St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-10
TAKEN TO TASK,
& Democrat Goes for a Rep,s6ttcGn Friend.
indianapolis Sentinel

friend who is a distinguished Democrat Of
Chicago The reply of the latter has had the
effect, if not of converting the Republican to
Cleveland, Of at least, conceding the points
30 well taken as to say the letter is too good
to be kept private, and so volunteers it for
publication in the Sentinel. The writer's
words are words of wisdom, and we commend
Them to fair-minded Republicans:
CHICAGO, November Is, 1884.
M DEAR SIR have yours of the 1st
inst, devoted largely to the most severe
criticism Of the Democratic party, and Cleve-
land in particular, also predicting Blaine's
overwhelming electing, claiming al! the North
ern and three Southern states for him. OF
course had no time to reply before election.
and was quite sure you were in no condition
Of mind to read with fairness any reply /
should be likely to make after your party's
defeat or while you could possibly cherish
hope that Blaine would be counted in. But
now that the question of who is elected is
settled, will try 10 answer in a spirit of fair
ness some Of your severe structures on nv
party, and correct some of the errors that
your party leaders have been guilty of teach
ing their followers, that they at least knew TO
be false in every respebt. You well know
that this is the first time have had an oppor-
tunlty TO rejoice in National victory since
1856. During all these leng years 1t has
been to me series of defeats. not always
disappointing, but often rather hard to feel
reconciled over. During all that time have
listened TO the great rejoicing of party OBJ
ponents, many of Them personal friends in
your party, and you will bear me witness that
have borne it with resignation and Kindness
10 all. / have been severely handled and
ridiculed by my dearest friends as well as
political foes. | have listened to their fear
full abuse Of our leaders, some of nv best
friends and the sharpest criticism Of nv par
ty. To all this l have listened patiently,
saying: / will bide my time, changes win
sometime set these things right" Now, one
would say 1t is my turn to rejoice, my turn to
crow over my defeated friends and foes who
have so long crowed over my defeat But /
shall do no such thing.
most sincerely rejoice, however, that the
change has been made by the people for
many reasons. First, because / think it ex-
tremely dangerous to have one party con-
tinue great length Of time to rule. We want
no governing classes in this county, no Of
fetal aristocracy and we are very fast drift
ing in that direction, if we had not already
reached it. quarter of century is too
long for any one party to hold power.
Now, instead of twitting and rejoicing
over you, ask you to calmly think this over
and see if you can't rejoice with me. Not
especially that Cleveland is elected or Blaine
defeated, but thst we are TO have change Of
parties. l know that mo changed was the
cry of Mr.. Blaine and of your party, but you,
and all sensible people not blinded by fear
full partisan zeal, know there has never been
king or emperor, military dictator like Ma
poleon, and no tyrant since Nero, that did
not make the same claim, and who did not
bid the people be quiet and allow him to con-
tinue to reign in the high place of power.
That reasoning is bad for republic, aud
would in time rob the people of their dearest
rights.
The very genius of our institutions de-
mand changes in our rules, not the continu-
ance in power of the same family las il is in
England) OF same party, as it has so long
been here. To have two nearly equally bal
enced parties is wise, for they watch each
other, and thus become the guardian Of our
liberties. To have one party always in pow
er, the other always out, does not serve the
best interests of our country.
Since the close OF the war there has been
constant bug bear Of the ''s0lid south'' held
up to the northern people by yeur papers and
speakers. You seem TO have been caught by
it. While the Republican party remained in
power, solid south was inevitable. Your
party has done all in its power TO make the
south solid. Your leaders have constantly
told the ignorant negroes of the south they
would be ensaved again If the Democrats
came in power. You have made them a
dangerous element in the south, greatly
against their own interests and the interests
of the country. The people of the north have
been told land many poorly informed people
have believed it, that if ever the Democrats
came in powerthey would pay the Rebel debt,
would pension the Rebel soldiers, and many
other statements equally destitute OF truth or
sound sense. | am astonished you ever re-
ferred to these ridiculous statements. OF
course you are too intelligent to believe them
for moment. l know all such nonsense
has been constantly in your speeches and
papers to influence the minds of poorly in
formed people OF the north against south,
purely for political purposes.
Your next statement, that the Democrats
would destroy the National banks is too alb
surd to deserve q reply. Possibly your ally,
Mr.. Butler, whom your people employed and
-payed to help Mr.. Blaine, might fight the
banks, but the Democrats will do no such
thing as long as the banks keep within their
sphere. You say if we came in power we
should have free trade, throwing our mar
kets wide open to competition with the pau
own manufacturing industry. How strange
it seems that such statement should come
from you while the fact ought to be known
to all well-informed people that free trade is
an impossiblity in this country for gener-
alton to come at least, and no Democrat of
sonnd mind claims or expects we can have
1t.
All know we must raise at least $500, 000,-
600 to run the government. With the pres
ent tariff we raise $3.50, 100000. All the
Democrats ask or expect it to reform the
tariff laws to correspond with our needs, to
increase the free list on raw material and on
goods not manufactured in this country that
will in no way affect our manufactury: to
reduce the revenue to our actual wants. Who
can object to that? All these statements
you make have been made a thousand times
before by papers and speakers for party pur-
poses who knew there was not vestige of
truth in one of them.
In short time after the Democrats are in
power, you and thousands of your party will
rejoice with me that the change has been
made-if. for nothing else, to prove how
groundless are all those narrowing states
ments of your party leaders. The election Of
Cleveland cements our grand old Union
once more in bonds of love, so strong that
no traitor hand will wish or dare to touch it
in the century to come. We will now have
a union of hearts; union in fact as well as
in name. Cleveland is an able and, be-
heye, sincerely honest man; and he will give
US an honest administration, have no
doubt. l believe his cabinet will be strong.
You surely will not doubt the honesty or
ability of Thurman, Mcdonald, Bayard. Gen
eral Mcclellan, Lamar or Randall. DO you
not think any and all of them great i'm