National Republican., 1884-06-12
INDIFFERENCE no SUCCESS.
George william Curtis WIN simply suilS
During ,he Campaign.

HdTpCrs UCtRtv.
The nomination of Mr.. Blaine docs not
change the views OF its ineNpedioncy that wo
have freely Expressed HdrDer's Weekly has
said nothing upon this subject without care
ful consideration, and tho fact of tho nomi
nation does not change its conviction that
the republican campaign with the candidacy
of Mr.. Blaine must be q prolonged cxplana-
tiou and defense. Tho campaign of this year
will he one in which the personality of can.
didatos will be more vigorously scrutinized
than ever, because there is no great supreme
issue Of national peril or national policy
which will engross the attention of the peo-
pie, and this scrutiny invites defeat.
Undor such circumstances, when party
appeals to tho country for vote of conf
denco IL will naturally be Judged by the rep
rcsentative whom it deliberately selects To
him the country will turn to see what tho
party honors, and what qualifications IL holds,
to be essential for tho highest trust. ltwould,
we think, have been possible TO name can
didate whose nomination, with the present
feeling of tho country, would havo been
equivalent to an election, candi-
date who would have aroused all tho
old republican enthusiasm by appeal
ing TO the desire of pure and pro-
gressive politics, which was the animat-
ing principle of the other republican cam
paigns. Originally the republican party was
reform party, and having achieved the
EreuJeSJ rOIOTlnh IN cInhnClphtlOu anu III MI
amended constitution, freed OF all taint OF
slavery, 1t is strongest when its young and
ardent workers, the real workers" ofa party,
feel that it is still essentially progressive
and aggressive reform organization, and
when they know that IL is led in presiden-
tial year by q candidate who Is in character
and career true and fitting. representative
of political progress and reform. The fact
that a candidate is selected who is not such a
representative properly alarms them and
SHAKES their faith in the party.
1t Is true that the republican party is
always strong in tho weakness Of the demo-
cratic opposition, but that is negative
strength. The democratic party really stand
| for nothing but opposition and repulsive
tradition. The endeavor to identify it with
any definite policy except that which Is
| known as general cussednoss' fails, but that
| Is not an argument which can elect presi'
dent. The nomination of Mr.. Blaine
although it Is doubtless agreeable to the ma
jority of the party, as shown at Chicago. be-
cause a largo part of the apparent opposition
as in the Indiana and Illinois and even
in the Ohio delegation, was friendly to hi:
nomination--ought to alarm honest republi
cans, as showing how dangerously far the
republican standard has Iallen. The nomina'
tions at Chicago, made against tho mos
friendly republican remonstrance, have forced
upon republicans the conviction that tho
great objects of the republican party-hones
and economical administration, peaceful anc
honorable foreign relations, the progresiiv,
publication of the public service at home
wise reduction of the revenue, and that sens'
of general security which springs from thu
moral elevation of the administration-ar'
not to be expected from republican success
To this statement IL is reply that less is to b.
expected from the democrats. Those who hav,
aroused the deep and general protest of the n
publican conscience must bear the re
sponsibilty of the result. Fidelity to re
publican principle requires indifference I,
present republican success, and Harper
Weekly, which more than once has not hest
tated in tho interest of public morality ant
of party publication to oppose other ropubli
can nominations, cannot sustain the signih
cant one against which 1t has so earnestl.
protested, and which is a-prattical abdicatioi
of republican character and purpose. Th
sad aud kindly face of Lincoln, whose por
trait hung in the hall, seemed to watch th
proceedings of the convention with an air o
earnest solcitude and apprehension, and i
had disappeared from its place before tn
nomination was made.