Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-09-25
Mr.. Donahue No slanderer.

The Republican subcommittee for
the Eastern U. 8. Judicial District OF
Missouri-how the RAIDS do love every
thing Federal!-last week extended an
invitation to Mr.. Philip Donahue, of
st. Louis, to meet with them to see
about speakers, dates, places, etc. Mr..
Donahue responded as follows:
ST. LOUIS, Sept. II, 1884.
Messrs. GEORGE D. REYNOLDS, TRUsTEN
p. DYER and SAMUEL HAYS, Committee
of the Republican State Committee:
GENTLEMEN-I am in receipt OF your In
| vitation to meet you, At parlor No. % Lindell
hotel, this city, Wednesday, (this day. to
consult as to dates and places to speak Ia be-
half Of the Republican party. I cannot &C
count for your inviting me to do this and will
take this method Of replying to you. While
have generally taken an independenttourse
in local politics in this state, voting for the
best man for Office without regard to party,
and will still do so until local Democratic
politicians change their methods Of securing
nominations, yet, I am Democrat by con-
viction, and in view Of the position taken by
the Republican convention In this state, its
malignant ISLANDERS of the citizens OF the
state, the unkind and malicious attempt to
renew the antagonisms and memories OF the
war twenty years after peace had reigned SUI
preme throughout the land, say. in view Of
these positions thus taken by the Republican
party of this state, would be false to the
convictions of my life and untrue to my man
hood and citizenship were I capable Of
speaking in behalf Of the nominees or prin-
ciples of such a party.
The whole burden Of complaint Of the Re-
publican party against the Democratic party,
at its late convention, was that the Demo-
cratic nominee for governor had been con-
federate general. The purity of this nomi-
nce's life or the uprightness Of his character
was not questioned or discussed. These are
Whether he was q confederate or a Union
general should have nothing to do with the
question of his fitness. An honest party will
| not take such things into consideration. 1t
is only the party that relies on hate and pref
| udice that raises such questions. party
that bases its objections to the opposing par
ty on grounds Of this kind Is not guided by
convictions. 1t adopts such means for sue.
cess as . substitute for convictions. Such q
party's object is never the public good. The
leaders of such party always seek public
place for the purpose Of amassing private
fortunes at the expense Of the people whom
they pretend to serve.
The Republican party had control of this
state once. This control was obtained against
the will of its people. Its rule was sad and
hlighting one. There 10 no danger Of this gen.
Grafton ever permitting q recurrence Of it.
1t will be observed that the Republican
party never refers with pride to this period
Of its existence In Missouri. Its adherents
are adverse to making it the subject Of con-
versation or discussion. The Republican
party, Of all things, wishes this part OF its
history to be forgotten.
The progress of Missouri In wealth and
population since 1870, IS shown by statistics,
authenticated by the United States, is greater
than Illinois. Your platform deliberately
states that this is not so. Every man Of the
committee who approved and signed this
platform stated what he knew to be false,
and were 1 to accept your invitation to speak
before the people in behalf Of this platform
and its nominees. would have to aver on
such occasions that the assertions OF this
platform were true, when knew them TO be
false. You will have to excuse me, cannot
do this. You will be compelled to invite the
kind of men that wrote and signed this plat
form to speak. They alone can have the
stomach for such things. You can procure
no man to advocate this platform who does
not loye falsehood better than truth.
!. PHILIP DoNAHUE.