Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-18
The Honestly Expressed Opinion OF an
Independent.

The Honestly Expressed Opinion OF an
Independent.
According to the statement Of the Bos-
ton journal the following letter was sent
to the Boston Herald, which proved too
much Of a Bourbon partizan to publish it..
Therefore the writer OF 1t sent a copy to
the Boston Journal We publish it as a
good campaign statement against Cieve-
iaadism:
To The Ed,tor Of The Heratd.
II one will take the trouble to look through
the files of the Herald and other "indepen-
dent" newspapers for the latter half of The
year 1884, it seems to me that he can come
to no other conclusion than that the follow
ing paragraph in Mr.. Cleveland's letter of
acceptance constituted the chief ground for
the support given him by the Independents
in the campaign of that year All subsequent
prote stations of his intention to carry out the
provisions of the civil service law were wholly
unnecessary as inducements for the indie
ptUutHlN W Nup1blA hiih Ntht' th't htt'
declared their determination TO do so.
The following are Mr.. Cleveland's words
to which refer:
when an election to office shall be the
selection by the voters of one of their num-
Der to assume for time public trust instead
of his dedication TO the profession of politics
when the holders of the ballot, quickened by
u sense of duty. shall avenge truth betrayed
and pledges broken, and when the suffrage
shall be altogether free and interrupted, the
full realization of a government by the peo-
pie will be n, hand. And of the means to
this end. not one would, in my judgement,
be more effective than an amendment To the
constitution disqualifying the President from
reelection. When we consider the patronage
of this great Office, the alluremcnts of power,
the temptation to retain public place once
gained, aud, more than all, the availability a
party finds in an incumbent whom horde
of ofliceholders, with n zeal born Of benefits
received and fostered by the hope of fayors
yet to come, stand ready to aid with money
and trained political service, IRE recognise m
the eitgibtiity afthe President for reelection
a most serious danger 10 that calm, deiiber-
ate and intelligent political action rh,fh
must ehardderrse government by me
peopie."
True, Mr.. Cleveland did not even intimate
In these words that he knew of any such act
az the civil service law but what matters
thatP With President honestly holding the
views here expressed. and being both willing
and able to live up TO them, in spirit rs well
as in very deed. no law would he needed fol-
the purifying of the civil service, while the
suggested amendment to the Constitution
whould he quite unnecessary.
That Mr.. Cleveland was honest in this cx-
preston of his views, and that he would be
able to put them into practice. in the event
Of his election, WAS an oft-repeated assertion
of the Herald and other independent
journals and we were told that it was be
cause of his honesty, and the ability of thi,
man to fulfill his pledges, that the Indcpen
dents were constrained to vote for him
When it was pointed out that, however hon
est he might prove to be. he could not carry
out his promises, with "a very hungry anC
Avery thirsty" party standing behind him
Your reply was-"Cleveland is greater than
his party. therefore the party must do hi,
bidding"
Well, two years have come and gone, an,
now Il must be admitted that the In
dependents were right The party is doins
his bidding. This horde of oftceholders
with zeal born of benefits received, is to
4 IL No.
while being 'fostercd by the hope of favor
yet to come" and not. ! submit, with
determination to "avenge truth betrayed au'
pledges broken. OF this man who wrot
four years ago, I'VE recognize in tn
eligibility of the Presideu, for reelection
most serious danger to that calm, dclibcrst
and intelligent political action which mus
characterize government by the people,
we read in the Herald of June |, "He viii
dictate the party's policy" and lit is Cleve
lands convention. He will be renominate,
President unanimously by reclamation. II
will name the nominee for Vice President
He has already written the platform. He
also expected TO name the permanent. if no
the temporary, Chairman. William l.. SEQ,
10 supposed to be on his way here bearing
the Presidents final instructions on al
points"
Now. Mr. Editor, how do you like the pic
ture ? Please "look first on this side an,
then on that" and tell your readers what yo'
think must be the critism of the really iade
pendent s'hoders of the ballot" upon it.
l will venture to ask two other questions
to wit: In view of the Presidents acknowl
edged failure to make good the promise
which secured to him the Independents sup
port four years ago, can those same indie
pendents offer any good reason why thei
fellow-citixens should not refuse to take an,
stock in their professions of honesty SO lon,
~ they continue to lend him their support
And, lastly, must not the conclusion be yer,
general, indeed, absolutely irresistible, tina
the Independent who conscientiously vote
for the Cleveland of 1884, must have parte,
with whatever of independence he may ono
have had, to say nothing of his self-respeci
when he casts his ballot for the Cleveland Q
1883. EO. wurs.
Boston, June 6, 1888.