The Portland daily press., 1884-07-15
INDEPENDENTS FOR BLAINE.
THE INDEPENDENT REPUBLICANS
OF PENNSYLVANIA APPEAL TO
TIE INDEPENDENTS OF sEAssA-
CMUsETTs AND NEW YORK.
No Hope of Reform Through the Demo
cratic Party.

6ylNbuIh Adf0 l55utQ al dAuEeeS W buo
Independents OF New York and Massa-
chusetts, giving reasons why the Penn
sylvanians will support Mr.. Blaine for Presi-
dent, and appealing to those addressed not to
give their aid in surrendering the country to
the control OF the common enemy. The adj
dress is signed by number OF the most influ-
entail of Pennsylvania Independents, some Of
whom were active supporters OF the Wolfe re-
volt, and all of whom were prominent follow
ers of John Stewart in 1882. Among the sign
ers are Ex-Governor Hoyt, Charles S. Wolfe,
General Koontz, w. Merrick, the Independ-
emit candidate for Secretary of Internal Affairs
E. X Martin; the Independent State Chair.
man, I. D. Mckee, and Wharton Barker,
Joshua L. Bailey, Samuel w. Pennypacker
and others of Philadelphia. The Citizens
Reform Committee of 100 is represented by
its Chairman, Philip G. Garrett, and the
Chairmen of all its finance and executive com.
mittees all of whom sign the following adj
dress:
The undersigned Republicans OF Pennsyl-
vania, relying for the proof of the earnestness
of their convictions upon acts of independence
which in 1881 and in 1882 received the So pport
of $4,000 voters, venture to present some con-
siderations to those Republicans of other states
who may be in doubt as to their duty with ref
erence to the nominations made by the Nation-
al Convention.
In order that the viaws OF those who advc-
cate the right of separate aud independent
political action should have weight with their
fellow-men, it is important that this right
should only be invoked in cases of well-ascer-
tanned necessity. They who take an interest
in watching the political fold become wearied
with the cry of "wolf," if it he uttered lightly
or with too much frequency The greatest
wrong OF which the Independents have had in
the past to complain has been the use of the
party machinery in such a way as to thwart
the wishes of the people. Time and again has
the public preference been set aside by men
who were able to manipulate conventions and
to utilize the various devices known to the
skilled politician. The Independents of Penn
sylvania have felt that they could justify their
action in opposing nomination, even for SO
high an Office as that of Governor of the State,
If able to show plainly that it was the outcome
of the schemes of the few, successful at the ex-
pense of the many. To great extent this
wrong has been remedied, and very largely
through their exertions. By the overthrow
of the unit rule and the establishment OF dis
trict representation it became possible to hold
a national convention that was representative
in the true sense. The expression of the will
of the members of the Republican party, and
they were enabled to express their will be-
has resulted in the nomination of Mr.. Blaine.
1t cannot be gainsaid that Mr.. Blame is the
choice Of the masses of the dominant party in
the United States, and that the late conven-
ton, better than most of its predecessors, gave
heed to the demands OF its constituents. 1t is
an evidence of the present strength of Mr..
Blaine that his support comes from the farthest
East and the farthest West-from Iowa, with
her sgriculturists, and from Pennsylvania,
with her manufacturers-and in these widely
al o0alitiac NTH THAR divnraa int
ests, was exceptionally earnest and enthusiast
tic. To oppose his election would then seem
to be an attack upon the results OF independent
work. 1t would seem to be an acceptance OF
the theory against which we have been con-
tending, that the few are more entitled to con-
sideration than the many, and to differ from
the principle and practice of the machine men
mainly in respect to the personality of the in
dividuals who participate in the effort 1t as
Sumes a very assailable, II not an indefensible,
position, in that it enables opponents to charge
that Independents are never content unless
their own preferences as to candidates have
been successful. Such an opposition would not
only be difficult to defend upon theory, but
would, we conceive, be most disastrous in its
results since it involves the proposition of sur
rendering the control of the country to the
Democracy, party which has been on the
wrong side OF every important question settled
in the most eventual period of American his
tory, and which has to look back to the time of
OdOhoOu AOI ltS dCuioN6m0ubhy u bl6 blLQ0 OF
,Jsf erson for its virtue. The annals of human
affairs how no instance of reformers relying
for support ~ their measures upon an organi.
cation which has exhibited such extre me con-
servatism.
Even if it BE- that Mr. BIaii ae has not been q
pronounced advocate of "oivil sci vice reform,
thas Cause, has in our Judgment, faf more 70
hope from the Republican party, which has
embodied the principle in its platform, than
from the Democrats, who are avoWedly hostile
to 1T, who dismissed to private life its Demo-
cratic sponsor in the Senate, and who are
eagerly awaiting distribution of partisan re-
wards. We believe, further, that it would be
more reasonable to expect support for this
measure from man with the vigor and intel
ligence OF Mr.. Blaine, than from any nominee
OF the Democrats, who, ii he should be elected
and make an effort in its favor, would have
him.
Nor would such an opposition be Justified bv
the fact that charges are made against Mr.
Blaine, those who make them say affect his per-
sonal integrity. That he must bs defended
may, perhaps, DO good argument against a
nomination, but it certainly has no relevancy
at this time. Ii it should be once established
that man ought not to be elected to the Pres.
ldency because accusations have been made
against him, the ablest men would be ALWAYS
excluded. In the heat of contests these accn-
satlons spring up and luxuriats. They are
like the parasitic plants that cover an oak. lint
live on air and need no roots. 1t should not
be forgotten that these charges have been met
by the State OF Maine, which hos since elected
him to the Senate; by Garfield, who made him
Secretary OF State, and by the great party
which has chosen him for the Presidency. Ey
cry presumption is in favor Of man who has
been so trusted, and, to have weight it is not
enough that such charges should be- made thew
must be conclusively proven.
II the "Jingoism" of Mr. Blaine means m
more than is asserted in the Pail Mall Gazette,
which says: "But wherever he can he will
GUST us from the position we hold; wherever
an opportunity offers he will uss it to the Mt
termost to replace our influence and our trada
BY the influence and trade Of the Unire6
States, and he will regard it as his chief oh
ject to promote great American Confedsracv
under the egis OF the government at Washing-
ton, which would tend to increase the exnoTt
trade of the United States at the exnense of
Great Britain" that epithet, borrowed from
English politics, will have no terrors for an
American. -0- on
TO him who says he cannot SUPPORT Mr.
Blaine because of conscience, there ia NOTHING
to be answered, since he stands upon a ground
beyond the reach of argument. He assumes