The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-08-07
Mr. Hurd Talks.

Mrs Huru lalkSs
WAeH1EuToN, July 24.-Mr. Frank
Hurd, the distinguished free trade advo.
cate, was found this evening sitting in
front of his hotel tanning himself and
trying to keep cool. .
"What do you thiAk of the situation Z"
Courier-Journal correspondent iuquir-
ed.
"It is very hot"
"What, the situation?"
"Is there o situation 2" gasped MIR.
Hurd, grimly. "It is almost too bot, l
think. Let US wait until it gets cooler
before We commence the fight"
care you pleased with the Democratic
platform ?"
"The Randall protectionists claim it is
their own. The platform is all right in
the main. There are some things that
could be changed in it with profit, but it
is pretty good platform. From news.
paper standpoint the platform is much
too large. I suppose the average editor
would have made sad work with it if he
had been asked to pass upon its literary
merits.
"For my own part, think the platform
could have been cut down without seri-
GUS injury. 1t contains far too much
| verbiage, and does not state its principles
clearly or candidly enough to suit the
average reader. But the campaign, I
take it, is not to be made on platforms.
So far as our platform relates to the tariff
l am satisfied with it, although [ could
have wished for clearer statement of
the case. A tariff exclusively for public
purpose is the same as a tariff for revenue
only. The wording is different, but the
meaning is the same. The tariff will not
be the issue this year. The people will
simply be asked whether they will vote
for Blaine or Cleveland-for corrupt or
honest government"
"Is Mr.. Blaine an honest man ?"
"The proof seems to be against him."
"Is Mr.. Cleveland an honest man 2"
"There is nothing in his record to con-
tradict it, and this year ne will make
fight for legislative reform. If we are
successful then we can turn our attention
to the abuses in the tariff, to the issue of
Legislative reform"
"Do you think the attacks on Cleve-
lands private character will injure him
as candidate 7"
"Such attacks seldom injure any one !;
even if they are founded on facts, no one
believes them. In Mr.. Cleveland's case,
believe that he has been grossly SLAM
dered. I see Cincinnati paper is the
first to publish the stories about Mr..
Cleveland's moral character. The editor
may yet regret it. I think this publica.
ton will mark the decadence of the boss
influence in Ohio politics. If it brings
about change in this disreputable style
of journalism, then the publication will
not be altogether in vain. Decent peo.
pie in both parties must condemn such
things, and should Mr.. Cleveland be
elected the Cincinnati editor can not
hope for recognition. Mr.. Cleveland can
never forgive him. He would be less
than man if he did. On the other
hand, don't suppose Mr.. Blaine, if he
is elected, could exert himself very much
for Mclean. / think this editor has at
last severed the knot that held him with.
in the circle of respectable people.
Hereafter he must be an outcast from all
parties that have any regard for their
self.respect. He has passed the limit of
decency and must take the consequences.
!. From this time on his political power
must be very limited"
Changing the subject, Mr.. Hurd said :
"The only thing that can save Blaine, in
my opinion, will be his power to control
the Irish vote.'
"Can he do it?"
81 think not. In the first place, the
Irish are very peculiar people. They
are influenced largely by traditions.
Take the Irishmen that have been born
in Ireland and have recently become
citizens, and they may be influenced to
vote for Mr.. Blaine on account of the
prospect, possibly, of speedy war with
Great Britain and the avenging Of the
wrongs of Ireland. But the second gen.
Grafton of Irish voters in this country,
those that were born here, are not affect
ed by the same influence. Their fore.
fathers were Democrats, and at school
they have fought the Republican boys.
Democracy has been instilled into their
blood and they are likely to think more
of this, their native country, than of any
imaginary wrangles of Ireland. Conse.
quently believe that the great body OF
Irish voters will remain true to the Dem
ocratic standard. Now among the Ger
mans there is strong revolt against
Blaine. This is particularly noticeable
in Ohio. l do not think they will go
back to the Republican party right away.
The revolt seems to have strong foun-
datiou, but it may not be sufficient to
defeat Blaine in Ohio, and what it will
do for him elsewhere is of course simply
q matter of conjecture"