Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-10-18
Mr.. GORMAN'S LATEST.
He Offers to Give Up Ambition II Abel Meets
Certain Conditions.

Baltimore, Oct. 15.-United States
Senator German, today, issued an
open letter to Edwin f. Abel, publish =
er of the Baltimore Sun, in which he
offers to relinquish the leadership of
the Democracy in Maryland, provided
Mr.. Abel will accept it and support the
Democratic ticket in the coming state
and legislative campaign. He also in
Inmates that he will forego his ambi-
tiCn to succeed himself in the United
States Senate if it can be shown that
such a step is necessary to Democratic
success.
The letter which is very long one,
reviews the course of the Sun in its
opposition to Mr.. German because OF
his views on civil service, tariff and
ballot reform measures. To all the
charges made against him upon this
score. Mr.. German pleads guilty. bu,
gu otes the Sun as having admitted that
such questions We're largely matters of
opinion, and asserts that every man is
free to think as he pleases regarding
them. He defends his course in regard
to all these questions and concludes
with the following propositions:
And now, Mr.. Abel. let us pass to
a question touching which there can
be no misunderStan ding. These state
ments and counter statements, argu-
mc1ts ard retorts, all this petty class
of protestation and impeachment only
amount to very little at the best. You
have declared your undying devotion
to the Democratic party. and have said
hot Lon al \,
tons, my selfish purposes and these
only. prevent you from restoring your
newspaper to the service Of the loyal
Pc 1ple who originally made it rich ami
powerful by their patronage. their con-
fidences. their support. You have
given Maryland to understand that bat
for me and the bossism you are
pleased to attribute to me, you would
bring back the Baltimore Sun to its
old moorings and devote it to the posi-
ton of Democratic principles and the
confusion and overthrow of Repub!i-
can rule in the state.
You have stated in effect, certainly
with the intent of being so understood.
that you still love the Democratic party
and still wish to see it predominant in
Maryland. and you thereby involve your
self in a pledge to cast off your Republic
can affiliations, repudiate your Republic
can alliances, and labor heart and soul
for the success of the Democratic party
as it will remain after being purged of me.
IF you be sincere in this. the solution
of the difficulty is simple enough. If my
aspirations, my leadership. my influence
constitute the only obstacle to your re-
turn to the people who made your news
paper and founded your fortune and gave
reality to your position and your power.
l stand ready to remove them. Office is
less to me than you suppose. Political
leadership is not SO necessary to my hap
piness as you, in your ignorance of my
character and motives, are pleased to
say.
Strange as it may seem to you, I am
willing to surrender every prospect of
personal promotion if by SO doing l can
reunite the Democratic party. restore to
harmony, allay the dissensons and ami
mosities that now exist and efface the
humiliating spectacle presented by your
self and men of your way of thinking
the spectacle of the Democratic party be-
trayed into the hands of the enemy by
those whom Democrats in the past ex-
allied and enriched.
Il do not undertake to say how much
you or any other man may love the Dem
ocratic party. but l know how much
love 1t. and l know that / have no per-
sonal ambitions l will not sacrifice for its
honor and welfare. l know too that /
have no affiliations. no engagements, no
plans of any kind that could by any pos
sibility embarrass me in asking the pro-
posed arrangements.
You may understand this as an over
ture of surrender on my part, as an adj
mission that the Democratic organization
cannot hope for further life without your
aid and cOuntenance. l am prepared for
that. l have been misunderstood by you
so long and so unreasOnably that a little
more or less will count for nothing AS
a matter of fact. l am satisfied that the
people of Maryland have becOr
gusted with the two years of Republican
which you did so much
to make possible. and that they are in
the humOr to make an end of the expert
mcnt.
ut is not only what has been done, It
Is also the extravaganza and the cOrrup-
ton. which those awaiting them in the |
event of a perpetuatiOn of Republican
rule. They feel that every substantial
interest in the state is jeopardized and
they are determined with or without aid |
TO restore to power the Democratic party |
which has never hitherto betrayed them
honor and their interests to be secure |
AS to this l have not the shadow of a |
doubt. But they want, also. restoration |
of the former harmony of the party |
They want to see the old lines restored |
and old associations re-habilitated. And |
owe them so much as to feel not only |
willing, but anxious to cOnsumate any |
wish of theirs, no matter at what cost |
to me.
''Are you ready and willing and free to |
meet me on this ground in good faith, In