Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-08
Honesty or Dishonesty :-That Is the
Question.


TO the Editor Of The Dispatch:
II | had the selection of even one par
,icular paper TO be distributed among the
people as a campaign document, | would
select the speech delivered by Dir. Mirtin
welcoming Grover Cleveland on his visit
20 his home in Buffalo, y. u, and iov-
eTnor Cleyeland's reply. Then II it was
granted me TO add another paper, would
have printed and spread broadcast over the
country Blaine's letters TO Fisher. and
Fishers letters TO Blaine. and |
would add to that Mulligan's teSti-
mony before the committee OF the Hluse
Of Representatives. The speech OF Mr..
Martin shows that the Democrats did
not blunGcr when they, selected Grover
Cleveland as their standard-bearer in the
great fight to be decided in November be-
tween the advocates OF honesty and the
advocates Of dishonesty. The letters which
passed between Blaine and Fisher, added
TO what Mulliean swore to (and he is man
entitled. rs it Is well known, to the public
cOniidence). make Il perfectly plsin that the
star.routc thieves. the mOnopsiistS, the
men in Office (who have abused their
pOsItions). and the iobbers. did not make
any mistake when they put up Blaine
lDi IIfSiutHl. NNhtu HUN AIt 1ltiu-
point Of the latter parties, Blaine's nOmina-
ticn was one eminently tit to be made, and
the c. rrupted souls OF such men must have
greatly rejoiced that their candidate ,caS 4
"Pluincd Knight" Of their order. In after
years how the true historian must dryly
smile when he remembers that Blaine was
put forward by the "pure. grand old Re-
publican party" founded by "honest"
81 a A no I inaolnl - = a Qgnitlatp for fnp
presidency under the glorious title OF
the "Plumed Knight" and which
title was not won battling for
the Union. but was given him by
that scorner OF God and Gods Word, one
Bob Ingersol. That :he grand old Repub-
lean party OF Abe Lincoln should in the
wear 1884 be running for the high place OF
President Of the United States the author
OF certain letters to one William Fisher,
and under the hgh-sounding title OF the
Plumed Knight" title given him (and
which, 1t seems, he gladly accepted and
greatly TejOlces in,) by such an enemy Of
Gods holy WOrd. shows TO what depth OF
DEGRADATION the rascals. iobbers. and thieves
In that party had brought ito. Yes, neither
of the parties referred to made mistake
in the candidates put forward for The presi-
dcncy. The people, seeing to what the
"rsscals" in power had brought the cOun-
try to, camOred for IN honest man TO be
put up, and the Democratic party respond
cd TO such cry by nominating Grover
Cleveland, man, who, on account OF his
determined honesty, carried the great
State OF New York ~ = candidate for Gov
ernor by 10000 majority, and that, TOO.
over one OF the Surest men to be
found ut that time in such Il cor
rupt party az the Republican party
had become. On the other hand, the
johbers, star-rOute thieves, mOnop0lis,s,
and men in Office (who do not want the
PEOPLE Ito see the books ~, rallied around
Mr.. Blaine, and hope by money and party
prejudces to get enough voters of the
country 10 act with them, so that the good
time they have had at the peoples expense
may be farther extended. So well under
stood are the intentions OF the prime movers
in making the nominations that we see
thousands OF the very best and most honest
men in the Republican party working and
spending their time and money in an earn
est effort to elect Mr.. Cleveland. They
are Republicans still, but cannot agree
10 endorse the idea that the way
10 have the Government run honestly is 10
elect n man who they know is VIGOROUSLY
dishonest. Such Republicans are not yet
prepared to offer "premium " that dis
honest men shall be selected 10 ill high
Federal. State, and other offices. Ii looks
astonisbingly strange TO Inc that any hon.
est man can vote for Blaine, and I can only
account for il upon the suppositiOn that
some men, good men. are so preiudiced
by party ties that they Will not see,
or, il seeing, admit the corruption
in their candidate 80 plainly palpable to
Others. There are enough men now all
over the country who have shamefully
abused the trusts committed to them, but IL
Blaine is elected President, you may eX-
peet TO see the list very largely increased.
There is now great distrust and lack Of con-
fidence between man and man. but il
Blaine, Of Mulhgan fame, is made Presi-
dent. who can portray the distrust which
will be sure to follow. There Is no doubt
about II that the people in some sections
have cause TO mourn. Such people should
never forget that the Book Of Books says that
when the wickeda are in authority, the peo-
Pie mourn" Will the pushing to the front
OF such men as Blaine. Dorsey, Kellogg,
Malone, &c. sustained by Bob Ing9so's
clubbing Blaine as the "Plumed Knight"
be calculated Qi the Scriptures are true) to
help matters! How hlgh-tOned. christian
men who have no axe to grind can beiound
battliag for the election Of the man nomi-
mated bv the corrupt wing OF the Republl-
can party, and In the face OF his infamous
public record, made so under his own
handwriting. is one OF the things ~
terly inexpicsble TO me. To place
such a man in the chair once filled
by Washington, Jackson, and Lincoln
ought TO make every honest man
blush with shame, and should bring upon
us the scorn and contempt OF every civil
lied people. Ii is no time now TO talk
about tariff, or whether we should have
man who will or will not Twist" John
BULBS tail. The great question is, Shall the
people put in the presidential chair an able,
honest statesman or iobber who has got
ten rich in ways explained by himself and
his friend Fisher. That Is the question for
men to decide who do not hold Office, nor
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