Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-11-26
A LESSON FOR AMBITIOUS Il
MEN.

Clarkson n. Potter is "a popular man.
fair, and his associations are most re-
spectacle. He was nominated for Lieut.
Governor by the democracy ofNew York.
It was doubtful whether he would ac
cept, but he was persuaded thereto by
the older leaders like Mr. Tilden. All
considered his election a certainty, and
even after the votes were counted dem
ocratic journal announced that Potter
was carried in by from $1,000 to $4,000
though Robinson was defeated. In the
enthusiasm of the moment he was nomi-
mated for the vice-presidency, and Indl-
ana democrats averred that Hendricks
for President and Potter for vice-Presi-
dent would be a very strong ticket and
got to prophesying and declared that the
democratic ticket should be David Davis,
of Illinois, for President and G. n. Potter,
of New York, for vice-President.
But dark change has since come over
the whole political horoscope, Potter is
ingloriously defeated, though he was sup
ported by the united democracy, and
Hoskins, parsonage of very little dis
tinctness, is chosen Lieutent-Governor of
New York. This kills Potter so dead
that no one will again hear of his name
in connection with any high office.
Potter has merited his fate, and it is a
lesson to younger politicians. He con-
sented to become one of Mr.. Tilden's in
struments, and he was abjectly beaten.
The voters of New York could not forget
that, in 1876, after the presidential cleo
tion, when our county was surging be-
tween the throes of civil war and endur-
ing peace, pending the choice of the
electoral commission, Potter published a
literally fearful letter, which urged the
Inauguration of S. J. Tilden even at the
cost of civil war The letter caused q
profound sensation in New York, because
his associates were generally conservative
and respectable, and, as son of the Late
Bishop Alonzo Potter, it was expected
that the fires of all honest patriotism
burned more thoroughly in his heart,
But circumstances then proved that he
was blind partisan of Mr.. Tilden, and
that, in order to advance his personal in
terests, he was reckless of the safety of
| Republic. This civil-war letter, for 50 it
was called, did more than anything else
to break down the future of this rising
man.
Subsequently Mr.. Potter consented to
| become the instrument of Mr. Tilden
again in forcing congress to appoint a
committee which was intended to disturb
the presidential title after It It bod bod 55een get
tied by law. He accepted the chairman
ship of that committee, and though he
was generally fair in his rulings, the
country could not forget the exceedingly
dangerous objects Of such committee,
and everywhere throughout the free
states it was denounced by patriotic and
conservative men as peIilous effort to
Mexicanize our country by considering
nothing settled even under the highest
sanction of law. So Potter has met his
just fate at the hands Of the people of his
native state, on fair trial and after a
thorough canvass, and he will be laid in
the same grave with his master, Tilden,
and with his co-worker, Thurman.
Young men of the land! Look thought
fully at the fate of these men, and espec-
tally that of Clarkson Potter, and strive
to do better when you are called upon to
act for your country.-Mil,oaukee Wis-
cOnsin