Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-07-19
The Next GOVernOr.h:D.

In view of the nomination of candidat,
for Governor, at the approaching Republican
State Convention, several Of our contemporaries
arc bringing forward the names Of leading Re-
publcanS in different sections ofthe State, and
canvassing their worth and fitness for the
station. This is all right and commendable,
and We have no fear that the Convention will
meet with any difficulty in making good and
popular selection, where the material is so
abundant
Will all due Difference to the excellent men
whose names have already been mentioned.
we take the liberty Of suggesting another
and that the name Of we'll known, thorough
ly tried and faithful public servant-the Hon.
elijah SELLS our present able and efficient
Secretary of State.
Mr.. Sells requires no Communications at our
hands; his character and service to the State
speak triumphantly for him; and we can safe
ly say, without fearofsuccessfu contradiction
that we have never had more capable, hon.
est, prompt and genial souled officer, in any
department, since our organization as State.
His praise is almost literally universal-am
all parties and in all classes ofsociety in which
honesty and capabil;ty are cardinal virtues
1t might at first sight appear as if there
was in this something like an ignoring of the
principle Of rotation in Office" for which
many are such great sticklers; but little re-
6ection, we think, will satisfy any one that
this is an exceptional case. Should our pres
ent deplorable contentious with our southern
brethren continue for any length of time, we
shall need, as our chief executive, one whose
thorough knowledge Of the condition of the
various departments of State, and of the en-
tire routine of business connected Herewith,
aswill enable him to give prompt and wise de-
cisions upon all questions appertaining to this
highly responsible position and where can
we point to one in whom experience, ripe
judgment and efficiency are more perfectly
combined than in the person Of Mr.. Sells?
1t may be further objected that Mr.. Sells
has no reputation as public speaker To
this it may be answered that the approaching
political campaign is not likely to require
speech making, except perhaps to very lin
tied extent; and there are always a sufficient
number, both among aspirants and non -aspir-
ants to Office, who are ever ready to perform
that duty. Were it a time of high party ex-
excitement with the lines pretty closely drawn,
the question would be different perhaps But
at present there is in reality but one great
question before the country patriotism, a
love for the whole Union, and the support of
an efficient policy in maintaining it, upon one
side and either lukewarm support of such
policy or open consort with rebellion upon
the other. And although the latter cl m mt
is very weak and comparatively powerless for
harm in our State, yet it would b. the very
opposite Of wise policy for Republicans to
refrain from making party nominations at this
time, or in fact to do an thing that might be
construed into an abandonm mt or setting aside
of our organization as party. We know
the character of the leaders of the Democratic
party too we'll to thus expose ourselves to the
advantage thy would b. but too sure to i'm
prove, were we to adopt such course
But we have said enough for the present,
and what little we have said we arc perfectly
assured is unison with the feelings of a very
large class Of our fellow citizens, who would
experience no greater pleasure than in following
so gallant standard-bcarer as ELIJAH SELLS