Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1860-09-01
General Foster-Duty of Demo
Gratis.


When Gen. Foster was solicited by his
personal friends and admirers to become
Candidate for Governor he frankly replied
that he was not rich enough to afford it and
therefore declined to comply with their
wishes This very large class of persons
therefore ceased effort for him. Yet coun.
ty after county instructed its delegates for
him. To each and every one of these he
replied that he did not desire the nomin a.
ton and therefore positively declined.-
When the Reading Convention assembled,
it was found that several delegates had
letters from him forbiddng the use of his
name for the nomination. That Conven-
tion was probably one of the ablest and
most patriotic that ever assembled in the
State. An excited contest was going on
between the friends of the candidates before
it. 1t was feared that the party could not
harmonize upon either. Knowing the high
qualifications of Gen. Fostcr-his stern
patriotism aud integrity-and the desire
of 80 large portion Of the Democracy to
nominate him-his name was introduced
into the convention in spite of his protcs
tations to the contrary, and he was nomi-
mated unanimously amidst degree of en-
thusiastic fervor rarely if ever witnessed
before.
Thus literally forced into the field
against his repeated expressed will and
against his interests yielding his personal
desires to the demands of his party, we
submit the question to every honest man,
whether it is not a golden duty for every
Democrat to use his utmost efforts to elect
him-to sacrifice every minor considcra-
tion-especially to forget all cxtrancous
or natural difficulties-an make grand
and determined rally for Henry D. Foster I?
Against his will he agreed to bear the
standard of his party, because it was
thought that of all men he was most likely
to carry it through successfully. Shall
We, then, Democrats, abandon him amidst
the battle, or through our unfortunate di-
vision on other subjects neglect and forget
him, and allow him to be defeated for the
want of attention to his interests?
The G overnorship of Pennsylvania -
including as it does the control of its lcgis,
lation, her laws, her taxes and its reven.
ues s. is more important to her citizens than
even the Presidency of the nation Penn
sylvania is an empire within hersclf-a
nation of hcrsclf-abundantly able to pro-
tcct herself, let other States do what they
may, But to preserve her power, she
must take care cf her domestic affairs
We arc of those who believe that our first
duty is to the State. Preserve Pcnnsyl-
vania in healthful condition and she will
take care of the Nation. The first step
towards doing this, is to exercise the ut.
most caution in the selection Of her chief
Magistrate. She must have man who
understands her wishes and interests and
possesses the nerve to carry them out and
protect them. Such man is Gen. Foster
With him as Governor we would not neet
fear danger from any quarter.
For these reasons it is the high duty of
every Democrat to make all possible cffor
not only for Gen. Foster directly, but alsc
to harmonic all party differences in orde
to strengthen the party and thus increase
chances of his elcction.-Clintoa Demo-