Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-07-18
Cannot Serve two Masters

The great speech Of Mr.. Evarts at the
New York ratification meeting touched no
question which it did not set in clear,
bright light before his auditors. 1t was
mastery exposition Ot republican duty
and principle. Especially was 1t strong
and convincing in its delineation OF the
method of nominating candidates for the
Presidency, the necessity of party organ
ization, and the folly OF attempting to
steer a middle course between the two
great parties as they now stand arrayed
under their respective candidates.
AT first the selection of candidates for
President and Vice President was made
by senators and congressman. AT this the
people Of the country became dissatisfied,
sud took the power into their own
hands. electing representative del
egates to make the nominations in open
convention. This plan we now pursue.
BY this method Blaine and Logan were
nominated, in n convention as fairly rep
rescnrative of the wishes of the people
and rs fairly conducted as any convention
that ever was held, Now" said Mr..
Evarts. .'up to that solemn decision of Il
representation OF n party, tn" utmost
freedom is allowable within the party in
dealing with the name, the character, the
principle. the conduct of this or that
name that is before the people. There
is whore their private and personal
freedom exists. and they use 1t
pretty literally, as it seems to me, But
when the assemblies call, then all may de
bate, all may deliberate. all may accuse.
all may abuse, all may persuade. caiole,
and all vitupcratc, to the top of their bent ;
but when this equal assemblage, by the
majority of its voices has determined that
out of that number their principles shall
be carried into the Government of the
United States. when all this tumult of
voices in the national convention has been
stilled and the announcement is made, and
the name that is to carry the party into
the possession of the government Is fixed
and declared. then comes the free born of
the suffrage to pass upon this one great
and only question, which party will you
nut in possession of your government
Applause If may borrow an illus
tration from my own profession, while all
the planning and scheming of the plead
ing aud the proofs 60 on, at last. when
vou come to the verdict. there is no longer
opportunity for discussion or division, the
question is ''are YOU for the PLAINTIFF"
or "are YOU for the defendant" and there
Is no prevarlcation aud there is no division
OF tina, verdict. No individual member
of the convention of either party, no dele
CATION or instruction from their constitu-
ents. has ever carried their right to 60
further than To debate and reason and bring
home the result That debate is over
when the candidate is named. and then
YOU are all, in Your suffrage. with your
ten million of voters all over this land
with such wisdom, on such arguments
with such purposes and under such light
as may effect the canvass-you are to de-
termlne in conscience, in duty. in fidelity
to the Constitution, in obedience to the
traditions of our ancestors, which party
shall govern the country
How any republican can take in such an
exposition as this of the mode of nominal
ing candidates. the purpose of such nomi.
nation and the duty to observe and support
it if he would have the principles of his
party succeed. and then talk about sup
porting Cleveland on republican ground
is what we cannot understand.
The truth is. one of the two parties is
going to succeed in the coming election
The victor will be the republican party
or the democratic party There is nc
middle ground to stand upon. A repub
licau who proposes to vote for Cleveland
casts vote for the democratic party
which will count Just as much for that
party as the vote of the greatest bourbon
that lives. No man can serve two mas
terS in this contest Blaine and Logan
are the candidates of the republican party
the men appointed TO carry ihe banner