Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-07-18

mittee on which our Committee based its
action suggests the pri maries to be held
at the times and places usual" to the
voters, a suggestion which if followed
would have avoided all cause of complaint.
1t is not too late to remedy the matter
and the County Committee can easily do
so by assembling and restoring the old and
familiar times and places. The Democrat
ic party wants full primaries and the fa-
miliar places of meeting are most likely
to give such.
Hon. j. R. Tucker in letter to a gen.
tleman of Amherst county, declining an
invitation to address the people of that
county. at this time, says !:
81 never sought to come to Congress
nor to stay here. The people have, with
a generous confidence l can never forget
and. with rare unanimity, kept me in
their service for ten years. They must
decide on their relation to me upon view
OF their best interests. To tell you, person
ally, tie truth, my tastes would lead me TO
retire. l would not embarrass my party's
success by my opinions, and my wish to
remain in public life cannot embarrass
them. l don't covet it.but 1 would DIS
like to be condemned"
1t is unquestionable that the ''opinions"
of MI. Tucker are, and will be, a serious
embarrassment to his party if it dominates
him. Mr.. Tucker is conscientious in op-
posing protection, holding it to be uncon-
stitutional. He is not a man likely to
change these opinions, either to receive,
or after receiving. a nomination. The
National Democratic party has just
adopted a platform setting forth in
exact words that tariff shall not be
lowered if lowering it should impair
the ability of American workmen to COM
pete with foreign labor-in short, higher
tariff rather than lower wages. This
Mr.. Tucker regards as unconstitutional.
We wish we could be satisfied that his pc
culiar opinions would result in nothing
worse to the party than embarrassing it.,
but it is our duty, AS a journal wishing
above all things the success of the Demo-
cratic party, to state that his nomination
may produce more than embarrassment.
1t is highly important to bring out the
whole Democratic vote of the 10th district
in November; 1t may be of vital i'm
portance to the success of the Democratic
nominees for President: the election of
Cleveland may hang upon it. We do not be-
lieve that Mr.. Tucker as candidate for
Congress, would bring out the full
strength of the party. The election of Mr..
Tucker would not be compensation for
having lost the State for Cleveland. There
is no reason why Mr.. Tucker shall not be
'.condemned'' by the Democracy of the
10th district which for the first time, he is
candidate to serve. The Democratic
party of this State have twice in rapid
succession condemned his opinions, and
last week the National Democracy con-
demned them.
By the time that Gen. Henderson, chair
man of the committee appointed by the
Republican National Convention for that
purpose, arrived at Augusta, Me-, to COM
municate to Mr.. Blaine his nomination,
the storm of dissatisfaction was already
roaring in the country, and so loudly, that
it was impossible to ignore it. In his ad-
dress to Mr.. Blaine he assured that
variegated gentleman that such thing
was of common occurrence and he must
not become demoral2ed. He remarked to
him of former nominations that;
"In each case the shock of disappoint-
ment was followed by sober second
thought. Individual preferences gradual
ly yielded to convictions Il public duty.
Promptings of patriotism finally rose SUI
perior to the irritation and animosities of
the hour. The party in every trial has
grown stronger ia the face of threatened
danger.
Gen. Henderson, in his anxiety to res
assure the plumed knight, forged himself
to state what was not the case. Neither
in ''every trial'' nor in any trial has the
Republican party ''grown stronger" in the
last twelve years. We give The official
maiorities as proof of this: In 1872, Gen.
Grants majority over Greeley was 1852 1891;
in 1876, Tilden IS majority oyer Hayes was
$50, $40, aud in 1850, Garfield's majority
over Hancock was only 4,5O6. Just to the
contrary of what Gen. Henderson stated,
the Republican party has grown aoeoker
after every Presidential nomination made an
the lest t,pelue gears. 1t is grave and cri-
tical situation tor political party, and the
Republican leaders have attempted to
mend it by nominating man against
whom large portion of it's members are
ia clamor of remonstrance. The Repub-
lican party is dying cut; to give it the
leadership of a popular candidate might
reta I'd it's dissolution, but to risk an I'M
popular one is inviting speedy disaster.
The Chicago convention chose the latter.
The Rev. T. II. Ecob while living in
Augusta, Me-, was the pastor of the
church Mr.. Blaine attended. Since that
gentleman's nomination, Mr.. Ecob has
been writing some letters describing the
beautiful sigh of the Blaine family going
into church. In lis second letter he I'M
dertakes to vindicate Mr.. Blaine from the
charge of having been Catholic in youth,
and make Use of this brutal, blasphemous
and bigoted argument,
off as a little child, he took his