Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-05-18
Beavers Acceptance.

Representatives of the Republicans Of
PENNSYLVANIA: | am in obedience to
YOUR summons, in answer to your re-
quest. The committee OF your body who
have conveyed that request have also
informed me of your action in naming
me as the candidate of the republican
party of Pennsylvania for the suffrages
of the people in the approaching cleo
ton OF chief magistrate OF our great
commonwealth.
am not insensible to the distinguish.
ed honor which you have conferred upon
me by the voice of this great conven.
ton. The man would be strangely
lacking the feelings which are common
to our humanity whose heart could fail
to be stirred by pleasurable emotion
in view of this action. And yet you
will allow me to say, and will no doubt
assent TO the saying, that this nomina.
ton is an empty honor unless you fair.
ly represent in its bestowal the free will
and the untrammeled choice Of your
constituency. Did | not believe this
was the fact you could not prevail upon
me to stand as the representative OF the
grand political party whose past history
is the best guarantee OF its future poll
cy. II you do not believe this is the
fact, | pray you cancel this nomination
here and now, and select some gentle
man whom you and | can join in sup.
porting as the true exponent fpure re.
publicanism, and the unbiased choice
OF majority of the party.
am not much of a politician have
but little political experience, and con
seduently lay no claim to the ssgacicy
which large experience brings; but /
have faithfully and earnestly endeaVor-
ed to learn in the preliminary canvass
which has resulted in this nomination
what the wishes of the masses OF the re.
publican party were in regard to it. |
have faithfully and earnestly support,
nor bargained for political influence,
but have been solicitious TO know the
popular will. Believing that you have
registered that will and given utterance
to the voice of the people, | accept this
nomination-not boastfully, not un.
thinkingly, but under keen sense OF
the responsibility which popular conf
dence implies and begets.
have carefully noted the instructions
under which some Of you have cast your
votes to-day, and whilst am painfully
aware that fall very far short OF the
picture of the man whom you were in.
structed to support for this nomination,
| am nevertheless impressed with the
fact that the people in many parts
OF the commonwealth have set up
n high ordeal, to which they expect the
nominee of the convention for the Office
of chief magistrate to attain. | cannot
expect to reach the full measure Of
their high standard, but will come
only so far short of it as the ability
which God has given, backed by an
honest purpose and an earnest effort.
will enable me to reach.
Ihave made no pledges TO living man
as TO what my future course shall be. ]
can make none, now or hereafter, ex.
cept this: In the approaching political
campaign the harmony and success OF
the republican party shall be the one
great object of desire and effort on my
part, and, If your action should be rati.
fed at the polls, the welfare of the
whole people shall be the prime object
Of my solicitude, their will my inspira-
tion and my highest aspiration TO obey
their commands as legally expressed.
You will pardon these personal remarks,
ordinarily out of place, but the circum-
stances under which we meet, and the
evident Misunderstanding Of my posi-
tion by many right thinking people.
render them not only appropriate but
necessary.
And now, rs to the principles which
you have enunciated as expressive of
the sentiments of your constituency.
They are not only correct as principles,
but they must be faithfully and honestly
carried out in practice. They are not
only beautiful as sentiments, but they
must regulate and control the life OF
the party. The question for us Is not,
are they radical but are they right ?
They are right, and therefore we can
advocate them, stand by them, uphold
them and insist upon their practical
application in party government, and
in the legislation which will give
them life and efficiency. Public trust
means public service. He who accepts
Il becomes the servant Of all, and, In
administering Il, he enjoys most who
serves the best.
This is not the time nor is this the
place for the discussion In detail Of the
principles which you have announced IS
the matured thought Of the party. II
life and health are spared propose 10
carry the standard upon which they are
inscribed into every county OF the com