Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 May 1884 — Republican Defection in New York. [ARTICLE]

Republican Defection in New York.

A circular issued by the Independent Republicans of New York to the delegates to the Chicago convention must give both Blaine and Arthur the bines. It calls attention to the majority of 193,000 against the Republican State ticket in 1882, and then proceeds to say: “We are sufficiently well acquainted with the element composing the Republican vote of New York to say that party allegiance, as a controlling force, is no stronger now than it was in 1882; that, on the contrary, there is an independent spirit abroad which has become a more positive force, from year to year, and that there are tens of thousands of citizens of this State whose votes can be kept on the Republican side only if the Republican candidates are not open to any serious objection.” That Mr. Arthur is open to “serious objection” is suggested by No. 1 of the points the oircular recommends the delegates to “keep seriously in view,” to wit: “Faction fights within the Republican party have, in this State, been particularly bitter; the so-called Republican machine has become obnoxious in an uncommon degree to a very large number, if not a majority, of the members of the party, and it must, therefore, be said that any candidate who has been in a conspicuous way involved in those faction fights would, however oommendable his qualities in other respects might be, lose thousands of Republican and independent votes, thereby putting the State in the utmost jeopardy.” The friends of Blaine perhaps smiled upon reading this homely thrust at the “machine,” but only for a moment, for their man is garroted in a following paragraph: “ Our business community is constitutionally cautious and conservative. Any candidate likely to launch the Government into a fantastic or adventurous policy calculated to bring about a disturbance of our peaceable intercourse with foreign countries will, therefore, inspire distrust.” And again: “That the Republican party can not afford io burden itself with a defensive fight is admitted by every sensible person. In this respect nothing could be more disastrous than the nomination of a candidate, however popular, with an unclean or a justly assailable record a * to his integrity. The discussions of the campaign would inevitably turn upon this one point, and we have good reason to appr-ehend that the moral sentiment which has always been strong in the Republican party would bring forth an extensive revolt in its ranks.” This circular is ominous for both Arthur and Blaine. It is the emanation of a large class of New York Republican voters. It is noticeable that Harper’s Weekly and the New York Evening Post are in sympathy with its sentiments. It is now learned, that during his entire term of office as Senator, Edmunds has been a railroad attorney, and at $5,000 a year, like Sherman and Blaine, has amassed a princely fortune. Snob is Republicanism, every time. The people will, in dne time, decree that the rascals most go. Contemplate Gen. Grant’s condition, and then estimate, if you can, fie contaminating and corrupting curse of Repttblicansim.