Ohio History Journal

LETTERS OF SENATOR H. B. PAYNE OF OHIO.

 

 

CONTRIBUTED BY DUANE MOWRY, MILWAUKEE, WIS.

The original of the following letters are in the possession of

the contributor. They treat of interesting political events, in-

teresting, particularly, to residents of the Buckeye state and to

students of the history of the Middle West. They would seem

to have something more than passing significance because of the

prominence of the author of them, and of the public men and

public measures considered.

It is decidedly refreshing to note the absolute independence

of Senator Payne. No one can read these letters without be-

coming convinced that the author of them knows his views upon

public questions, and, knowing them, dare to announce and main-

tain them. He was something more than a mere time-server.

His sincerity was above question. His courage was strictly of

the herculean order.

The contributor had no personal acquaintance with Mr.

Payne. And these remarks are almost entirely based upon the

tenor of these interesting letters. But the death of him has

been so recent, that there are many still living who will know

if these random observations are, in truth, well-founded and just.

In the confident belief that this foreword may have some

interest in connection with the copies of letters submitted, the

contributor leaves the rest for the reader to supply in such man-

ner as to him may appear fit and historically true.

 

CLEVELAND, Ap. 10th, 1884.

HON. JAS. R. DOOLITTLE.

DEAR FRIEND:-I beg to apologize for the delay in acknowl-

edging and replying to your esteemed favor of the 2₉th ult. In

the first place, several days were consumed in its journey to

Washington, where its author must have supposed that Senators

take their seats 12 mos. before their term commenced; and sec-

(543)

• 1
 

544      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

 

ondly, I thought I could reply to your inquiries about Ohio more

satisfactorily after our Spring elections.

With most of your views of the probable candidates on the

Republican side I concur, except, in my opinion, Blaine and not

Gen'l Sherman, will be nominated at Chicago. I also fully agree

with you in your opinion and estimate of Tilden.

Now as to Ohio and the October election. What I thought

of the situation and prospect in January you will find in my

Banquet Speech (a copy of which I mail to your address, as you

may not have perused it). Subsequent events and reflection con-

firmed every line and paragraph of it. But for the insanity at

Washington we could and would have carried the State in Oc-

tober by 25 or 30,000. Then with the prestige of such a victory

the states you named would have all followed suit and secured

the national victory in November. But devils and fools would

have it otherwise. Carlisle was made Speaker. Hurd, the

fanatic free-trader was, against the united protest of all our mem-

bers, and the known wishes of the entire party in the state, placed

on the Ways & Means Corn., and under the lead of Watterson

and the Kentucky Statesmen, a crusade was commenced for

"Revenue only" and against the "Ohio Platform". All that was

wanted to secure success on our part was that the tariff for this

Congress should be let alone. The present law had not been

tested. No man could tell wherein it was defective. Nobody

asked for change or agitation. No amendatory law could be

passed. Evil and only evil could result from the attempt. But

demented, conceited, desperate schemers would not have it so.

They proclaimed "free trade or defeat"! Hence the "Morrison

Bill", with its senseless, illogical and ridiculous horizontal strike.

Last October the reduced wool rate gave us at least 10,000 votes.

Both parties pledged their efforts to restore the former rate. M's

bill, instead of restoring it, deducts 20 more and the recent vote

of the House shows an immense majority of democrats in that

direction. Now how can we expect that the wool-growers can

be induced to vote with us in Oct. or Nov. ? Unless the demo-

cratic members by some bad step rebuke this free trade madness,

and with the coming convention pronounce distinctly for the Ohio

Platform it will, in my opinion, be utterly useless to enter a

• 2
 

Letters of Senator H. B. Payne of Ohio.      545

 

canvass to carry Ohio in October. It is equally clear that no one

of the States named by you can be carried in November.

But more than this. Since my election and the publication

of the Banquet Speech I have received more than 500 letters,

including some from every state in the Union, most of the writers

saying that the speech was all the platform they wanted. At

least 5 Southern States, it is said by leading intelligent men, will

vote the Republican ticket if the issue is made in free trade,

Virginia, W. Virginia, N. Carolina, Florida, Louisiana, & Ten-

nessee, may at least be placed in the doubtful list. Most of these

states with Penn., N. Jersey & Conn. have adopted the Ohio plat-

form. Yet if on the Morrison Bill it appears that a majority of

the Dem. party are free traders, I doubt much whether the Ohio

Platform adopted at Chicago would recover us from the shock

which this agitation has given in alarming the business men of

the country. Without such recovery Ohio will give a majority

against us of at least of 30,000, and the party will sustain a more

disastrous defeat than at any election since the close of the war

I am very busy, and write in much haste. I grieve that I

cannot present a more hopeful view of our situation and

prospects.

I have but a single ambition of a personal character, and

that is, to witness the inauguration of a Democratic President,

but now I fear that I must abandon that hope.

Ever truly your friend,

H. B. PAYNE.

 

CLEVELAND, June 12th, 1884.

HON. J. R. DOOLITTLE,

MY DEAR SIR:-I beg to reply briefly but frankly to the in-

quiries in your letter of the 10th inst.

