The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-10-09
CHARLES A. TOyVNE.
SACRIFICED AMBITION ON AL
TAR OF PATR1OTISM.
Might Have Eeen Named with bryan
Had He Been a seIf-seeksr-A Gold
Dug Papers Tribute to the si-,e-
Champion.

1t would be difficult to discover, IN
the array OF people politically prom.-
nent in America at this time, a char
acter more worthy of respect and ad-
miration than that CT the Hon. Charles
A. Towne. Of Minnesota. True to mis-
faith and principles, s.ngle-minded,
sincere and unseifsh, he stands bsrore
the people today an exemplar OF m
PIE, self-saciihcing American honesty
and patriotism.
No doubt Mr. Towne would have
liked to be Vice President of the Unit
ed States. If he had used his opp3r-
tunities at. Kansas City as a dema-
gogue would have utilized them. he
might perhaps have forced himself
upon the ticket with Mr.. Bryan, who
wanted him as his running mate with
all the intensity OF his aggressive and
determined nature But Mr. Towne
had aims and purposes higher than the
qualification of a personal ambition.
Already the Vice Presidential candi-
date of the Populists, he could have
been named for the same Office by the
Silver Republicans at their Kansas
City Convention. Thus re-enforeed.
his claims upon the Democratic Ma
/ tional Convention, considering the cir
cumstances of the year, might have
5T.es dangerous to ignore. But, rath-
ew than embarrass the great leader he
hopes to see in the White House next
year, or to bring any element
OK dlscord into the camp of the
popular army which has been mobl-
iizsd to fight for the people and insti-
tutsous against the trust and monop-
olT forces who would subvert them, he
refused to let his name go before the
Silver Republican Convention. and has
now announced his intention to de-
cline the Populist nomination when
he shall be formally notified that il
has been given to him.
Without a shadow of regret or sore
rebs in his attitude, Mr.. Towne ap-
Uedred as one of the distinguished re-
eeiving party which greeted his sue
cessful competitor, the Hon. Adlai E..
s;e-enson, when that gentleman
reached Lincoln on Monday, to pay his
respects to the Presidential candidate.
If he concealed a wish that he might
have been the nominee instead of the
Illinois statesman and ex- Vice Presi-
dent, 1t did not show in speech or
manner, and nothing of the kind could
possibly detract from the earnestness
and fixity of purpose with which he
will enter the fight for the preserva-
ton of liberty and the Constitution
1t is remarkable and pleasant spec
taclel Charles A. Towne. when he
withdrew from the Republican party
in 1896, because he felt that an honest
man could no longer remain in it. no
toriously resigned a political future as
a Republican, which his striking abil-
ity and remarkable accomplishments
as public man and a thinker made
It certain would be distinguished in an
unusual degree. He realized the sacri-
fee. but did not hesitate to make 1t
On the altar of his conscience. Dur
ing the four years that since nave
elapsed, he has never swerved from
the path Of duty he then marked out
for himself. He is one wko, like the
chieftain he does battle under, is in
capable of conceding the least modi-
cum of principle for the sake of exped-
iency. He is of the stuff Of which
grand leaders of men are made. He
cannot be Vice President next year,
but, happily, he is young and may
come to even higher honors hereafter.
He thoroughly deserves the respect Of
friend and enemy alike. He is a Che
Waller Bayard of American politics; a
type nearly extinct. He has richly
earned whatever the combined parties
of the people can give him, in recogni-
ton Of his devotion and service. should
their cause be blessed with victory in
Observation-Disclosures Times.