The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-08-02
HARRISON ACCEPTS.

Mayor Harrison ha, formally accepted
the Democratic nomination for governor,
in the following letter
CHICAGO. july %, lSS4,--GEN. joins G,
IBIAcK. Hon ions II OBERLY, Hos. VIII
LIAM r. GREEN--Geatiemut IF tie Com""i'
be-: In replying 10 your notification OF my
nomination by acrlamutlon by the Democ-
racy or Illinois for the high Office OF gov
ernor of this state, permit me 10 express
my profound thank, for the great houor
done me an honor douhly grateful from
the fact that il was wholly unasked ana I'm
sought The gOyernorship of this great
commonwealth j. too exalted II position IL
be intrigued for, and nomination 70 II
should be by the voice of the people. But
when unanimously called upon by great
party 10 be its standard bearer no good CIT
iZrn j. AT liberty 70 decline. The nomlna-
ton has come 10 me in such manner that
am forced to accept; and, relying upon
the generous aid pledged by you, for your
selves and for those in whose name you
speak, | shall do my utmost, as lar as Is
compatible with my duties to the people OF
this great city, 10 justify the confidence
placed in me by the democrats OF the state
| recognize that we are called 70 AN I'M
equal combat For nearly thirty years we
have fought losing fight In each cam
paign we have shown an undaunted front,
and have been SOlidiied by each defeat.
We have, year after year, fought almost
without hope for the undying principles OF
democracy, and by our constancy have
challenged the aamiratiOn Of our oppo-
nents. This year victory is lowering over
the banners of the national Democracy,
and in Illinois there is reasonable ground
for hope
The great issue before the people, ana
the one which dwartS all others, Is the
issue of reform. The Republican party
has been in power too long for the couh-
trys good or for its own purity: It's great
leaders, who had earnest convictions ana
cOntended Tor principles, nave perloriheu
their mission. They have already, or are
now, in despair, deserving the party anu
leaving II TO the control OF men ac'ua'eu
solely by self interest. The war Is over
and its issues settled. Even the hepupii-
can candidate for president, VINO mas dohe
50 much to keep alive the bitterness result
ing from civil strife, Is forced 10 acKhoWi-
edge the progress OF events lhouSahds
and tens of thousands, who in past years
! have voted the Repupllcan uchet on wal
issues, or on those growing out OF the war;
recognize that party TOO long IN power
becomes either passvely or positively cor,
rupt; that in the absence of great moral
principles such party falls under the con
troll of men who make their living by pol
| itics, and who, if not absolutely corrupt
become wasteful and eXtravagant, and that
waste of the peoples taxes is robbery.
They know that in the game OF politics,
with its entanglements and alliances, these
men cannot be relied upon to bring the
reckless or guilty to justice; that, there
fore, administrative reform is practically
impossible from within the party, and that
such reform must come from without,
These men will this year vote their con
victions and not party mandates This
class of men has in past years upheld my
hands inmy endeavors to run this munici-
palty upon business basis. | owe them
my thanks for past support and confident
| " expect their help in this campaign. For
While it may be true that the affairs of this
state are not suffering from need of reform,
that is thing vet to be demonstrated.
They have been too long under the man
agement of one set of men, and ordinary
prudence dictates that the books should be
examined
There will be this year not far from
hundred thousand young men grown into
voters since 1890 Upon this generous
young manhood we can confidently count.
The Republican party offers nothing as an
appeal for their support. They recognize
that the best cultured and the most thought
| full of our citizens are declaring Tor the
Democracy and they will look to the fu-
ture of our party, not to the party which of
fers only "reminiscences of bitter past
We can rely upon the workingmen OF
the state They know that upon them the
Democracy is founded, and that it has ever
stood by them. A party of monopolies,
which has been sustained and upheld by
grasping corporations, can not, by delusive
promises, win them from the party which
is and ever has beena part of themselves.
The workingmen well understand that
their voice has ever been controlling one
in the Democratic party, and in all contests
with monopolies it has been on the side of
the people As we'll expect a mother to de-
sert her child as to suppose that the labor