The National tribune., 1882-10-05
THE PlTH OF POLITICS.
Secretary FOlger Accepts the NOmi-
nation for Governor.
DELAWARE REPUBLICANS.
Latest Phases Of the Local
and National Canvass.

Secretary Folger's letter accepting the Re-
| publican nomination for governor of the State
of New York was given to the press Monday
evening. 1t begins with review of the man.
ner of the selection OF delegates to the cOnven-
tiOn, in which he says: "The delegates chosen
to the State convention represented the views
and opinions of their respective constituencies
as fairly and fully as those of the conventions
which have preceded it. The methods of the
convention when assembled were in accordance
with precedent, free from violence and clamor,
sedate and deliberate. There is naught on the
face of them that will warrant an assertion
that all done in its meetings was not fair,
honest, and above board, and that the results
did not flow from the conscientious and dutiful
convictions and actions of the members of it.
This is plain from the fact that when a decisive
vote was reached, though there had been deep
feeling and was great disappointment there
was no hesitation in yielding unanimous aCqui-
| escence in it." He infercntially refers to the
action of the State committee, and says: "No
| one claims, no one believes that l had lot or
part therein, or previous hint or suspicion
thereof. | would scOrn an end to be got by
such means" MIR. Folger speaks of the fact
that prominent persons in the community have
| asked him to decline the nomination, while at
the same time they express confidence in him.
He says on the subject: "I have deliberately
and anxiously considered the matter, have
weighed the reasons which they present, and
| have forecast the consequences. The matter
has two aspects, personal and public. As to
that personal made no indication of willing
ness to be a candidate for governor until long
after | had been named in the press and talked
of by men in that connection, and it was appar-
ent that l should be brought before the con-
vention. l then said that if there was a fair
degree of concurrence in my nomination |
would accept, but that if another was named
should not be sorry, and that if 1 was named l
would not be glad. l have ever been of that
mind.
STILL OF THE SAME MIND.
az am of that mind now. There are those
who were members of that convention who
know that in the week of its session / made
effort to have the nomination of another
brought about As 1 sought not the nomina-
tion as I was not glad when it came to me; as
| could always have seen, and could now see it
20 to another without one twinge of regret, /
have no personal reason why should not re
| fuse it with alacrty. But the matter is moi
solely or chiefly personal. 1t has wider and
vastly more important scope. In my judgment,
! for any one placed rs 1 am at this time to de
cline the nomination would produce the utter
| collapse of the Republican party"
| He then discusses at some length the proposal
to call a new convention and the substitution Of
another ticket. He considers it would be q
| physical impOssibility to convene such a body
at this late date. Before call would be thor
oughly promulgated election day would dawn
| with most of the voters unaware what man wa
| candidate of the Republican party, and without
ballots for their hands with his name upon
them. He says: Bear in mind thai decli-
nation by me is not to utterly allay factionai
jealousy, distrust, and strife; that it will not
do to give or leave ground for allegations or
beliefs of ill-advertised conventions or snap
| caucuses;' that for ultimate harmony, or even
| sullen acqUiescence, there must be orderly and
decorOus and well proclaimed proceeding, and
| then figure out the lapse of time that the diff
| fcrent processes above stated Will take, and Sc
| if it is practicable, by new convention, to set
| new candidate before the people. 1t is my
honest, unseffsh. and settled conviction that il
| is not
"For me to decline, thon is to leave the Re
| publican party without candidate, and the
practical result of that is not only the certain
| election of Democratic governor, but it is the
complete disOrganization and diSintegratiOn Of
the Republican party with all the adverse con
sequences, State and national, 20 flow there
| from. The responsibility for such result is
too great to put upon one man. l have naught
to say for myself. | make no plea for myself
If | am defeated, and it he disappointment,
| it will not be the first that has met me. If
am politically ruined rs is sympathizingly said
| to me- and il work a sorrow, it will not be the
first that has entered my soul and left its pauc7
there. Be the result what it may, | viii not
take the responsibility of breaking up the or
ganization and destroying the Republican party
Of the State of New York.
of it is to be defeated at the coming election.
it must be by the act or mission of Republican
voters. ! can 90 down bravcly with the party
that has favored me, and which l love, serene
| in the consciousness that no act of mine has
wrought the rueful ruin. Circumstances have
forced me so far. 1t would gladden. me now 10
be the candidate of united and Jealous Repub-
ican party. 1t would be my aim, if elected to
be the representative of the whole party, sub
servient only to my duty to be the chief mag
istrato of the whole people, unmoycd by the
| appeals of faction, unswervcd by the appliances
Of private interests, acknowledging no claim on
mere partnership, looking supremely for the
| good Of the commonwealth.
NO NEED OF DOLEFUL APPREHENSION.
"Thus far have assumed that the predictions
Of my interlOcutors of disaster are well founded.
| I do not conccde that. There is no need OF
doleful apprehension. The issues are TOO grave,
the consequences too serious, for present disap-
| pointmcnt, and even righteous indignation, to
lead to persistence in ill-adyiscd and fatal
action. Republicans will reflect, and reflection,
| by showing what will come of Democratic sue
| cess will turn aside disaster by promp ing to
| united and vigorous action. ! therefore accept
| the nomination and await the result oE the
| canvass without perturbation"
Secretary Folger then announces, in n very
lengthy manner, the principles upon which he
stands as u candidate, and concludes us follows:
i" have thus, with no more proiXity than the
occasion demanded, put my principles Of action
before the Republican party and the people /
believe that they will be commended to good
sense l stand upon them and on them alone