The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-16
O'farS TO Resign the Democratic Leadership
In Favor Of Edwin F. AheII.
HAULS THE SUN OVER THE GOALS
Declares Ihat EEe Ems NO ambition
That wilt Stand In tho Way or Gs.s
Netireincnt 10 Private Lifo
CharKes tho Sun wnh RESPONSE.
bliity for Republican RuIc.
Baltimore, Nd, October Is, 1891

'eu otutes senator Gormafl to-
nlght issued an open letter to Edwin f.
Aoell. publisher of the Baltimore sun.
IN Wh.ch ne offers 20 relinuush the
iieaaershlp OF the Democracy In Mary
HHd, provided Nh. Abcll Will accent il
ana support the Democratic ticket in
1ne coming State and legislative cam
Ed!gn. lie also intimates that he will
iorego mis- ambition TO succeed himself
IN the United States Senate IL It can
oe Sho"n mat such u step Is necessary
10 democratic success
The letter, which is n very long n,c
reviews the course of the Sun in its
opposition TO MIR. German because of his
views upon civil service tariff and ball
lot REFORM measures. To all the charges
H'aae against him upon this score MIR.
German pleads guilty, but ouotcs Tho
Sun as having admitted that such
questions were largely matters of opin-
ION. and asserts that every man Is free
70 think as he plelses regarding them.
ne defends his course IN regard TO ali
tnese questions and concludes with thu
lonowlng proposition:
And now, Mr. Abel, let us p,ss n ,
question touching which there can he
lp9 misunderstanding. These statements
ana courterstatemcnts, arguments aud
Ielorts-an this petty clash Of protesta-
.ion ana observation-disclosures to very
Hte'e Ut The best. You have declared
party ana nave said that my leadership,
my personal ambitions. my selfish pur-
POSES and these only. prevent you from
restoring your newspaper 10 the service
ol tHe loyal people who originally made
~ ricn ana powerful by their patronage,
w, W. cohnuence ana their support.
lou nave given Maryland TO understand
that, but Tor me and the "bOsslsm"
you are pleased TO attribute to ne Won
Mouiu prlng back the, Baltimore Sun to
us old moornss and devote 1t to the
exposition Of Democratic principles and
the confusion and overthrow Of Repub
nGan rule in this State.
fou have stated iu effect-ccrtainly
win the lnteat of being 50 understood
that you stiilSlove the Democratic party
ana stiil wish TO see it prom!r.2nt IN
Maryland, and YOU thereby involve
yourself in pledge TO throw of your
Republican atllla tons, rcpudaic your
Republican alliances ana labor heart
and soul for the success of the Demo-
cratic party as II will remain after
purgcd OF me.
II you be sincere lal this, the solution
or the difficulty Is simple enough. If my
aspirations. my leadership, my Influence
constitute the only obstacles to your
return to the people who made your
newspaper and founded your fortune
and glNe reality to your position and
your power, l stand ready TO remove
them.
"Offlce is less to me than YOU sun
pose. Political leadership is cot so nee
eSSary to my happiness 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 I can reunitc the Demo-
cratic PARTY. restore TO It's ranks all
their pristine strength and harmCny,
allay the d!ssensions ana animosit.cs
that now exist and effacc the humiliat-
Ing spectacle presented by yourself ana
men of your way of ;hinking--the spec
tacje or the Demnclutic party betrayed
Into the hands of the enemy by those
whom Democrats have in the past ex-
aitea and enriched. l do notucldertake to
say now much YOU or any other man may
loVe the Democratic party. but | know
how much ! love 1t. and ] know that |
have no personal ambitions I will not
sacrifice for its hGnor and welfare. |
Hlow. too, that lave no affiliations. 40
engagements, no plans OF any kind. that
could by any possibility 2mEarrass me
IN making the proposed arrangement.
You may understand this as an
overture OF surrender on my part--as an
admission that the Democratic or:saniZa-
ion cannot hope for further life With
out your aid ana countenance | am
prepared for that. l have been mlsun-
derStoGd by YOU so long ana 50 unrea-
sonably that q little moro or less wil!
count for nothing. AS matter Of fact
am satisfied ttllat the people OF Mary
land have become disgnsted with the
two years of Republican mal-adminis-
fratlon, which you did so much to
make possible. and that they are in the
humor to make an end of the eXper-
ment. 1t Is not only what has been done;
II is also the extravaganza and the cor
rUption which they see awaiting them
In the event of II pcrpetuation of Re
publican rule. They feel that every
substantial interest IN the State is
1ecpardtzed and they are determined
with or without your aid, to restore TO
power the Democratic party. which has
never hlthcto betrayed them. and in
whose hands they will feel their honor
and their interests to be secure. AS TO
this have not the shadow Of n doubt.
But they want, also, to see the old linrs
restored and the old operations rshahil-
Hated. And ] owe them so much as IN
feel not only willing. hut anxious to
consummate any wish of theirs. no
matter at what cost ito me-
Are you ready and willing and free
to meet me on this ground In good faith.
In all loyalty. without prOvisos TOR res
ervations, on the honor OF a gentleman?
Are you al liberty to take charge pcrso
nally, and Through your agents. Of the
DemJcratc campaign for the Mayoral-
ty of Baltimore, for the Legislature
and for the successor to that place in the
Senate concerning which I have but
one dcsre--that OF seeing It filed hy n
Democrat, whose loyalty TO the party is
unquestioned and proved, and who will