The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-05-31

Shall'S letter declining the hepuDli-
can nomination for Congressman-at-
Large:
PIrrsBuRGn, Pa. May so, 1882
To Hon. George Lear Ny Dear
Sir: The kind and eulogistic Ian
guage of your letter conveying the
official notice of my unanimous
nomination for Congressman-at-
Large by the Republican State Con-
ention can be appreciated as the
exuberant warmth ofpersonal friend
ship. 1t would have been a man of
stolid temperament, who could be
insensible to the enthusiastic recep-
ton accorded to the nomination. 1t
was the result of passionate excite
ment rather that the calm judgement
of a deliberate body. The tender of
the position which would have ena-
bled me to appear before the people
of the commonwealth and demand a
literal observance of the fulfilment
of the letter and spirit of the platform
adopted by the Convention, was a
strong temptation toward an accept
ance of the trust. The profession of
faith therein set forth in my judg-
ment embodies sound political doc
trim and practice and is in accord
with the patriotic wishes of the peo-
pie. 1t would have afforded me sat
isfactior to enforce and maintain the
proposition that public trust should
be administered with the same scru
pulous fealty as priv ate trusts: that
no diversion from the original pur-
pose should be permitted. It is a
mockery of common business sense
to displace tried and faithful public
servants in order to provide places
for hungry applicants who may prove
as worthless as they are voracious.
No sane man SO acts in his private
affairs. 1t is equally repugnant to
sound economy in the administration
of public interests. The use ofpub-
lie patronage to control or direct the
people in their choice of candidates
for Office is a grave political crime.
1t subverts the principles of repre-
sentative government and tends to
make of the servant master, If the
common debasement of the people.
To have aided in some degree in
calling attention to these vital ques-
tions of the hour would have even
been my duty as a nominee. The
great moral and political ideas which
called the Republican party into
existence he now became imbedded
in the organic law Of the land. fit
is the mission of the present party
organization to 90 forward in the
spirit of the platform it should sue
coed. If it fails to come up to the
ull measure of its promise it should
perish. Mere party obligations sit
very lightly on my shoulders. The
call upon me for party service was a
genuine surprise, one not likely to be
repeated in lifetime. 1t came un-
sought and should no be declined
without adequate and commanding
reasons. Such exist in nv case.
Personal and private duties in which
the public take no interest demand
that all my energies be devoted to
their filfillment. Therefore must
decline the proffered position. To
say that / do so with great reluct-
ance but family expresses the fact.
A lifetime has has been devoted to
the advocacy Of those principles
which constituted the grand era and
glory Of the Republican triumph.
That triumph was accomplished at a
priceless cost. May the inheritors,
of the name and organization prove
themselves worthy to administer
the future of the party. Sincerely
your friend.
THOMAS NJ. MARSHALL.