The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1876-10-03
An open Letter 60 w. l.. webber.

~" OPeh Lessef 10 We Ls WepDers
From Saginaw Republican, September 2ist]
WM. l.. WEBER:
DnAn Brn-As you are tire candidate
of the Democratic party, for the Office
of Governor OF the State, and desire,
OF course, the support of your fellow
citizens to secure your election or at
least develop the full strength OF your
party vote in your behalf, we trust that
you will not only be willing. but anx-
ious to remove any obstacles to that
end which a simple explanation on
your part may enable you to do.
You will readily recall to mind the
circumstance OF your having been q
Democratic candidate'for State Sena-
tor in this the twenty-eighth District
in 1860, when the Democratic majority
therein was very large and pronounced
and you can hardly fail to remember
that you suffered one OF the most hu-
initiating defeats in that election ever
experienced by candidate under a
like favorable prestige OF party su-
premacy. Your defeat was so thor
ough, complete and overwhelming as
TO astGnish and confound your friends
and disgust the party who had favored
you with the domination. 1t was al
most an unanimous defeat, and 30
thoroughly shelved you as q political
aspirant that your name was never af-
terwards mentioned or thought Of in
connection ~itL ..y s&~~, Lv"~'O.
insignificant, until the lapse OF years
and the shifting changes of active
events in this Valley, had crowded
from general recollection the circnn-
stances connected with your terrible
defeat.
The cause Of that defeat and the sub
sequent retirement OF your name from
public notice, was YOUR THEN WELL
KNOWN AND FRESHLY REMEMBERED CON-
NECrIos WITH, AS ORGANIZER OF, THE
FIRST KNOW NOTHING LODGE, RsrAB-
LIsHED IN EAST SAGINAW SOME SIX OR
EIGHT YEARS BEPoBR, OF WHICH YOU
WE'RE THE PRECEDENT
During that Senatorial canvass, you
were called upon in published circu-
lar, numerously signed by prominent
citizens, to explain" your connection
with the said order-not to deny il, as
the circumstance was too fresh in the
recollection of scores of living witness
es then residing in East Saginaw to
admit Of denial--but simply TO know
from yJu whether, since said orgsniza-
ton had subserved the purpose of the
for which it was instituted,
you had by word or deed renounced
er you were willing TO make a public
statement of your present views upon
the subject-but you maintained per-
q. Il la1 hn
with digpifed contempt, with tie re-
suit mentioned.
Your silence now would be construed
into like admission Of all that is i'm
piled in the above, but your confession
and explanation may prevent the ne
cessity of publishing the sworn state
ment of parties who are still citizens
of East Saginaw, and were members
with you of the organization named,
and are willing, in the event OF your
denial of the above, to verify the facts
stated.
Your cold and dignifed assumption
OF indifference to this request will not
answer, but will be regai ded as doub-
le Insult to the intelligence and good
nature of large class OF citizens who
have a right TO expect of you n respect
full answer, oae way or the other.
You are simply called upon in the
interest OF the people OF this State
whose suffrages you ask, to answer the
following interrogations:
1st. Were you ever n member OF
Know Nothing Lodge in East Sagi-
nav? Were ycu ever an officer OF said
lodge? Did you ever withdraw from
that order2 II so, when? II 80 did
you ever by act or deed. constitute or
make any effort towards correcting the
evils and injustice the organization
had already done?
2d. Did you ever make any effort
while an officer and influential member
OF said lodge, and one of its origina-
tors towards effecting its dissolution
when you had the power TO do it Z? Can
you point to a word or syllable ever
utterd by you, denouncing the purpose
and objects OF said order; and did not
the same continue through the cam
paign il was organized to subserve
with your endorsement and approval, IL
not with your continued membership
EDITOR DAILY REPUBLIcAS.