Morris tribune., 1890-09-03
Burlingame's Head Is LeVe

Burlingame's Head Is Level.
James NJ. Burlingame, of Mime
apolis. who was nominated for at
torney general by the Farmers Alh-
ance, declines to accept the nomina-
tion. In his communication declin-
ing the honor, he gives the Alliance
party some plain and sensible talk, all
of which is as true us holy writ. Mr.
Burlingame says:
81 have always been in sympathy
aud acted in harmony with that ele-
ment of the Republican party repre-
sented by its industrial classes. Since
I have been resident of this state,
the time has never been when any
measure in the interest of the farm
ing and laboring classes could have
been defeated by any legislature
which has assembled in the state
within that period if those classes
could be convinced of the merit of the
measure. Party lines have never
been drawn during that period to op-
pose any such measure, and the farm
ing and other industrial classes have
had the power in every Legislature
during that period to enact any such
measure if they chose.
If any such measure has failed it
has been because the farmers have
been opposed to it. AS to the reforms
demanded in the Alliance platform,
one or both of the great existing
parties is pledged to the following,
namely: To secure the reduction of
the tariff; to preserve our remaining
lands to actual settlers in small
quantities; to the improvement of our
waterways; to the adoption of an i'm
proved system of voting; to the pro-
hibltion of the employment of
children under IA years of age in our
mills and factories; to the settlement
of strikes bY-arbitration; and to equal
pay for equal work irrespective of
sex, while the right of the people to
vote on a constitutional amendment
has never, to my knowledge, been
questioned by any party.
He said he was unable to discern a
demand for reform in the platform
of the new party that has been sub
mitted to the Republican party and
has been refused. The reduction of
the tariff below what is needed to
produce a sufficient revenue for the
necessary expenditures of the govern
ment is not, and will not be, demanded
by any party, nor will any party dare
to declare as part of its political
creed the imposition of duties upon
importations that will produce more
than that amount.
The control of railroads by the
government has never been asked of
the Republican party, yet it is well
known that many eminent Republi-
cans are in favor of such control, and
it is not fair to presume that the
party will refuse it's support to such a
demand until it has been tried.
In closing this communication he
states:
81 am Republican, and must re-
main such SO long as believe that
party is the best instrumentality
through which to secure the just de-
mands and protect the interests of
the farming and other industrial
classes. When the Republican party.
in my judgement, ceases to be that
party, I shall seek home in some
other political organization. But it
dose not seen to me that that time
has come.
"Gentlemen, you may be right and
I wrong, but if am wrong am
honestly wrong in the belief that the
only result of separate political action
on the part of the Alliance and In
dustrial union this fall, if any result
follows, will be the defeat of the Re-
publican party and the success Of the
democratic party. What will that
mean! Aside from the uncertainty
involved in the Inauguration of Dem
Ocratic administration in this state, it
will mean the defeat of some of ou1
representatives in congress and the
possible or probable return of Dem
ocratic house of representatives in the
next congress. This will mean the
long delay, if not final defeat, of
much national legislation of great
importance, the prompt enactment OF
which is now earnestly demanded by
majority of the people. For these.
among other reasons, feel constrain'
ed to decline the honor so generously
rendered me by your convention.
The great qualities Of Mr.. Blaine