New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-09-03
70 MEN WH0 HlJE BEEN DECEiTED.

TO WEN UHO H1DE BEEN DECEIJEN
TIM TIuBrNr doe. not forget that there are
some independent Republicans VINO have been
placed in a false position, and deserve symra-
tby. They trusted 10 the sincerity and good
faith of reputable leaders like Mr. Curtis
They took it for granted that such a man
would not condemn Mr.. Blaine without decent
reason, and would not recommend to them
candidate who could not be dcccntly sup
ported. Now they find that the charges against
Mr.. Blaine rest upon forced and unnatural IN
fcrcnccs that ne is heartily supported by mill
ions of honest and intelligent men, including
many who are more eminent for personal
worth. public services aud a keen sense Of right
than Mr.. Curtis himself; and that Governor
Cleveland il in the last degree unfit for the
Presidency and unworthy Of support.
Their position is humilating. They offer
themselves to the Democratic party as
its tools, knowing that it embodes all
that is basest and most dangerous. They
are made to countcnance, by their names
and personal influence charges against Mr.
Blaine which it is most cruel ana
cowardly to make against an honored
public man without conclusive proof, and
charges against the Republican party which
they have often resented as false and infamous.
They are used to cloak the unworthiness of
candidate who has been rejected with scOrn by
the religious journals which at first supported
him most earnestly, and by many of the purest
and best men of the Democratic party. Surely,
men of upright motives never were placed in
more humliating position.
For these voters a Republican can feel a SYM
pathy which their leaders do not deserve.
Messrs. Curtis, Schurz and other leaders were
bound to know what they were doing. They
had every opportunity to learn that the charges
against Mr. Blaine could not be supported ex-
cept by a wilful and malicious perversiOn
of his words, of which no honorable
man would be guilty. They were es-
pecially bound not to lead candid and we'll
meaning voters into the Endorsement of a
candidate for whom it is "A personal disgrace to
vouch. But the voters who trusted much too
confidently, to such unworthy leadership
what are they to do 7
They find that Governor Cleveland's nomina-
ton was secured by the utterly rotten rings of
plundcrcrs i'm New York and Brooklyn; that il
was a reward for shielding dishonest officials
from punishment; that Governor Cleveland
consented to accept a nomination from such
hands and now consents to be a candidate with
such corrupt officials managing his canvass and
welding all their Official power to force him
upon Disguised parry. They find that his
official course in other Offices has been marked
by mean little acts of dishonesty, to which only
a small man would stOop. They find that hi.
personal characters such that it cannot be dis
cussed in decent society. This j. the man
whose nomination thty, as Independents, were
led TO demand with such zeal and warmth of
commentator that they virtually forced it
on the Democratic party. The only excuse
they can make Is that they were honestly mis-
taken IN the man.
But if these independent voters were 80 ut
tcily mistaken la Governor Cleveland, do they
not see that they were led by f'1u same false
guides 10 condemn Mr.. Blaine Plain speak
ing ia necessary here. II cannot be said that
Nh. Curtis acted the part Of a candid man IN
the National Convention, nor has hc been can
did In his treatment Of The facts IN the case Of
Mr. Blaine. lie has alsO been consDicuOusly