Year: 1876

COL. CRAvENs AGAIN DECLINES.


CONWAY, AK, September 25.


Hon II. B Stuart:


DEAR SIR-You have declined to adopt
the suggestion made by me IN answer to
your note first handed me of this date,
now respond to your second proposition
couehed in language following: " In
view Of the unfortunate trouble in the
democratic party in the Third congress
ional district, and for the purpose OF har-
monizing all conflicting sentiments and
feeling and in order that The democracy
may present solid and unbroken front
to the enemy, | propose that We both
Withdraw as Candidates from thA contest,
and that our respective congressional
committees, in connection with the state
central committee, may select candidate
that will unite the entire democratic
strength of the district, pledging my
hearty support to whoever may be thus
selected . The delegates in the conven-
tion nominating me were seriously sober
and rejecting representative men OF the
party, some OF them having received re
cent Endorsements from the democracy
in their locality. They deliberately, aud
| believe conscientiously, did their work,
and | deliberately and conscientiously
accepted the nomination at their hands.
To convince me of their error, Is a work
far beyond your capacity. Notwithstnnd
ing their deliberation, conscientiousness
and, as believe, rectitude, they, togeth-
er with myself, have bean sti gmatized by
you and your friends as boilers and dis
organizers. Under this charge cannot
retire from the contest with honor Ii
any action can be had, whereby the par
tieipants in the late conventions on either
side can be reoonclled and put in harmo-
ny, as well as the democrats whom they
represent, it is a desideratu1n, the cost Of
which should not be considered My per
sonal ambition ahall not stand in the way,
and this have often repeated. But my
friends. thus severely accused, would, IN
my judgment merit their most just exc.
crations, aud amount to self condemna-
ton, neither felt nor approved by my
own sincere Judgment. believe that by
the true spirit and indepeade ce OF de-
mocracy we are justified, at least to the
extent of relieving US fully from the
charge of boiling and Reorganization.
As to the state central committee, will
say that cannot understand how it, ma
ny of its members living outside of the dis
trict, could do anything further than ad
wise, if even that much, without prOdu
cling still greater inharlnony. | hold that
the delegrtes differing are the persons
called upon by every sense of propriety
to institute the means Of reconciliation
between themselves and the democracy
whom they represent We are but cl-
piers in work of such magnitude. And
here allow me to say that in my judgment
according to the rule of propriety which
should ever govern in the household OF
democracy, that the delegates supporting
you ought to go foremost in this work
of reconciliation because guilty Of the
greater wrongs. They usurped the TEN
porary organization in and through the
means Of a self constituted ranking com
mitteeman. If they or any of them, i'm
bued with the spirit Of fairness and from
the great desire hope felt by every dem
ocrat for reconciliation and harmony,
will make overtures to my friends. am
satisfied that hey (my friends will not
heedlessly turn deaf ear. If, on the
other hand, any or all of my friends, con
sistcntly with their self respect, ca. or
will take it upon themselves to make ov-
ertures to your supporters, my approval
is guaranteed As an additional reason
why your friends should lead of in this
matter, l simply call your attention to
the resolution adopted by them after the
unfortunate split. Any means devised
whereby the dlsafrected elements Of the
party can be united will entitle the author
70 its commentator. and he can rely up
on my everlasting gratitude. As said
heretofore, ain willing to die that the
party may live and prosper, but am IN.
willing to bury my friends by known
and well understood ungracious act Of
mine Get them to say that shall do
anything not criminal or -undemocratic,
and will do it. This may be done at
any time either before or after the 7th of
November next.


Your obedicnt servant,


JORDAN r. CRAyENS