The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-10-09

gentlemen composing the convention, IOr
The manner In which II was rendered, for
the earnest words of confidence and com
mendation with which II was accompanied,
and for this third recognition of and com.
pliment to the county Of DuPage, with
whose interests | have been so closely con.
nected and identifie that have a pardon
able pride In whatever concerns Its reputa.
tion
My attention has been called to the state
ment In several newspapers that "he will
spend no money to secure an election
Whether the statement Is one Of common.
dalton, surprise or regret, the fact that such
position is deemed 80 peculiar that II
causes notice as matter of news, indicates
the existence of state of things greatly to
be depl0red.
When the ability and willingness to use
money for the purpose of securing an cleo
ton to office shall become a necessary quail
iflcation for official position, large and
worthy class of our citizens will be eXclud-
ed, and their vigorous protest and open re
volt against doctrine and practice so ad
verse to their interests, so contrary TO the
theory of our government and so frarght
with danger to our free institutions, may
be we'll expected,
He who, by the corrupt use of money, at
tempts to purchase his way to an office is
guilty of moral treason against our theory
of government, and the voter who is SO
controlled by money or any other influence
that he does not exercise his free, indepen.
dent and conscientious judgment, is un-
worthy of the high honor of American cit.
iZenship.
Our faith must be shown by our works
if We make ours government "Of the
people, by the people, and for the people"
These propositions, in which especially
our laboring and industrial classes have q
vital Interest, command universal assent in
theory, and the fact that all practices not in
harmony with them seek concealment by
denial, artitice and subterfuge, is evidence
that they are evil and cannot bear the light
of that investigation which seeks and de
mands DECENT POLITICS AND HONEST GOV
EMINENT.
Having lived In two of the counties com.
posing this district for over forty years,
during one-fourth of which time have,
at the call of my fellow citizens, irrespec-
tive of party, held places of public trust,
my views upon the subject were we'll un-
derstood by the gentlemen composing the
convention; and it is presumable that my
name was presented by reason thereof, and
with especial reference thereto.
1t is higher honor TO be considered a
proper representative of opposition to any
attempt ID corruptly influence the voters at
an election, even though defeated, than to
be successful by such influence.
Should majority of the voters of such
a district as this, with Its great agricultural,
mining, manufacturing and industrial in
terests, select me as its representative in
congress, 1t would, in my estimation, be an
honor which could only be repaid by con-
slant and vgilant care for those interests
and by faithful devotion as the public ser
want of the whole people of such district
during the continuance Of the term. l
recognize the fact also as one Of supreme
Importance, that the position, honor, and
influence of this magnificent district would
for the time being, to some extent, be com
mitted to my keeping as sacred trust, and
that upon me would devOlve the duty OF
striving to make Its voice potential in the
National Council upon questions affecting
the interests of the whole people.
1t is entirely proper also for me to add,
that If elected at this time In this district,
there would be evidence that many think
ing, independent men had acted from other
motives than mere partisanship, and that
such voters would never be given any occa-
sion to believe that they had supported a
partisan rather than a patriot, or politi-
clan, in the ordinary sense, rather than one
who recognized the fact that politics Is the
science of government.
have due appreciation OF the respon-
sibilities which the position involves, and
know that If chosen to the high public
trust, 1t would be my supreme desire to so
discharge Its duties that the best interests
of the district should be protected and pre-
noted, and its position and honor so sus-
taIned as to command for 1t due recogni-
ton and respect; and that every one of its
citizens, no matter how humble, should
feel that he had a personal interest In
representative to whom he could have
ready access, and from when he was sure
of receiving willing service when needed.
Respectfully, HIRAM h. CODY.
To Messrs. John G. Campbell, B. II. Gam
on, j. r. Donohue, F. o. Hawley and
Thomas Evans, Committee.
The Marseilles Register, a good republi.