The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-08-07
Mr. BIaine's Letter OF Acceptance.

VIII impress all reasonable rea!erS as
not at all strong. 1t is weakness,
platitude and subterfuge far drawn out.
The document will be a great disap-
pointment to the partisans of the candi-
date. They looked for and predicted
IA key note" There is not the evil
dence of candor, ability, or even of eff
fective cunning in single line. The
letter is stiff. woodeny, dry and ire
deemably dull.
Manifestly those are correct who
have insisted that Mr.. Blaine's unques-
toned ability is most apparent in de-
bate and in intrigue George F. Ed
munds has more than once taken the
ground. in Republican councils, that
Mr.. Blaine was not to be trusted on
questions involving exactness, sobriety
OF statement and honorableness of
spirit; that his forte was to stir up the
hot-heads on the other side. to devise
jobs and to dodge or falsify issues; not
to speak the measured and authori-
tative voice of Republicanism. The
letter of acceptance lustifies the esti-
mate of the Republican candidate as
cribed to the leading Republican Sen
ator. AT the same time, charity is die
tated. Just as man can not get out of
himself. so can not Mr.. Blaine supply
to letter of acceptance the qualities
of largene.s, fairness and solid;ty which
he does not possess. The communica-
ton is devoid of uprightness and states
manship. The tone is low. 1t is a
cheap and transparent bid for votes.
The elevation properly belonging to q
National - 1o;n
has apparently been stunned by the fact
that his nomination has al.enated the
conscience and culture of Republican
ism from the organization. He has de-
scended from the serene and imperial
sir of historic Republicanlsm. to hud-
die among demagogical misrepresenta-
tions, in the seeming hope OF affiliating
with class interests. A great honor has
found and let him small man. The
desire and hope of Republicanism that
he would rise above the special pleas,
the huckstering appeals and the disin-
geDuous fetches and insinuations of
ward politician are defeated. The let
ter will depress the authors intellectu-
al reputation as much as his candidacy
has depressed the moral reputation of
his afflicted party. 1t is modification
to Americans that candidate whose
personal qualifications had been reduced
to mere ''smartneSS," has parted even
with that poor equipment in his letter
of acceptance.
About the words of thanks at the outset,
nothing is notable saving their artifici-
atty. While affecting to indorse the
platform of mingled monopoly and COM
munism submitted to him, Mr.. Blaine
proceeds to make a new one for his
own party and to manufacture one for
the Democracy, too. This is the fire.
quent device of demagogues. 1t serves
only to make letter which will be over
thrown or forgotten. To claim that
the increase of wealth between 1860 and
1880 is due to Republicanism, is one of
those absurd ard extravaganza assertions
which were disappearing from even the
least effective and scrupulous journal
ism of the Republican party. Its adop-
ton into Presidential letter of accept
ance is simply extraordinary. Mark
Twain has somewhere advised the Re-
publicans ''to claim that they are to be
credited with all the increase of popu-
lation as we'll as with all the increase
of wealth in the United States. That"
said he, 'would give the wretched Dem
Gratis nothing to stand on" Any Re-
publican aware of any Democrat who
works at, or produces, or pays for, or
buys, or imports anything. is also aware
of the fallacy of such a proposition.
The people, as whole, are the factors
of labor and wealth.
The inference Mr.. Blaine seeks to
enforce is that Republicanism is
pledged to protection and Democracy
to free trade. Within his reach, when
he wrote, were both platforms. Each
platform pledges a revision of the
tariff. Each stipulates to revise it with
due regard to legitimate existing in-
dustrics. When the Democracy took
business instead of doctrinaire view
of the tariff, the Republican intention
to bowl free trade at the opposition
was neutralized. Persistence in it is sim
ply due to want of intelligence or to
poverty of issues. Beating the air
or barking around an empty hole is in
effective energy. In unproductive in
dustry of that kind the Republicans
will only waste themselves. 1t will not
save the public character of their
candidate from discussion. They will
not find the scheme successful either as
a coup d'etat or as coup dtdttoo.
The claim by Mr.. Blaine of credit for
the Republican party, on account of
free trade between the States of the
Union. carries this letter to the borders
of burlesque. Such free trade was es-
tablished in 1888 by the makers of
the Constitution. The Republican par
ty was founded in 1854. when Mr..
Blaine was Know-Kothing editor. 1t
was apparently foundered in 1884, the
year of Mr.. Blaine's nomination.
Either for creating or for not abolish
ing free trade between the States, the
Republican party has no more claim to
consideration than for the origin and
continuation of the order of the sea-
sons.
Under cover of a profession to be
writing an acceptance, Mr.. Blaine
makes most of the remainder of the
letter an assault on such of his fellow
citizens as belong to the Democratic
party. The taste of this. in one aspir-
ing to be President of the United States,
needs no comment. 1t is beneath the
habit of the most heated partisan. 1t is
entirely Incompatible with statesman
ship. 1t is disgraceful in a.candidate
for President. To convince his fellow
citizens is worthy purpose in a nomi-
nee. To caluminate them is the dis
tinction created by himself. for the only
Republican candidate for President that
has had no character to lose.
What portions of the epistle are not
devoted to this foul work are employed
in a defense of Mr.. Blaine's foreign
policy of buster and jobbery, in