Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1884-07-24
Independents of Pennsylvania to the
Independents of New York.

We give entire the letter of the Pennsyl-
vania Independents, including Mitchell,
HOyt, Wolf, Barker and hundred others
of the most prominent men who have
shown just as much independence and
have just as much conscience and culture
as the Independents of New York and Bos-
ton. Good reasons and good advice appear in
very suitable apparel and every man in the
country can read the letter with profit.
The nomination of Blaine has united the
Republicans of Pennsylvania, and we ex-
pect to see strong 100000 majority for
him in November:
JULY II, 1SS4.-The undersigned Re-
publicans of Pennsylvania, relying for the
proof of the earnestness of their convictions
upon acts of independence, which in 1881
and in 1882 received the support of So
600 voters, venture to present some con-
siderations to those Republicans of other
States who may be in doubt as to their
duty with reference to the nominations
made by the National convention.
In order that the views of those who
advocate the right of separate and inde-
pendent political action should have weight
with their fellow men, it is important that
this right should only be invoked in cases
of well-ascertained necessity. They who
take an interest in watching the political
fold become wearied with the cry of wolf"
if it be uttered lightly or with too much
ha faCt nf h hint,
the Independents have had in the past to
complain has been the use of the party
machinery in such 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 conven-
tiOns and to utilize the various devices
known to the skilled politician. The Indt-
pendents Of Pennsylvania have felt that
they could justify their action in opposing
a 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
expense 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
of district representation, it
became possible to held national conven-
tiOn 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 because of
the exertions OF the Independents, has re-
suited in the nomination of Mr. Blaine
1t cannot be gainsaid that Mr. Blaine is
fha oh Of ft,1av <,f fhA
party Of the United States, and that the
late convention, better than most of its
predecessors, gave heed to the demands OF
it's constituents. 1t is evidence OF the
personal strength of Mr.. Blaine that his
support came from the farthest east and
the tarthest west-from Iowa, with her
agriculturists, and from Pennsylvania with
her manutacturers-and in these widely
localities with their diverse in
terests, were exceptionally earnest and en-
thusiastic. To oppose his election would
then seem to be an attack upon the result
of independent work. 1t would seem to
be an acceptance OF the theory against
which we have been contending that the
few are more entitled to consideration than
the many, and to differ from the principle
and practice of the machine men mainly
in respect to the personality of the indi-
viduals who participate in the effort. 1t
a very assailable, if not indefensi-
BILE position, in that it enables opponents
to charge that Independents are never con-
tent unless their own preferences as to can
1idates have been successful Such
on opposition would not only be difficult
to defend upon theory, bat would, we con-
ceive, be most disastrous in its results,
since it involves the proposition of surren-
lering the control of the country to the
Democracy, party which has been on the
wrong side of every important question
settled in the most eventful period Of
American history, and which has to look
back to the time of Jackson for its achieve
ments, to the time of Jefferson for its
vitues. The annals of human affairs show
no instance of reformeIs relying for sup
port of their measures upon an organiza-
lion which has exhibited such extreme
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
Even if it be true that Mr. Blaine has
lot been pronounced advocate of Civil
Service Reform" that cause has, in our
Judgment, far more to hope from the Re-
publican party, which has embodied the
principle in its platform, than from the
Democrats, who are avOwedly hostile to it,
Who dismissed to private life its Democrat
C sponsor in the Senate, and who are eag-
rly awaitinga a distribution ofparty awards.
We believe, further, that it would be more
to expect support for this meas
Ire from man with the vigor and intelli-
renee of Mr.. Blaine than from any nomi-
lee of the Democrats, who, if he should be
lected and make an effort in it's favor,
would have the whole strength of his par
y used against him.
Nor would such an opposition be justi-
led, by the fact that charges are made
gainst Mr.. Blaine which those who make
hem say affect his personal integrity That
e must be defended may perhaps, be
OOd argument against nomination, but
t certainly has no relevancy at this time.
f it should be established that man
ught no to be elected to the Presidency
ecause accusations have been made against |
i'm, the ablest men would be always ex-
luded. In the heat of contest these ac-
usations spring up and luxuriate They |
re like the parasitic plants that cover an |
ak, DuI i've Oh dlI anu Hetu Ho IOOlS IL |
hould not be forgotten that these charges
ave been met by the State of Maine,
Thich has since elected him to the Senate
y Garfield, who made him Secretary of |
tate, and by the great party which has
hosen him for the Presidency. Every pre-
umption is in favor of man who has
cen so trusted, and, 10 have weight, it is
OF enough that such charges should be
lade they must be conclusively proven.
Ii the "Jingoism" of Mr.. Blaine means
o more than is asserted in the Pail
Iall Gazette, which says: "But wherever
e can he will oust us from the position
re hold; wherever an opportunity offers
e will use it to the uttermost to replace