Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-06-19
A Democratic Nominee Declines, and Why.


The following communication was adj
dressed to w. d. English, Chairman elect
Of the Democratic State Central Committee:
lillian D. English. Esq. Chairman Of the Dcno-
cratic Siatc Central (OmRdlCcAlY DEAR SIR Antici-
pating a speedy and entire restoration to health
and desiring in the coming Presidential cam
paign to speak, and with authority. in behalf of
those principles which the Democratic party has
always illustrated and maintained as vital and
essential to the perpetuity of our form of gov
eminent, and indispensable with the preserva-
ton of the liberty, prosperity and happiness of
the people allowed my name TO be presented
us an alternate elector before the Stockton Con-
vention. To this position ! was elected, ! be-
licYe by reclamation. | wish now to resign this
position.
The Convention at stockton was called for the
purpose Of selecting delegates to the National
Convention and electors on the national ticket
1t was not called to pass resolutions of eulogy on
the wisdom of calling the extra session OF the
Legislature, or to relate the reasons of its ig-
nOminious indeed, its absolute failure. II was
not called to pass resolutions OF reputation of
any aspirant TO the Presidency. here or else
where or to rehcarse the alleged or suspected
infamy and treason ofcertain Democratic officers
of the state Government or members of the
Legislature in the upper and lower House. Ii
was not called 10 Signaizc the ambition of some
men, or to vent the spite and disappointment of
others. Finally, it was not called to invade.
even by resolution, vested rights, to terroriZe
corporations. or put on exhibition the purity of
one newspaper and its devotion to.the interests
OF the people or crystalline the claims of certain
men for future preferment in the party.
Reading over the platform of this Convention,
an outsider would be led to regard the selection
of National Delegates and Presidential Electors
as entirely secondary to the manifestations of
demagogism communism, persecution injus-
tice, spite and tyranny that pervade the plat
form and resolutions from beginning to end. If
! went before the people they would understand
l indOrSed the spirit and letter of this platform.
This l cannot in conscience do for | am Dem
ocrat and Democracy means freedom in its larg-
est and hottest aspect 1t means equal rights to
all the right to worship God according to our
own light the right to act and vote i'll harmony
with our own ideas and convictions of principle
and utility The attempt, unparalleled in the
history of all Conventions Democratic and Re
publican to force men to think and act with us
under any and all circumstances, and meeting
disaster and failure as ii ought, the attempt, |
repeat, by resolution, to expel them from the
party for such reason, is tyranny and insolence,
and not Democracy. Finally, it is a movement
which believe, will not be Endorsed by men of
intelligence honesty and patriotism in the DEM
ocratic party throughout the State of California,
for it is in deadly antGgonisn to the spirit and
performance of those pure civic virtues which
should fill and animate the breast of every good
eitizen-virtues without whose cohesive force
parties themselves must fall into decay and ruin
at last Very respectfully your obedient ser
want J. CAMPBELL SHORE.