The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-07-18

Entered 1t the Post once 1t Caldwell. Idaho,
- second class mall matter
EPisToLARV.
TO the Hon. Fremont Wood, Esq:
DEAR SIR-After waiting nearly a
month We are panied to discover that
your letter of the s0th ultimo has been
30 rudely and effectually suppressed by
the editors to whom IL was addressed
for publication that only a very few
Republicans are apprised that they
have been honored by an appeal pre-
pared over your own signature. This
makes it incumbent on those who ad'
mire your methods least, but are more
generous than your friends, to render
you q signal service by. In measure,
rescuing your literary fame from OBJ
livion. Why, sir, it is astonishing that
out Of some sixty Republican pa
pers published in this state, OILY
two deemed your essay of sufficient
weight or merit to entitle it to space.
and at q time when the value of space
is ridicuously low. Your several Re-
publican friends must have felt the
keenest disappointment and mortifica-
ton at such a heartless rebuff but we
hope they will not construe it to mean
that the name of FREMONT WOOD, so
imposing as president of water cor
pOration, adds neither strength nor
beauty to literary composition. To
soothe your wounded spirit and relieve
the spprehensions of your several
friends" we hasten to explain that the
Republican press, sometimes, is pain
fully deficient in critical taste and dis
eliminating judgment. Your apos.
tolic utterances should hereafter be ad-
dressed to those who may appreciate
your genius If they can not commend
your piety. As an author you are en-,
titled to rank, and from purely artis.
tic point your production is excep-
tional; but it is deplorable that you
should exhaust such a valuable array
ut establishment to demonstrate
nothing. Or, as one of your friends ex-
pressed it, "it is great pity that a
gentleman of your parts and assurance
should put anyone to the pains Of en-
joying SO much to acquire 80 little. !"
But, really, Mr.. WOOD, THE TRIBUNE
thinks you are possessed of some moral
attributes which distinguish you from
the common herd. Some men pride
themselves on having the courage of
their convictions. You have the singu.
lar faculty of possessing the courage of
other mems convictions, and without
troubling yourself to form sentiments
and conclusions on your own account
receive convictions as most people do
physic-by prescription. Your system
has the unquestioned merit of being
convenient and compendious, and as
long as political doctors continue to
compound, your supply of principles
and professions will be regular and au-
tomato. You, also, have the distinc-
ton of being the only considerable and
purely disinterested gentleman, in the
state, courageous enough to openly
champion q measure which has re.
ceived the stamp of popular condemna-
ton. Now, sir, haying paid tribute
to your accomplishments and pointed
out the distinguishing features of your
moral character. we may without fear
Of being discourteous examine the sub
ject matter Of your i'll. fated letter.
You start of with the general PROPOSE
ton that the nomination of United
States Senators in partisan convention
10 q proper and popular thing to do. In
support you make substantially the
following statements: First, the Re.
publican State Committee, which bv q |
Of one agreed to inject the
idea into the present campaign, was
composed almost entirely of proxies !
second, the principal opposition comes
from friends of Governor MCCONNELL:
third, the opposition has INDUCED in |
personal attacks on the political meth |
DDS of 1daho's delegation in congress !:
fourth, nomination in convention |
brings the election Of senators nearer
10 the people Afth, Republican leeis-
ators are aniformally and essentially
refractory, incompetent and corrupt
'ixth, Republican conventions are ex.
tractable, competent and
7irtuous seventh and most potent and
wonderful Of oil. Mr.. FREMONT WooD
o wholly disinterested observer and
'nly at the urgent solicitation of "sey.
'ral Republican friends" could he be
Induced to express any views whatever
N this momentous question. Mr..
WooD considering himself, and being
o denominated by several Republi.
an friends" is accepted Is authority \
N behalf Of advocates of the senatorial
therefore, It is fair to pre-.
ume that he has presented the whole
ase. Now, let Us examine the several
tatements made by the gentleman. Z
We are to consider tho senatorial prop-
sition on ito merits, without aspersion I
r prejudice, and concede every ma.
erial fact established BY its advocate.
1