The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1894-09-12

Hon. Il. r. Hoscard. ctairmoa. dc.
DEAR SIR. When the Congress-
Iional Convention at RavensWood
last Wednesday nominated me It
was my Intention to decline the hon.
or and to ask the Convention TO
name another Standard Bearer for
this campaign. The sudden depart
ure of the larger part of the dele
gates from The ball and the town.
Immediately upon the announce
ment ofthe result of the ballot (the
train being in waiting at the depot9I
prevented me from making known
my purpose, which has since I'M
dergone no change. Ny reasons
for declining are,
First, The bitter and implacable
fight waged against me On common
with every Democratic Congress
man who seeks re.election) by those
who have been disappointed in seeks
ing Offices supposedly within my
gift.
Heretofore have had the united
support of my party. I do not
wish to enter a campaign or3osed
by those who should be my friends
and who would be my friends now
but for my inability to provide
places for them in government en-
ploy. Then there are other demo
Gratis who believe a false story, &C.
lively circulated by my opponents,
which is, that ] am bound in honor
not to enter the campaign for re.
election this year.
Though [ am free as any man to
make this race, yet there arc demo.
Gratis who have been made TO be-
.lieve otherwise and who have an.
nounced their intention to oppose
me because of this alleged promise.
The insulting resolution passed by
the Wood County Democratic Con-
vention was intended by its author.
to give color to this falsehood. The
author of this story was a member
of the committee on resolutions at.
the late convention, over which you
presided. A committee presided
over by man, who bolted the.dem-
ocratic ticket in 1883 and did his.
best to defeat Judge jackson, who.
bolted again in 1892 and tried to de-
feat the nominee of his party for
congress, and who, during theta
convention openly ayowed his in
tention to vote and work against
me should | be its nominee. Yet.
this man presided over the Cabell
county convention lately held, and
was by resolution authorized to
make up the list of delegates to the
congressional and senatorial con-
ventions. So constituted it is not
strange that the resolutions report
ed by the committee contained no
word of commentator for me- The
committees report was adopted as
the work of the convention. Party
treachery and dishonor seemed to-
be at a premium. / do not desire
office if L must accept it with kicks
like this. Neither will my love for
my party and the great principles
of right for which tits battling, per-
NIT me to be the cause of any loss
of party strength, or danger of it's
defeat. This districts safely dem
ocratic and can be carried for our
party if we present an united front
l am not willing for selfish interest
to endanger the success of democ-
racy, and that the distribution of
the patronage when one party sue
ceeds another in power, is fraught
with the greatest danger to that
party's subsequent success, no one
can doubt. To the multitude of
friends who have stood by me so
faithfully desire to extend my
warmest thanks. Theirsi is the only
censure that in taking this step, i
dread, and it is due to them that
should give the reasons that move
me to it. L know that these friends
look upon me as strong candidate
with the best prospects of election.
They may be right, but ever if they
make no mistake I cannot consent
to accept that which is all but grud-
gingly given, nor bring myself 10
the level of those who, without
shame are ready to clutch at any
thing, at any time, no matter how
or by what means it is obtained. 1
shall cherish no feeling of bitterness
or soreness that will dampen my
zeal for the party that has so hon.
ored me. 1 will continue to fight
along with those who believe in
Free Trade and the abolition of all
special privileges, in the future as