New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-08-25
BLAINE AND THE BOLTERS.
WHY HE SHOULDER RECEIVE THEIR SUPPORT.
AN OPEN LETTER FROM THE EDITOR OF HE
pouGUKEEPSIE EAGLE"

recent " Independent ConVcntioh' 'h'' 'u,
some Others hitherto Republicans, have decideo 70
oppose the election of James G. Blaine In soino VI
the contests within the Republican party IN the
mast I have tried. with my limited influence, TO
second vour efforts TO introduce higher stahuaru
and a better system of political action, anu ha'c
tins learned fully to appreciate your honesty VI
nurpose and purity of motive, but now dlher 80
completely from your conclusion that am lhpeileu
TO take the liberty of addressing you brlet s'atc
ment Of the considerations which lnmy view shouIu
especialy influence Independent Republicans, ana
should lead them to cordial support of the party
nominee.
If have understood Your position IN the past
one of the things you have always CONSISTENTLY
urged has been that the people shonid I've perm'ien
the free choice of their rulers within the party ana
NJ the convention. as we'll as at the ballot-box
To this end you and Others have OPP
posed the I'M rule, havo labored to obtain
district representation, and have objected to the
supremacy of "the machine land Of the influence OF
the men who make a business of politics. The ne
publican convention at Chicago was the hrst III
which this idea has prevailed, aud the nomination
made there was more than any other, for genera
ton the success of the people against all wouiu-pe
leaders If there was any machine at work IL was
not on Mr. Blaines side; if manipulation OF eau
cuses or mana cement of conventions by little OF
great bosses, or deals between lUcn Nelo i'n"iuOu
70. thew were not for his benefit. | have the OPP
portunity of seeing a large number ct newspapers,
representing all shades of opinion and during all
the period of preparation for Chicago never saw
one intimaton that in any primary meeting or
preliminarv caucus, or local or state convention
anywhere throughout all this broad land the friends
of James G.. Blaine took improper advantage OF MS
opponents or resorted to any forbidden or unusual
methods to secure delegates IN his favor. oh !ho
contrary in many districts some of them wi'hih
NV personal knowledge. the managers were decis-
lvelv opposed to him and used eir power to prevent
expresson which If made would have been in
his favor while personal and local conslderaloh''
aud marty usage and individual influence, were
made to play their part invariably against him. |
do not charge that any corrupt or improper agencies
were thus used hut that professional skill was on
that side and took advantage of al the chances
while ha friends less accustomed to tho business,
Trusted only Go their numhrta. aud let opportunities
of anccrss slip Through thcit fingers, to much was
this tho ease that t Wa7 repeatedly predicted tIRt
lac could not hr nominated. because, "thonsh he
was sttons with Che pcopr, lao Naa weak Win tho
| polii eiann,' Aud this was not tho complaint "'
hts frrnda, but the hoastot lla opponents, lN whom
those VINO triod to manage hia canvass were openly
| tainted with their want OF experience and mahil-
! ty 60 mo the necessary tactca 90 secure The adj
/ yantaees that were within their grasp,
! .JoInes g. Blaine wan nominated by the sheer
weight of the majority. The best land plans ANA
the ablest management were swept away 10y the
irresistible momentum OF the popular VIII.
And the expression Of that will was deibrf-
ate and intelligent. He was no obscure man,
suddenly sprung upon a convention without
knowledge of his qualifications. Neither E"d ne
been pulled into prominence by fulsome eXaggcf-
alton of his good qualities while the objections 10
c,II,- -, b.. Itf1-f md IN
mans record has been more thoroughly searched or
more fully discussed than his. lie has lived before
fine people and surely his dctractors have MOI been
Numbered or limited in their work. The discussion
which usually takes place after the nomination, III
his case was had before Whatever flaws there are
were picked into and held mp, and ENLARGED by the
multiplying microscope Of malice. Tho hepupIcan
masses knew all about him, and knowing, deed
that he aad no other was fitest 10 lead and repre-
sent them rs their choice for the Chief Maelsiracy
Of the Nation
Such a decision comes to me with far greater
claim than the usual obligation of party action in
if the fundamental principle of free government,
tbc RIGHT OF the majority to rale is involved. The
oroument of n champion of divine right or of
class or race supremacy, is that there are certain
men whose superiority by reason OF birth'
or intelligence, or education or power Is so
great that it ought to he recognized
! and submitted TO by the larger but less worthy
/ mass of common people We in America DO not
/ agree to this doctrine. If | remember rightly. you
/ have been somewhat prominent by your protests
against the assumption Of any snch right in polt-
cal parties. do not like to think that you would
repudiate the result Of your own teachings when
success has been so complete tint you find your
own attempt to direct respectfully but decsiyely
declined You went into the Chicago Convention
| and urged the nomination of another candidate. In
so doing You we're perfectly aware that you did not
represent the majority of the party, but If by argu-
ment or personal influence, or persuasion, or any
other form of honorable endeavor You had been
able I'm induce sufficient number Of delegates TO
vote for Your candidate. yOu would certainly have
expected the rest of the convention, and the party
at large to acquese in the decision thus obtained
! To suppose otherwise is to impugn your sanity.
How much stronger is the reason for such acquies
cence when the choice made is indlsputaby that OF
the majority outside as we'll as inside the conven
| ton
| DO not understand me dsputing the right to
bolt That | unhesitatingy affirm and defead.
! But the right to bolt is not an every day right 10
! be resort d TO whenever our opinions are sighted.
or personal pque impels us to differ with our party
| IL Is like the right of revolution, desperate
remedy only TO he resOrted to in the EXTREMIST
case. when all other methods fail, and when the
| wrongs complained OF become Absolutely uupeaT-
able The boiler, If he IL sincere like the royoln-
ZIONIST. strikes directly at the life of tho party
! itself A recent caricaturc. If such thing he a
caricatnro. In Hafp H's Wotly put tho case truly
when it represented the Independent "a striking ut
! the heart of the party But its Significance ends
here vhgnu. was the father of the maiden
whom he slew rather than behold her the victim of
! lawlcas power lou. ~ ono of her wooor'. would
murder her because of her own ice wall sic chooses
puolhc, ~ her lawful npnuHo. II doesn't se'm I"
NE that If Won could nuccocd II would be cane oi
! iusuhnhip homicide,
Ia time past yen have bern ono ~ tho leading