The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-23
THE INDEPENDENTS
Their Conference in New York
City.
MOTION TO ADOPT CLEVELAND AS
NOMINEE LAID ON THE TABLE
THE PLATFORM ADOPTED.

NEW YORK, July 22.-The meeting of Independ
ents opposed to Blaine and Logan was announced
for today at the University Club Theatre of this
city. For an hour before the time fixed there was
unusual stir in that generally quiet locality and in
side the corridors of the little theatre consultation
of Independents was busily carried on. Among the
more prominent faces noticeable were those of
George William Curtis and Carl schurz. The latter
was the centre of an interested and animated
group. Clarence Bowen of the Independent and
others of the seeding members of the BROOKLYN
Young Republican Club were present. The secre-
tarjes made up lists of those who were to be pres
emit, which showed that Massachusetts more
numerously represented than any other state eX-
cept New York. A few from New Jersey and Con
necticut and some from more distant States were
on the roll, which at II O'Clock was still incom-
plete = o resolutions had been agreed upon but IL
is understood that several platforms either in full
or in part, have been prepared. These will be
ferred to the Committee on Resolutions and that
committee viii prepare platform which the con-
vention will debate and upon which it will act.
The hall well filed when the meeting was
called to order The National Temperance Society
circulated a memorial to the conference, asking it
to stake cognizapce of the alcoholic liquor traffic."
ard requesting that it would not endorse the ''sa
loon plank" of the Democratic platform Among
the prominent members of the Independent party
present were Carl Schurz, Clarence W. Bowen
Benz. III. Bristow, w. G. Beecher and Francis o.
Barlow The members of the Independent Execu-
HI.
The appearance of Geo. VIM. Curtis on the platform
evoked cheers and applause.
Mr.. Curtis called the conference to order near
noon, and welcomed the delegates. He read the
call for the conference, and when he reached that
portion of it which related to the Republicans who
viii not vote for Blaine and Logan he was inter-
rupted by hearty applause
Charles R. Goldman was elected president. The
list of vice presidents and enrolment committee
was read including Carl Schurz, Gen. Barlow and
@, j: Bonaparte of Maryland. The nominees were
all elected.
Col. Goldman made an address, in which he said:
4ou confer great honor on me in choosing to
preside over the deliberations of not a body of
office holders, but of citizens whose only desire is
for the good of the whole country. We have de-
cided to cast aside party affiliations for the time
being. There is no great issue clearly defined be
tween the two parties, so that we have to confne
ourselves to the question of fitness of candidates.
We have not taken upon ourselves this demonstra-
ton of to-day without pleadings from brothers in
our party to stop. We have been told that if the
Democratic party gets into power the good results
attained by the war will be lost. We have been
told that should elect Mr. Blaine in order to make
the United States respected abroad. Other potens
arguments have been offered to us but we have
been impervious to them all. The quess ion has
been put to us will you support the party that
murder? We will be just. No man deplores the
events in certain localities than 1 do but
those localities alone should be held responsible
The whole South or the whole Democratic party
should not be condemned because of them. Thew
were circumstances that no federal interference
could nave prevented any how. We shall not vote
for Blaine nor for any man who will uphold such
disgraceful scenes. We want for President a man
who is incorruptibe and if he be able and energetic
as well so much the better. We have not far to
look for such man. He is governor of the State of
New York and the nominee for the presidency of
delegates rising and waving their hats and hand
kerchiefs) Let put ourselves on record as
against political corruption. No man shall be ask
ed Tor pledge here and certainly nonewi be given.
Let us consider the matter in business like way
that when we have concluded our labors we may 90
to our homes with kno Wedge that we have done
what could for the benefit Of Otrv
When Mr.. Goldman had concluded, Mr.. Schurz
moved that committee be appointed to act on res
buttons and addresses. Carried.
The communication from the National Temper
ance Society referred to above referred to the
committe on resolutions.
Horace Deming moved that committee of six be
appointed TO report plan of Organization. The
motion was adopted ana committee appointed as
A. Russell of New Haven, &. Richardson Of Phiia-
delphia, Moses Williams of Boston, VIM. F. Kipp Of
Rhode Island.
General Barlow moved that a recess be taken AFT
1.5O p. Lost.
Another delegate renewed the motion and then
modihed It so as to extend the, recess until l.45
p. IN. Several members opposed this saying that
they wished to hear from Mr. Theodore Lyman of
Massachusetts. One remarked that they had assem-
bled to provide the ammunition of the campaign
and he did not believe in going at once into quar-
ters. iney could stand being hungry and thirsty,
what they wanted being to beat Jim Blaine.
