The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-03-18
Hon. GEO. G. WRIGHT, |
SENATOR WRIGHT's REPLY
WASHINGTON. Feb. 25, 1877

WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1879.
M Dear Geaerdl: Your letter or the
o2d received and its contents noted Every
hour is taken up with work, but little
time for letter writing, and my answer
must necessarily be hurried.
Ihavc had many letters Oh the subject
referred to in yours, but have delayed
any decisive response, for many reasons
not necessary to here state. The CON
trolling one, however, grew out q pro-
posed business arrangements which, with
in the past few days, have been sa.isfac-
torily completed, and there is nothing
further in the way Of an announcement,
which, as some of my friends know, had
weeks, and even months ago, determined
to make, contingent upon these arrange
ments
You are very kind in your expressions,
both of personal friendship and assur-
ances of public opinion touching my ex-
pected candidacy. | have had many,
very many, letters from persons in all
parts OF our State, all alike, full of assur-
ance that my reelection was conceded by
most, if not all. Influenced by these
alone. should feel that but one course
was open to me, and that was to leave
the people to determine the question, ac-
cortling to their own pleasure, bowling to
their will; serving them as best ! could
if again elected retiring if they preferred
any one of the several good men, who
have been mentioned as possible candi-
dates for my place. l may Of course
quite misjudgc the state Of public senti-
mcnt; we are all more or less liable to do
this in our own cases. know | am not
an exception to this rule. And yet | will
be pardoncd for the expression OF the be-
lief that if candidate, while would not
expect any more than other men, to es-
cape pposition-carnest it might be, but
/ cannot believe bitter,-l say while this
might occur, | still have not Il little conf
dence, in view of letters from almost every
county and many of the leading men of
the State, that should be elected as my
own successor And thus believing, |
have the less hesitation or regret in an
nouncing, as | now do to you, (and which
YOU arc at liberty to make public in your
own way that shall not be candidate
for reelection. This conclusion | have
reached after the most mature reflection,
looking at my duty to myself, to my
family land the subject in all its bearings,
say it is deliberate, for, as is known to
few at least, have had the matter un-
der consideration for many days and
weeks, and time has but confirmed me in
the resolution.
cannot my good friend make this an
nounccmcnt, without, in view OF what |
owe to the people Of Iowa, and my friends
adding one word. In this retiring | beg
to assure you and them that hope to be
no less devoted to Republicanism, no less
anxious for the success of our principles,
than heretofore. 1t shall be my aim and
pleasure to labor for this success in every
manner in my power. l feel too keeEly
the necessity for the continued and final
triumph Of this great party of principle
and right, to be indifferent at any time,
rs trust, to its future. | fully believe
that the nation owes too much to its record
in the past and has too much involved in
its ultimate triumph to justify surren-
der now or at any time, to those who
would destroy It. With, as trust, the
utmost catholicity of sentiment towards
those who seek to take from us the gov
ernment, nevertheless do firmly believe
that the defeat Of the Rer ublican party,
not the defeat of individuals or schemes
or rings, but of the party in the State and
nation, would turn back the wheel of true
progress and entail upon US policies and
consequences, the evils of which no man
can now foresee or estimate. And be-
lieving that it behooves everv man to do
his duty, certainly would be untrue to
my obligations TO people and State,
which have remembered me so kindly
and honored me SO often, if l failed at
any time to battle in my humble way to
arrest these threatened dangers. In pro-
posing and declaring my purpose there
fore, to withdraw from public life, do
not by any means wish to be understood
as being Indifferent to the success Of this
party nor rs unwilling to labor as u citi-
zen for its ultimate triumph.
Iowa is republican, has been SO for
many years, and is now, by, and upon a
full and fair vote, from thirty to fifty
thousand majority. It is the banner Re-
publican State in the Northwest, and, in
decd almost in the nation. If we fail to
keep it so defeat will be traceable largely,
if not entirely, to our own folly and mis-
management. The coming political year
is TO tell not little on our future, and
especially on the great contest-the great
est politically of the country-that of 1875.
If we are true to our past history, true to
the people, true to the warnings all around
US, we shall not fail. lie; us bear in mind
that the people are now moe determined
than ever to have their own way, to control
their own policies and nominations, and
that any wcll-founded suspicion that nom-
nations or candidates are made to order
set up in obedience to some pre-arrang-
ed plan Or agrcement-will work as GER
tain defeat as that the election is held.