Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-27
WHICH OF THESE TWO?

Governor Cleveland as a lctter-writor is
very far from being a success A few
more such letters as that he sent to be read
at the Columbus mass meeting on Thurs
day will put the whole Presidential contest
at rest and give his opponent a walk over.
This is a perfectly sincere declaration, and
not to be estimated as mere campaign logic.
Let any candid reader take up and analyza
the letter which purports to be a concise eX-
position Of Governor Clevelands political
faith and rise from the criticism with any
other than he honest Judgment, if lie can,
that there is anything in it but this " The
other fellows are rasca!s try me
1t consists Of some thirty-three lines Of
nouparcil type The first five are lines of
regret; lha next two hint that his is the
cause Of good government, and We have no
idea of questioning the honesty OF the in
tent of the declaration. The county will
not 90 to the bow-wows if Cleveland is
elected The fountains Of the Republic
will not be broken up if the Democracy
triumph They VIII be sadly mUldied, the
nation viii net be best governed, but we
have too great faith in the deer-laid pat
~iotisn Of the American people to join
in any OF the silly cant about the dangers
of disruption Of the Union. or q speedy
decay Of nationality and the rujn OF the
people should the Democrats come to rule.
That rule would. We honestly believe, re
tard the growth Of the country and be ad-
verse 10 the best interests of the people;
but there /, not yiciousnc>s enough remain
ing in the fragment of the Democratic party
to destroy the living principles Of the Re
public.
Tho next six lines Of the letter declare
that public affairs are not now administered
by agents of the pcoplc's choosing-a decla-
ration of twadde Of which the friends Of
Cleveland who think, are ashamed a sam
pie of campaign hap-doodle that, more
than anything else, testifes 10 the fact that
Governor Cleveland is more Of partisan
than patrio,-more superficial than even
his scvercs; critic has Judged.
The next frye lines declare that the peo-
pie are tired of Republican adminis;ra-
tion-which remains to be seen that this
/ Republican rule fosters q class standing
between the people and their political
! action Whatever the Governor may
mean by that, other than the rule Of the
/ bosses. we fail To discover He will hardly
contend that the Democratic party IS fraer
from the domination of ringmasters. The
next halfdozcn lines claim that TO convince
public servants Of their responsibility to
( the people they must be politically decapi-
/ tated from time to time. The next seven
! lines declare that the one issue Of the can
1 vass is the establishment Of a pure and
! honest admiuistration-ano example
Of hackneyed campaign twadlie, in which
!. 4" exalteth himself and contemptuously
points TO "B " as more dishonest than he.
The letter concludes with the appeal,
Let me show them lthc people, the way
/ TO this (h0ncst administration Whereby
We are to conclude that if he is elected he
/ will teach us all what real honesty Is
On the same day on which the letter Of
Grover Cleveland to Allan G. Thurman
was read to a mass meeting in Ohio as ex-
pository of the craftsmanship of the Demo
cratic candidate for the Chief Magistracy,
James G. Blaine in Governor Cleveland 5
own State. in the city Of Rochester, in a
speech occupying but twenty-eight lines,
| declared the principles upon which his
candidacy proceeds. IL it is no word OF
abuse for the opposing force; no charge of
corruption or dishonesty against his polit-
zeal foes; 80 assumption of the hoher
than thou order Let every candid reader
/ place this speech beside that letter, and ask
himself, Which Of these two" Mr..
! Blaine said:
lam sure that no desire tootiera personal com
| plimcnt TO any living man could have brought
! this vast audience together. and have not the
| vanity TO accept it rs offered TO myself IndNld-
ua.ly. 1t is rather an expression by this great