscience,
rs they now are.
We shall not be surprised if some republic
cans who do not like Mr.. Blaine resent Will
heat this allegation that u man who As speak
er Of the house Of representatives bartered
his official influence for private gain, who as
secretary of state made the enforcement of q
swindling claim against a distressed and per-
ishing sister republic the most conspicuous
feature of his foreign policy, a man who has
no part or interes in the work done in the
last five years toward the publication Of the
public service, is q fair type and representa-
tive of the party that saved the Union. freed
the slave and restored the national credit.
But in soberness and truth, good friends, is this
not SO! Is not the name OF Blaine the only
name that really stirs the hearts of the re-
publican masses? Did not his devoted band
Of adherents, without the aid of the office
holders, who in most states were enlisted un-
der another flag, not only without favor from
any department of the government, but
against the influence of all, so far as that in
fiuence was exerted, lead to Chicago an army
of delegates larger than that supporting any
other candidate? Did not Blaine's name lead
on the first ballot, and increase its lead by
the convention was registered in the Blaine
column? If Mr.. Blaine is not a fair repre-
sentative Of republican principles and pur-
poses, of republican honor and conscience, as
they now are, then the republicans of Maine,
New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and
Kansas were willfully betrayed in their pri-
maries, in their district and state conventions,
and at Chicago; and we have nowhere read
nor heard that republican sentiment in these
states, or in any state, was stifed or pervert-
ed in order to secure Blaine delegates. Nor
was Mr.. Blaine nominated in ignorance Of
who and what he was. The party had its
eyes open. 1t has taken this step not in the
dark but in broad daylight.
1t Is much better, therefore, that Mr.. Blaine
should be the candidate than that Mr.. Ar
thurs friends should have been successful in
their purpose to thrust him on the party
against its will. We have clearly seen and
plainly said that the great majority of repub-
licans did not want Mr.. Arthur for their can
didate. Had he been nominated, his defeat
would have signified nothing as regards the
heart and virtue of the party. nothing as to
the favor its principles and present practices
find in the eyes of the American people.
There will be nothing ambiguous about the
defeat of Mr.. Blaine. He who runs may
clearly read the verdict in advance: 81 cum
didate unworthy Of confidence and a purity too
~careiess Of its oa9n honor to be trusted ssiM tie
nation's."
That defeat will be the salvation of the re-
publican party. 1t will arouse its torpid con-
science. it will stir it to self-purification, il
will depose the false leaders who have fasten-
ed themselves upon it, it will send the rogues
to the background, and will make the party
once more worthy of honor and power in the
republic it has so nobly served. When the
party has passed through the fires of defeat
and is well of its peccant humors it will
come back to the i~mpregnable ground of right
it stood on when it beat down treason and dis.
union. to u position in which it shall embody
the highest and best impulses Of American
life, to a state of heart and mind which shall
fit it to be again the custodian of that match
less trust, government of the people, by the
people, and for the people,"
One word as to the position of the Times.
1t aoaN not support Ar. Blaine for he presidsn-
cy. IT a0aW aduise no nun to cote for him. and
its reasons for this course are perfectly well
understood by everybody that has ever read
it.. Without the mention of names the course