Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-10-06
Iht Nrtt prtss.
FOLGER'S LETTER.
Reasons why il would he Unwise
to Decline.
On the Late Eve Of Election no Can
didate Could be Found to
Hazard a Canvass.
His DcclinatiOu ut this Juucturc
would Ncau the DislntcgrutiOn Of
the party In New York.

NEN NtEk. WI TbltbNlHS Is |
letter of acceptance of the Republican nomi-
nation for Governor:
New IoRH CITY, Oct. ., 1889.
To the Hon. Edward NJ. Madden, chairman,
etc.
Sir. IN your letter dated Sept. 2s, 1889,
You officially apprisc me that by the State
convention If the Republican party held ut
Saratoga on the Goth ult, | was nominated as
n candidate for Governor Of the State. The
canvass in the party for the choice of candi-
dates TO that convention has seldom been
cqu illod in the carncstness and activity, and
in the nlncss freedom and publicity of the
preparatory discussion. The attention OF
Republicans everywhere was fully aroused |
Their primary meetings were held in accord
with long established usage, save in an eX- |
CcptiOnu locality or two, where modes have |
for some time existed which, If not acqulesced
in, have never been rcsolutely rehelcd against
and changed. Those primaries were
attended in unucNampled numbers,
and Justly expressed the sentiments OF
PARTICIPANTS in them The delegates chosen
10 the State convention represented the views
land opinions OF their respective constituent
cics ns fairly and fully ms those of the con
vrniiuns which preceded it. The methods
ut the convention when assembled were in
accordance with the precedent free from vlo-
lCnCc and camor, scdntc and deliberate.
There Is nuught on the face OF them that VIII
warrant the assertion that all that was done
in its meetings was not fair, honest and
above board and that the results did not
flow from conscientious and dutiful convlc-
lions, aud the actions of the members OF II.
This is plain from the fact that, when the
decisive vote was reached though there had
been IL deep feeling and was great disappoint
mcnt, there was no hesitation in yielding
unanimous aQuicsccnCc in it, and motion to
that end was made by one and seconded by
another of the prominent members, who had
hoped and laburcd Tor different end. Their
parry ANA public rank and their character
aud qualities. forbid the idea, that they
would nave submitted to or wlnkcdat vicious
or even irregular practices in their opponents
1t would seem, rs thus considered, that the
conclusions reached 10y the convention were
entitled to the sanction and support OF The Re
publican party, and the appreciation OF the
public. Yet it would be idle to affect not TO
know that the public mind is stirred by re-
ports OF the doings in Which the convention as
body had no part OF the doings OF a
qnaity which honest aud high mind
cd men Can not approve and
will not tamcly tolerate. No one
claims. no one believes, that | had lot or part
therein, or previous hint or suspicion thereof.
! Srorn the end to be got by such means |
will not undertake to measure the truth Of
these reports that of one is beyond dispute.
Nor will argue, whether or not the results
reached by the convention or any of the pro-
C,S>cs toward them were shaYed.or affected
thereby. The facts are public and every one
may term his own judgment. But there is
growing thercout practical question and it
is brought to me for an answer Persons
some OF them holding official relations with
the Republican party, and all of good stand
ing in the community, have asked me to de-
cline the nomination made at Saratoga
They express confidence in me, and carefully
acqult me ri participation IN or knowledge
ofthat which they hold will Justify the action
they desire. The acts conceded or alleged to
have been done, upon which they base the
roJut ST, they also conceded were wholly acts
ui others than me. have deliberately and
unNiuuslv consderc the matter, have weighed
The reasons which they present and forecast
the consequences. The matter has two
aspects, personal and public. AS to that
personal made no Indication of my willing
ness to be Il candidate for governor until long
after had been named inthe press and talk
ed OF by men in that connection. and ii was
apparent that should he brought before the
convention. | then said il there was a fair
decree of concurrence in my nomination
would accept: but il another was named |
should not he sorry and if | was named |
would not be glad. havc,cver been OF that
mind, and am Of that mind now. There
are those who were members OF that cOnven-
ton who know that in the week of its set
ting, | madc..a effort 10 have the nomina-
ti1n Of another brought about As sought
not tho nomination as | was not glad when
it came TO me- as coAld always have seen,
and could now seei it go 10 another without
one twingc of regret. | have no personal
reason why should not refuse it with aacrl-
ty. But the matter is not solely or chiefly
personal. II has a wider and vastly more
important scope, lnmy judgment for any
one placed as | am ut this time to decline the
nomination would produce an uttor collapse
in the Republican party. Those who uge
me have not conceive, run that act to its
contained consequences. 1t would he to
leave tho party ON the late eve of highly
important election without Il candidate for
the chief Office in the State, is so far imprac-
UcalIlc as To be almost an impOssibillty To
name another person for the Office, who
would he likely TO meet with party acccpta-
ton. What man of sufficient State rcputc To
he an acceptable and strong candidate, and
OF srnShilltics that 20 with self respect,
would lac willing in such circumstances, to
accept this late made nominations and take
the hazard of "a canvass And no man OF
ahy other kind would meet the demands OF
the party or could hope for popular favor,
or eutcr the field with II reasonable prospect
ui success. Moreover it is physically i'm.
practicable to put up another candidate.
say to men who propose this thing to me
Come let us reason together. Suppose
have declined, how will you have new
nominee selected; The convention has ad.
iJuncd sine die. Its powers have been
spent 1t has dissolved into its element
Can il reasonable with any prerogativc that
will insure regard to its doings: In the
State Of Pennsylvania that was one of the
questions in the turmoil OF the Republican
party. II had no solution. If it should reas-
Scmbc would you abide by what it would
do; | say sou would moi. That itcmpowered
the committee To fill any vacancy on the
ticket Would you have that committee
name: No, you reply, for that committee
is the outcome OF the same convention whicl
brought you forth, which is the convention
you repudiatc There is, then, but ont
other made. That lisa new convention, o.
delegates freshly chosen according to tn,
urage Of the party. The time left for that il
nj most but about a month. Most person.
are familiar enough with the processes t
comprehend that to got together from differ
cn parts OF the state the members of tn
State committee to make call for State con
vcutiou, to send abroad the fact Of the call [,
tho counties, assembly districts to covcne tn
committees ihoreoi from their homes to man,
of which the Telegraph does not reach, L
send abroad a call Tor district conventions il
the mode of the weekly newspapers usual
only authoritative in lhe rural parts of tn
State, 10 call town tauCuses in those parts b.
the same mode, would require so much tim
that election day in carly November mex
would dawn with most voters without
knowledge of what man was the candidat
of the Republican party and without ballot
f,p tlnir hands with lia mn them
Bcur in mind declinaton by me is not to nj
icrlY nllnY tie fnCtonal jealousy, distrus