Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-07-17
COMMUNICATIONS,

The Republican Party-Why Desert It2
To the Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
The disappointment which men feel when
favorite candidate is defeated prompts
them sometimes to say things which doubt
less a little reflection will often lead them to
wish unsaid; and sometimes momentary ir-
ritation will excite actions which cooler
Judgment would not approve. Doubtless
many republicans were disappointed because
Mr.. Blaine was nominated and someone else
was not; but before such persons commit
themselves irrevocably to hostility to the man
who was the choice of the majority it will be
wise to consider what they will gain by such
an attitude. They must remember that
there are two parties only between which to
choose, if one would not throw away his vote
Either the Republican or the Democratic par
ty must be the successful contestant at the
coming election. Can there be any second
choice among those who have acted from in
teligent conviction with the Republican
partys Can any such person be willing to
aid, to the extent even of one vote,
or by the negative of even refusing to vote to
restore to place and power the Democratic
partya What one thing has this party
done to commend it to the sympathy of any
man who has hitherto voted for and with the
Republican party?- Does the nomination of
Mr.. Cleveland condone its offences! This
man, who until within two years ago had
never been heard of outside of his own town,
and who, happening to be the candidate for
his party in an election which Republicans
suffered to go by default become governor
by phenomenal majority, is now selected
by the great Democratic party, passing by
all its real chiefs, simply because he has no
record as a statesman-and because it hopes
to secure New York without which it sees
its chances of success absolutely null. Is
there anything in all history which makes it
desirable for any disaffected Republican to
vote for him? And if by any violent effort
of deglutition he could be swallowed, what
of Mr. Hendricks? A man who has without
any hesitation been prompt to do the behests
of the slave power, who never failed to deal
his stoutest blows at every part of the policy
of the Republican party; first and foremost
among those who resisted and de-
sired to overthrow the only party
which has sought to save the republic;
an anti-war Democrat of the malignant type,
and who since the war has been ready to re-
store to its old authority the South" and
all that implies-does such a man seem
worthy of your choice as the second officer of
the nation, with possible chance of coming
to WELD the authority and influence of the
first? Grant that personally both of these
men are morally not below the standard of
decent men, is that so notable an event that
you must approve by your vote party whose
every act has been in opposition to the prin-
ciples you have professed hitherto-a party
of which they, if elected, will be simply the
officials, not the guides, and such as their
party is such must they be. Surely it is not
to be supposed that any conscientious indie
pendent Republican can deliberately desire to
put the national government at the full dis
posal of the Democratic party with all its his
torical tendencies; to submit Congress and
the Presidency to the unche cked control of
the ''South," because his favorite was not |
also the favorite of a majority of the |
Chicago convention Did we go to the con-
vention to abide by its choice only provided
it was our own Is it Democratic for a mi
nority to dictate to a majority Is it just
that the wishes and preferences of the many
shonld yield to the demands of the few If Mr.
Edmunds had been nominated and the
friends of Mr.. Blaine had bolted would they
have been regarded as keeping faith to the
party7 1t is unnecessary to ask what would
have been his Edmunds0 chance of success
in such case. /
But our Independent friends desire reform,
and propose to seek it in the Democratic
party Has it then come to pass that men
gather grapes of thistles? We cannot com
pliment their sincerity at SO great detri-
nent to their intelligence as to suppose they
have any such expectation, nor does it seem
possible that any one should have forgotten
gard to this subject. Indeed, it is really i'm
possible to treat this plea with any patience,
it is so utterly absurd. There other
phases of the subject to which we will return
at another time. H.