Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-22
An Excellent Letter.

mcnts for manlincss in politics that
has appeared in long time The
words should be needed by all. It Is
written to Arthur Cappcr, Of Topeka.
and says:
DEAR SIR-For many months have
been the recipient almost daily Of let
tiers similar to yours, from all parts
Of Kansas. urging me to become u
candidate for governor These letters
have greatly increased IN comparative
numbers during the past few weeks.
ncccssitating nm enormous amount Of
private letter writing in reply. The
press Of the State has also manifested
much interest in the matter. and il
therefore seems not improper for me
10 ask the indulgence Of the public in
order that | may make plain my posi-
ton. | intend to be- entirely frank as
to matters personal to myself and !
shall speak my mind with perfect
freedom concerning some matters Of
vastly superior importance than the
interests oi amy man.
The office Of governor H. an exalted
position. IT. duties are grave and II.
probabilities are great II /. a
sacred trust which men should hCsi-
tate ~ seek. aud which should be- con-
fcrrcd upon them only after thorough
aud thoughtful consideration Of their
character and qualifications. For one
Ia voluntarily assume that he. pre-
cmincntly above others. measures up
Ia the requirements Of this exalted
office, is rcpugnant To- my nature. aud
to my idea at that modcsty which 50
ahurn4 our humanity. aud which ~
becomes the occupant Of great Office
of this kind II ought to be- assumed
that our party would never make the
mistake Of its rival IN nominating mn
unknown man for governor. 1t should
not, therefore. be- necessary for any
man to 'scck' for the nomination
The custom which compel. men to du
this. or abandon the honorable aapi-
ration. il in my judgment u p,rni-
ciouS one. 1t puts n premium upon
presumption, and u ban upon mod
csty. II gives an undue advantage to
wealth, aud makes it, absence u bar
to prciprmcnt. with no reflection
upon amy ~ the excellent aud eminent
/ gentlemen who have reluctantly Nicld-
eel To this pcrnlriou. practice in the
past or who may 10 ~ in the future,
/ ] here and nov enter nv solemn and
emphatic protest against u custom
which not only lowers the high aud
good standard her" set up, bat which
| tends to ring rule, bos-i~m and 10
party nlagonisms and t. defeat.
am sick Ut thr flea that man must
| throw mulc.ty to the winds, and
squandcr time and money aud charac-
ter in u wild scramble TOR position
Of such dignity ~ this, lam tired Ut
seeing this great office kicked Ike
football over the prnirirs ~ Kansas.
! nm di-gustrd with the dispensing Of
it, peruisiies, in advance, and a.
means Of their attainment. From all
these things our party has suffered
sorcly, IN the past. We must take
higher ground il We would regain and
retain the confidence Of the people.
Is the ideal have pictured too
high? Would not our party be- many
thousand votes stronger II this ideal
could he realized this Year, The
issues Of this years campaign are too
important to he joopar,lizcd by Il
wranglc over the ambitions and in
tcrcsts ofindividuals. II there cyur
was n time when men should lay
their ambitions and Interests on the
altar Of their country, il il now. ANY
and all "claims' are insignificant
compared with the great issue Of
rcdccming this fair State from the
grip Of the socialists In theory and
anarchists In practice who, having
first dcludcd an honest following.
aided by Il party whose alleged prin-
ciples are opposite to theirs, have
made Kansas ridiculous in the ewes of
the world
have hoped that there would he
no "candidatcs" for governor this
year. ] have hoped that the next
state convention would he composed
Of the ablcst, clcancst and most UNI
selfish Republicans in the State, filled
and thrilled with the one supreme
desire To nominate the strongest
possible ticket and to adopt the best
possible platform. Let il he Il con-
ycntion of Republicans, by Rcpubli-
cans, and for Rcpublicanism, instead
of n convention Of candidates. by can
didatcs and for candidates. Let il be
something more than ratification
meeting to endorse the work of a lot
of mNnipulators with axes to grind
aud spoils to get, Is not this "a con-
summation dcvoutly to he wishcGp"
| have written thus frankly and at
this length because am tremendous
Y in earnest in wishing the success
of the party which in State aud ma
tion has alone proven its ability to
manage public affairs wisely aud
we'll.
These views will he criticised. II
will he thought too ethereal and too
sentimental for Kansas politics. /
believe in my heart, however, that il
voices the sentiments Of the great
overwhelming mass OF men who do
the voting and who hold patriotism
above position or self.
II the party in its aggregate wisdom
should call me to the front, untram-
meled by pledges or promises,
would do what any other loyal citi-
zen would do--try to bear the ban
ncr unsullied to the victory which |
am confident awaits Ms.
+. w. HoCu
.