Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-02-20


= the campaign with such energy tina
e the final result depended on the vot,
e of single state, and that state wa:
!, carried by the democratic party by 8
e plurality SO small that it represented
2 less than one-eleventh of one pei
! cent. of the entire vote. The change
/ of single vote in every two thous-
, and of the total poll would have Civ
en- the state to the republicans, though
} only two years before the demo.r rat
/ plurality exceeded one hundred and
ninety-two thousand.
The elections of 1886 and 1887
have demonstrated growing strength
in the republican ranks. Seldom in
our political history has a party, de-
feated in a national election, rallied
Immediately with such vigor, as have
the republicans since 1884. No com
parison is possible between the spirit
of the party in 1928 and its spirit
in 1867. The two periods present
simply contrast-the one general
depression, and the other of enthu-
siastic revival. Should the pa ty
gain in the results of 1888 over those
of 1867 in anything like the pro-
portion of the 6 in of 1884 over
1928, it would secure one of the
most remarkable victories of it's en-
tire existence. But victory does not
| depend on SO large ratio of increase
the party has only to maintain rel
atively its prestige of 1867 to give
to its national candidate every North
ern state but one, with a far better
prospect of carrying that one than it
has had for the past six years.
Another feature of the political
situation should inspire republicans
with irresistible strength. The pres |
ent national administration was elect
ed with, if not upon, the repeated |
assertions of its leading supporters
IN every protection state, that no is
sue on tariff was involved. However
earnestly republicans urged that
question as the one of controlling i'm
portance in the campaign, they were
met by the democratic leaders and |
journals with persistent evasion, con-
cealment and denial. That resource
the President has fortunately re-
moved. The issue which the re-
publicans maintained and the dem
ocrats avoided in 1884 has been prom
inently and specifically brought for
ward by the democratic President,
and cannot be hidden out of sight
in 1888.
The country is now in the enjoy
ment of an industrial syst m which
in a quarter of a century has assured
larger national growth, a more
rapid accumulation and broader
distribution of wealth than there
were ever before known in history.
The American people will be openly
and formally asked to decide whether
this system shall be recklessly aban-
doned and a new trial be made of
an old experiment which has uniform
ly led to national embarrassment
and widespread individual distress.
On the result of such an issue, fairly
presented to the popular judgment,
there is no room for doubt.
One thing only is necessary to
assure success--complete harmony and
cordial cooperation on the part of
all republicans-on the part of both
of those who are eager to follow.
The duty is not one merely of hon
orable devotion to the party whose
record and whose aims are alike
great, but it is one demanded by the
instinct of self-interest and by the
still higher promptings of patriotism.
A closer observance of the condition
of life among the older nations gives
one a more intense desire that the
American people shall make no mis-
take in choosing the policy which in
spires labor with hope and crowns
it with dignity, which gives safety
to capital and protects its increase,
which secures political power to ev-
cry home. To this end, not less /
earnestly and more dir. city as a
private citizen than as a public can
didate, l shall devote myself, with
the confident belief that the admin
istration of the government will be
restored to to the party which has
demonstrated the purposes and the
power to WELD it for unity and the
honor of the Republic, for the pros .
perity and progress of the people.
l am very sincerely yours,
JAMES @. BLAINE. 5