West Jersey Pioneer

Mr. Editor: The Pioneer, I understand, professes to be an independent newspaper. You have had the independence, at least, to compliment in its columns all the Republican candidates in the present campaign, from the President down to Coroners, and I ask of you as a simple act of justice to one of the opposite party, to grant me some space in your columns this week, that I may say a few words in favor of the party to which I am proud of being a member, notwithstanding the Republicans claim for their party all that is honest, ennobling, intelligent, patriotic and pure.

I do not pretend to say that the Democratic party has not many bad men in its ranks, for which the loyal and true men of our party are no more responsible than the loyal and true men of the Republican party are responsible for the bad men in its ranks. There has been much said by political speakers, and much written for the Republican press derogatory to the character of our candidates. I do not consider myself responsible for all the speeches of Frank P. Blair, and I know that intelligent Republicans throughout this State would not be willing to shoulder the responsibility of the silly twaddle of John I. Blair, with which he is disgusting sensible men in his own party, to the advantage of ours. I defy any one to point to a single false, vulgar, or silly remark made by Mr. Randolph, whom we are proud to own as our Gubernatorial candidate. He may be denounced as a traitor, copperhead, etc., and all the vile epithets that can be raked up may be hurled at him, but his record as an honorable and patriotic gentleman cannot be moved by such silly and untrue assertions. It is admitted by intelligent men of both parties who are acquainted with him, that Mr. Randolph is an unexceptionable gentleman, and in every respect qualified for the position. His loyalty has never been questioned by those who know him, and to those who are not acquainted with him, I would refer to the many hundreds of patriotic men who, through his instrumentality were taken to the front of the battle in defence of our imperiled country. If loyalty consists, as some would make it, simply by investing in government bonds, then Mr. Randolph is a patriot, for he invested largely in them when there was the most risk of loss, but I do not and neither does he boast of his loyalty as some do of theirs, simply because he saw proper to invest in that class of securities. He has been ridiculed by the Press because he happens to be stamped with the true nobility of a gentleman. The cry of monopoly has also been started against him, but that soon died away, as the masses of the people of this State know very well that our Railroads are a blessing instead of an evil. It is useless in me to attempt to enumerate all the dodges which have been resorted to by his opponents, in order to detract from his character; neither shall I undertake to retaliate by analyzing the character of the Republican aspirant for the Governorship of this State. Of Gen. Grant, I have nothing to say. Mr. Seymour has been misrepresented in many instances, but in his speeches during the present campaign he has not attempted to detract in any manner from the military fame of Gen. Grant. Our candidate for Congress in this district is a gentleman of unblemished reputation, well fitted for the position, and although you have complimented so frequently in your columns the Hon. Wm. Moore, I believe I have never seen anything there in reference to Hon. Samuel J. Bayard. Your articles in the Pioneer favorable to the Republican candidates for the Senatorial and Assembly districts of this county, both previous to and after their nomination, were of the most flattering character, and exerted no small influence in securing their nomination. I trust they will not be elected, as they do not represent my views in political affairs. I must say, however, to their credit, that I have not heard of anything in their speeches during the present campaign which lowered them in the estimation of gentlemen of either party. If we must have a Republican Senator and Assemblyman from this county, let us have such as will be respected and an honor to Cumberland county, should they be so fortunate as to have a seat in our Democratic Legislature.

Now, in conclusion, I would say that I think the fifth resolution which was published in last week's Pioneer from the Grant club of Bridgeton was calculated to do more harm than good to the Republican party. Respectable Democrats of this city denounced as severely as any Republican can, the infamous conduct of certain cowardly persons, in violently assaulting the delegations from Clayton, Millville and Vineland; but to charge the assault upon certain members of the so-called Democratic party, without sufficient evidence, was certainly very unfair, to say the least of it. The sentiments above expressed may not suit your views, but as your columns are always open for contributions and discussions, whether you coincide or not with everything that may be said in them, I respectfully request you to give this a place for the sake of

JUSTICE.