The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1880-10-23
Hon. u. n Aoskienss xgifs-
drnwal.

Immediately aftorA leaving Lake
Charles, lin company with Hon. John
S. Billiu,) Hon. J. III. Acklen went &c
New Orleans, and there addressed the
following letter to Hon. VIM. Vincent
of Calcasieu, chairman Of the conven.
Iition which nominated Mr.. Acklen at
Morgan City:
NEW DuLEAss, Oct. 16, 1880
| Hon. William Vincent:
Dear Sir-siy efforts to effect any
compromise of the unfortunate political
situation in our congressional district
having proved unavailing, i beg to
hereby tender my, resignation of the
nomination conferred upon me at Nor
gan City. and shall give my support to
the other nominee, Hon. John S. Billiu.
My reasons for this action / shall take
occasion to explain to the district within
the next day or two.
i have the honor to be, sir, your obe-
dent servant .. Ii. ACfLEM
The above letter is published in the
N. o. Democrat of the 18th inst, to-
gether with q lengthy statement by Mr..
Aclslen, in justification of his nomina-
ton and candidacy, and containing his
reasons for now withdrawing in favor
of Gen. Biiliu. Mr.. Acklen concludes
this statement as follows:
The'rapidiy solidifying Republican
vote makes the success of either Demo
crat, If both RIM, impossible. As Mr..
Biliu would not withdraw in favor of
a third candidate, then do, for / re
gard the party success as paramount to
the personal claims of any individual,
and though fully convinced of the
equal regularity of my nomination with
the other, / will not jeopardize the party
by candidacy however justifiable.
Nearly month ago i remarked in a
personal letter, which, however, was
published "The course | shall pursue
in this matter viii be one moulded by
my convictions as to what is right and
proper, and will not be influenced by
either newspaper praise or abuse" To
those staunch and devoted personal and
political friends who have never falter-
ed in this contest, / return my most
heartfelt thanks,
If any there be whofecl disappointed
in the action ] have felt party interests
compelled me to take, let them bear in
mind that the individual is as nothing
to the party; hcis but a factor through
neutrality-suspicious. of Democracy are
upheld; he may die in fact or avaiIa-
bility, but wheB-Dcmocracy shall cease
to exist in America, the future promise
of onr country will be obscured in I'M
ending night.
Then let united Democracy
throughout the district work harmon
iously and actively for Mr.. Billiu, and
successsean be achieved; as for myself,
from to-day until the night of the cleo
ton shall devote my entire time to
his campaign, and pledge him my earn
est support. j. II. ACkLEN.
| AS evidence of Mr.. Acklen's sincerity
in his above promise to work for Mr..
Billin's election, lac has taken the stump
for Gen. Billiu, as will be seen by the
following extract from the y. Q. Dem
ocrat of the l9th inst:
Mass-meetings will be held between
the twcnty-second aud thirtieth inst,
at all the principal points in the dis
trict, andsthc people will be addressed
by such well-knpwn speakers AS Hons.
John S. Billiu, j. II. Acklep, i. +.
Jonas, Don Gallery, Il. S. Perry, Il. n.
Simms, a, DeBlanc, T. II. 'llsley and
Il. R.sOsBrien. gxf
In speaking of Mr. Acslep's with
drawal the n. 0. Democrat says:
Inianother column will be found a,
letter from Hon. j. Ii . Acklen, with
drawing from the, candidacy for Con
gress in the thirdslistrict, andpledging
His earnest support to Hon. John S.
Billin, the regular nominee of the De
moeracy. Mr.. Acklen explains his po-,
sition at considerable length, and with
much tplausibility contends that in all
his actions in this contest he has been
actuated by sincere wish to further
the interests of the party. His with
drawal, and his pledge to work zealously
to carry the district for his late oppo-
ncnt, Mr.. Billiu, certainly exhibits
most commendable party spirit, and
the Democrat takes pleasure in giving
Mr. Acklen this opportunity to set him
self right before his constituents and
the people Of the State attlarge. 4
His candidacy has demonstrated the
fact that he has large following and
many warm adherents in the district,a
and the influence he can and now pro-
poses to exert, renders the election of
alr. tBillin, in our opinion, certainty,
If proper exertions be made on the part
of the campaign committee.
Units issue of the 10th inst, the
Democrat says:
The action of Mr.. Acklen in resign
ing all claims to the candidacy, in
burying all rescntments, and in com
ling forward eheerfullys to. give his
vigorous support to his late opponent
in the approaching canvass, evinces a
most coinmendablc spirit on his part,
II LIE = . ~ n