Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-08-14
"a pEnaoRArro KInH.n
A Letter from the Great CSzstitu-
tfonnI Lawyer That Every Voter
should Read.

I
Under the title IA Democratic vieW."
Harpsr's Weekly says editoriAlly: 1--WE
would call the attention Of onr readers to
an important Communication which
appears in another part Of this paper
under the above heading. 1t Ia from the
pen Of the ablest constitutional lAwye OF
the country"
The initials will be recognized a. those
Of the constitutional scholar and writer
whom no intelligent person will oonfound
with Mr.. George William Curtis the edi.
tor Of that publication
RIcHHKLD sPRNos, July 24.-7o hs
/ Editor Of Hdrper's Weekly: Will you
allow me to make in your columns some
observations upon the remarkable
phenomenon OF the independent Rspub-
licans' movement 7 Ny active interest
in national politics began more than 90
yeArs ago, when General Jackson was
second time g candidate for the Presi-
dsncy and Mr.. Clay vas his opponent.
In all this long period there has been, in
at least ore respect, no parallel 70 the
present situation Of parties. For the
first time In our political history the
candidate Of . sreS, party is openly and
publicly denounced BY q large and inf1u-
entail section Of that party As corrupt |
and dishonest man. 1t Is not for |
me 70 pronounos upon the jus. |
tice or the injustice OF the charge. |
In common with other Democrats
have reason for voting for Governor
Cleveland that do not involve an inquiry
into the character Of Mr.. Blaine. But
this Republican revolt from his nomina-
ton is q very striking occurrence. The
Wing party, Of which WAS member 80
long 40 II existed "a q national party,
once made . nomination for the Presi
dency that was pronounced as "upft 10
have been made" But the objection 10
General Taylor was confined exclusively
TO his want OF civil experience. No man,
in or out Of the Wing party, questioned
| his honesty or purity OF character,
: or dreamed Of imputing his unfitness
10 anything but the fact that he
. | was mere soldier. But now We have a
multitude Of most respectable men coming
a forward from the ranks Of their own
: party, and proolaming that It's candidate
a must be defeated by all honorable means,
q because he Is morally unfit TO be put into
high position Of public trust. They
propose 10 defeat 1t by voting for the
candidate Of the opposite pArty-a
. determination which is certainly
'. |. practically wise, and for which the
y Democrats have reason 10 be thankful,
. because it ia based upon the position that
their candidate is a man eminently fit to
L. be trusted in all peots.
Heretofore, II one had judged from the
70 universal tone Of the Republicans, II
le would seem to have been their conviction
p that the Democratic party could not de-
rk velop public man who ought to b.
trusted in the Office OF President. It now
" appears, on the frank testimony Of lead
IN ing Republicans who have besI
49, sufficiently warm and decided partisans
IN and many Of whom have never beior,
X bolted regular Republican nomination
- that the Democratic party has developed
such G man, and that he is to reoeiv
he thousands Of Republican votes, not be
AZ cause he will be q choice between tw
nd evils, but because his election will be
= positive good. The value Of this concea
~ sion goes much further than tn
~ contributory aid to Governor Cleve
lands election that is to be give
by the votes and the influence Of thes
ns gentlemen. Their action evinoes thei
az complete emancipation from the old pre-
judice which has go long existed anon
20. Republicans against the Democrat
oei party, and IL ia for this that the countr
Ass Is to be congratulated, and for this tb
country las become indebted to then
INT We Democrats have been trying for yeRI
Rp' 10 make the country feel, to borrow th
vas words OF Mr.. Codman's statesman-lih
ta. speech, that "the constitutional interpr,
up tstions settled by the war are not di
the puted," that we "Rre at least nearly ha
Of the people in the country,
q a and that we "have no desire an
he can have no interest to check Il
,ost national prosperity" It Is no Hma
at public good TO have these concessions an
EN- many others made by such q body
uly men as the late conference OF the ind
hat pendent Republicans. And looking
the matter solely from our own position
"a we think we have right to say that '
TO-, have earned these concessions by OIL
1oh conduct, by the course and character
Tbo our leading men in public life, al
an. especially now by the motives which di
and tAted the nomination Of suoh man
IN Governor Cleveland, who was nominate
a ~ because Of our belief in his capacity al
,ins purpose to carry out the great refOr
.n.t which we wish to see made in Il
l,an national government.
o'.. No one can find any fault with the
dependent Republicans because they
clare their separation from their ov
party to be q temporary one. But pC
nit me to say that their Just and honC
'Ary able discrimination should lead them
osa, appreciate the solid ground Of the Den
\ 70 cratic effort and purpose TO reform
New svstsn of national taTation II IA an
orth tue that in the Democratic party as W
oout as in the Republican there are diff
mere ences Of opinion on the minor details
ths revenue legislation. But the distiI
an1 ton between the Republican polio
WIN as represented by Mr.. Blaine, a
nuI, the policy In which all DemocTi
nent will be found to concur, is enormol
b What we desire to change IL the reven
system which pOuTs into tho Rede
treasury go much money that unoont
tutioDal appropriations, and extravagaI
ana and waste In those that are constitution
are the prevailing practice. We want
nan, executive who will watch both partl
tne aud who will stop unoonstitutioi
~ OF expenditures to the extent OF his pow
70 I and will use his influence 10 prev,
Plled extravaganza. We have reached at
/, me Of things in which the present system
70 taxation operates as very inside
kind Of corruption, and we
eVeI firmly persuaded that this corrupt
lazy can be put an end to without injury
either capital or labor. IL 10 amusing
...o, read Mr.. Blsine's defense Of tae exist
iered system. He points to the law VIII
table applies the surplus to the national de
Az all Before there Gan be surplus, the apr
priations and expenditures Of the fia
year must be charged of against
gross revenue. Great as the surplus |
. an. more than S100,000,000 per annuu
+ ~ before 1t ia ascertained, there has b
i ths an enormous unnecessary expenditure
,art,s 1t is against many branches of that
r,.n, penditure that we wish to strike, and
noora believe there can be greas reduot
and still leave surplus enough for
extinguishment Of the public debt as
n Ola as it is expedient to extinguish II. Il
Auel' were not for this and some other EefoI
man for one should be willing to have
DON Republican party hold power as lon[
WIN they wish to hold it. But do not
emu lieve they can or will, under Mr.. Blai
w u restore the government to the true p
|. Of ths constitution, or check the vast
! sne public money that is wrung from
nzlng people by unwise systens OF tAxati
heia Nor DO believe that they will or can oa
court out Civil Service reform. II makes
iceiy' the difference in the world whether
iaIVe Civil Service laws are administered
WIN party that ia striving to retain p0v
y untll or are handed over to party that
% ms just come in. II We can have a De
ma MA cratic President who will begin by r
ullbu Iu at1f oroinn fhnua loru 10, Loo