Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-16
GORMAN OFFERS TO RETIRE
In Return he Asks the Baltimore Sun to
Support Democracy.
The Latter says the Offer IL n CAM
paign Trick nnd Declines
to Accept.

In an open letter to Edwin F. Abel Of the
Baltimore Sun Senator A. p. German
| makes a proposition to tho effect that no
| viii rotire from politics provided the Gun
would come back to the support of the
democratic party in Maryland. Mr. Cor
| man sums up his proposition In the follow
| Ing:
"You rave stated in effect-certainly with
the intent Of being understood-that
| you still love the democratic party. and
stu wish to see 1t predominant in Mary
land. and you thereby involve yourself in
| q pledge to cast of your republican af-
| fliations. repudiate your republican al-
lisnces. and labor heart and soul for the
sue cess Of the democratic party as it will
remain after being purged Of me. II you
be sincere in this the solution of the diff
| hculty Is simple enough. II my aspira-
tions my leadership. my influence const-
tute the only obstacles to your return to
the people who made your newspaper and
founded your fortunes ana gave reality
to your position and your power, I stand
ready tc remove them. Office is less to
me than you suppose. Political leadership
Is not SO necessary to my happiness as
you, in your ignorance OF my character
and motives. are pleased to say. Strange
as 1t may seem to you, l am willing TO
surrender every prospect OF personal pro-
motion II by so doing I can reunfte the
oSlhOSIdllC iSStoAS ~ Atc AohAc Gal
their pristiI strength and harmony, allay
the dissensions and animosities that now
exist. and efface the humiliating spectacle
presented by yourself and men OF your
way Of thinktng-the spectacle Of the dem
ocIatic party betrayed into the hands Of
the enemy by those whom democrats have
in the past exalted and enriched. l do
not undertake to say how much you or
any other man may love the democratic
party. but know how much love It, and
l know that have no personal ambitions
I will not sacrifice for its honor and well
fare. / know. too that I have no afiilia-
items, no engagements, no plans Of any
kind that could by any possibility embar-
rass me In making the proposed arrange
ment."
The Sun publishes Mr.. Germans letter,
which is quite long. in full. and in reply
says editorially:
No person of ordinary intelligence can
read the letter from Senator German to
the Sun, which Is published in our adver-
Using columns today, without at once per-
cetving that 1t Is a mere campaign trick,
eminently characteristic in its palpable in
sincerity of the source from which it pro-
ceeds. If Mr. German really wishes 20 re-
tire from the contest, the way for him to
DO SO is to retire, not simply to pirate about
his willingness to sacrifice his personal
ambition for the good of the party under
certain impossible and preposterous condi-
lions. 1t is not necessary for him to come
to the Sun to ask permission to do SO. If
he wanted to step down and out, or had
have effected that purpose with far smaller
expenditure of cash and words. But that
Is the very last thing which he has any in
teation of doing. His sole object is to as
sumo heroic attitude in the hope of de-
luding the public into the belief that he is
a great patriot, who is willing to 'sacri-
hce' himself for his party. If the cruel and
perfidious Sun will only let him. What q
splendid and noble figure senior sena-
tor presents he strikes this dramatic
attitude and calls frantically upon the
Sun to permit him to retire. Unfortu-
nately the role of disinterested patriotism
is an unfamiliar one to him, and We regret
to say that his impersonation it not con-
vincing one.
Mr. Germans offer to retire has string,
or rather a cable, tied to it. 1t is a piece
Of cheap bluff, which will affect no votes
and which only shows Mr.. Germans reali-
cation of the desperation of his fortunes
No, no. Mr.. German. the fly will not walk
INTO your parlor. You must run your own
campaign.