West-Jersey pioneer., 1868-07-17
GUBERNAToRIAL CANDIDATE,

as their candidate for Governor, Mr.. Johl
l. Blair. The proceedings of the Con
vention are given elsewhere in our paper
and it is, therefore, unnecessary to NOR
than refer to them in this article. Mr.
Blair is native of Warren county, j,
our State, about sixty-6ve or sevent,
years of age, known as patron of th'
educational enterprises in his religious
denomination, man of large wealth and
an extensive and successful operator in
iron works and Railroads, both in oul
own and the Western States. He is said
to be man of pure personal character,
and to possess good share of executive
ability. Our readers are fully aware that
we would very much have preferred the
nomination of Mr.. Walsh, of Newark,
for this position, to that of any other
man. We feel deep interest in the
politics of the State, and are anxious that
both Democrats and Republicans should
select the very best men of their parties
for candidates and then whoever was
successful, we were sure of good gov
ernor. We were somewhat familiar with
the leading men of the State, who were
likely to be brought forward in the Re-
publican party for nomination, and
among them all, there was no man who
met our ideas of what Governor should
be, as did Mr.. Walsh. We were sure
that he was large-hearted and noble
man, that for the good of the State he
could rise above all mere partisan consid-
eratiops, that all his instincts were on the
side of morality and religion, that his
knowledge of the needs of our State was
complete and accurate, that his execu-
tive ability was unsurpassed, and that, in
short, New Jersey had no better man for
the position. We know him intimately,
knew his nobility Of nature, and would
have been glad to see him receive and
accept the nomination for the position
In this matter, Mr.. Walsh has displayed
a rare and magnanimous devotion to his
party, which, if it is successful at all, will
contribute largely to that success. 1t was
thoroughly known that so numerous
were his friends among the delegates
that, had he chosen to do SO, he could
have contested the nomination with the
strongest probabilities of success, though
that success would have very likely in
troduced elements of division into their
party.
In this section, which claimed the
right of nomination, Mr.. Walsh was
especially favorite, and the First Con-
gressional district came up almost solid
for the presentation of his name; and
under the circumstances, the First dis
trict is destined to play more than usually
an important part in the coming contest
between the parties. From other por-
tions of the State, his friends were
numerous and enthusiastic, and as we
said before, had he chosen to make an
earnest effort, he could have secured the
nomination. Early the previous day,
however, before any of the delegates
had arrived in Trenton, Mr., Walsh sent
dispatch to them, that he peremptorily
withdrew his name, and that under no
circumstances whatever would he consent
to be candidate-that he was far more
desirous to secure harmony in the party
with which he was identified, both in
conviction and feeling, than to secure
any of the passing honors, which parties
usually bestow upon those whom they
deem most deserving. This course of
action on the part of Mr.. Walsh, while
it surprised and possibly chagrined his
friends, yet gave them still higher ap-
probation Of the man, and SO far as we
could see, Mr.. Walsh was the most pop.
ular person present at the convention
He was called for amidst the loudest
demonstrations of applause, and made a
speech which excited the strongest enthu,
siasm. He is an effective, as we'll as
graceful speaker, and infuses into cor.
rect diction and strong sense, the emo
tional warmth of the religious denomina
tion to which he belongs. This fact ha.
aided largely in giving him the strong
influence which he possesses among tn,
members of that communion, as we'll a,
among his associates in political circles
and was displayed with most happy effec
in the address which he made in response
to the call. He stated to them that il
was his firm belief that the State could be
carried In the interests Of the Republican
party, and what we deem of far more
Importance to their success, he both en-
dorsed in the heartiest manner the nom
ination of Mr.. Blair, and pledged hi,
most earnest efforts to secure his success
Mr.. Walsh has never been known to net
back" on his word; and such pledge
made under these circumstances. wa
equivalent to saying that he would us,
all his influence among his friends to as
sist in Mr.. Blair's election. MANY o
those friends are among that class VIII
are not violent partisans, and whose vote
generally decide the battle between til
contending hosts in political warfare, an
therefore, as we said, this pledge was fe
in the convention as an important fact