Morning journal and courier., 1884-07-07
The Political Situation.

The Political Situation.
 George William Curtis and His Fellow I s.Kickers'' Sharply Criticized.
 To the Edltor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 Criticisms upon the course pursued by George William Curtis since the Chicago oon-
 vention have been meritsd and deserved.
 Whatever may be his private character for honesty and integrity, according to @ com- mercial standard, or what may be his profes. sions for high-toned political morality, he has | written himself down in letters of brazen light which can never be effaced as hypocri- l tical political demagogue, a mountebank fal- sifying all of his high-toned professions of honor in political life. Protesting to be Republican of 8 manly type, he entered the l Chicago convention as a Republican, with professed preferences for EdmuAds as a presidential candidate. He pressed his claims with skill and argument, and what he I could not say for his man need not be at- | tempted by any one else Edmunds failed of | a nomination and Blaine was nominated and l the nomination made unanimous. Curtis WAS | very active and ofdcious in all the proceed ings of the convention-irs. organization, the ! adoption of the platform, the selection Cx candidates, the appointment of a nationaI central committee and. it is said, he voted to make all the doings of the convention unsni- nous. Certainly he entered no protest to anything that was done. He was, ther efore bound by all the rules of justice. of political honor, of fair dealing, to support the plat form and it's candidates. But 10, this politi- 1 cal Janus leaves the convention with blood in his eye and mutiny in his heart.
 The reason for this strange conduct is lost sight of in discussing tue situation. What is that reason? It Is said there was 8 dark horse in the stalls at Chicago named George William Curtis, ready to be trotted out at the first call and if not called for, it was his determination, in my judgment, that whoever should be nominated would be handicapped by his opposition. When leaving the con ! vention after it's work was done, he left in l revolt, with determination to mutiny the crew, to throw the captain overheard, to scuttle the ship and send the cargo to the 1 bottom which he had helped put on board. In my judgment he would have led revolt against any man who should receive the nomination unless he wore upon his collar the name of George William Curtis. It was not good convention for dark horses and especially English bobs'' were at a discount George William was disappointed, hence his opposition
 What shall we say of his followers-that class of straight laced Republicans, inde- pendent Republicans, Democratic Republi- cans free trade Republicans, ring -streaked and speckled Republicans, professional bolters of Republican nominations-who pin their faith upon the coat tails of George William, and go forth with sanctimonious faces, pro- claiming upon the street corners that they are too good to be contaminated by 8 vote for Blaine and Logan. If they were not members of the convention that placed it's candidates in nomination, there is not the same political and moral obligation to sup port the proceedings of the convention there would be if they had participated in it's do- ings, though fail to see good reason why any Republican should withheld his hearty support of the ticket presented; and least of all can I see any reason why Republican should go ooquetting into the Democratic camp to find political purity welded to any of it's candidates or it's principles In this they have undertaken task that no Democrat ever had the courage to undert ake but once, and he found nothing but mu les in Indiana. I cont know but this is the ma terial the Independents are looking for, some thing to help them kick at every imaginary straw that fits before or sticks out behind them.
 I believe James G. Blaine to be as pure patriot, as good Republican, a5 honest @ citizen, able statesman, as good man J in all the clements of manhood as any man named in the convention against him or as can be found opposing his election. His nomination was fairly made, without fraud, without bargain and sale, without the inter- vention of ofdce-holders or cliques of any kind. fee sought him. The more he tried to keep out of the canvass for the election of delegates, the further he removed from the scenes of the convention, the more he tried to isolate himself from it's doings the nearer he came to the hearts of the
  choice of the people there represented. It was nomination ''of the people, by the peo pie, for the people," eminently fit to be made and worthy of full, cordial hearty support of all who believe in the American people, in American industries, in happy American homes and in spelling American Nation with big A and big N. The nomination of Blaine was preemiuently and emphatically Anne erican in it's outlook and in it's bearings. No other name mentioned In the convention had the national significance as that of Blaine There were other great and good names be- fore the convention. There General Arthur. He represented one idea-that of safety and let well enough alone. Edmunds represented ability and tried worth as a statesman. Ha~ley represented ability, cour age and ideal purity in politics and virtue in private life. Logan represented patriotism and the glory and power of our arms. Lin coin represented sacred memories. Sherman represented great ability, honest, faithful | service and true gold in all his public life. | But the name of Blaine overshado wed, over- l capped them all and embraced all in one | grand whole, symmetrical and beautiful in the combination man peerless | in the first ranks of American statesmen nearer to the hearts of the people than any other, and emphatically the peo- ple's candidate for the great office he Is to administer. He has the endorsement and warm, cordial. hearty support of Edmunds, Arthur, Sherman, Hawley. Lincoln and the leaders of the great Republican party throughout the country, as every way worthy of the suffrsges of the American people for the office to which he has been nominated. With such endorsements the Curtis bar nacle will be sIoughed of and snuffed out of political significance. Peace to his ashes anl an asylum for his memory.
 l.. E. MUNsoN.