The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-04
The Republican Campaign of 1888.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
Will you give friend of Mr.. Blaine space to
reply to the card Of NJ. L. Bundy, which appeared
Wednesday, and other articles in your paper re-
cently9
First--The Republican party cannot hope to
regain control of the government so long as our
leading men and papers can find nothing better
to do than to try and break down the character
of our prominent leaders. Such policy must
surely end in defeat.
Second-Facts are stubborn things and cannot
be safely ignored. It is fact that in all the re-
lations of life and as leader Mr.. Blaine is the
equal Of Mr. Edmunds. While this must be
said of him, he has never skulked to the rear or
declined to aid his party The Republican can
didate for President has always received his
cordial support and best public efforts. He has
never set up his opinion against that of the ma
Jority of his party as to the character of its
presidential candidates. the men who were good
enough to come up to the standard of the ma
jority haYe been good enough for him. Not so
with Mr.. Edmuds who, in 1884, set up his per-
sonal standard against that of the official action
of his party, declined to speak and YORK for Mr..
Blaine, and thereby contributed largely to the
election of a man to be President who to say
the least falls far short of Mr. Blaine in every
essential qualification Of manhood and states
manship.
Third-Mr. Blaine, despite the opposition of
Mr. Edmunds and Mr.. Conkling-the latter I
am free to admit had personal grounds for de-
clining to speak for him-ran 210,670 votes
ahead of the Republican congressional vote of
1884, while Mr.. Cleveland, who was by an acct
dent elected, ran 81, $50 votes behind the Demo
cratic congressional vote OF that year. These
figures show that Mr. Blaine was tower Of
strength to the party, and not a hindrance to
success. What we must have in 1883 Is man
who can lead the party, whose NOR iaton will
be an element of strength to it, / the man
who does not know that Mr. Blaine the idol of
the masses of our party has not mingled with
them. Mr.. Blaine has always been the choice
of the Republicans of that part of our Nation
from whence came the Republican electoral
votes, and while it is true he was defeated in
1884, the cause did not lie at his feer; he was
more than zoo, 900 votes stronger than his party.
Every Indiana Republican will hope that in
1888 the choice may fall upon our State. If we
would wip, we must have only one candidate
from Indiana, and then untedlY press his claims.
Or behalf Of that man-whoever he may be-
and of many thousands of Republicans, re-
spectfully suggest that it is unwise to try to
make it appear that Mr. Blaine has lost his hold
on the people, for, outside OF our own State can
didate the rank and file of Indiana Republicans
are almost unit for James Ct. Blaine. Mr..
Edmunds had. for reasons sufficient to satisfy
his own Judgment, refused to aid in the election
OF Mr.. Blaine to be the successor of President
Arthur. and it was impudence personifed for
him. to offer the hand of friendship
to Mr.. Blaine. in the presence
of his dead body Mr. Blaine recognized him
courteously with bow This he was bound to
do as gentleman, and he hid. In declining to
receive his hand in friendship he simply did his
duty to himself. Mr.. Blaine is no hypocrite, and
he could not, even in tho presence of death, pre-
tend to be what he is not. The Republican can
ddate in 1888 will need the Blaine votes, the
Harrison votes. the Logan votes, the Sherman
votes, the Gresham votes; he will need the
united Republican vote and to secure this Re-
pubcans and Republican papers NUT not try to
smirch the character of our prominent leaders.
The hope OF constitutional liberty lies in the con
tinuance of Republican rule in our Nation. The
issues are momentous. Our duty is plain. Let
there be peace in Republican councils Let Us
expend our force 1pon political adversary,
Democracy. If We do we can elect any good Re-
publican President in 1883, and to secure this re-
suit is the first duty of every Republican
FRANKFORT, Ind, Dec 2. Jos. B. CHEADLE.