Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-12-17


which the boiling Republican,
charged was aagrantly assaulted by
the nomination of Mr.. Blaine.
At a conference of independent Re
publicans held in New York, attended
by representatives from nearly every
State in the Union, the nomination Of
Mr.. Blaine was repudiated and that
of Gov. Cleveland Endorsed as the
best means to rebuke the action Of
the Republican party. In all the
eastern States and in Illinois and
Wisconsin strong and active organi-
cations were formed.
Five days after Cleveland's nomi-
nation Mr.. Blaine's letter of accept
ance was given to the public, and
clearly showed that he wished the
campaign to be fought on the tariff
question and not OH his record and
services as a public man.
Next there followed the publication
Of the scandalous attack upon Gov.
Cleveland's private life, which shock
ed the public mind and for time
shook the confidence of many in his
candidacy. Indiscreet organs of Mr..
Blaine plunged into campaign of
filth, and the indianapolis Sentinel
responded in kind by an attack upon
Mr.. Blaino's anti-nuptial relations
with his wife. Cleveland telegraphed
to his friends to "tell the truth"
Blaine telegraphed to his friends to
prosecute the slanderer. All decent
people grieved over the degradation
of American politics.
Ben Butler, having been snubbed
by the Democratic convention, about
the middle of August announced
himself as the candidate Of new
party established by himself and
named the peoples party. To COM
pass the defeat of Cleveland was the
plain purpose of Buffers presence in
the field. He counseled fusion of his
followers with the minority party in
the several States on the electoral
ticket. This, was put in practice in
Iowa and Michigan.
The Prohibitionists nominated
John p. st. John, and entered into
the campaign with the vigor and
enthusiasm of party with convic-
tions. In some of the States they put
up local tickets.
Two days after Ben Butler launch
ed his party Gov. Cleveland gave his
letter of acceptance to the public.
With deliberate intention he avoided
the tariff issue, recalled the fact that
the Presidency was an executive, not
legislative, office, and declared adj
ministrative reform to be the question
Of the hour.
Meanwhile the discussion of Mr.
Blaine's bad public record continued
to be the actual and vital issue of the
campaign. Before his nomination
William Walter Phelps had attempt
ed to make an explanation of Mr.
Blaine's suspicious railroad transac'
tions and signally failed. All shadow
of doubt as to to the improper char
acter of those transactions were dis
PEELED by the correspondence between
Mr.. Blaine and Warren Fisher, first
published Sept. 10, 1884. Mr.. Blaine
himself was compelled to notice this
publication, and took the ground thai
it revealed nothing inconsistent with
the most scrupulous integrity. HI
therefore chose the standard of officia
integrity disclosed by those letters al
the one by which he was prepared tt
stand or fall.
In the September and October cleo
tons neither party had secured de
cisive victory. The Democrats car
ried Arkansas with no significant
change. In Vermont the Republican
majority suffered drop of 1000. BY
the greatest exertions Maine yielded
to Mr.. Blaine a majority of $4,000
In Ohio, upon an unprecedented vote
the Republicans fell short of a MAORI
ty, while their plurality on the heat
of the State ticket showed a net los
of 5000. In West Virginia thu
Democrats held their own, and elected
their ticket by an increased majority