The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-08-07
Blaine,a Letter.

Length is not strength. Mr.. Blaiue's
acceptance letter, though very long,
will impress all reasonable readers as
not at all strong. It 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
"a KEY note" There is not the eyi-
dence of candor, ability, or even of ef-
fective cunning in a 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 +. 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 Republieanism. The
letter OF acceptance justifies the esti-
mate of the Republican candidate as
cribed to the leading Republican SEN
atUr. At the same time, charity is die
thted. Just as man can not get out of
himself. so can not Mr.. Blaine supply
to q letter OF acceptance the qualities
OF largeness, fairness and sol1dity which
he does not possess. The communities
ton is devoid of uprightness and states
manship. The tone is low. 1t is q
cheap and transparent bid for votes.
The elevation properly belonging to q
n National paper is wantings Mr. Blaine
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
air of historic Republicanism. to hud-
die among demagogical misrepresenta-
tiOns, in the seeming hope OF affiliating
with class interests. A great honor has
found and let him q small man. The
desire and hope of RepublicHnism that
| he would rise above the special pleas,
| the hucksterihg appeals and the disin-
| fenuotis fetches and ifisif1uations of a
ward politician are defeated. The let
| ter will depress the authors intellect
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.
Apouttne words OF thanks at the outset,
| notnlng Is notable saving their artiflei-
amy. Wmie anectlng TO lndorse the
| pia.loln p oi minsiso InohoPoiy anu eom-
aI.. sI W ni,n' ni. Dia,.e y
PIooeous ~ aAe new oae IoI s n's
mn th h hpaasS anu - sn1as;c'ure mh; on 1ne .or
.. VIC do,.;a t' ~ . ms .ne ile-
| s quHns - uos.Io u u.nias2su ues. ~ serves
tL vn.S ~ MAN. 10 e. le..el MiiTi VIII oe oyeI.
tha .haomm =. iooss9n o9.L 10 claim Ioia .na' a
soon seo ,.oi 9aso vi mealI1 petween .ooo anu
M iooo Is % uue 70 nepuolicanIsm, Is one q
s: .Iosg aosuru anu eA.Iayaggant assertlons
mhicn we're isappearlng rom even tne
.east eneetIse anu scIuPuioue lourIhal'
4: .sln 9l % .ne p9 nepu99ncan party. tes aoop-
@ s,on iiSo s;1s n1siueu.al ies.el vi aGvePs.
IT,. IT, SIMPLY IAa aoiui.9. Ma,
ivan mas soMewheIe auIlseu tne ne.
pi1 puuncans cla.n .nae lhey are 70 pe
sreoiceu WIN !, the increase OF popu'
iat'on as meii as WIN al tne inrTease II,
OIL %ealtn ~ tne Onlsea states. inat,
salu ne, woulu give Inc Wretcneu Lem
crats notninS 70 stand on. any ne
pupiican aware OF any democrat who
works at. or produces, or pays for. OF
puys, or imports anything, Is also aware
OF tne Iallacy OF such proposltlon
Ihe people, as whole, are the factors
OF labor and wealth.
The inferen Mr.. Blaine seeks tt
enforce is that Republicanism i
pledged to protection and Democracy
to free trade. Within his reach, wheI
he wrote, were both platforms. Eacf
platform pledges revision of thu
tariff. Each stipulates to revise it will
due regard to legitimate existing in
dustrics. When the Democracy took a
business instead of a 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 tt
poverty of issues. Beating the All
or barking around an empty hole is in
effective energy. In unproductive in
dustry of that kind the Republican,
will only waste themselves. 1t will no
save the public character of theil
candidate from discussion. They viii
not find the scheme successful either a
coup d'etat or as q coup Ptattoo.
The claim by Mr.. Blaine of credit fo
the Republican party, on account o
free trade between the States of tn,
Union. carries this letter to the border
OF 6uriesque. such Tree trade was es
tabllshed IN 1888 by the makers o
the Constitution. The Republican par
ty was founded in 1884, when MI
Blame was Know-kothing editor.
was apparently 1oundered IN 1854, tn
year OF Mr.. blaIne.s nomination
Either for creating or for not abolish
ing free trade between the States, tn
Republican party has no more claim t
consideration than for the origin an
continuation OF the order OF the sea
cons
Under cover OF a profession to b