New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-16
"1NsINCEMTY AND HYPOCRISY.
JOHN PROCTOR CLARKE PRESENTS DILEhM

JOHN PROCTOR CLARKE PRESENTS A DILEMMA
TO D. MORGAN HILDRErH.
John Proctor Clarke has sent the following ieuer
IN ID. Morgan Hidreth who recently resigned from
the Republican organization Of the XAlst Assembly
Districts . oo,
Chesterfield, Mass, Aug. ii, 1877.
D. Morgan HIldreth jr.. ESQ.
Sir Your letter OF August 8, resgnne your memocr
ship in the Republican organization OF the xxlst Assembly
District is received and will be duly presented a. the
oext meeting Of the organization
A. the letter evidently written for publication ana
was n fact published In Democratic organs before It's ic
cep by me- thereto seems appropriate Of the
present time.
The individual right to change ones politics. or ones
coat is acknowledged end changed for the same reasons
private interest," personal pQue or personal
no comment would 10 necessary or desirable.
But when maturcd voter. honored in the past by
confidence from his party leaves that party ana
accuses IL Of insincey and hypocrisy. with evident DC
sign 10 justify himself and influence others some G"
animation Of his public professions becomes pertinent Inc
tariff plank adopted by the Republican Convention Oh ioe1
follows ut s the first duty OF gocd "oserh"en'
protect rights and promote the interests OF s own
peoe the largest diversity Of industry most productive
Of general prosperity and OF the comfort ana inhepnuehcc
Of people We therefore demand that the imposition
duties foreign Imports shall be made not Tor revenue
only' but that In raising the requisite revenues OF the
Government such duties shall be levied 10 afford
security TO diversified industries and protection 70 the
rights and wages OF the abore 10 the END het acuVo anu
Intelligent labor well as capital. may have us Ius'
reward and the aborng his full share In the National
prosperity
In 1866 you were nominated for Congress BY the Ne
pubcans Of the xIth Congressional District You more
than satisfied the Constitutional requirement as 70 ago
You wire trained lawyer and man Of anaits IL mut
be presumed that you had made study OF the prh
aples and practices OF the party with which you long hoo
been AFFILIATED and whose nomination you accepted Anu
1t may be perhaps not 100 violent assumption 70 Suggest
that you had the capacity to comprehend BOTH Az any
rate YOU went through your campaign the avowed pro
and defender Of It's principles and IT. practices
In 1888 the rin plank Of the platform was "a follows
I'VE uncompromsingly m favor oil the American s1
tenn OF Protection protest against ts Destruction
propced by the President and his fnends iney .e'V.
the interests Of Europe will support the Interests OF
America We except the Issue and confidently appear 70
the people for their Judgment The protective sye"m
must be maintained"
YOU being then Two years Older than whfn you ran
for Congress- accepted this declaration and wsnt through
tho campagn OF that year speaking and working Tor the
marty Of your then choice The appeal 10 me eouhef!
was successful and the Congress then eiecoo proceeueu
to redeem the party promises BY the passage OF The Nc
kinney bill IN 1880. After the paesgc OF That graz
A., vo, accented nomination TO the Assembly ron the
Ren,bican organization Of the XXIst District In your
public acceptance you ssrtcd your uhquaneo sppro"'
Of the legislation Of the LIst Congress. and q the con
trolling principles Of the Republican party ana OF the
method and measure Of its performance iou "e''
elected 70 the Assembly
In the summer OF 1891 you were SENT az your o"" -
quest as delegate 10 the Safe Convention During Vhc
campaign OF that fall after the Mckinley law had been ~
operation n twelvemonth you spoke upon The STUMP III
advocacy Of the principles and candidates OF the Hepuhc'
party You that party alleging a. Your ratos
that you believe the policy Of Protection ana nt 'hc
Republican Marty is inslncee anc hypoertcal In It's pro
fession OF belief You claim that the Rcpubcoh
party 10 legislation has not protected labor and yon 20
to party which, highest Official tribunal. the Ma
tona Convention Of 1892, by Overwhelming vote, d.
carcd It 10 be "a fundamental principle Of the Democratic
rarity that the Federal Governuent has constitutional
ower TO enforce and tariff duties except Tor the
purpose Of revenue only
You say II retire from what s,ems to me :, BE- Il
field OF hypocrisy which alucd ny Establishments
insstatements and Deception What personal blind
ishments missatemens and receptions" were practscd
upon you only known 70 yourself The pub
lie ueances Of party have been distinct enough for
any intellect The results Of it, thirty years Of dominance
can be known TO oil who but the trouble 70 In
vestirate New industries established. wugcs increased
employment enlarged the price OF the neccssares and
comforts OF life reduced the historical to
charge Republican party. formed to free labor
tnues and Will continue to protect It
Insnccrity and hypocrisy ore hard words. With your
record outlined above. the dilemma presents itself at
the present mc whether they do not rather apply
past or present professions rather than 10 that party whose
devotion to the great doctrine OF Protection driven
IL so many Free Traders In the past and has not up this
tlue been questioned By any political opponent an,
sir yours, ETC., JOHN PKOCIOH CLARKE.