The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-07-26
BLAINE's LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE

One of the strangest deliverances OF TINS
or any other political campaign is the letter
of acceptance of James q. Blaine. IL is re-
markable, firstly, FOR its inordinate length
containing as it does, over six thousand
words. enough to I'LL six solid columns Of
the FREE TRADER; and secondly, for its dry
as.dust, commonplace utterances. II goes
over he whole range of the Republican plat
form, taking up and treating seriatm The
points of that notable assembage Of false pre-
fences and attempts 10 give each in It's turn
reasonable and plausible significance. lie
expatiates on the polygamy question, talks as
earnedly as John \. Logan on currency aud
finance, drops all his Jingoism in regard tC
our foreign policy, and threatens the South
ern people with vengeance if they fail tC
recognize the sanctity of the ballot But the
strong hold of Mr.. Blaine is the tariff ques
ton. To this full three-fourths Of his vol
luminous utterance is devoted, and through
out he evinces the intensest anxiety to make
the tariff question the one and leading issue
Of the campaign.
And here is Just where Mr.. Blaine is
weakest and must utterly fail. He accepts
the declaration of the Republican platform
in favor of tariff revision, but proceeds tt
explain at great length that the revision must
be in such way that it shall not injure
American labor. Well, the Democratic Plat
form virtually says the same thing. 1t also
declares for tariff revision, and in such a
way as to make the duties just high enough
to cover the difference which exists between
the rate Of wages prevailing abroad and
those which at present obtain in this coun'
try. If there be any chance to make an issue
on the tariff question it must be on this in
trepretation Of the Democratic platform, in
which case the Republicans must take the
position that they favor higher rates of tariff
than those which are necessary to compen-
safe for the difference Of wages in the United
States as compared with the scale of compen
sation which the workmen in Europe receive
Mr.. Blaine takes Of course no such position,
so that the advantage Of the Republican over
the Democratic position is not perceptible to
any but very casuistic interpreter.
But the obvious intent and meaning Of the
whole of Mr.. Blaine's voluminnOus deliver.
ha al IN oh
ject.' The issue presented to the American
people by the nomination Of Mr. Blaine was
not the tariff, polygamy or currency question,
but relates wholly to Br. Blaine's own per
sonal fitness to be President of the United
States. He is accused of dishonesty, and
replies that he is sound in political economy
He answers the charges based on the Multi
gan letters by putting in evidence figures
from the census showing the amazing growth
of the United States in material wealth since
1860 TO satisfy the general desire to know
whether it is true that he has used his oih
cial power for the promotion of his private
fortunes, he offers a renewed pledge of his
devotion to the interests of the farmer and
the sailor.
But in all his adeptness in the use of fig
ures he utterly overlooks the sum in "addi
ton, division and silence presented by the
following little extract from congressional
document labeled "Belmont's Committee OF
Investigations
Mr.. Fisher agrees to deliver to }. G
Blaine free of cost similar amount of lane
bonds and twenty-five per cent, OF hrs
mortgage bonds viz
Land bonds, rs, Sl30,0O0.
First mortgage bonds. 6's, $780, 800.
The same to he delivered by Mr.. Fisher ~
soon as ready for distribution
1t was testified that Blaine received all thu
bonds except some S36, 900 Now let Blaine
figure out how much he prohted by selling
his influence, and state whether he told thu
truth when he said he paid for his bonds
the same price as other buyers. 1t Is sur
missed that some correct statement NJ to tins
transaction would do more for character
now Justly suspected Of dishonesty an(
falsehood than a thousand empty and tricky
tariff essays.