Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-07-29
HIS Letter of Acceptance Characterized by
Deep thought and Words Of Wisdom
Which the Masses OF the Buckeye
State Cannot Fail TO Appre-
cate-Good food for
Consideration.
A BLOW AT CONVICT LABOR
OHIO DEMOCRACY.

SleAuulan, INalflllaH OI lne IOillillllet.
The following is the correspondence:
CoLUMBUs, July Is, 1881.
Jao. ". B0okwaitcr, E~j., Springfield, .:
DEAR SIR-The pleasing duty dcvotves
upon us as 4 committee appointed by
the Democratic Convention which as
sembl,d at Columbus, July Is, to nou-
fv yOu OF your unanimous nomination
as the candidate II the Democratic
party for Governor OF Ohio. The con-
vention consisting OF nearly 700 dele
gates, with III enthusiastic action and
reposing confidence in your Democracy,
patriotism, ability and integrity
have selected you as their standard
bearer. Hoping You will accept this
high trust and honor, we would be
pleased to hear from You at your ear
llest convenience.
lSignedl JAMES B. STEADMAN,
+. +. WILLIAMS,
ALLEN .. MYERS.
Bookwslter's Reply.
SPRINGFIELD, o., July 10.
To Gen. J. B. Syadmdu. Eum +. w
HaDts and .ANsn q. Myers, CVia0,bUs,
Ohio:
SiRs-Gour letter oi the l4th inst.
was duly received informing me OF INV
nomination by the Democratic COnven-
ton for the office ol Governor OF ono.
To say that am deeply sensible OF the
honor your convention has conferred
upon me would be to express
very imperiectly the feeling with
which | regard your communication.
1t is ut once an honor and 4 responsible
lity 10y which no mam can fail 10 he
gravely impressed to be chosen rs the
standard bearer OF the party which has
been led, and gloriOusly led, in its past
conflicts by the wlsest and aDiest states
men OF the time. | cannot hope to
bring the task the same measure OF Wis
dom. skill and elOquence which they
have displayed, but happily the great.
ness oi the party and the cause which
it represents must in any case over
shadow the personal attributes ol lis
candidate, whether they be OF the high
est or humblest order.
And in Accepting, as do, this Trust
at YOUR hands rely for success not on
anv talent OF my own, but upon the in
herent and persistent force oil Demo
cratic principles and the zeal and tideli-
tv in their defence which the Democratic
party OF Ohio has uniformly displayed.
The platform adopted by your COnven-
ton has received my attentive consider
alton, and in the spirit and substance ol
its utterances most heartily concur. ii
embodies, in my opinion, the reforms
for which there is an imperative de-
mand in the character and the scope OF
our legislative policy, and in the objects
and purposes for which the Government
is administered. Unless these reforms are
accomplished we must DRIFT further and
further from the true aim and intent OF
popular government. Legislation, when
should be directed solely and strictly to
the interests OF the many, tends more
and more in these times toward SubServ-
fence to the few. No doubt this will
exist in all communities, and has its
sources independently OF party organl-
Zatlon. But in our own Stale and under
the auspices OF the party in power, it has
become
More DANGEROUSLY Prevalent Than Ever
Before.
1t is the belief to which have ever adj
hered and have often given expression
to that the functions OF the government
should in no case be exercised in behalf
OF anv section or class to the detrment
OF any other. Still less is it justi-
fled in yielding them TO the service
of corporations and powerful monop.
olies entrenched in their own wealth
and abunduntly capable OF self-protec-
ton aS against the mass OF the people,
and particularly the agricultural and
mechanical classes. These have no
concentration OF organization, and none
bat numerical power and their sole de-
Tense and safeguard against aggression
and wrong lies in the fidelity OF their
representatives. Among the many cases
in point, the
MANAGEMENT of the Convict Labor
of the State, to which your platform al
Indies. is a noteworthy one, and here, rs
elsewhere, Il reform is plainly called for
TO the end that the government Of the
State, ii it cannot directly aid the labor.
iug classes, shall not present itself IL
the character OF their enemy ana
oppressor. The fifth resolution OF your
platform relates TO a question ot vital
interest and expresses IN brill and PLAIN
terms opposition to legislation OF a
merely sumptuary character. This, II |
understand it rightly, does not imply
hostility to rational and practical meas
ures for the abatement oi any evils with
which society is afflicted. 1t NAV hr
well, however, to remember ii:It i'll 4
Tree county the object Of all law Is the
maintenance ami not the Arrangement
OF the rights OF the citizens. lhe at
tempt 10 govern too much or too mlIl-
utelv in these particulars must eventl-
allv defeat its own end.
The Preservation OF Social Order Su
and a wholesome restraint and control
nj the clements OF danger to a COM
munity which cannot be wholly re-
moved, are objects eminentiy desirable
in themselves, possible OF attainment
and properly within the scope OF con-
stitutlonal legislation. 1t is much to be
| depl.red that all well disposed citizens,
including those at opposite extremes
on this question, cannot ne
| brought up on common ground
for the accomplishment OF what
| is or what ought to bea aCOmmon object.
| The proper adjustment of the tarlti sys-
! TEN of the country is q matter winch
gravely affects the welfare OF our own
and every other State. Viewed only in
an economic light, civilization is but the
development and organization OF the
Varied d Industrial Pursuits
and it has come to be regarded as almost
an axiom in political economy that the
prosperity and maintenance OF any
Il . .la,,nnInnf
| the perfect coordination anu
harmonious adjustment OF al!
! legislation. Therefore, this suo,
iect should be OF such character as VIII
ever keep in view this well balanced re-
lation OF the many parts which 20 TO
] make up the vast economic schemes oi