The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-17
REPLY TO GORMAN.
MaryIand's senator Roasted Brown
by the baltimore sun.

BALTIMORE. Oct. 1.-THE Sun to-day
publishes lengthy editorial reply to Sen
ator Germans letter which, in part, is as
follows:
NO person of ordinary intelligence can
read the letter from Senator German TO the
Sun, which is published in our advertising
columns to-day, without at once pereeivlng
that 1t Is q mere campaign trick, eminently
characteristic in its papable insincerity
of the source from which 1t proceeds. IL
Mr. German really wishes to retire from
the contest the way for him TO do so is to
retire, not simply 10 prate about his willing
ness to sacrifice his personal ambition for
the good Of the party under certain impossi-
bic and prepOsterouS conditions. 1t is not
necessary FOR him TO come To the sun 10
ask permission to do so. II he wanted to
step down and out, or had any real inten-
ton of doing so, he could have effected that
purpose with far smaller expenditure OF
cash and words. But that is the very last
thing which he has any intention of doing.
His sole object is to assume a heroic atti-
tude in the hope of deluding the public into
the belief that he is a great patriot who is
willing to sacrifice himself for his party
IF the cruel and perfidious Sun will only let
him. What splendid and noble figure our
senior senator presents as he strikes this
dramatic attitude and calls frantically
the Sun to permit him to retire.
Unfortunately the role OF disinterested
patriotism is an unfamiliar one to him, and
we regret to say that his impersonation is
not q convincing one. Nature did not in
tend him for the part of Brutus. He plays
Cassius far better. But there is something
familiar in. the tones of the actor in spite
of this tragic strut and rnelodranatic STYLE
The costume may be the costume of Honest
Esau, but the voice has the dulcet and oily
notes of Jacob. For at the conclusion of
his long defense of his public record and
motives he reveals the well-known features
of the great COMPROMISED. He proposes a
bargain. There was no necessity after this
of any signature or other identification of
the writer.
After referring to Mr.. Germans offer to
meet the Sun half way in the effort to Sc
cure Democratic success in Maryland, the
editorial continues. 'MaQf him half WaVv
The Sun does not do things by halves. There
is no halfway house between an honest
currency and spurious one; between an
honest ballot and a fraudulent one; between
an honest tariff and one manipulated in the
interest of trusts and monopolies.
1T is not necessary to discuss at length
Mr.. Germans defense of his public career
He confesses that he is opposed to civil
service REFORM that he opposed the Aus
tralian ballot law, and that he mutilated
the Wilson tariff bill. His quotations from
President Cleveland in justification of his
attitude on the Wilson bill will not deceive
even the most ignorant or forgetful. The
quotation refuses to be twisted into de-
Tense of Mr. German, and shows on its face
that Mr.. Cleveland was far from being sat
1sfied with the Wilson bill as it passed the
Senate. What Mr.. Cleveland really thought
of the defects in the measure and of the
men in the Senate who were responsible for
those defects, he indicated more than once
in emphatic language, which the country
has never forgotten. Mr.. German, quoting
Mr.. Cleveland in his own vindication, sug
gests the thought of certain adroit poll
tician of the lower regions, who is said to
quote Scripture on occasion when it suits
his purposes. AS for his part in the Sher-
man act repeal, that is q matter of history
Mr.. German may deny that he played the
odious part that has been attributed to him,
but 1t will not avail him at this late day
1t would be better for him not to awaken
the public recollection on that subject.
I'm conclusion, the Sun will say plainly
to Mr. German that, even if he retired from
the contest, the difficulty of restoring har-
mony would still exist, because not only
would his machine remain. but because his
machine is pledged to financial policy, and
consequently to a senatorial nominee, of his
own color and character. Objectionable as
are Mr.. Germans political methods they
are not the only things to which the reflect
ing voters of Maryland OBJECT His princi-
pies, or want of principles on the financial
question are vital issues, and the people of
Maryland know that no matter how much
he might retire, he would permit man to
go to the United States Senate who was not
his faithful disciple and follower.
Mr.. Germans offer to retire has a string
or rather a cable, tied to it. 1t is piece of
cheap bluff which will affect no votes, and
which only shows Mr.. Germans realization
of the desperation Of his fortunes. No, no,
Mr.. German; the fly will not walk into your
parlor. You must run your own campaign"