Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-06-18
HARPER's WEEKLY.


The nomination of Mr.. Blaine does
not change the views of its inexpe-
dicncy that we have freely expressed
Harper's Weekly has said nothing
upon this subject without careful con-
sideration, and the fact of the nom
nation does not change its conviction
that the Republican campaign with
the candidacy of Mr.. Blaine must be
a prolonged explanation and defense.
The campaign of this year will be one
in which the personality of candidates
will be more vigorously scutinized
than ever, because there is no great
supreme issue of national peril or ma
tional policy which will engross the
attention of the people, and this scru-
tiny invites defeat.
Under such circumstances, when
party appeals to the country for a
vote of confidence, it will naturally be
judged by the representative whom it
deliberately selects. To him the
country will turn to see what the par
ty honors, and what qualifications it
holds to be essential for the highest
trust. 1t would, we think, have been
possible to name a candidate whose
nomination, with the present feeling
of the country, would have been
equivalent to an election, a candidate
who would have aroused all the old
Republican enthusiasm by appealing
to the desire Of pure and progressive
politics, which was the animating prin-
ciple of the ether Republican cam
paigns. Originally the Republican
party was reform party, and having
achieved the greatest of reforms in
emancipation and in an amended Con-
stitution, freed of all faint of slavery,
it is strongest when its young and
ardent workers, the real "workers" Of
a party, feel that it is still essentially
a progressive and aggressive reform
organization, and when they know
that it is led in n Presidential year by
q candidate who is in character and
career q true and fitting representa-
tive of political progress and reform.
The fact that n candidate is selected
who is not such representative pro-
perly alarms them and shakes their
faith in the party.
1t is true that the Republican party
is always strong in the weakness Of
the Democratic opposition but that
is a negative strength. The Demo
cratic party really stands Tor nothing
but opposition and repulsive tradi-
ton. The endeavor to identify it with
any definite policy except that which
is known as general cussedness" fails
but that is not an argument which
can elect q President. The nomina-
ton of Mr.. Blaine-although it is
doubtless agreeable to the majority Of
the party, as shown at Chicago, be.
cause a large part of the apparent
opposition, as in the Indiana and Hi
nois, and even in the Ohio delegation,
was friendly to his nomination-ought
to alarm honest Republicans as show
ing how dangerously far the Republi'
can standard has fallen. The nomi-
nations at Chicago, made against the
most friendly Republican remOns.
trance, have forced upon Republicans
the conviction that the great objects
of the Republican party--honest and
economical administration, peaceful
and honorable foreign relations, the
progressive publication of the public
service Mt home, wise reduction of the
revenue, and that sense of general
security which springs from the moral
elevation Of the administration-are
not to be expected from Republican
success. TO this statement it is nc
reply that less is to be expected from