The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-14

aHu stFeUglH WITH Inc pcopie uAucI WIG CIT
cumstances surrounding that canvass. He
was defeated by any one of dozen or more
causes-personal malice laundering incom-
potency, errors in management, false issues.
pharisaic hypocrisy, party jealousies and
lukewarmness in high quarters, and trivial
accidents and incidents that seemed to prove
that fate had enlisted to defeat the most
brilliant man and to elect the duilest and
most commonplace. 1t is worth the attention
Mr.. Blaine bestows upon the matter in his
letter that the country should know that it is
not the defeat of 1884 that prompts his present
withdrawal, as that his party, also, should
clearly understand that there is nothing to
apologize for in Mr.. Blaine's personal relation
to the last campaign and its unfortunate
issue.
Mr.. Blaine also fortiies his determination
by abiding to present party prospects in
contrast with those of the year preceding the
contrast, in the main, just one; but it may
easily become misleading, if it shall tend to
induce feeling of over-confdence. While
the prospects fattering, and the sky
brighter, possibly, than at the beginning of
1884, it is dangerous to imagine that the Re-
publican party has anything like walk-over;
indeed, has anything other than the hardest
sort of battle to make, under the leadership
of the very best man to be found. and on
issues that shall unite all phases of
thought and enlist the great moral
sense and conscience of the country.
The Journal has already expressed its
opinion. many times repeated, that it was a
tactical blunder to put the whole issue of the
campaign of 1884 upon the one questioned the
tariff, and it will be worse to repeat the error
in 1883. It was the almost unanimous re-
Spouse of the Republicans of the country to
Mr. Blaine's post-election Augusta speech,
that if he had put the campaign on that
ground, the result would have been different
That is the profound impression Of the Re-
publican party now. The tariff is one of the
great vital questions Of the day, but it is not
arouse the dormant moral sense of
the people, and give to the campaign
that element of moral earnestness and
purpose necessary to carry it forward to sue
cess. Equal manhood, equal repre-
sentation, equal suffrage under equal
laws equality of rights the greatest
OF rights" in the language of Charles Sumner
lis still the fundamental question; others
are subordinate and incidental. A man is
moro than a dollar, and the rights of free
men to equality of voice in government of
the people, by the people, for the people,
against wrong and crime everywhere, is more
than the possible difference in the price of
woollen shirt. 1t is on this basis that the
campaign of this year must be broadly placed.
with every other question in due and proper
relation to it, abating nothing of Republican
principle, and evading nothing of Republican
duty and responsibility. Il
It remains TO be said that Mr. Blaine's
withdrawal leaves to the party most inn
portant duty in selecting fitting candidate.
That man must be, first, Republican. No
man whose Republicanism is of SO questiona-
BILE type as to have allowed him to oppose
Mr.. Blaine, or to give him feeble and eYas-
i've support in 1884, will now be the candidate
Of the Republican party. There will be no
mugwump or semi-mugwump at the head of
the ticket. There will be no man whose voice
was silent and whose influence was negative
in 1884 chosen to lead the Republican party
this year. Fealty to the party, not less than
loyal friendship to the man, demand that
the successor to Mr. Blaine in candidacy
shall be one who stood shoulder to shoulder
and whose devotion to the party and labors
for its success fairly entitle him
to the honor. The party will not look for
candidate outside of itself, or along the dim
border land whore men dwell in perpetual
trading with the enemy The candidate of
1883 will be Republican-one that always
has been Republican, one that does not
mistake spleen for conscience or hypocrisy
for rect;tude. He will be Republican that
will be able to unite the party, commanding
the support of every one that, would support
any Republican, and who will challenge the
confidence of the whole people by positive
qualities of character, force of ability, and
trained fitness for the duties and responsible
ties of the high office of President. The
Republican party has many such. The
pre-eminent one will be found.
INDIANA'S CANDIDATE.
The withdrawal Of Mr.. Blaine willnaturally