Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-10-06
NO.. 9.
F0lger'S Acceptance

| - ANoNNs AhE 1oSSlfs TO SMITHREENS.
! NEW YORK, Oct. 2.-Later-At late
hom tonight Judge Folger put stop
to all gossip by sending his letter of
acceptance to Mr.. Smyth by special
messenger;
convention has been equailed in earnestness and
activity, and in fullness, freedom and publicity
| OF preparatory discussions. The attention Of re-
puohcans everywhere was fully aroused Their
primary meetings were held IN accord with long
established usuageS save in an exceptional locsl-
| ty too were modes that have for some time ex
listed, which, II not scquisced in, have never been
resolutely rebcled against. Those primaries
were attended IN unexsmpled numbers, and Justly
| expressed the sentiments Of the participants in
| them, and the delegates chosen to the state CON
| vention represented the views aud opinions III
their respective constituencies as firmly and fully
| as those OF the conventions which preceded il
| The methods of the convention when assembled
were IN accordance with precedent free from yio-
| ience and elsmor, sedate ard deliberate Naurht
on the face of them that will warrant the assn
| ton that all that was done in its meetings was
not fair and honest and above board and thar
| the results did not flow from conscientious and
| dutiful conviction and actions of members This
is PLAIN frsm the fact that when the decisive vote
was reached. though there had been deep
feeling and N was great disappointment
| there was no hesitation yielding to the unspi-
nous acquiescence, and motion to that end was
made oy one and seconded by another of the
| prominent members who had hoped and lab,r,d
for different end. Their party and public rank.
| and their character and qualities forbid the idea
| that they would have submitted to or winked nj
the vicious or even irregular practices in their on
| ponents 1t would seem as thus considered thar
the conclusions reached by the convention were
| entitled to the sanction and support of
the republican party and the approba-
| tlon OF the public; yet il would be idle TO
effect not TO know that the public mind is stirred
! up by reports of the doings in which the conven-
| tion, as body had no part; doinys of a quality
| which honest and hig b minded men cannot an
prove, and will not tamely tolerate No one
claims, no one believes had a lot or part therein
or previous hint or suspicion thereof. scorn an
end to be got by such means, and will not nm
dertake to measure the truth OF all these reports
thst OF one, is beyond dispute, nor
will l argue whether or not the results reach
| ed by the convention any OF the processes
toward them were shaped or affected thereby.
Inc taets are public, and every one may form his
own Judgment. But there is growing thereout
practical question, and it is brought to me for
an answer. Persons, some holding official rela-
| tions with the republican party and all in good
standing in the community, have asked me TO
| decline the nomination. They express confidence
| IN me and fully acquit me of participation in or
knowledge of that which they hold will justify the
action that they desire. The acts upon which
| they base their request they also conceie were
wholly acts of Others than me. | have deliberate
| ly and anxiousy considered this matter, have
weighed the reasons which they present and have
| forecast the consequences. The matter has two
aspects, personal and public. As to that of per-
sonal l made no indication of unwillingness to be
candidate for governor until long after had
been named in the press and talked of by men in
that l should be brought before the
| convention. then said if there was a fair de
| gree of concurrence in my nomination, | would
accept, but that if another was named should
| not be sorry, and that If was named would
not be glad. | have ever been of that mind:
am of that mind now. There are those who were
| members of that convention who know that in
| the week of its sitting l made an effort to have
| the nomination of ansther brought about, as |
sought not the nomination, as | was not glad
when 1t came to me, as / could always have seen.
