St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-23


The Republican nomination has for time
superseded all other issues by raising the
question of official honesty. This question
cannot be avoided except upon the plea that
the official character Of the candidate need
not be considered, and that in order to
secure party president members of the
party ought to vote for any candidate,
who has been regularly nominated. This ia
a plea beyond which party madness cannot
go. Acquiescence in it would require the
surrender of the self respect of every voter.
There could be no candidate so unfit that
this plea would not demand his support, and
Republican success justified by argument
which defies the public conscience, would be
the overthrow of the vital principle OF the
party and show that the spirit and character
which created its great traditions are rapidly
perishing.
Upon the practical questions of tariff and
finance, and the other questions upon which
both parties are divided within themselves,
we are also divided in opinion. We shall
vote, therefore, on the choice of representa-
tiyes and other officers, according to our in
dividual opinions of their political views and
their personal character.
Divided on other questions, we are united
in the conviction that the foundation of office
and honor should be pure, and that the high
est office in the country should be filed by a
man of absolutely unsuspected integrity. AS
there is no distinctive integrity. As there is
no distinctive issue upon public policy pre-
sented for the consideration Of the country,
the character of the candidate becomes of
the highest Importance to, all citizens
who do not hold that party victory should be
secured at any cost. While the Republican
nomination presents party whom we can
not support, the Democratic party presents
one whose name is the synonym of political
courage and honesty, and administration re-
form. He has discharged every official trust
with sole regard to the public welfare and
with just disregard of mere partisan or per-
sonal advantage, which, with the applause
and confidence of both parties, have raised
him from the chief executive administration
of a great city to that of a great state. Intel
igent and sincere support of reform in civil
service has firmly established that
reform in the state and
cities of New York, and his personal
convictions, proved by his official acts, more
decisive than any possible platform decara-
tions, are guaranteed that in Its spirit and in
its letter the reform would be enforced in
national administration. His high sense of
duty, his absolute and unchallenged official
integrity, his infexible courage in resisting
party pressure and public outcry, his great
experience in details of administration his
commanding executive ability and indepen-
dence are precisely the qualities which the
political situation demand in a chief execu-
tive officer of the government to resist cor
porate monopoly on one hand and dema-
gogue communism on the other, and at home
and abroad, without menace or fear, to pro-
tect every right of American citizens and to
respect every right of friendly states by max
ing political morality and private honesty the
basis of constitutional administration. He
is a Democrat who is happily free from all
association with the fierce party differences OF
the slavery contest, and whose financial views
are in harmony with those of the best mon
of both parties, and coming into public
prominence at time when official purity,
courage and character are of chief impor-
tance, he presents the qualities and promises
which independent voters desire, and which
the great body of the Republicans, believing
those qualities to be absolutely indispensable
in administration Of the government at this
time. do not find in the candidate of their
own party
ally themselves inextricably with any party.
Such Republicans do not propose to abandon
the Republican party, nor to merge them
selyes in any other party, but they do pro-
pose to aid in defeating the Republican
nomination, which, not for reasons of expe-
diency only, but for high moral and patriotic
considerations, with the regard for the Re-
publican named, and for American char
m fn ha do
not to avoid the proper responsibility of
American citizens by declining to vote, and
they desire also to make their votes as
effective as possible for honest and
pure and wise administration How
can such voters, who at this
election, cannot conscientiously support the
Republican candidate, promote the objects
which they desire to accomplish more surely
than BY supporting the candidate who repre-
sents the qualities, spirit and purpose which
they all agree in believing to be of control,
ling importance in this election. No citizen
can rightfully avoid the issue or refuse tc
cast his vote. The ballot is a trust, every
voter is trustee for good government,
bound to answer to his private conscience
for his public acts.
This conference, therefore, assuming that
the Republican and Independent voters who
for any reason cannot sustain the Republi-
can nomination, desire to take a course
which, under the necessary condi-
tions and constitutional methSls of
election will most readily and surely secure
the result at which they aim, respectfully re-
commend to all snch citizens to support the
electors who will vote for Grover Cleveland,
in order to most effectually enforce their con-
viction that nothing could more deeply stain
the American name, and prove more dis
astrous to the public welfare. than the delib-
crate indifference of the people of the United
States to the increasing public corruption,
and to the want of official integrity in the
highest trusts of the government.
Mr.. Curtis, during the reading, was fire.
quently interrupted by applause, and when
he had finished the resolutions were adopted
without a dissenting voice.
Mr.. Williams, of Massachusetts, in few
remarks criticised the action of Gov Long,
of Massachusetts,, and Theodore Roosevelt
of New York, for having endorsed Blaine af-
ter denouncing him in the convention, and
he denounced the rule of the convention
which compelled the delegates to stand by
the choice of the party.
Mr.. Welham Everett, of Massachusetts, of
fered q resolution naming Cleveland and
Hendricks nominees of the convention
Laid on the table, and soon after the confer
ence adjourned.
After the adjournment of the conference
the national committee went into session
and discussed plan for permanent organi.
zation, but no definite action was taken and
the matter was referred to subcommittee,
consisting of Messrs. Deming and Miller, of
New York, and Pearce, of Massachusetts, to
report plan. 1t was also decided to have
an executive committee of ten, who shall
have power to increase their number. They
will be appointed in a day or two. Reports
from general committees in various states
were received, and it was thought the most
efficient work could be done in New York,
New Jersey, Connecticut aud Massachusetts,
and sfrnnC efforts will he made tn carry