Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-09-08
Renonnoes Renublicanism.

DIR. Rush j. Shank, ex-Commande
of the Michigan Department Of tn
Grand Army of the Republic, ha
come out Of the Republican party
whose corruption has for some tim
made him exceedingly uneasy, anC
announces his change of heart in tn,
following letter, which appeared il
to-night's State Republican. TIL,
Republicans of the city are struck al
il heap by the unexpected blow o
his desertion and his singing arraign
ment of the administration in thi.
State. The bitterness Of their criti
cisms show how keenly they feel his
renouncement.-Free Press.
Having fully determined to sever
my connection with the Republican
party of Michigan, i deem it due to
myself, to my friends in the Republic
can party and to the community in
which l live, that | should declare the
causes which have led to this act.
"For years have believed the ad-
ministration of affairs by the Repub-
lican party in the State Of Michigan
to be corrupt, eXtravagant and ineffi-
cient, and nothing has or could have
withheld me from emphasizing my
disapproval of this condition of things
by my with. drawal from that party,
but the hope that time would
speedily come when, under wiser and
purer leadership, it would become
anew what it before had been, the peo-
pies chosen instrument for the accom-
plishment of needed reforms and the
advancement Of public interests. |
was born into the Republican party
when / was born into the world. l
have contended for its supremacy
through every campaign since | was
old enough to wave n banner or carry
a torch.
"No man can love better than / do
its earlier leaders or its former princi-
Piles, or feel more pride than | do in
having a part, however humble, in its
former grand achievements; nor can
any man regret more than | its pres
ent degradation into the mere machine
for the promotion of personal ends
and class interests, together with the
distribution of public spoils.
"No longer the party of virtue, truth
and progress, it lags in the rear of
public sentiment and, content to point
with pride to its record in the past, is
wholly disregardful of the wrongs and
abuses of the present hour, or actuated
solely by selfish fear of popular de-
position from positions of power and
plumber, hesitatingly grants only such
quibbling promises of reform as it
thinks needful to its temporary reten-
ton in power.
There is nothing in its present
composition; nothing in the attitude of
its present leaders or in its latest
enunciation of political principles to
encourage hope.
Accordingly, moved solely by my
sense of responsibility as a man and q
citizen and by that spirit of patriotism
and humanity that has always hereto
fore inspired and guided my political
conduct, l hereby sever my connec-
ton with the Republican party of
Michigan and transfer myself and my
political fealty to the ranks of the
opposition.
"This is the easier to be done be-
cause in the opposing ranks are to be
found large majority of the live,
true hearted men of Michigan; because
its leaders are young and growing
men of real worth and ability and be.
cause the principles they uphold
and represent are in harmony with
justice and the right and in full
accord with my own sentiments and
purposes. Respectfully,
"RUsH j. SHANK"