The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-05-10
TIle GOvernorship.

tion of Gen. GARFIELD. OF course we
knew that he did not seek the honor,
but it had been said he would not de-
cline it if rendered by the Convention.
1t was clear that Congress offered him
a more inviting field, and that if he had
consented to run for Governor it was on
ly in response to a popular call, arising
from the recognition of his peculiar fit-
ness for leadership in the ensuing
State canvass 1t now turns out that
his constituents are unwilling to give up
+ their Representative, and that he pre-
fers to serve them at Washington. At
the risk of adding to the confusion of
voices already herslding the claims of
dozens of candidates, we venture anoth-
remark on the subject
We have Constitutional amend
ment to carry this fall over the bitter
enmity of the Democracy and the half
/ hearted support or secret opposition of
timid Republicans. Ohio was belittled
in the last Legislature by the coward
ice Of score of Republicans, when this
amendment was first voted upon. We
want to wipe out the stain thus tempo
rsfily cast upon us, and, above all, to
put through this amendment-in spite
of open or covert opposition-by ma
jority that shall set us right for all time.
The measure is just, and we cannot af-
ford to run any risk of securing its com
plete endorsement. And to make assu-
rance doubly sure, it is our duty to put
up candidate who can carry the lar
gest number of votes. Of course we
want man who, after election, will hon
or his position, but it is no less necessa-
fy that we take one who can effect the
most for the State between now and
October. We care nothing about mem
it matters little who it is who can rem
der the best seryice-but it matters ey-
erything that we get the service, and Sc
cure lasting triumph for our principles.
We have no personal interest-nor have
the people-in the advancement of any |
particular man; but we insist--and we |
think the people demand-that the con-
yention shall select one who can give us
the completest victory at the polls.
Scores of good men have been named,
and as, ordinarily, the Gubernatorial
chair is not hard to fill, so if there were
no severe'campaign between us and sue
cess, we might almost take at random
any one of the fifty men already an
nounced. But we believe not one in ten
of these men can give us triumph this
fall in any fair degree commensurate
with the interests at stake. 1t is our ap-
prehension that, among the multiplicity
of fair men in the field, the confusion of
expressions from the press, and declin
alton of such men as SoHENCK and GAR
FIELD and HAYES, the Convention may
be induced to put up a candidate who,
able to govern after being
elected-cannot rally the people to the
invincible majority which Ohio ought
this year to give for Republican prin-
ciples. If our leaders refuse to lead, we
shall be forced to fall back on second
rate men, and shall thus hazard our po-
sit;on. It is said Governor Cox may be
the candidate, after all, and the declin-
alton of SO many stronger men leave
his chances very good. But in the face
of his Oberlin letter of '65, his Johnson
letter of $50, and his unchanged conser-
vative tendencies, we cannot but think
that his retirement is the best thing for
our party. The most earnest advocates
of impartial suffrage, it seems to us,
cannot give him that hearty support
they would give 6. man of more radical
convictions. Honest and capable as he
is, there is little in his career or charac-
ter to inspire the enthusiasm of the rad
ical party in Ohio. We respect him, but
we cannot put our trust in and follow |
him as a leader in full harmony with |
our principles.
1t is our idea, therefore, that the Con-
vention would best serve the State by |
nominating the man who best fills the
bill of requisites. We care not who he
is. nor where he halls from, only let him
be a man of hearty radical principles,
and combine the qualities of an honest
and faithful Governor with those of a
commanding candidate and popular
leader. We have already expressed our
preference for Gen. GARFIELD, and we
still think, if his constituents would re-
lieve hi m from present duty in Con-
gress whose great men are SO many
that they could better spare dozen of
their number than most Congresses
could one, that his services to the State |
this year would be SO gratefully received
and SO nobly repaid as to rebound
more to his honor and the credit of his
District than even his efforts as Rep
rese ntative.
Homes.