The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-10-19
SENATOR GORMAN

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W. = -
URlTES A LETTER 70 MR.. ABELLl
OF THE BALTIMORE SUN
ID O6srs to R~etinquish tho Leadership Of
O. Democracy In Maryland Provided 0K.
Abeal VIII Accept It and Support the
De0ocrstic Tjcket-He Will Not be Can
Axdste for Return to the Senate II Such ~
@swn to be Against the Interest Of His
Party
Baltimore. October 15.-Unfted States
Senator German today issued an open
Litter to Edwin r. Abel, publisher of
The Baltimore Sun, in which he Offers
tn relinQuish the leadership OF the de-
xnocracy in Maryland, provided MI.
Abel will accept it and support the
democratic ticket in the coming state
and legislative campaign. He also int
mates that he will forego his ambi-
ton TO succeed himself in the United
1Sfates senate if it can be shown that
such a step Is necessary to democratic
success.
The letter, which Is a very long one.
reviews the course Of The Sun in its
opposition to Mr.. German because OF
his views upon civil service. tariff and
ballot reform measures. To all the
charges made against him upon this
score. Mr.. German pleads guilty, but
quotes The Sun as having admitted
that such questions were largely mat
ater9 of OPINION and asserts that every
man Is free to think as he pleases re-
1nding them. He defends his course
in regard to all these questions and
concludes with the following PROPOSE
.s ton:
~And now. Mr.. Abel, let us pass to
question touching which there can be
ND Misunderstanding. The statements
and counter-statements, arguments
and retorts-ar this petty clash of pro-
f~e8tation n observation-disclosures to
vefy little at the best. o have de-
= ckared your undying devotion to the
= democratic party, and " said that
my leadership, my personal ambitions.
my selfish purposes, n these only,
prevent you from restoring your news
paper to the service of the loyal peO-
PIE who originally made it rich and
powerful by their patronage, their con-
hdence, and their support. You have
given Maryland to understand that,
~ ~ LIN oAAN LAS . yOul 6xC
pleased to attribute to me, you would
bring back The Baltimore Sun To- it's
old mornings and devote it to the ex-
position of democratic principles and
the confusion and overthrow of the
republican party in this 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
yourself in a pledge to cast off your re-
publican 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 So
luton of the difficulty is simple
enough If my aspirations, my lead
41TShip, my influence constitute the only
obstacles to your return to the people
who made your newspaper n found
~er your fortunes and gave eality to
your position and your power, I stand
ready to remove them. Office is less
to me than you suppose. Political lead
ership is not so necessary to my happi-
ness as you in your ignorance of my
character and motives, are pleased to
say. Strange as it may see to you, I
am willing to surrender every. pros
xect of personal promotion if by so
doing I can reunite the democratic par
Hy, restore to it's ranks all their pres
tine strength and harmony, allay the
d~issenSiOnS and animOSities that now
~exist and efface the humiliating spec
tacle presented by yourself and men
Of your way of t~hinlling-the spectacle
eof the democratic party betrayed into
the hands of the enemy by those whom
democrats " in the past exalted and
enriched. I do not undertake to say
how much you or any other man may
love the democratic party, but / 10
how much I love it, and 1 know that I
Hoxyn NO nnr-nna1 n~,hifinp will ~ok
sacrifice for it's homer and welfare. I
know, too, that / AVE no affiliations,
no engagements, no plans of any kind
that could by any possibility embarraSS
me in making the proposed arrange
\ ment.
"You may understand this as an
overture of surrender on my. part-aS
AT admission that the democratic or
: Eanization cannot hope for further life
without your aid and cOuntenance. I
am prepared for that. I have been
misunderstood by you so long M SO
unreasonably hat a little more or less
will count for nothing. As a matter of
fact, I am satisfied hat the people Of
Maryland have become Disguised with
the two years of republican Maryland
administration which you did so much
ITO make possible, and that they are in
the humor to make the end of the ex-
pertinent. It is not only what q been
a done; it Is also the extravaganza and
the corruption, which they see await
ing them in the event of a perpetuation
OF republican rule. They feel that ev-
cry substantial interest in the state is
jeopardized, and they are determined,
with or without your aid. to restore to
power the democratic party, which has
hitherto betrayed them, and in
whose hands they will feet their honor
and their interests to be secur AS to
this I have not the shadow of a doubt.
But they want. also, a restoration OF
THE former harmony Of the party. They
want to see the old lines restored and
fine old operations rehabilitated. And
owe them SO much as to feel, not only
willing, but anxious to consummate
any wish Of theirs, no matter at what
cost to me.
care you ready and willing and free
To meet me on this ground in good
faith, in all loyalty. without provisos
o or reservations on the honor Of a gem