The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-12
A Word to Independent Republicans.

This is good time for independent Republic
ans to be reticent and to avoid indiscretions of
speech which will commit them prematurely
to an unwise course of action. If they will al
low themselves an interval for sober reflection
they will be prepared to take an unprejudiced
view of the political situation and to abide by
the decision of an overwhelming majority of the
convention and the party. Some of them are
now talking impetuously of a revolt. Against
whom and in whose behalf is this revolt to be
directed2 Ordinarily movements of this kind
are organized in opposition to oficeholders and
machine managers, and are conducted in the in
terest of the people Is there any evidence that
the will of the people has been openly deied in
the nomination OF MIR. Blalnel Is there any evil
dence that the delegates in effecting choice
the fourth ballot misrepresented the constituent
cies which empowered them to actin their naIne2
These are important questions for the independ
ent Republicans to consider; for unless they can
convict the delegates of the high political misde
meanor of defying and misrepresentng the Re
publican constituencies, there be no legiti-
mate cause for revolt. 1t will be revolt against
the intelligence and will of the people; and that
is very different from revolt against political
managers in the interest of the people.
Now what are the plain facts of the Chicago
nomination. Simply these--that the Republic
ans of the North wanted Mr.. Blaine refused
and instructed their delegates to vote for him.
The movement began in Pennsylvania with the
| independent Republicans as leaders, and rapidly
spread through all the great central States to
California. 1t was not an Office holders cam
paign. 1t was not prearranged scheme of
powerful political bosses" 1t was popular
movement. The people had been profoundly
moved by the assassination of President Gar
field, and on The first opportunity which offered
itself they insisted upon naming as his sue
cessor his Secretary of State and intimate
political adviser, whom they had long recog
nized as the foremost man of his party
Mr.. Blaine in their judgment was not only
the personal representative of the lamented
Garfield, but representative American, with
ideas and character broad enough for the whole
country. The Blaine movement got its impetus,
and life, and enthusiasm by contact with the
people. Even in the Presidents own State dis
trict after district declared for his rival and in
the Utica convention the Blaine men lacked only
half dozen votes of clear majority.
The Northern Republicans wanted Mr.. Blaine
That fact is as clear as the midday sun; The
nomination was brought about largely by the
action of district conventions fresh from the
people. There were no forged proxies or unit
rules, no methods of political coercion or official
pressure no disreputable tricks or dishonest
practices. The nomination expressed the will of
the great mass of the Republican voters of the
Northern States. A revolt against it would not
be revolt against political managers, but
against the people-an open and fragrant defiance
of popular and representative institutions.