The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-24
Blalne,s SneclaI Pleas.

tanding and secure his defeat, if pos n
ible. La
Blalne's Special Pleas.
Blalne's letter of acceptance is di- c
v1ded into three heads: a plea for q
protection, cheap answer to the OF
lection which has been made to his
probable foreign policy, especially in ;
so far as that is likely to affect the re-
lations of this country with Mexico
and the South American states, and a
transparent bit of taffy for the south.
We are glad that the republican can
didate with manly frankness and can
dor characteristic of his boldneSs, has
taken this unequivocal position even
in the face of Il platform which, while
it renders absolute protection posi-
BILE, or rather in fact, which
teaches 1t, may he read to a |
free trade audience and not do such |
vast violence to its ideas of things. |
But Mr.. Blaine'S letter is less myster- |
ious, less equivocal and more direct.
1t is an appeal to the people to stand
by the policy of the party which, since
the destruction of slavery, has a0so-
lutely nothing else to offer than this
proposition TO Cypress the poor in the
interest of the rich, to build up and
foster these giant monopolies now
determided 10 he dangerous III the
! extreme TO all other classes, save and
except alone the manufacturing inter
estS OF a few Of the northern aud east
ern states. Blaine does what the
platform committee dared not do in
its excessive desire to win votes. He
commits the republican campaign
squarely to pronounced policy OF
protection. This will prove "bad
medicine" to the ever advancing free
! trade sentiment among western and
northwestern people. 1t will win a
few votes north and east but it will
lose votes IN all other sections, be-
You'd a doubt.
When Blaine was SECRETARY OF state
for the United States his foreign policy
was bold, aggressive and uncompro-
: missing. 1t was so even to the point
of recklesness and it anne near pro
ducing grave complications, did do il
l in fact, but his passing away after
poor Garfield's death brought a salu
tory change in the foreign policy
0 and war, loss of life anC
: great injury to commerce anC
e farmers generally was aVerted. Blaine
s is conscious that this is something
e which needs to be defended, illustrated
o and explained. 1t is defect, seri
f Gus one, and the alert and astute
g Blaine knows it as well as any NAL
: in America. His letter contains tn
l. tacit admission that his policy as sec
n rotary of state was wrong and infer
It entially, at least, 1t is proposed to re
r verse action. How this will suit tn
lc protectionists, who rely not only upol
1t high tariff to exclude foreign competi
g ton, but who go so far-as Blain
l. did-as to claim the right to rob, i
ID person in the south American stat e.
IL under the protecting" egis of tn
government, remains to be seen. Tha
at much of his protection platform wi
le not excite. enthusiasm among tn
1t thirsty, purchased ultras of republican
4 ism.
10 Blaine's extreme bloody shirt view
if are well known. He has cursed tn
Of south and her leaders with an unctio
c. which no other man has used or coul
d get up. He is now got his water pa
~ on the other shoulder and his salvin
n of the south is deftly and delicatel
Id done. The letter is rs sweet as tt
Of murmer of the mother bee when gail
Ii eriDg honey for the chrysalis whic
Of will ultimately owe its eXistance {
re a gatherer of sweets, to her matern
Id functions. 1t will catch only tt
ne grubs, thegudgeons and that unfortl
m nate class which is on its way ovt
it the hills to the asylum. Blaine no
Id reluctantly recognizes the power {
re the south. Recognizes the fact Thu
Id she has right to act, and it is EN-
lie nently sure that she will do so, stronl
a ly, deliberately and with her usu
ey unbroken unity, and the letter is
Id forlorn hope which is intended to a
r. sault the center in the absolute ce
or tainty of impending humiliation, an
lis without heremotest hope of making
~ ripple in the otherwise unbroken clou
of defeat which has lowered dow
ly upon them.