The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-26
AN INDEPENDENT DEMOCRAT.
He Tells the Independent Republicans Some
Truths About Mr.. Cleveland.


Truths About Mr.. Cleveland.
William J. Fowler, prominent Democratic
farmer, and ex-president of the Western New
York Agricultural Association, has addressed,
TO independent Republicans the following letter.
The platform is exclusively for those who
are Democrats for revenue only If you had
more experience with the Democratic party, its
platform, however finely it might sound, would
never delude you. Is not Cleveland bet ter than
his partyl should be glad to believe this; but
his course as Governor shows him to be weak
not strong man, and instead of directing his
party he will be run by faction in it You
may possibly doubt this assertion; but this is, as
| have before suggested, because you have
lacked experience in Democratic management
On this subject my testimony can be given as
you lawyers say, as an expert. To some Re-
publicans Mr.. Cleveland appears to be very
honest independent Governor, mainly because
John Kelly and Tammany oppose him AS an
impartial expert in Democratic management,
and with no sympathy with the methods Of Tam
many, wish to testify that the chief friends of
Governor Cleveland are less reputable than Gra-
dy, Cochran. and John Kelly.
You are anxious for ciYilseryice reform.
think Mr.. Cleveland is on record as fayoring the
system OF competitive examination for appointed
officials, and in his letter of acceptance two
years ago he denounced the machine methods
which left politics to be run by Office holders.
But in this State all the patronage present and
prospective, which Mr., Cleveland controls was
used for all it was worth to secure his nomina-
ton for President You don't know so much
about this because you haven't been in the Dem
ocratic party the last few years. as have. If
you had been Democrat in the Chicago conven-
tion and had seen all the men who owe their
bread and butter to Cleveland working for him
for President. you could not take much stock in
his civil-service reform professions.
These are not the only issues that should be
made IN this campaign. In any controversy be-
tween the State and corporations ultimate SOW
ereignty must reside in the people. do not
like Mr.. Blaine's record in Congress and since
with regard to corporations. He was in the
Senate when Mr.. Hayes sent in the name Of
Stanley Matthews as Justice Of the Supreme
Court and voted for confirmation Mr.. Conk-
ling, Of this State, opposed, and by his help,
with that of the Democrats Matthews was de-
feated. Mr.. Blaine was Secretary of State when
Mr.. Garfield renewed the obnoxious nomination.
Herman and Thurman were out of the Senate,
Conkling had resigned, and Matthews was con-
frmed with only one vote to spare Against
anybody except Cleveland here is very good
argument for voting against Mr.. Blaine. But in
nominating Mr.. Cleveland the Democratic con-
yention has made it impossible for several hun
dred thousand anti-monopoly voters to support
its ticket. These constitute large body Of
your independent Republican voters IN this
and Western States. Whatever your confer
ence may decide on. these ara votes
which, under no consideration, can be given 70