Daily globe., 1881-07-29
OHIO DEMOCRACY.
Acceptance Letter of John w. BO0kwal-
ter, Democratic Nominee for Governor
Tho Issues of the Campaign Intelli-
gently Discussed, and His Position. and

TOLEDO, July 3S.-The following reply of
Hon. John w. Bookwelter to the letter of the
committee appointed by the recent Democrat
ic convention of Ohio, informing him of his
nomination for governor, was handed Gen. j.
B. Steadman, chairman of the convention. The
following is the correspondence:
COLUMBUS, July 14-John w. Bookwalter,
Springfield, O.-Dear Sir: The pleasing duty
devolves upon us, as the committee appointed
BY the Democratic convention which assembled
at Columbus July 80, to notify you of your
unanimous nomination as the candidate
of the Democratic party for governor of Ohio.
The convention, consisting of nearly 700 dele
gates, with enthusiastic action, and reposing
confidence in your Democracy, patriotism,
ability and integrity, passed by several of the
most eminent and worthy leaders of our
party, and In obedience to what they believed
to be an imperative demand. selected you as
their standard bearer.
Hoping YOU will accept this high trust and
great honor, we would be pleased to hear
from you at your earliest convenience.
{SignedD JAS. b: STEADMAN,
EVAN T. WILLIAMS,
ALLAN o. MYERS.
SPRINGFIELD, o., July 25.-Jas. B. Stead
man, Evan T. Williams and Allan o. Myers,
Columbus, O.-Sirs: Your letter of the 14th
INST was duly received, informing me of my
nomination by the Democratic convention for
the office of governor of Ohio To say that
| am deeply sensible of the honor your
convention has conferred upon me, would be
to express very imperfectly the feeling with
which / regard your communication. 1t is
both an honor and a responsibility by which
no man can fail to be greatly Impressed, to be
thus chosen the standard bearer of party
which has been lead, and gloriously led, in
past conflicts. by the wisest and noblest
statesmen of the time. 1 cannot hope TO
bring to the task the same measure of wis
dom, skill and eloquence which they have
DISPLAYED, but happily the greatness of the
party and the cause which it represents, must
in any case over-shadow the personal attri-
butes of its candidate, whether they be of the
highest or humblest order and in
accepting, as Il do, this trust at
YOUR hands rely for success, not on any tai
ent of my. own, but on the persistent force OF
Democratic principles and fidelity in their de-
fense which the Democratic party of Ohio
has uniformly displayed.
The platform adopted by your convention
has received my attentive consideration and in
the spirit and substance of its utterances |
most heartily concur. 1t embodies, in my
opinion, reforms for which there is an imper-
alive demand. In the character and scope of
our legislative policy and objects and pur
poses for which the government is
administered. Unless these reforms are ac-
complished, We must drift further and further
from the true aim and intent of government
legislation, which would be directed solely
and strictly to the interests of the many, tends
more and more in these times towards injus-
flee to the few No doubt this will exist in
all communities, and has its sources independ-
emily of party organization, but in our own
State and under the auspices of the party in
power, it has become more dangerously preva-
lent than ever before.
It is a belief to which l have ever adhered
and have often given expression of, that the
functions of government should in no case be
exercised in behalf of any section or class to
the detriment of any other. Still less is gov
ernment justified in yielding to the service of
corporations and powerful monopolies en-
trenched in their own wealth and abundantly
capable of self protection as against
the mass of the people, and particularly to the
agricultural and mechanical classes. These
have no organization, and their sole defense
and safeguard against aggression and wrong
lies in the fidelity of their representatives.
Among many cases, the management of the
convict labor of the State, to which your
platform alludes, is not worthy one and
here as elsewhere are reforms plainly called
for, to the end that the government of
STATE, Ii III 10 not W uhocciy alu Tue iapoIlnS
classes, shall not present itself in the char
acter OF their enemy and oppressor.
The fifth resolution of your platform relates
to question of vital interest, and expresses in
brief and plain terms opposition to legisla-
tion of a very sumptuary character. This, if
l understand it rightly, does not i'm
ply hastily TO national and ;practi
cal measures for the abatement
of any evils with which society is affected. It
- hnr TO- n1,n~% %1n% to-
free country the object of all law is the main
tenance and not the abridgement of the rights
of the citizens. The attempt to govern too
much or too minutely in these particulars
must evidently defeat its own end. The
preservation of social order and wholesome
restraint, and control of elements of danger to
the community which cannot be wholly re-
moved, are objects eminently desirable, and in
themselves possible of attainment, and prop
erly within the scope of constitutional legisla-
tion. 1t is much to be deplored that all well
disposed citizens, including those at opposite
extremes on this question, cannot be brought
upon common ground for the establishment
of what is, or ought to be, common object.
The proper adjustment of the tariff system
of the country is a matter which gravely af-
fects the welfare of our own and every other
State. Viewed only in an economic light of
civilization, it is but the development and or
ganization of the varied industrial pursuits,
and 1t has come to be regarded almost as an
axiom in political economy that the prosper
ity and maintenance of any special in
dustry is dependent upon the coordination
and harmonious adjustment of all legislation.
Therefore, this subject should be of such
character as will ever keep IN view the well
balanced relations of the many parts which
20 to make up the vast economic scheme of
the nation, to the end that our home indus
tries may attain to the highest de-
gree of prosperity and success,
guaranteeing employment and profitable Ia
Dor in each branch of industry and
at the highestrat of compensation consist
ent with the permanence and prosperity of all.
1t is, no doubt, true, that hasty and reyolu-
tionary measures, however sound in princi-
principle, are always to be deprecated; and
| especially is this the case where interests SO
vast are involved. The declaration of your
platform upon this subject not only embodies
recognized and long-established doctrines of
the Democratic party, but is in full accord
| with my individual views, as frequently ex-
pressed. 1t is, however, subject that re-
| quires TO be approached with careful delibera-
| ton.
Hoping that by new departure in our poll
! tics the government of our State may be re-
deemed from the abuses which menace its
| well being, and placed on sound foundation
of justice, rectitude, and equal rights, and
! pledging myself, if elected, to administer the
high trust with an eye single to the interests
| of the whole people and preservation of the
| welfare and good name of our noble com
| ronproo1tb hovo f1,c honor 10 ho rro~tlo