The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-10-16
TO REUNlTE THE PARTY
Manly Letter to Edwin Abell, Of the Bal
timOre Sun,
WHO OWES HIS ALL TO HIS PEOPLE
And Who, in the Trying Hour Betrayed Them
to the Republicans-Gorman Calls Upon
Him to Return to the Party
and Assume Control.

Baltimore, Oct. 15-United Stats Sem
ator German today issued an open letter
to Edwin Abel, publisher of the Balt.-
more Sum- in which he offers to relin-
in Maryland, provided Mr. Abel will
accept it and support the democratic
ticket in the coming state and legisla-
tive campaign. He also intimates that
he will forsgo his ambition to succeed
himsslf i'm the United States senate if it
can be shown that such a step is necss-
sary to democratic success.
The Letter, which is a very long one,
reviews the course of the Sun in it's oppo-
sition to Mr.. German. because of his
views upon civil service, tariff, and bal
lot reform measures. To all thsse
charges made against him Mr.. German
pleads guilty. but quotes the Sun as
having admitted that such questions
were merely matters Of opinion and as
s:rted that every man was free to think
as he pleased regarding them. He de-
fends his course in regard to all these
questions and concludes with the fol-
lowing proposition:
"And now, Mr.. Abel, let us pass to a
question concerning which there can be
no misunderstanding. These statements
and counter-statements, arguments and
retorts-all this petty class of protesta-
TIN and impeachment amount to very
little at the best. You have declared
your undying devotion to the democratic
party and have said that my leadership,
my personal ambitions, my selfish pur-
poses and these only prevent you from
restoring your newspaper to the service
of the loyal people who originally made
it rich and powerful by their patronage,
their confidence and their support. You
have given Maryland to understand that
but for me and ''bossism" you are
pleased to attribute to me, you would
bring back the Baltimore Sun upon its
old mornings and devote it to the exposi-
tion of democratic principles and the
confusion and overthrow of republican
rule in this state.
you have stated in effect, certainly
with the intention of being so under
stood, that you still love the democratic
party and still wish to see 1t predoml-
nant in Maryland, and you thereby in
volve yourself in pledge to cast off
your republican affiliations, repudiatc
your republican 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 obstacles to your re-
turn to the people who made your news
paper and founded your finances and
gave realty to your position and power
4 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 my motives, are pleased
to say. Strange as 1t may seem to you
I am willing to surrender every prospect
of, personal promotion, If by SO doing
can re-unite the democratic party, re-
strength and harmony, remove the dis
sensions and animosities that now exist
and repair the humiliating spectacle pre-
sented by yourself and your way of
cratic party betrayed into the hands of
the enemy by those whom democrats
have in the past exalted and enriched
1 do not undertake to say how much
you or any other man may love the DEM
ocratic party but know how much
love it, and / know 1 have no personal
ambitions I will not sacrifice for its hon.
or and welfare. know, too, that have
no affiliations, no engagements, no plans
Of any kind that could by any possibil-
ity embarnass me in making this pro-
posed arrangement.
eYou may understand this as an over
ture of surrender on my part--as an ad-
mission that the democratic organiza-
tion cannot hope for further life without
..o,,r a;d opd. cor,nfananca
. II am, prepared for that. I have besn
misunderstood by you SO long and so
sunreasonably that little more or less
will count for nothing. AS matter Of