1st as to myself, my course as to Secession, Vallandigham,

was open, direct and well known. No sympathy felt or ex-

pressed for either. I denounced incipient secession at Charleston,

and was a Douglas war Democrat through the entire struggle.

On the finance, hard money, bi-metallic, am an advocate of re-

taining the present issue of Greenbacks as an element of the cir-

culating medium.

• 3
 

546      Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.

This however, in my view, is now of little moment. I do

not wish to make public my opinion as to Ohio, lest it might tend

to injure Thurman's prospects. But to you I say in all frank-

ness that no Democrat can carry this state against Garfield. I

believe I would come as near doing so as any one, and as against

Grant or Blaine, should not have doubted it. But Ohio has al-

ways been Whig or Republican, when there was a full vote and

but two tickets.

In my judgment, we can and must win by selecting can-

didates suitable for the seats of Conn., N. Y., N. J., & Indiana.

We can even share one of them. Why not then let the Delega-

tions from those States name the men? Hendricks, I am sorry

to say, will not be acceptable to the East, but will not some man

at the East, like Hancock or Hubbard of Conn. be acceptable to

all? Personal preferences must be set aside and the best man

for success united upon. I believe Garfield, outside the Wes.

Reserve, is not a strong candidate.

In haste, truly your friend,

H. B. PAYNE.

 

CLEVELAND, June 22d, 1884.

HON. J. R. DOOLITTLE,

MY DEAR SIR:-Your suggestions are eminently opportune

and sensible. There is no necessity for collision in regard to the

tariff. Leaving out the few rank, selfishly ambitious, idiotic free

traders, all will agree that a wise revision is desirable with a view

to a large reduction of revenue as well as of taxation. The word

"only" must be left out at all hazards. A majority of the South-

ern States have already pronounced its fate.

Nothing would please me more than your election as Presi-

dent. I was at Phila. and Baltimore, and know all about your

qualifications. Your location, your views, experience, etc., etc.,

points to you as the man. Whatever I can do with Ohio dele-

gates & others, will be done most cheerfully. I shall not be in

Chicago, but Ohio will be there in strength and as a "unit."

Very truly your friend,

H. B. PAYNE.

• 4
 

Letters of Senator H. B. Payne of Ohio.       547

 

NOTE. -This letter is not directed to Judge Doolittle by name. But

there can be no doubt that it was intended for him. It is an open secret

that Mr. Doolittle was a receptive candidate for the Democratic nomi-

nation for President at this time.

DUANE MOWRY.

 

CLEVELAND, Aug. 14, 1884.

HON. J. R. DOOLITTLE,

MY DEAR SIR:-I have delayed replying to your letter of

the 11th inst. for a day that I might confer with my son, the

Col. & some other friends.

We all agree that you should come to Ohio where we believe

you can do more good than in any other field.

We are not sanguine, but quite hopeful of success in Oc-

tober. The Trades Union and disaffected Irish gave us con-

siderable uneasiness for a time, but danger from those sources

has lessened, is lessening. We now expect the gain from the

Germans and from the active support of the state officials will

more than compensate any loss from the former. Whatever in-

crease is gained by the Prohibitionists will come mainly from the

Republicans. If we cannot carry Ohio this year, I shall despair

of ever doing so in a presidential election canvass. This scandal

affair is unfortunate to say the least. Some of the tenderest por-

tion of the goody good people may be frightened away from us.

You name the two vulnerable points in Blaine's case. But

should not our Speakers and Press make the campaign more ag-

gressive? The Currency and Reconstruction questions are dis-

posed of. The Tariff is practically and happily settled. The

main issue is reform. The corruption, extravagance, waste and

uselessness of the party in power call for retrenchment and re-

form, etc.

Ever truly your friend,

H. B. PAYNE.

 

CLEVELAND, June 2d, 1893.

HON. J. R. DOOLITTLE,

DEAR SIR:-I have your favor of the 1st inst. and most

deeply regret to say that I have no business or social acquaintance

• 5
 

548         Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications. with Mr. R. that will enable me to render the aid you desire.    I sympathize with your views and should be happy in your success.. As you may desire to apply in another direction, I return the papers. And am very truly your friend, H. B. PAYNE. NOTE. -I have no definite means of knowing who is the "Mr. R." referred to in Mr. Payne's letter. I have a suspicion, however, that the "papers" had something to do with Judge Doolittle's application for an appointive position under President Cleveland's second admin- istration. I know that Mr. Doolittle was an aggressive candidate for both the Russian and Austrian Mission. And I also know that Mr. Cleveland absolutely declined to consider his name for any appointment whatever, in spite of the fact that Mr. Doolittle was a warm supporter of Mr. Cleveland's candidacy before the people. As one of Mr. Cleve- land's most intimate friends said to the writer: "It was most regrettable that President Cleveland chose to treat Judge Doolittle's application with silent contempt and indifference. For, Mr. Doolittle was, in every way, a capable and worthy man. He would have reflected credit upon the administration." This letter, except as it may indicate the feelings of Mr. Payne towards the efforts of Judge Doolittle as above mentioned, is of slight historical significance.           DUANE MOWRY.

• 6