St. Paul daily globe., 1884-07-21
BEECHER'S BROADSIDE.
He States Why He Blows His Bugle
for Cleveland Instead of
Blaine.
Especial Telegram to the Globe ]

New York, July 20.-Rey. Henry Ward
Beecher was asked an opinion on the Blaine let
ter by the GLOBE correspondent last evening.
Mr.. Beecher declined giving extended criti-
csm of the letter, as he had not had time to
think enough about it, but he added 81 think
the document win have tendency to force the
fight on the tariff issue. Now I'm an out and
out free trader said Mr.. Beecher, 'but l rec
ognize the difference between an ideal and
that which is attainable. / know where there
are SO many interests to be considered we must
necessarily go slow. The principle of free trade
l am loyal TO and when do say anything in this
campaign it will be straight in that direction.
do not believe in dealing in uncertainties and
generaties in anything and l certainly see no
reason why the Democratic party should attempt
to hide the free trade question an issue. 1
wish its platform had been more definite than it
is l stood on the Republican platform when it
was more than half way down in the earth and
don propose to stand on platform that strad-
dies and is habbly and is likely to
let me down. That is not
what I have been brought up to
and propose to speak out in meeting very plain
" when l am ready. shall know better what
| shall do after the conference Of Independent
KeQuDnCAUS. tuluh LutTt ls sGEOuS ulspOsl-
ton on the part of the leading men in the Demo
cratic party to so legislate on the tariff matter
that no injustice shall be done to American labor
and industry As far revenue reform is con-
cerned, there is more hope in the Democratic
party than in the Republican. I say again that
do not want any compromise this question,
and il the Democratic party believes that there
ought to be tariff for revenue only, they should
say so, though they might loose the presidency
by it, what, after all is the
four years presidency to the incarnation of a
principle. Therefore say it is better to take
this opportunity of declaring their convictions
as to the tariff and educating the people in that
direction than it is to elect Cleveland, though
think we can do both.
my opposition to Blaine is not on account OF
slander don't know much about the Mulligan
letters and all that controversy, and if I did
don't know that it would make much difference.
What l do know is this that in politics there
are various planes of honor. When low ward
politician goes in to politics and uses all the
means and appliances he has at hand, makes
himself solid, as they say, with everybody and
comes out OF politics with lot of money-well
he has not committed p..ii:sntisTy offense. It
is not crime in the eyes the law. He can't
be arrested for il, but he has been living and
working on a very low and in some instances q
very degraded plane. Now, that is about where
Mr. Blaine has been. 1t is proposed to elevate
man OF that moral stamina to the presidency
Well, rebel against it. don't think it is for
the welfare OF the country to
put the administration and disposition
of all Of the offices into the hands of a man who
has tha, moral caliber and that record. The
Republican party needs very strong rebuke in
this direction. 1t had a lesson when Cleveland
was elected governor. It was a rebuke Of the
method adopted to beat Cornell. think it was
a very wholesome lesson. don't think it viii
do any harm TO try it on large scale and give
Cleveland the presidency. He has made good
governor and he viii very likely make a good
president"