The record-union., 1896-09-21

John Boyd Thatcher this evening gave
out the following statement:
Albany, Sept. 20, 1896.
| Hon. Elliott Danforth, Chairman of
| the State Democratic Committee, New
| York City: l am informed by the public
press and by individual delegates that
| the Democratic party of the State in
| convention assembled at Buffalo on
| September II, 1896, did me the honor of
naming me as it's candidate for the high
office of Governor. / now learn that the
State Committee Is to meet on Tuesday
for the purpose of appointing commit
| tee to officially notify me of that fact. 1t
has seemed to me due to your commit
| tee that before it takes that step I
| should make a statement.
1 cannot ask for the confidence and
support of the people of the State with
out frankly declaring my position upon
| the financial question now agitating
the people. 1 stand to-day where 1 stood
i'll the month of June in the presence of
! q convention of the State Democracy.
/ have not changed an iota in my belief
| nor changed step in my course. The
commercial honor of this nation is
pledged to the world, and the whole
world knows that the nation will main
! tain its honor.
| l took part in the State Convention
which sent delegates to represent the
party in national convention at Chicago.
| Those delegates by participation ac
quiesced in the action of the national
! convention in selecting candidates for
the offices of President and Pres
ident of the United States. The State
convention of the Democratic party has
ratified the nomination of these candi-
dates / have learned from the fathers
! ard in turn have endeavOred to teach
1 that the Democratic party is a vehicle
/ to carry the will of the people into eff
| feet Such vehicle is constructed with
difficulty, but is easily destroyed. Fail
ure now and then to perform absolutely
satisfactory service will not justify the
utter destruction of the vehicle. 1t was
not constructed to bear one burden but
many and various burdens.
When the financial burden is finally
disposed of the people will still employ
the Democratic party to support their
| purposes and to carry them into effect
| When they do thus employ that party
for one do not want it to be shattered
and dismembered. but be strong, united
| and efficient. Therefore, | shall cast my
vote for William Jennings Bryan and
Arthur Sewall. the candidates in due
and regular form chosen by a majority
Of that convention. / regret that | can
not be in full accord on the question Of
finance with the sentiment of the late
convention, but if my position seems in
harmonious with the usual attitude of
a candidate towards his party it should
be remembered that the conditions are
also unusual
| In nominating me / must assume that
| the convention was not unaware of my
| financial views as expressed in my pub
lie utterances and that it was induced to
accord me that distinguished honor in
view Of the fact that under the Consti-
tuition Governor of this State has no
| official connection whatever with mat
ters pertaining to the national currency.
| 1t was apparent at Chicago and Buff
| fa1O and is expressed at every gather
| ing of citizens where public questions
are discussed, that the people are dissat-
isfied with the present condition of pub
lie affairs, and 1 am in sympathy with
| every movement not revolutionary in
| character, which seeks to take burdens
from the shoulders of the masses and to
restore prosperity and peace to all the
people.
When the Republican Legislature ad
| jcurned in May. 1896. it left record be-
hind it which every Democratic and in
dependent voter in the State believed
would be at issue before the people this
fall No question purely national should
be permitted to divert our people in this
| State election from pronouncing by a
| change of administration verdict
against this record.
The people have destroyed all vestige
of political boss in the Democratic
party, and 1 believe they will annihi-
late bossism in the Republican party. 1t
is not important that or any other par
ticuiar individual should be elected Gov
ernor 1t is important that the power
Of one man should not be perpetuated
by two years more of Republican exec
utive control. Yours,
JOHN BOYD THATCHER.