Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-08-22

IL the adjective "Indopendenr means any
thing when profxed to the term "Repubh-
can, it means q firm allegiance to the princi-
pies OF civil service reform and n wise persis-
tenoe in maintaining aud furthering il. At
Chicago the Republican party clearly and
firmly nvowod It's adherence to this measure
In his letter Of acceptance Blaine has declared
himself AZ fully and explicitly in favor Of ez-
tending II still further into tho appointments
now made 10y the President "a suggestion Cleyo-
land carefully and significantly avoids); and,
unlesshis words mean Just tho opposite Of what
they say, his presidency would heartily pro-
mote reform Now, admitting (Which will
not) that ho is insincere in his words, and ad-
hitting (Which do not that Cleveland is a
genuine friend of national oivilsoryico re-
form, which result would best promote the
interests OF purity Of civil sorvico-the eloo-
ton OF President who docs not fully believe
in reform by party which does, or the oloc-
ton Of President who believes in it by n
party which does notY That party which
controls Congress has vastly moro power in
promoting reform than q President can pos
sibly have and because whatever desire for
reform exists in the country will find express
| sion in legislation only whom the Republicans
are in power, wish for Republican victory
| in November.
Those three reasons comprehend my chief
motives for refusing to act with the Indepen-
dent Republican club Of Brattloboro. Let
mo stato them little moro explicitly. This
campaign will result in tho election Of Blaine
on the basis Of tho Republican platform and
his own lottor Of acceptance or else in tho
election of Cleveland upon the Democratic
! platform and letter of acceptance which
either agroos closely with II or else means
nothing at all. It is impossible to distinguish
between man and his platform between a
candidate and his party. The issue is not be-
| tween corrupt man and an ideal man, and
| IL cannot be made So Some OF your Massa-
chusetts brethren soom to think that they
have only TO utter their ideas, and 10 tho
| whole country will devote the coming cam
| psign to expressing an opinion upon them.
1t is tho height of absurdity to say that the
issues of this campaign are simply upon the
character of the candidates, for they are not
and probably at the present hour no persons
regret that declaration moro than the ones
who made it and adopted Cleveland and the
Democratic platform while pretending to be
still Republicans. II your organization in
Brattleboro is truly made up Of Republicans,
l think you will finally conclude that it is bet.
ter for the country TO have Republican vic
tory than Democratic one this fall. To
have Republican victory It is needful to
vote for Blaine and work for hun To lessen
the Republican majority in Vermont In Sep
tsmbor may be a protest against his nomins
ton, but what good will it do the Republican
party 1t will not probably lead them to
withdraw Blaine aud substitute George Viii
liam Curtis. II will indeed show your deter
mination not to aid in his election but where.
in will that help the party TO which you say
you belong? II would be simply killing the
hen that lays the golden egg. There is nc
halfway course open to you between squarely
supporting Blaine and Ropublicauism, which
are one and inseparablo for the next three
months, and as squarely supporting Cleveland
and the Democracy and il you are true Re
publicans cannot conceive how you can dc
the latter. 1t is childish to sulk because We
cannot have our own way Would that the
kicking Republicans could cxomplify that as
finely as did tine man they so spitefully op
pose four and eight years ago. Let US be
honest and earnest, whatever We arc; indif
ference, attempted neutrality, secret blows al
candidates and partios-all these are disgrace
full. Amy failure to support Blaine and oui
regular state ticket is precisely the Same thing
however you may mean it, as going squarely
over to Cleveland aud the Democracy, though
It is not half so honorable and respectable
course a. that would be.
must not fail to congratulate you on the
late formation Of your club which has kep
you FROM the swkwardness of championinl
Cleveland as the high moral candidate.
would suggest that au expression Of condo
lence TO the Massachusetts, and New YorI
clubs would be highly appropriate and mos
alphabetically received by them. But YOU
silence as to Cleveland will not help you il
your efforts in this county. To 60 agAins
Blaine is to 60 in favor OF Cleveland You
organization is at present in worry inconsis
tent position you have attempted either too
much or too little. You are in the position
of a man who has ono foot on the shore GnC
the other in boat that is rapidly moving
from it. Three alternatives are before you
You eau draw back upon the safe and scliC
shore OF Repubicanism you can boldly ant
avowodly leap into the Democratic boat, GnC
be borne as passive passengers down a cur
rent whose waters are likely to taste very sal
next November; or you can drop into a mos
uncomfortable position, where you will los'
all foothoid for consistent, effective action il
gaining reform in tho government.
It becomes the Independent Republican tc
use great foresight in deciding how no viii
most effectively use his independence thi
fall. There are various kinds OF indepond
ence. A pig whom his master is trying Il
drive is very independent in his way, but i
is not nice way aud not a useful way. 1t il
possible for the independents to make
great deal Of trouble this fall ; but what GOO
will il do? How will it finally purify tn
party to desert it now It will simply pu
ali dos lrters where they can do nothing fou
years from now toward nominating tho mar
Of their choice. George William Curtis, will
oil his splendid powers and good ideas, ha
severed himself from influence in the Repub
lican party, while Theodore Roosevelt jus
as true and pure an Independent, will yer.
! likely go to the next National Republican
convention, and if SO will have vastly NOR
power in urging reform in the party than
= he had gone over, openly or actually, to tn
Democracy this fall.
With tho heartiest sympathy with your OF
ganization in every principle that is eithe
Republican or Independent, cannot follow
you in open, and would scorn to give secret
aid to the Democracy. With earnest wishe
that you may be led, like other Indeponden
Republican clubs, 70 the support of Blaine
l remain, very truly yours,
JOHN L. SEwALL.
Westminster, Vt, Aug. 20, 1884.
: Terrible Straits OF the GreeIy Party.
OF the elimination of Lieut.. Kislingbury
body at Rochester, N. Y, because of tn
charge of cannibalism, the despatch gays
''The work of opening the heavy iron reeep
tacle was found comparatively easy, all Their