Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-12-23
WITHDRAWAL
OF GOV. FOSTER FROM THE sen.
ATORIAL CONTEST.
Letters OfSpeaker Cowgirl. Chairman
Nash, and Gov. Foster.
CoWGHL TO FOSTER.

eral Assembly, who are your trlends.and
who, if the contest goes on. will stead
faStly support you, regret very much
that prolonged and heated struggle
seems by no means improbable in the
coming Senatorial contest. The great
Republican successes of 1879 and 1880 10
this State, in which you bore so con-
spicuous part, may become almost bar
rem of victories By reason of personal
discords and dissensions among promi-
nent and leading Republicans. This
would be a deplOrable result. Is there
not some way by which all this may be
avoided? Men in public life frequently
make more friends and gain more
strength by generously waving present
claims when the good of the party ap-
pears to point in that direction, than by
insisting upon the qualification OF an
ambition, however laudable, which, even
if successful, might endanger continued
party success and possibly leave behind
the victory dead and wounded, whose
cooperation in the future may be lndls-
pensable to party success. The Repu0-
lican party in Ohio was never in so good
condition as now, never so prosperous,
united and harmonious as at this time.
Our continued supremacy in the State
and Nation largely depends upon har-
moRy in our action. | only make these
remarks by way of suggestion, but do so
the more freely and Unreservedly be-
cause / know how earnestly and steadl-
" YOU have labored for the general good
of the party in the past. and am conti-
dent that you are willing to make fur
ther sacrifice if assured that the best in
terests of the party appear to require 1t.
Yours very truly,
THOMAS A. COwGILL,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
NASH TO FOSTER.
Upon the receipt of the above, Gov.
Foster held consultation with a num-
ber of leading Republicans, among them
Hon. Geo. X. Nash, Chairman of the EX-
ecntive Committee, after which Mr..
Nash forwarded the following letter to
His Excellency:
COLUMBUS, O., Dec. IS.
To Hon. Charles Foster:
MY DEAR SIR: You have done me the
honor to show me the letter of Hon.
Thos. A. Cowgirl, bearing date Dec. II.
in regard to your candidacy for United
States Senator, and request an express
sion from me upon the matter. | do not
think that any contest between yourself
and other Republican leaders in Ohio
for this honorable position will result in
any injury to our party. These men, as
other members of the party, sincerely
believe that the welfare of the country
demands its continued success, and their
good Judgment and patriotism will pre-
vent the evil apprehended by Mr.. Cow
gill. If, however, there is even the
slightest danger of injury coming to the
party, it is the duty of each member to
ward it off, and | know it would he your
pleasure to do so. If, with this feeling
you withdraw from your candidacy,
am certain that your friends and the
people will heartily appreciate your gen.
erous sacrifice. With high regards,
am, very truly yours,
GEO. K. NASH, Chairman.
FOSTER TO COwGILL.
Gov. Foster then prepared the follow
ing letter:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Columbus. O., Dec. IS, 1880.
To Hon. Thomas A. Cowgirl:
My DEAR SIR: Your favor of the 18th
inst. is at hand, and its contents are
fully considered. l have received a
number of letters of similar import
within the past few days, from person
al friends and supporters of my candi-
dacy for the United States Senate, and
| am also in receipt of communications
from gentlemen of high standing in the
party, all expressing apprehension that
the contest for Senator is likely to en-
gender antagonism hurtful to the future
welfare of the party, and appealing to
know whether "a way" may not be
found "by which this may be averted."
The sway" desired evidently points to
my withdrawal from the canvass. do
not share the apprehensions of yourself
and others as to the danger of "heated
struggle" but perhaps l am not in po-
sition to entitle my judgment to much
weight upon this point. You no doubt
correctly estimate the present excellent
condition of the party in Ohio.
1t is a source of personal qualification
to me know from you and other friends
that in the public estimation l am con-
spicuously identified with the work of
achieving this gratifying condition of
the party. By no act of mine will l in
tentionally do anything that would in
in the least reduce the vigor and energy
of the party. | make no claim for any
service may have rendered the party.
have not rested my candidacy upon
any claim l have upon the party for its
support l admit that the party has
done more for me than l have done for
it, and this may be said of any other
public man. l have simply performed
my duty to the party, as thousands of
others have done. Our success is due to
| the character of our course, to the ener
gy of the people. well directed by the
leaders in trying to secure what they
conceive to be the promotion of the best
interest of the country. Ibecame a can
didate because l was ambitious to rep
resent Ohio in the United States Senate,
an ambition worthy of the efforts of any
citizen of the State. | believed | could
honorably and successfully discharge
the duties of a Senator, and was of the
opinion that my fellow citizens concur
red in this opinion. Up to the present
moment l have fairly and honorably
done what could to promote my candi-
dacy, and the information have receiv-
ed leads me to believe that if con .inued
throughout the canvass to the end, am
not without fair prospect of success.
Knowing that my friends feel the ap-
prehension referred to, and wishing on
ly to serve the best interests of the par
ty, without considering the future, so far
as it relates to me personally, 1 have
concluded to yield to the judgment of
friends and withdraw from the canvass.
In taking this step 2m quite certain
some of my friends will uDfavorably
criticize my action. To such, and to all
of my friends from every county in the
State, who have so generously labored for
my success and from whom am in daily
receipt of reports of the encouraging
condition of my canvass, tender my
most grateful thanks. | beg to assure
them that in declining further to be
candidate | am but Obeyinp the wishes