The committee retired for consultation and COL
Theo. Lyman of Brookline, Mass, made an address
he said he had no objection to parties 1t was a
reasons. There was even risk of being called a
crank, we can only go so far with party and when
that party oversteps the bounds of decency it our
duty to Leave il. When party fails to fulfil its
mission it will die. We want an honorable and able
man for President. l believe Grover Cleveland ia
Thomas K. Bacon of New Haven said the indie
pendent Tovement Lad grown to enormous strength.
II had twice defeated Blane's presidential aspirs-
tions with the party and he hoped it would de-
feat them y iIhout the party. We are told Blaine
was not nominated by any wire pulling or machine
and We lear that is trne and ii the Republican par
ly has reached the point where it takes a man of
such damaged reputation as Blaine, it is time for
somebody to bolt.
Col f. W. Higginson of Cambridge, Mass said
he had never seen more gratifying assemblage. 1t
reminded him of the gatherings that took place in
the times OF theiantislayery agitation: That move
ment was successful and he believed this would be-
have severed all all egiancefor the time being to
the party to which have belonged since its birth.
have burned my ships behind me- If at the end
of ten years find myself the humblest member of a
new party shall accept it as inevitable | think
boiling is good thing sometimes. The speaker
declared that the weakest part of the enemy was
Blaine and the strongest force of his own army was
Cleveland AS the committee on resolutions was
not. ready to report recess was taken.
When the conference re-assembled the secretary
made statement in regard to letters read by the
New York committee from citizens in various
states from "Maine to California" showing an ex-
traordlnary number OF signers tie the "new Declare
ton of Independence"
Mr.. Quimby of New Jersey, said that to save the
Republican party Blaine must be beaten, and that
for every Democrat in New jersey who would vote
for Blaine there were five Republicans who would
vote for Cleveland.
j. f. Clahin of Illinois, said there was strong
Cleveland element among Republicans in the West.
President Seeley of Amherst, said he was not
prepared to join the Democrats, but in favor of
choosing separate candidates. He also made a pTea
for temperance principles.
The committee on permanent organization re-
commended that national COMMITTEES be appointed
and the chair appointed the following:
From New York-Carl Schurz, Theodore Bacon,
John FL. Cowing, Charles P. Miller r. R. Bowker
Geo. w. Folsom, Ethan Allen DAILY, George Walton
Greene and Horace e. Demlng.
From Massachusetts VIM. H. Forbes, Joseph
Tucker, Joseph ii. Walker. Samuel Hoar, Phineas
Pearce, Geo. V. Leverett, and Winslow Warren,
From Connecticut-Simeon e. Baldwin, o. P.
Armstrong, and H. W. Farnam
From New Jersey-Daniel Drake Smith, Simeon
Hunting and W. G. Peckham.
From Pennsylvania F. B. Reeves Stewart Wood
and Joseph Parish.
Chairman Goldman aud Mr.. Clafin of Illinois
were added to the committee. Then Carl Schurz
IN benalf OF the committee on resolutions, said
there was no intention to make platform for
ment.
George VIM. Curtis read the address, which is as
follows:
The Platform.
The paramount issue of the presidential election
OF this year is moral rather than political. 1t CON
Germs national honor and character and honesty of
administration rather than general policies of gov
eminent, upon which the platforms of the two par
eies 40 nov essentay dItfer. NO position taken by
both evidently contemplate general agreement of
public opinion upon subjects which have been long
in controversy and indicate unwillingness to de-
clare upon ether and cardinal questions. Parties
indeed now cohere mainly by habit and tradition
and since the great issues which have divided them
have been largely settled and most of the political
activity has been in endeavor of good citizens in
both parties to adjust Them to living issues and to
make them effective agencies of political progress
and reform.
The Indispensable necessity of this cause has long
been apparent. mercenary and demoralizing
spirit and tendency, is the result of what is well
described by Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, as
Ihe shameless doctrine that the true way by which
power should be gained in a republic is to bride
people with offices created for their service and the
true end for which it should be used when gained is
the promotion of selfish ambition and qualification
of personal revenge.'
But the doctrine naturally has produced results
which are still more alarming. A corrupt spirit
and tendency has so rapidly developed that they
seek political power, not only to crafty ambition
and revenge, but promote private gain. They de-
eide appeals to public conscience, defend the soied
regulations of public men by the bold assertion
that all public men are equally guilty; declare that
success in obtaining eminent positions disposes of
every imputation and suspicion of wrong doing and
despisng all practical measures to reform the sys
ten of official patronage which fosters dishonest
politics and makes great party nomnally respon-
sible for prolonged and monstrous fraud and pro-
claims it the duty of every citizen who for good
and benefcent ends, has habitually supported the
party; to regard the success of the party at the
election without regard to the character of those
whom it selects ss executive agents. to be a SUI
preme national necessity. tendency more fatal