The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-10-11
LETTER FROM EDWARD EGGLEsToN
Another independent Republican
to the Front.
LAKE GEORGE, Sept. |, 1884.

A@AAAh CN1>OANS1>s ~ ~ 49, Il
DEAR SIR Since an expression Of
opinion is asked from me I do not feel |
thatI ought to keep silence in a con test
of such Importance rs the present Pres
idential canvass, though it would be
hard to add any thing fresh to the
literature Of the campaign at so late a
date, and though quiet man might
well shrink from making himself a
target for lightning in campaign so
hot as this one.
Eince 1854 there mas not been SC great
disturbance of the political elements.
Democrats dyed in the grain can be
found who show friendly interest in
the success Of the Republican nominees,
while some of the original founders and
guides of Republicanism are promoting
Cleveland's election with all the ardor
and courage of their youth. An un-
usually large number of both parties
are in doubt and find some who pro-
pose to throw away votes on st. John
or Butler or to withhold them entirely.
Perhaps, if we analyse these currents
and counter currents Of men gong to
and fro We may get some clue to the
true nnd inward nature of the prevail
ing cyclone. The first thing that i'm
presses the observer from quiet and
out of : the = field point of view like
mine, is tha6 the voters who are driven
from their places in the Republican
ranks by Mr.. Blaine's candidacy are,
for the most part, men Of a very high
order. | do not find one Of the pot
hunters Of the party among them. They
are leading business men, yonng men
of high aims and aspirations, prominent
LAWYERS, clergymen, Journalists Of first
rase ability, distinguished writers, and
careful students Of history and the
science of Government. Some of the
deserters from the Republican party
are tho very ornament and CROWN of
the intellectual life Of the nation. So
strongly are they reEelled by Blaine
and Logan that they find themselves
compelled to break the party fealty of
lifetime 20 vote against them. ANY
thoughtful voter might feel prejudice
in favor of cause embraced by men Of
such discrimination and disinterested-
ness; / certainly shouli not like to be
classed with these demago5ues who
pelt some of the first men of our time
with such epithets as dude and 'phar-
isees' because they cannot vote for a
man whose hands they believe to be
stained with unclean bribes.
1t cannot be denied that there are
many Democrats who will support Mr..
Blaine, or, what amounts to half as
much, will vote for his double, Gen.
Butler. II these boiling Democra ats
were men of pubic spirits, lovers OF
order and decency, and competent
judges Of the fitness of candidate,
one might Offset she enc bolt against
the other. But the Democrats who
are disposed to help Mr.. Blaine, directly
or indirectly, are from the underground
basement of the party. The whole
group of New York ring plunderers,
Ben. j. Butler, the New York Sun,
and the makers Of dynamite to blow
up women and and children in London,
are some of the Democrats that desert
ed Mr. Cleveland. Any attempt to
characterize force so well known wonld
be wanton waste of epithets. Not
one Democrat of high character, so fan
as l know, has been wen by Mr. Blaine.
His is magnetism that draws the filth
AMI rubbish of the opposite party.
Respectable Democrats might afford
even to suffer party defeat to secure
such riddance Of evil and mischief
making elements.
Now, since my words are sure to be
nisrepresented, let me disclaim any
thought of saying that Mr.. Blaine does
not number among his suppol tiers
thousands Of excellent people. The
strength of party attachment and super
stition, the force of political habits and
associations, are 60 great that Mr.
Blaine will get the votes of many
thousands whose lives and principle,
are as superior to his as uprightness is
to venality. But the prosclytes whom
Mr.. Blaine draws from without his
party and whom Gov. Cleveland re-
pels, are almost to men either inter
ested and unsavorr n1onopelists, for
eigners seeking to embroll the country