The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-10-17
The Canvass So Far.

81. L01ttS Gt0Oe- Dehiocrdt.
The effect Of the canvass so far has beer
clearly and positively favorable to Blaine He
has born himself with indisputable dignity
and with such admirable confidence in hi:
cause that many who were at first coolly dis
posed towards him have been won to his cordial
support. 1t is not too much to say, we think
that public sentiment has steadily improved
with regard to him from the day of his nomin-
alton, and that he is at present stronger in the
respect and confidence of the people than he
has ever been before since he entered political
life The attempt to put him upon the dcfen-
sive was failure at the very outset, and the
efforts of a certain class of papers TO discredit
him by repeating with tiresomc persistence the
stories used against him in former years, have
| helped rather than harmed him, owing to the
evident malice of such attacks, as wen as to
the serenity and patience with which he has ac-
cepted the situation, trusting TO time and the
good sense of the country for just and fair
| Judgment.
Only once since the campaign opened has he
| turned upon his accusers and demanded that
they put a limit to their Industrious and syste
matte utilization, and that was when the
| sacred precincts of his home wtr Cntertd and
| his wife and children brutally aSsailed He
would have been less than II man had he re-
NAMED silent under such proyocation as that,
| and he may be assured that upright and proper
voters of all parties justified him in his prompt
and earnest appeal to the courts for the pro
lection of his family and the silencing of a
SANDER atrocious and 60 cowardly. The
American people do not expect man to keep
still when poisoned arrows are shot nj those
who are dearer to him than life; and Mr..
Blaine did himself credit by his indignant
practical response TO an attack Of such base
nature. There will be no further occasion,
probably, for him to take personal notice of
those VINO are trying to destroy him with false
hood and scandal. His traducers overdid their
dirty business, and the result will hardly in
cline them to undertake another experiment Of
the sort during this campaign.
Such attempts rs have been made to belittle
Mr.. Banes political career have come sgnally
short of their purpose. He is too well known
TO the country and has taken a leading part in
too many stirring and vital events to suffer any
damage from the discussion of his course as
legislator and statesman. His friends can
safely claim for him that he has never cast
vote which he need regret or excuse, and never
made a speech for which he has any cause to
ask an indulgent form of criticism. 1t has
been his rare good fortune to be consistently
right on all the great questions of the last
thirty years The closest scrutiny can not dis
close a weak or false spot in his record as
frank loyal and courageous supporter of those
principles and policies which experience has
shown TO be the true stay and hope of popular
government. He has always been the cham
pion OF the wronged and poor, ana the advo-
cate of such measures only as have tended To
insure justice, promote progress, and increase
the national prosperity and happiness. The
more the facts are examined in this respect tue
better it is for him, as well as for the party
which he has served so long and faithfully.
The outspoken and comprehensive letter in
which Mr.. Blaine defined his position on issues
of present interest and importance left no room
for him to be misunderstood or charged with
evasion of any sort. 1t is conceded even by his
opponents that no other candidate for presi-
dent has ever made known his views and pur
poses in a more complete and positive manner.
He has not chosen to withhold his opinions to
the least extent, nor TO express himself IN
language at all susceptible Of a double con-
strucfion. There are those who insist that he
is demagogue; but he has certainly not act
ed demagogue's part in this matter Of stating
what he believes, desires and proposes. The
people know exactly wherc~he stands, and
what he viii aim to do in case of his election.
He occupies definite ground, and is unmistak-
ably committed to doctrines and policies OF a
straightforward character. Instead of wrap
ping himself up in mantle OF dignity, and
standing apart cose-mouthed and ambiguous,
he has walked directly to the front in his every
day clothes and said candidly what he thinks
and what he seeks and intends.
In the nature OF things, such n man takes
prompt and strong hold upon the popular
heart The people of this country instructive
ly like man who apeaks out in bold and ex-
pcit terms. That is Blaine's great advantage
He has convictions, and is not afraid to an
nounce and defend them. Nobody is asked to
vote for him in blind and conicctural way, or
upon the recommendation of somebody else.
He is in no respect an obscure person. His |
record is part of the history of the nation, |
and his opinions are those of a statesman of
long service and approved capacity. All this |
has been emphasized in direct and helpful |
way by the very methods which his enemies |
have employed to disparage and embarrass
him. He is too big and too potent man to be |
put down by small and foul means and the |
democratic attempt to dispose of him after that |
fashion has only served to fix attention upon
his superior qualifications for the presidency,
and to specify by contrast the exceptional and
unfitncss of the man who is run
ming against him. Every day makes it palmer
that as between Blaine and Cleveland, the con-
scientous and patriotic voter can not easily
find excuse for supporting the latter, while the
reasons for preferring the former are -bvious,
cogent and abundant. Blaine grows as the can
vass advances; Cleveland shrinlls and lags and
at every turn. The result of such
contest can not reasonably be considered
and the republicans will, as usual,
owe their success In large measure TO demo-
CT attic stupidity and malevolence.