The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-10-15
The Political Campaign.
TIE GOOD WORK THAT Is BEING
DONE AT ALL POINTS.
THE DEFENSIVE CAMPAIGN.

The campaign thus far has fully iusti-
fled the Republican opposition to the
nomination of Mr.. Blaine. II was
plainly stated that it would inevitably
divide the party, and compel prolonged
explanation and defense. The same
REASONS had been urged against his nom.
ination in 1876. The Cincinnati Com.
merciai asked in June of that year,
Can the party afford to go iuto the
canvass with candidate for whom
apology or explanation will continually
be required? ?" The Cincinnati Gazette
said at the same time "These letters
will form Mr.. Blaine's platform il he is
nominated and again, "No man can
staud successfully before the people Of
tue country as the Republican candidate
for the Presidency covered all over as
Blaine is with his own letters" The
Chicago Trib'ne said, "Mr. Blaine's
nomination, under these circumstances,
would be virtual confession on the
part of the Republican party either that
1t has no available candidate who has
not been engaged IN similar transactions,
or that 1t approves of such conduct on
the part Of the men it sends to Con.
gress" These things were said before
the later Mulligan letters were known in
which Mr.. Blaine asks Mr.. Fisher to
testify to fal-ehoods in regard to Mr..
Baine's transactions. The same con.
siderations were pressed against the
Blaine nomination this year. But they
were answered by the declaration
that it would not be campaign OF
defense and explanation, but OF general
aggression and universal enthusiasm.
Has it been such campaign? 1t be-
oan with al emphatic aud significant
Republican protest and bolt, and the
only aggression has been against Re-
puhl;cans who will not support candi.
date whose own letters show him to be
unworthy OF great official trust. The
Blaine orators began by avoiding the
real issue. The b aine press ignored it.
Even the chief Blaine paper cut out from
speeches and letters all illusions to the
main question. Tuey all denounced
boiling II publcans rs traitors and de.
s"r'ers and contemplate turncoats.
Tley raised the cry to "stand by the
party" They courted the dynamite and
the Butler vote. They misrepresented
the executive acts of Governor Cleve-
land They cherished and disseminated
the B # 10 scandal. They tried to make
the tariff the issue. But the real anes-
ton remained immovable, although they
avoided it as burnt child the fire.
Gradually the orators were compelled to
attempt explanations. Tue papers be-
gan to defend the candidate. Tue can
dldate himself made one desperate effort
to force protection into the debate. But
he was answered by fresh and fatal
publication of Mulligan letters, and
after shivering for moment astounded,
the organs broke into an angry chorus
of defense and explanation, and fran
tic cry that letter entreating a man to
tell falsehood indicated the honor OF
the suppliant, and that the man whom
Me- Blaine besought to give him GER
tlirate of character was an un,peakabie
sconndrel. To-day there is one issue,
and but one before the country-an issue
fully recognized by every intelligent
voter and that is whether the author of
the Mnlligan letters shall DO elected
President OF the United States.