and could now see, it go to another with
out one twinge Of regret. | have no
personal reason why l should not
| refuse it with alacrity. But the matter is not
solely or chiefly personal, 1t has a wider and
vastly more important scope. In my Judgment,
for any one, placed as l am at this time to de-
cline the nomination would produce the utter
collapse of the republican party. These who urge
| me have not, conceive, run out that act to its
certain consequences. 1t would be to leave the
party on the late of highly important cleo
| tion without a candidate for the chief Office in
| the state. 1t is so far an impracticabity as to
be almost an impossibility to name another per-
son for the office who would be likely to meet with
the party acceptation. What man of sufficient
state repute would be acceptable and strong
candidate, and of the sensibilities that go with
self-respect would be willing in such circum-
stances to accept a late made nomination and to
take hazard of the canvass, and no man of any
other kind would meet the demands of the party
or could hope for popular favor, enter the field
with reasonable prospect of success. More
over, it is physically inpracticable to put up an
other candidate. say to men who propose this
thing to me: Come, let US reason together
Suppose that hal declined, how will you have
new nominee selected % The convention
has adjourned sine die. Its powers have
been spent. 1t has dissolved into its elements.
Can it resemble with any perogative that will in
sure regard to its doingsl In the state of Penn
sylvania that was one of the questions in turmoil
of the republican party. 1t had no solution. If
it should reassembie, would you abide by what
it would do! You say that you would not. 1t en-
powered the state committee to fill any vacancy
on the ticket would you have that comlnitte,
name. No, you reply, for that committee is the
outcome of some convention which brought you
forth, and which convention you repudiate.
There is, then, but one other mature. that is n
new convention of delegates freshly chosen, ac-
cording to the usages of the party. The time lett
for that is at most, but about month. and most
persons were familiar enough with this process 70
comprehend that To get together from the differ
committee in order to make n call for a state
convention had to send abroad the fact OF the
call to the counties and assembly districts to
vene the committees thereof from their homes, TO
many of which the telegraph does not reach, and
to send abroad call for district conventions in
the mode Of weekly newspapers. Usually only
one authorative in the rural parts of the state
that can call the town caucusses In those puts by
the same mode which would require
SO much time that election day
- Nnyamhar would
dawn with most of the voters without the knowl-
edge of what man was the candidate Of the re-
publican party. and without ballots in their
hands with his name upon them, bear in MUD
that declination by me is not to utterly allay fac
tional jealousy dstrust and strife; that it will
not do to give or leave the ground for allegations
or beliefs or i'll advised conventions snap eau
cuses; that for ultimate harmony or even sullen
acquiescence, there must be orderly and decor
ous and well proclaimed proceedings, and then
figure out the lapse of time of the
different processes above stated will take
and see if it is practicable by new convention
to set new candidate before the people. 1t is
my honest, unselfsh and settled conviction that it
is not. For me 10 decline is to leave the republi-
can party without candidate and the practical
result of that is aot only certain election Of a
democratic governor, but it is the complete aisor
ganlzatIon and Indignation of the republican par
" with all the adverse consequences, state and
national, to follow. The responsible
u
to put upon one man. I have naught to say for
myself. If ! am defeated, and it be disap-
pGintment it will not be the first that has met
| If | am politically ruined, as is sympathizngly
| said to me, and it were a sorrow, it will not
| be the first that has entered my soul and
| left its pangs there. Be the result what it may
to me. ] will not take the responsibility Of
breaking up the organization and destroying the
| republican party Of New York. If it is to be
| defeated at the coming election it must be
| by the act or omission of republican voters.
! and can 90 down bravely with the party that
| has favored me. and which love, secure in the
copsci usnesss that no act Of mine has wrought
rueful ruin Circumstances have forced me 80 far
| It would gladden. me now TO be the candidate Of
| q united and jealous republican party. Il would
be my aim If elected to be q representative of the
whole party, subservient only to my
| duty; to be chief magistrate Of
| the whole people, unmoyed by appeals
Of factions, unsweryed by the appliances Of pri-
yate interests, acknowledging no claim Of mere
partisanship, looking sdpreRely fer the good Of
| the commonwealth. Thus far / have assumed
that the predictions Of my interlocutors of dis
aster are well founded, / do not concede; that
| there h no need of doubt and spprehen-
| sion. The issues are to grave, the
consequences are too serious for present
disapI ointments and ever righteous indignant on
to lead persistency in ILL., advised and fatal action
The raruhiicans will reAact and reflection hy