The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1886-01-19
A Lengthy Review of the
Situation and AnsWe
to the "BaZOU."
He Could not Endorse Russell for
Postmaster While They
Were Enemies,
Even If il Was the Will of the
Democratic Party of Pet
lis County.
An Intended ElectiOneering Doc
ument Which Fades Into
Very Thin Air.

-EDlIOR DAZOO. 1t is not my III
tention TO enter into a controversy
with you on the subject OF the APP
pointment of q postmaster for Sedalia
any further than to correct you in
some of your misstateman,s, as pub
lIshed in the editorial in your issue of
January Sd. That | stated to diff
ferent persons, during the last sum
mer, that would not recommend Mr..
Russell is probably true for at that
time he was my enemy, and doing
what he could against me. Uu6er
srcn circumstances no one would ex-
pect me to recommend or to cease to
resist his appointment. Mr.. Russell
is not now my enemy, and it ia my
duty, as | see it, to consider his
claims as do those of other candi-
dates. L believe that Mr.. Russell is
the choice of a majority of the demo-
Gratis interested in the conduct of the
office, and on that ground solely i
shall recommend him.
1 don't intend being led into a dis
custom OF Mr.. RusselPs course toward
me, further than to say that whatever
wrong he has done me / believe he
regrets, and / am able to forgive.
the interests of the democratic party
in our city and county could not be
advanced by keeping alive a feeling
of bitterness and personal enmity
between Mr.. Russell and myself, and
| believe that most members of ssid
party who feel no personal interest in
this postofice contest, and who
are not. unrelenting enemies
of either Russell or myself,
were glad when our enmity ceased.
1t is hard to understand why, if men
are really my friends, they desire to
see me have enemies when | can avoid
it without sacrifice of principle. i
think that to most persons who know
you and me, and who also understand
your bitter hatred of Russell, it will
occur that the interest you manifest
in my course in this matter, proceeds
less from your friendship for me than
from your hatred to Russell and the
newspaper with which he has been
connected.
One word with reference to your
allusion to what | told Mr.. McNees
about the strength of his support. LII
Mr.. McNees authorized the statement
published by you, he was mistaken in
my language. | did not say "that
his petition covered a majority of the
moral and substantial democrats of
the county" / said to him, "your
petition is very strong one, and re-
presents many of the most substantial
and moral democrats of the communi-
ty, but / am satisfied that Russell has
a stronger following, embracing more
of the active party workers." l am
sure Mr.. McNees does not intend to
misrepresent me, but his misunder-
standing makes me reflect upon the
character of the support, not only of
Russell, but of all the candidates ex-
cept McNees. i don't intend being
drawn into any quarrel with Mr.. Nc
Nees or his friends, most of whom, L
am sure, are also my friends.
Permit me further notice ofyOur ar
ticle 10 say that / Ignore no friends,
that the wrath OF enemies may Re
appea,ed," as you hipPantly charge.
In my honest judgment, MIR. Russell
has stronger support In his party
than any Que Of his competitor and on
that conviction | base my action. 1T
| did not SO believe certainly would
not be foolish enough 10 recommend
him; for no representative. aside
from his duty 10 serve The majority,
as he interprets its expression, can af-
ford, 81 matter of policy, 10 array
himself with the minority against The
more popular side. From your
standpoint | should recommend only
someone who had never been against
me. and that 1 am at liberty TO choose
the candidate for recommendation, sp-
plying only the test of his past and
present attitude towards me personal
ly. If so, tnen why have any express
sion from the people at all? Aad
since We have an expression, and |
being responsible TO the people for the
rectitude of my action, TO be permit
ted 10 interpret that expression, or
shall some one else do it for me? |
have better opportunities for Judging
of the strength of the support gwen
the different candidates, having all
the papers, letters, etc., before me
than you have, and | am as good
friend TO my party and to the public
as you can claim TO be, L must, there
fore, decline 10 permit you to direct
my course in this matter, and it is
NV misfortune if | lose your friend
shin simply because can