Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1886 — In the Pit of his own Digging. [ARTICLE]

In the Pit of his own Digging.

The Political Yshmaelite Publishes an Article which Vindicates Thompson and 7 Annihilates Himself ,-4 The recent malicious and supremely ungrateful attack of the Message upon 8. P. Thompson, and which had for its object the double purpose of revehging a supposed injury and causing a sensation, has been ahswered in the same paper, in a most able and conclusive manner, by a writer who signs himself “Republican”. The writer artfully availed himself of the consuming egotism and self-complacency of the Message man, and by the use of a little seeming flattery, but really covert but bitter sarcasm, he secured she publication ih the Message of the article which is not only, a triumphant and unanswerable de>sense of Mr. Thompson, but at the same time, is a withering condemnation of the political course of the editor of that paper. Seldom does there occur a more striking instance of an “engineer hoist by his own petard.”

Below is the article in full, with some embellishments and explanations of our own in brackets, [ ] and in larger type than the quoted article: In the last Message appears an editorial referring to Mr. S. P. Thompson as a candidate for State Senator. The words oi commendation and depreciation are outspoken and no doubt fairly express the honest, convictions of the editor. [Honest convictions of the editorl Heaven save the mark! Honest convictions of a man who boasts that “politics with him is a matter of business—dollars and cents,” and who says that his political principles are in his pocket book! Honest convictions! What a sarcasm, and Horace’s egotism took it for intended compliment.] At the same time I hope to be excused for suggesting that they will have but little weight with those who know Mr. Thompson. And no man in the three counties comprising this senatorial district is better known than he. kis life for twenty years has been a public once. Like other public men, hp, is perhaps known better than he knpws others, He has always been a true republican never bolting a nomination and working and voting at every election for the -whole ticket of his party. >

[And that hits you hard, Horace. It is a reminder of the time when you bolted General Packard, the Republican candidate for. Congress, and villified and libelled him so outrageously, because he would not give you the Rensselaer postoffice, on the strength of a petition signed only by non-residents of the town and against the gen eral opposition of all the better people of the community. It also suggests the various times when you have openly opposed the party, and even been a candidate on an opposition ticket;} - He was never nominated in a partisan convention, and nevqr defeated in an election when a candidate. When he was chairman of the county Committee, no one on the republican ticket was ever defeated. [And still indulging in personalities, at your expense,. Horace. This time he has in mind the campaign of 1878, when you were chairman of the county central committee, and the celebrated “still hunt” you made at that time, and the magnificent majorities for all the Republican candidates which you promised so confidently, up to the very eve of the election, and with the result that the Democrats made pretty near a clean sweep, fleeting the County Clerk the County Auditor, a County Commissioner, the State Senator and the Representative in the Legislature. That year you. “run, thin gs” and promised 300 or 400 Republican majority and the Democrats scooped about everything. The next campaign year, 1880, when you were fired out from the chairmanship, you stated, in a speech at the court house, that the difference between the parties in the county was aot more than thirty votes,, The retqfjm showed nearly 500 Republican

majority. So much for your “political sagacity.” His political sagacity and wisdom, 9s well as his fidelity to the principles of the republican party, are well known to the public. In educational, legal and judicial matters, he has had long and successful, experience. No one acquainted w’tlijhim needs any proof of his pre-eminent ability and fitness to serve his constituency well and faithfully as State senator. With due deference to the opinion of the Message, I must beg to dissent from its statement that “in Carpenter township especially, in Jordan township, in Marion township, are determined men who have openly declared the hostility of their feelings towards their neighbor,” Mr. Thompson. If such hostility has been expressed, it can hardly “have been by those accustomed to vote the Republican ticket. No better republicans than those of the townships named can be found. None are better judges of merit, or of the fitness of men for public office. Many of them are personally friendly to Mr. Thompson, and desire his nomination on account of his qualifications for the position. I cannot think there are any good republicans in either of these townships whose hostile feelings towards him would cause them to vote against |rim if he should be the nominee of the party. If there be any such, I have not heard of them. Mr, Thompson ,js not the man who would accept a nomination that would endanger success. -He believes in the people. He holds that every republican Should have a voice iu the nomination of party candidates. He and hisfriends are willing that this principle of selecting candidates shall be applied to his candidacy. Why not, then, on July 1,. 1886, at the time of holding the precinct mass conventions, take an easy, quiet and peaceful ballot sor 1 candidate for State Senator? This will afford an op-

portu nity for the expression of the hos •. tility spoken, it it exists, and give the i friends of Mr. Thompson and each of the other candidates the privilege of expressing their preferences. This will anaole the senatorial convention on July 8,188 G, in voting for a choice of candidate, to be govern ed by tbe real opinion ot the republican majority. Each of the 4,000 republican voters in this senatorial district should be free to vote and be voted for in ascertaining the wishes of the party as to its candidate for senator. With ntalice towards none and with supreme confidence in the wisdom of the majority, Mr'. Thompson i§ willing that he and each of his brethren in liknspirit shall have a free vote on July 1, 1886, and by the chosen delegates on July 8, 1886, be judged by the result showing in what light the republicans of the district regard the matter of State senatorship. A wise nomination is what all republicans desire. Mr. Thompson, at the request of many of his political friends, has consented to accept the nomination if it is tendered to him. Many republicans believe that he would be the most available candidate for the place. It is due to them, as well as to him; —that he sfiall be treated as, any other republican who may be ta’ked of or voted for in convention as a candidate. If nominated, Mr. Thompson will use all his experience and skill in aid of a successful campaign, and will, as his friends believe, bd elected by a large majority. Republican. j _ WAY— DoWN-r bow-B very thing at Kann al’s cheap store. *