Omaha daily bee., 1896-03-02

! In pursuance OF the suggestion the follow
ing resolution was prepared on the evening
OF the meeting and after Senator Thurston
arrived In Lincoln:
While fully appreciating the fitness OF
| each OF the several aspirants to the presi.
Dental office whose names will be presente ed
to the approaching national convention by
the loyal constituencies of their respective
states, and not unmindful of the senti-
ments of pride and affection which their
aexotlon to republican principles and
people, we do most earnestly feel that the
| time has come in the career of our young
commonwse9lth. when with dignity
Without p'''o offense on to our otRers Rers "@e Wa
may present in the name and person of
one OF our most honored citizens the claims
or the west to the respectful consideration
ana Judgment OF the assembled delegates
to the deliberate judgment of the repub-
nSahs whose S t representatves we are the
stacy q In GonS bs i f. IS t
q qpo rter of, a century as citizen of Ne
his rdy Integrity es has been E' tRe VSse constant S
theme of admiration, nor need reference
| war or peace, for Ohio's deathless role of
homer bears his name among the first of
can point with pride to his acbievements @ ntis
while bearing her commission.
II certainly had no idea that this reso-
| luton would be antagonized by him. The
| resolution was the general subject of CONVEX
l
| ing that Senator Thurston took exception to
| 1t, sought him out and presented the reso-
| luton to him personally. He concurred in
It's statement of fact and in its estimate of
| General Manderson but objected to the pres
entation or adoption for reasons which
| he then stated We canvassed the situation
| fully. The conversation was a private one
| and 1t would serve no useful purpose to
| detail 1t. 1t is sufficient to say that an agree
ment was reached that no resolution should
| be presented to the committee and that the
whole question should be referred to the
republicans Of the state to decide solely
in accordance with their own judgment. This
was entirely satisfactory to me, and other
| friends of General Mandrson. We accepted it
In good faith relying upon its being carried
out fairly and in the spirit in which our
conference was had.
Fully three-fourths of the committee in
cluding its officers, every member save one
being present, either in person or by proxy,
were in favor Of the resolution. But with
sincere desire. concurred in by ALL to
avoid any contest whatever and to extend
every consideration to Senator Thurston, the
| matter was not brought before the COM
mittee.
GRATUIToUS INSULT TO BOTH.
"No man who values his word or Judgment
will question the integrity and truthfulness
of General Henderson. He announces his
candidacy. That ought to and does settle
that fact in the mind Of every fair man. His
character and whole life are conclusive evil
dence of his good faith. and that he could
not be used for stalking horse for any
man. 1t is gratuitous insult, doing small
credit to him who offers it, to make this
charge. If possible, even more contemptby
silly is the other charge that / am man
aging this affair for Mr. Reed in reward for
the place given me on committees for
any purpose. 1t is well known fact that l
did not secure the committee place | desired,
and that the place l did obtain came un-
sought Is my reputation so low that any
sane person believes would barter my con-
victions for a place on a committee, and is
the reputation of our entire delegation in the
house of representatives and the reputation
of General Manderson so much lower that
it would be believed they would lend them
selves to any one in such political prostitu
zion?
Gentlemen are placed on committees of
the house on the speakers estimates of their
capacities to do the work. In my public
career 1 have labored with all the earnest
ness fidelity and power of which l am pos
sessed to serve my district, state and coun-
try. I place my record of work accomplished
against those who would make such baseless
charges.
'The state of Nebraska may or may not be
for Mckinley. 1t may or may not be for Cen
eral Manderson. The question will be de-
termined by the republican voters in county,
district and state conventions and they |
alone have the power to decide. We all
agree that no mani care not what may |
be his postion-has the authority to deliver |
our state to any presidential candidate No |
man has been invested with authority to !
place Nebraska on the presidential bargain |
counter or in the delivery wagon to be |
hawked about to appease the vanity or |
vauting ambition of any one. No man has |
the right to foreclose thd right of any other |
eligible citizen to aspire to the presidency |
and to deny to him the right to make his |
announcement of a candidacy, unless made !,
more than four months prior to the nominat-
iS On aft IN fiy Gtat attIta
of limitations-which is simply ridiculous.
SOME EMINENT PRECEDENTS. |
Garfield was not a candidate until days |
after the national convention nominating |
him had its first meeting. Baine's candidacy |
in 1892 was only announced after the dele |
gates were enroute for Minneapolis. Neither |
has it ever been considered as a political |
or moral sin to advocate one other than
a numerically strong candidate. Lincoln was
scarcely thought of as presidential candi-
date, and yet defeated Seward in 1860. Grant
opposed Baine- the stronger candidate, in
1876, and succeeded In defeating him. Har-
rison was one of the weaker candidates in
1888, but won. Blaine, the strong candidate
in 1884 was, it is true, nominated but de-
feated at the polls. AS a rule, the numer-
ically strong candidates are the weakest
and seldom win. Every student of politics
knows this. 1t Is folly to close ones eyes
to the facts. Many of the most prominent
republicans of Nebraska seriously questioned
the wisdom of nominating Harrison in 1899,
and some of them lost no opportunity to dis
parage his personal qualities and his availa-
bllity, although our state instructed her
delegates for him. No one questioned their
right to do this, their good faith. What
was right and proper then is right and proper
now. Every man has the right to his prefer
ence of candidates., and it is his duty to ex-
ercise that right. No honorable man will
consent to have that right abridged in the
least
''If, as claimed by some the republicans of
have reached final conclusion that
they are no longer open to. argument, then
there Is no occasion for any excitement over
the submission to them of new name. Any
of either Mysteries or intolerance
and any beating of the tomtom or tearing
the hair, is uncalled for. The majority of
needs no guardian ad Htum. 1t
never has suffered, and Will not suffer dicta-
tion No one is attempting 1t. 1t Is idle