Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1885 — A REMARKABLE LETTER. [ARTICLE]

A REMARKABLE LETTER.

Gapt. Hugh Renounce*; Democracy and Become* a “Full-Fledged Republican”—Hl* Keaxon* His Thl* Important Btep-An Able, Manly, and Patriotic letter. - • * t , The Madison (Wisi) Journal is in receipt of the following letter from Capt. Hugh Lewis, in which he forsakes the Democratic communion and unites his fortunes with the Republican party. Capt. Lewis is a one-armed veteran who fought valiantly throughout the wav, even after he was crippled, and has always been up to this time a prominent and exceedingly active and inflnential worker in Democratic, circles. He now holds a well-paid position in the veteran messenger corps of tho National' House of Representatives, and, it is understood, was recently offered promotion, which ho refused. Bis motives for change are" evidently, therefore, purely of a patriotic nature, and not emanating from personal considerations: For twentj-Tflvo years I have been an active member of the Democratic party, doing everything in my power to place its candidates in control of the various departments of government. During that considerable period I tmvo marched in its processions* contributed and disbursed money, for Its camj paigns, associated and been intimate with ! many of it 3 leaders, and Ailed to the best of my ability some of its hutnbte ollicos. I have studied the ways and doings of its sages and I counselors, watched closely ltagenoral course 1 1 —more recently at short range—digested and proclaimed its professions of principles, and learned its platforms almost by heart. Hhould 1 not know the Democratic party? I think 1 know its secret workings, its capabilities, its heart, its conscience. I also think | I know its truo value to the citizen, its true worth to the .<tate. J . ~ The conduct and enunciations of the Democratic party have not always met my approval, and I have openly so doiarod ns oc-, i caslon arose. Sometimes I had misgivings concerning the sincerity of those who a»sum d to be its oracles and high priestar and my faith in the ability of thoso whom the world believed to be patriotic to cojie wlthThose who cared nothing lor principlo or country was not always ilrtn. Sometimes, too, in spite of campaign enthusias-m and tho rigor of party ties, I found myself debating whet her tho Democratic party, with so much in it that i, ; a Democrat, could not indorse, was the one to be fully intrusted with the control and guidance of the destinies of a nation as mighty as ours. Although hope had these contentions with doubt, yet the name of Democrat sounded sweet in my cars, and I struggled on lor success, really believing that after all victory would bring to tho front the ablest and truest generals, the wisest and most eonscienUons statesmen of my party, in whose hands public affairs would bo sate, the country prosperous, the people contented and happy. Last fall the long-looked-for nnd ■ long-fought-for yictory came. The Democracy, chastened by many disasters,, was placed at the head of public affairs: tho real trial at its virtues and statesmanship which I had expected would wfpeout ail my doubts bad at lastcome. Three months of that trial are now before us, and what a raiserablo record it is! As “a now broom always sweeps clean,” so the opening months of the Cleveland administration must be accepted as more cautious und conservative than any that will follow. Ye,t what do we see? Instead of broad, progressive statesmanship; instead of an honest, healthy reform of the civil service; instead of guidance by men of ripe attainments and full experience; instead of a clean-cut and high-toned administrative policy, we have a long series of false pretenses, demagogy, personality, and blunders. We see appointed to hignofficesdrunkards, social if n'ot criminal outcasts, and participators in election butcheries and frauds; enetoies of fair and free elections; enemies of our beneficent public school system; former and present enemies of the Unionmen uncleansod of treason, unrepentant, un reconstructed, and with their disabilities yet upon them. Can soldiers who left limbs on the battlefield stand these things? Can they condone and indorse them? If there be any such, lam not of them. I want no more Democracy upon my plate. I fought hard to get the present administration in, and I shall Aght still harder to get them out. They are not the men to fule the country in this day of enlightenment and progress. Look at the vast system of blackmail and perjury inaugurated by the Postmaster General. Were affidavits for political purposes, against friends and neighbors, ever heard of before? Were men ever before libeled and slandered at wholesale by agents of the Government? Was there ever a time when so many disreputable appointments bad to be reversed tu satisfy public opinion? Was there ever before a time when it was a political crime for a man to attend a caucus and vote or speak his party convictions? No. And after the current four years I trust the present reign of falsehood, masquerading, sham, retrogression, and blackmail will end forever. This step of mine is taken upon no sudden impulse. It has been well studied, well considered—has been growing upon me for some time. I also fully understand my humble position. fdo not expect to create a political revolution nor throw the present administration from the track. After seeing the Democratic leaders placed in charge of the ship l of state I have lost faith in even their fair-weather seamanship, and therefore, just as my party is entering upon an era of power and patronage, I take occasion to announce my convictions so that no one Can impugn idj motives. More especially as J shall no longer te looked upon as an indorser and defender of those things which I cannot possibly defend and Indorse, and so I shall bs no bearer of false colors, open to no charge of espionage or cowardice. Let me be fully understood. lam no Democratic mugwump, kicking against disappointment* or fruitless office seekings: but I am and wish to be considered a fu i-Aedged Republican and in perfect communion with the Republican party—the only party capable of properly governing this country and fulffbing the manifest destiny of Rs people, —the party that after seeingtbeia both tried, most nearly meets my approval and accords with my conviction*. I fear no consequence, ark for no quarter, expect no reward, but am doing simpiy what I believe to be right. I would rather iive on musD and milk with a party that attempts to be fair, patriotic, and honorable, than be the grand mogul of tie present crowd of blackmailers. slanderer*, and dispensers of patronage by means of falsehood and false pretenses. Hugh Lewi*.