National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-07-19

II tho republican party had no plat
form II could safely 90 before the country
on Mr.. Blaine's letter. The principles
and aims Of tho party are presented with
such elegance, force, and simplicity that
no republican can read the letter without
feeling better satisfied with his own
political convictions. The patriotic citi-
ecu who is in doubt as to how he should
vote in the pending contest will have nc
difficulty In making mp his mind after he
has studied this luminous exposition OF
what Ia meant by tho American policy"
Mr.. Blaine rightly exalts the tariff
above every other issue. In all the
learned and labored discus sions upon
this question that have recently taken
place there has been no presentation of
argument or fact that will strike the
popular mind with such force as the tariff
paragraphs in this letter. No amount Of
ingenious reasoning or theorizing can pu,
out Of sight the great controlling fact on
which he rests his faith In the expsdiency
OF the protective policy. Under twenty
years Of protection the value Of tho prop.
erty owned In the United States increased
thirty thousand millions of dollars.
In 1860 the accumulated wealth of the
country aggregated fourteen thousand
millions. This was the result Of the in-
dustry Of two hundred and fifty years.
At tho end of tho noxt twenty years the
sum total had increased to forty four
thousand millions, exclusive of the un
counted millions that were lost aud
wasted by tho war. IL must also be
remembered that during four years OF
this period nearly two millions of able
bodied men were withdrawn from pro-
ductive industry. This era Of producing
and storing wealth began with the advent
OF the republican party to power and the
inauguration Of tho protective system
rendered necessary to meet tho expenses
of the war. OF this mighty sum the
fortunes Of tho rich constitute but an
Insignificant portion. 1t Is made up in
large part Of the earnings and savings of
tho thrifty, industrious plain people of
the country, the farmers, manufacturers,
mechanics, and laborers. The more
statement OF such fact as this silences
all argument.
The civil service reformers who have
been alarmed by the ridiculous clamor
about Mr.. Blaines machine methods"
will take heart whom they learn that he
anticipated them in carrying into practi-
cal effect the principles to which they are
specially devoted. During his whole
public life he mover asked for the removal
OF but four persons, and in no case did
no over ask for removal for politica
reasons. As long as no had the right t.
nominate q cadet to West Point the seleo
ton was made after competitive examin-
alton.
Most Of tho federal officers in Mr..
Blaines district appointed by Mr.. Lincoln
remained undisturbed in their tenure
until removed by death. II the whole
body of civil.service reformers were sum.
moned together to prepare an address
defending the system Of appointment to
which they are committed they could MOI
state their case half so we'll as Mr.. Blain,
has done 1t for them. The intelligent
people of the country will be better salts.
fed with the civil-servioe-reform syste M
after reading Mr.. Blaine's letter than the.
ever were before.
We have not the space 10 follow MT.
Blaine through all the topics that he pre-.
sents In this mastery appeal to tn,
patriotism, the virtue, and the common
sense Of the American people. 1t is en-
tirely safe to predict that It will prov,
one of the most effective political docu
ments ever written by q candidate TO
the presidency. The most virulent ain
dependent" cannot lay his finger on ,
single proposition and say that IL is con
trary to sound public political moralit!
or sound public policy.