Morning journal and courier., 1884-06-27
Duty of Republicans.
An Interview With the Hon. HenK
 

An Interview With the Hon. Henry O. | Robinson.
 The Hon. Henry O. Robinson, of Hartford, 1 was asked Wednesday by representative of the Courant if he had noticed especially the movement in New Haven against the &C., ton of the Chicago convention. He replied as follows:
 have observed it with interest and re- gret. Many of the participants in it are of high character and ability, and their motives are beyond doubt patriotic, bat 1t seems to me that their course is 8 mistaken one. Why do you think it mistaken course? So far as the affair represents disposition
 to eliminate the idea of protecting our indus
 tries from the provisions of a revenue tariff, that feature should be stated in an open manner. The Republican party believes in
 protection and, in my judgment, would drop every source of internal revenue before it
 ceased to tax imports in manner to assist
 our manufactories. However plausible many
 of the theories of frea trade are, they are
 wholly nullified by the actual wants of our
 community, and by the development of man.
 hood, which is the leading sentiment of the
 Republican party, and which would be set
 back half century by an era of low wages
 think there is strong undercurrent in this
 movement against the Republican doctrine of
 the tariff. This is the first element ef mis-
 take.
 The second mistake is this, If there is
 any general political question which ought
 to be wrought out to success, it is the
 problem of civil service reform. And from
 the character of the parties whose names
 have come to the surface in this movement,
 one would be safe in saying that the efair
 is supported by friends of civil service re-
 E-So z
 this principle must see, if he will but look at
 the matter fairly, that the best and only hope
 of perfecting the rules of civil service Is by
 continuing in power the party whish has
 certainly made considerable, though by no
 means complete, progress in it, rather than
 by calling to the administration of public
 affairs a party which has no espe-
 ued service by competent officials In the
 nature of the case 8 change of administra-
 ton will delay and hinder the cause of civil
 service reform beyond estimation. To sup
 pose that zealous band, which, with such
 changes in it's membership as occurs in this changeable world, has been studying the comforts of postmasters' chairs and depart
 ment desks, through telescopes, field glasses and window panes for so many years, will consent to remain outside in summer heat and winter snows when they get into power, involves large degree of credulity.
 The third mistake is in the assumption that It is best for the country that there be an or gaDized revolution in the Republican party. Of course if the example of these gentlemen is followed by all Republicans who preferred another candidate to MT. Blaine, and whose appetite for wholesome political literature was not altogether satisfied by the Chicago platform, there can be but single result and that is the deposition off the Republican party from power, in which event these gem pok &p1 ifo cnhscCuonk ration an easy thing. There can be no excuse for rejecting the nonina tion on the ground that the result was manufactured. It was, whether wise or not, the wish of great major ity of the convention who were fairly repre- sentative of the party. If Mir. Blaine were a corrupt man the NeS Haven gentlemen and all other good men wouId be justified in bolt ing But 1t is to me incredible that these persons sympathize with the brutaIities of the tattoo caricatures, and l am slow to believe that either of the great parties has selected or will select thoroughly bad man for the high office of President It. is said that MT Blaine's ambition has led him to take posi- tions which were not sound and wise, with g view to advance his personal position by gratifying the feelings and per- haps the prejudices and passions of the people, rather than their patriotic judgment. His course on the fisheries award and in the ChiIi-Peru affair are cited in proof of this Well, if we could always have a candidate as utterly free from this infirmity as MT. Gladstone and General Grant have al- 1 ways been 1t would be desirable. But we | cannot Mr. Clay, MT. Webster, Judge | Chase, General Garfield and many others | have given exhibitions of the same infirmity. | But it is to be noticed that as soon as MT. | Blaine takes up his pen to write history, | while he remains a through and through | American, he is fairly conservative and | singularly just. And so, too, when he 1 speaks for the nation of President Garfield, l he is generous and impartial. And it Is | not violent presumption at all that when | he assumes the duties of President he will re- member these things only to avoid the m. If these gentlemen will turn from MT. Blaine's | faults tz I'd, many virtues and his rare gifts, his coxl&s2, nanliness, sincerity in friend | ship, earnest patriotism, thorouehness of re search, unrivaled familiarity with American politics and American history, they will only do what they and the country have done to nearly all it's leading statesmen
 The fourth mistake of the New Haven movement is that it is premature. It would bs well to await the result of the next Chi oago convention before scouting the first one | If the Democratic platform does not initiate the clap-trap portions of the Republican | platform and at the same time reject it's many | manly patriotic sentiments many people will | be mistaken.
 That the coming convention will select a | of the best character and l thought of the Democratic party is as yet | only guess. It would be both fair and | wise to wait few weeks and see what sort of | a ship is coming up to the landing before we burn the old one.
 Do you believe that this movement will | nave large following at the polls?
 Undoubtedly some of the gentleman con- ,erned in it will go so far that they cannot, with self-respect, retreat; but believe that as 0 most of them. it will prove to be pro- est rather than secession Of course this 8 my earnest hope, for many of the leading | nen who signed the New Haven paper are nen of strength and character and will do what they believe is best for the country and |
 strongly of the opinion that with more there will come to them a con- fiction that the mission of the Republican ,arty has not yet been fulfilled, and that it is pest for the nation that it's administration be