Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-09-01
MIR. Dunsaell's Letter to Wnrd

MIR. D"""ell's Letter to Ward.
OwAroNNA, August 1G, 1SSO.-Hon.W.
q. Ward: Dear Sir-Thc letter and reso.
lut,ons, which do not deem it necessary
here to reproduce, I have duly consid
cred. While you do not in your lette. Of
transmission to me endorse the same or
ask my acceptance Of their terms and con
ditions, yet l deem it fitting 10 make a
reply to them. This reply has the appro-
val Of the republican congressional com
mittee.
1 am not surprised at your failure to
announce your approval Of the letter and
resolutions, or your pu, pose to accept tie
advice given y"n therein, when the letter
especially is more clearly examined.
The writers Of the letter are your nominal
friends, but they are only such, for they
declare their purpose AMI wish to find out
u way for your retirement from the field
as we'll as that Of myself You or l have
rights which the other is bound to respect
The Committee studiously ignore the only
question which the Vase u convention
lett for doubt or dispute. They know, as
do all the republicans Of the district, that
you were regularly aud fairly nominated,
provided you are justly entitled to all the
votes which you received, including those
from the counties of Mower and Jackson.
No question is raised by either side on
the delegates from the other seventeen
counties Ut the district.
Though fully confident that the regular
ly elected delegates from the counties OF
Mower and jackson. and which voted for
me, were Duunell delegates, yet in the in
terest OF harmony and to the removal Of
all doubt, l cheertully consented to sub.
nit 10 the state central committee the
question as to these two counties. The
settlement of it was fairly the end OF all
controversy. Your committee have ad-
viscd you to reject what must be regarded
as an honorable adjustment of the only
element or source Of doubt as to the regu-
lari,y Of the congressional nominee.
You will permit me to suggest, what the
people will be very sure to inter that your
committee did not want that question de-
termined, and for the reason mat it would
put an end to quibblings over the organiza-
lion of the convention at Waseca and also
leave you or me the sole candidate. The
peace and harmony which majority of
your committee Enthusiastically desire
must come, if al all, from the nomination
of new man, and not from 4 determine.
ton of the simple, pure and sole question
coming from the Waseca convention
whether you or I was the fairly nomin
ated candidate
II cannot be denied that the Waseca con-
ven,inn nominated some one. The true
character of the delegates from the two
counties named when ascertalned by the
arbitra,ors, would Indicate, and indeed
make certain the properly nominated CAN
di1ate. This is the supreme question.
Another reason can he given, aud one
which the people will also give, why the
Holly committee advise you to reject my
proposition to refer to the state central
committee is that born Of the conscious.
ness that the delegations from Mower and
Jackson which voted for you were utterly
destitute of every element of regularity.
They were so precminen,ly fraudulent
that the committee decided TO open LII
door which should possibly lead to their
proper exposure.
Your advisers say, "if said committee
could act as convention and not only
decide the technical questions, but also the
tion TO the political harmony so much
needed in this district, the objection to
the reference would in some sort be re.
moved"
These gentlemen seem TO imply that
your fitness and mine might properly be
submitted to the state central committee.
With all due respect to this committee,
the republicans OF this district would be
slow to admit their inability to decide
upon the fitness of their candidate for
any Office within their gift. They have
been in the habit IF accepting the can
didate which has been duly minated
in delegate convention. This has been
the custom OF the past. The good o: tue
party is secured by its strict observance.
The minority must yield to the majority.
If the minority will not yield IN 1880 it
is less likely to do so IN 1882. The party
has then lost its discipline and It's power
for good. The Waseca convention was
regularly called delegate convention.
The republican voters of the district will
certainly ask who had 4 majority of the
delegates, and when they learn that your
committee were unwilling to submit that
simple yet all important question to an
honorable and impartial tribunal, they
will not be long IN coming to the con-
clusion that they had no confidence in
their case and will vote according to this
Your committee seek an excuse for a
rejection of my proposition to arbitrate,
by saying 10 you as follows: ''The Dun.
nell wing OF the party would bolt you,
even if you should get the endorsement
OF the state central committee, and fair
ness compels US to say that the anti Dun
nell wing of the party might do the same"
Passing over the claim for higher loyalty
to the party, made for your friends, and
the half admitted distrust in the strength
of your cause, let me very respectfully
say that your committee had no business
would bolt the findings of the state com.
mittee. My friends advised the reference
to the state committee in the utmost good
faith and would honestly abide the re-
suit
Your committee advocate a new con-
vention. The people, in my opinion,
have no wish to meet the labor and
expense of caucuses, county conventions
and district convention to obtain q re-
sui, which might not any better satisfy
the few not now satisfied than that
actually reached at Waseca, and espe-
cialIy when that result might be formally
declared by the slate central committee
to which / had consented to make refer.
ence and which your committee advised
you to reject.
1t would be very easy to point out the
perils which the party would run by q
new convention. The ambitions which
were not realized ut Waseca would be
again aroused, the personal animoslties
which did not get full qualification at
that Convention would come 10 life again,
and the whole district would feel the ir
hurtyul influence. The republican party
of this district has no such page in its
history as your committee invite it to
write by new convention. l can take
no part in it, and respectfully reject all
LOOKING to that end. My
if accepted, would furnish
q complete avoidance Of al these evils.
The highest veal Of the party demanded
its acceptance. Ny regret ct its rejection
is not exceeded by any man 10 the party.
Though thoroughly convinced OF the reg
nlaritv Of NV nomination. vet am willing