Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1884 — “Rum Romanism and Rebellion." [ARTICLE]

“Rum Romanism and Rebellion."

It is estimated that the Bev. S. D. Burchard’s alliterative blunder cost the Republicans at least 10,000 votes in New York state alone. It will be remembered that Mr. Blaine was closing the campaign in the Empire state: and on the morning of Oct. 29 was waited upon by a number of clergymen who had chosen Rev. Burchard to act as spokesman. That gentleman, in the coarse of his remarks to Mr. Blaine said: "We are Republican’s and don’t propose to leave our party and identify ourselves with the party whose antecedants have -been rum, Romanism and rebellion." A few days afterward, in Connecticut, Mr. Blaine made some attempt to counteract the effect of the ill-judged and ill-timed speech, but it was too late.