Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-05-05
POLITICAL DECLINATIONS

POLITICAL DESTINATIONS.
The people of Vermont. and particularly
those of the republican persuasion. are
hearing much these days about a letter
written by the Hon. Joseph A. Dc13oer
once upon a time. The point which Is be-
ing emphasized in a certain direction is
that inasmuch as Mr. DoI3oer declined
several months ago to allow the use of
his name as candidate for the republic
can nomination for the governorshp of
Vermont. he cannot. therefore. in good
faith accept the nomination in case it is
rendered to him later on.
A question of this character is to be
considered from different points of view.
In the first place it is legitimate to in
quire why this point is made and by
whom. Is the question raised simply as
a matter of political ethics, or is it
brought out in the interest of other as
pirants9
Then again Mr.. DeBcer's letter might
be considered on it's own merits. What
internal evidence does it afford to sub
stantiate the claims made by those who
would rule Its writer out of the COVER
norship list this year on account OF writ
ing it, or the claims of those whose IN
depreciation of the epistle is to the effect
that he can in poOd faith still become
governor OF Vermont, if there is an un-,
mistakabe demand for his service?
The former class emphasize that portion
of the letter in which in reply to tho ques-
ton whether he would permit the use of
his name "as candidate for the republic
can nomination for the governorship of
this State" Mr.. DeBoer replied mo"
| The latter class emphasize a followirg
passage in Mr.. DcBoer's letter in which
he says. at this time I may say frankly
that should like to he governor for the
sake of the service, and, if that service
were before me in the form Of an actual
choice. I would gladly and proudly re
sDond to the call"
Waving all these considerations and as
cunning that Mr.. DcBoer had not in his
letter frankly said that If the actua
choice of becoming governor were be
fore him he would GLADLY and proudly
respond to the call" but on the contrar!
ton for the governorship under any cir
cumstanccs whatever, even then nigh
conditions arise which would enable hin
to accept the Office without making him
self liable to the charge of breach of goot
faith?
In a case of this character we are no
without party precedent. If a man eve
| ctn taI in cric
that he would not accept an Office. Theo
dore Roosevelt used such language il
seeking to prevent the Republican part,
from forcing him to take second place OF
the ticket with William Mckinley
The demand for Roosevclt's nomination
for the vice-presidcncy became so over
whelning on the part of his fellow-repub
leans that rcgrctful as he evidently wa
to surrender his cherished ambition to sc
cure another election to the governorsh
of New York and reluctant as he mus
have been to lay himself away on wha
was universally regarded as a poitica
shelf, he could not bring himself TO tn
point of refusing to obey what was hel
before him as a call to duty.
Yet is there a republican in all the Ian
who therefore will charge Theodor
Roosevelt with breach OF good faith?
In manner not wholly unlike that @
Theodore Roosevelt another stalwart re
publican, Speaker Joseph G. Cannon c
, Illinois is struggling to prevent his part
from forcing him upon the national tckt
as the republican candidate for the vic,
; presidency. No matter how much hs ma
) protest and decline in advance, If II
! voice Of his party demands his accept
anco of that nomination, he will not b
1 able to resist the call
! Such call will represent party OK
!, gcncy and no man has right to rcfus
= to respond tnder these circumstances III
t less there arc iLsuperable obstacles, pei
. sonal or otherwise, in the way OF sue
1 acceptance. Even a promise not to be
e candidate, which is more than a mere d.
= clination, would be in imminent dang'
under conditions of this character
. The republicans of Vermont are engage
= in thrcshng out the governorship que
ton. The exigcuc.os Of State and nation
politics demand the best possib
selection and it is for the people
choose, When the choice Of the poop
has been made plainly and unmistakab
s. manifest at the State convention or
i any other time, the people will expect II
Il man Of their choice to respond TO the
II call whether his name be Charles j. BE
At Or Zcd s. Stanton or Joseph a. Dc3Oor.