The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-14
PERSONAL AND PARTY ISSUES.

A6RDONA0 AMI Ahh4 1OOO1ot
The Boston Herald is the first of the So
called independent newspapers to realize that
a great mistake was made when the opponents
of Mr.. Blaine based their objections to his
candidacy on the ground Of his personal unfit
ness rather than on party issues. Whether
the sudden turning of the tables and the
necessity Of defending the private as well as
the public character Of their own candidate
had anything to do with the discovery Of the
error may be left for the readers to judge; but,
at all events, light has dawned upon the
Boston organ of the reformers, and it reads a
lecture to its brethren. The Herald says:
f1t seems to be assumed by these gentle
men that Mr.. Blaine owes his nomination to
fortuitous and wholly unaccountable circun-
stances; that he does not represent the party,
and that the now deluded members Of the
party need only 70 have their eyes opened to
the llnworthiness of the man whom they have
nominated to cause his overwhelming defeat.
Now, we frankly acknowledge that we do not
put the least faith in this theory It may
have certain local standing, but outside Of
New York and two or three of the Eastern
States the conception is founded on com
plete misinterpretation of facts We are
inclined to believe that there have rarely been
presidential nominations made that were
more spontaneous expressions of public
opinion than that which placed Mr. Blaine at
the head of the Republican ticket. It was
made IN opposition to the regular machine,
and in defiance Of the claims of tfavorite
sons The reason that no combination could
be arranged against him was that the moment
that the delegates were released from pledges
made to local favorites they irresistibly grayi-
tated toward Mr.. Blaine; showing thus in
an unmistakable manner, that he was the
first choice OF the rank and file of the Repub-
hcan party"
Having thus reached a conclusion which
only the willfully blind failed to accept long
since, the Herald is also forced to admit that
it is an error to attempt to carry on cam
paign upon the issue made by Blaine's record,
for the reason that his admirers are quite as
well informed as his detractors in this direc-
tion. The paper adds:
while the latter see in it just reason to
doubt the well-being Of the government if
placed in his hands, the former look upon Mr..
Blaine as an embodiment Of those ideas which
they desire to SEE enforced in the administra-
ton Of this country. In other
words. Mr., Blaine owes his nomination to
those very defects which the independents are
now seeking to base their campaign upon.
This being the case, it seems to be an unwise
political policy to assail the man and praise
the party, all IN one breath for in this case
the man and the party are not to be distin-
guished one from the other
In order to in some manner explain the error
into which the self-constituted reformers have
been led and to keep them from entire dis
couragement, the Herald proceeds to further
enlighten its unhappy constituents by the
startling announcement that the Republican
party in Massachusetts, has had an ideal exist
ence which is without counterpart elsewhere,
and that the national Republican party is not
at all what the anti Blaine men believe it
to be-
In order to get out Of the hole in which they
are now placed the Herald advises the re-
moyal of the campaign from the range Of mar
now personalities to discussion of questions
Of party policy. What it wants, in short, is
broadening of the issue.
This escape from the provincial rut occupied
by SO many of the Eastern papers to com
prehensiori Of the fact that Boston and New
York intellect combined do not constitute nor
yet fully represent the wisdom of the country,
is SO unusual an instance of emancipation
that we have thus given it extended notice,
The access of information and the frank dis
semination Of the same. indicate not only a
surprising openness to conviction, but rare
willingness to acknowledge error. Whether
the brethren will accept the advice or whether
it is not too late for them to profit by the
proposed change Of policy, is neither here nor
there. It only remains to be seen that the
Blaine men, having fully satisfied their op-
ponents that personal campaign was not
wholly desirable, will be prepared to meet
them upon broader issues whenever it may be
desired.
SINcEit had come to such pass that
L. & a.. -