Accepting the Republican nomination for Governor, at the State Convention, July 8, 1886.

Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen of the Convention: Two years ago the Republican State Convention conferred upon me the unprecedented honor of a nomination by acclamation for the office of Governor. To-day, by the generous confidence of the people you represent, and your own kindness and partiality, I have been accorded the equally unprecedented honor of a unanimous renomination.

How proud I am of this confidence and regard, and how grateful I am to you, and to the constituencies you severally represent, language cannot express. The honor thus done me is far above and beyond my deserving. I realize this fact, humbly and forcibly. But from the bottom of my heart I thank you, one and all, and I beg you to bear back to your homes, and to those you represent, the assurance of my profound appreciation and unspeakable gratitude.

I entered upon the discharge of the duties of the executive office a year and a half ago, without previous training or experience. My distrust of my fitness for such responsibilities was keen. But my trust in the kindness and generosity of the people of Kansas, among whom all the years of my manhood had been passed, and with whose hopes and fears, triumphs and disappointments, I had sympathized for nearly thirty years, was confident and unbounded. This trust has sustained me through all the lights and shadows of my official life; it abides with me to-day in the presence of this great convention of earnest and intelligent Republicans, whose generous approbation warms and stirs every pulsation of my heart; and it will go with me in the future, whatsoever the embarrassments, failures or successes of my life shall be.

I have no doubt that in the discharge of my official duties I have made mistakes. No human judgment is infallible, nor can any man expect that all will recognize the reasons which, to him, seem to mark out clearly the line of action and of duty. It has happened, too, that my official life as Chief Executive of this State has been crowded thick with perplexities and difficulties, and I could not hope, amid such surroundings, to avoid errors or escape criticisms. If I have, on the one hand, made mistakes, I have not, on the other, complained of just and fair disagreement or disapproval, nor have I, when my own judgment and conscience approved my actions, cowered or quailed before criticism or clamor. And my experience has, I trust, broadened the horizon of my views, as it has certainly strengthened my faith in the just judgment of a generous and intelligent people.

One thing I can confidently assert here in your presence. That is, that I have steadily endeavored to deserve the respect and regard of the people of Kansas. I have never cared—I never shall care—whether any person eulogizes my official life as brilliant or distinguished, so that all good citizens shall say that it was clean, just, safe, honest, and industrious. This is the only praise I hope to deserve or seek to win; this is the aim and end of my ambition.

I come before a Republican State Convention as a candidate for office, for the last time. I recognize the propriety and justice of the sentiment which forbids a Governor to aspire to a third term, and if, by the confidence, partiality and generosity of the people of Kansas, I shall be again elected to the office I now hold, I shall, at the close of my term, gladly return to the work and duty abandoned at their call, and as a private citizen will continue to labor for the success of the glorious party you represent, and to advance the interests of this imperial commonwealth.

The controversies, rivalries and jealousies that are inevitable in an assemblage of this character, are soon forgotten by all who have any honest faith in or real devotion to the principles and policies of the Republican party. Far above and far beyond any mere personal ambition, or the gratification of any individual interest, are the ideas and principles which have bound together, for more than thirty years, the greatest, purest and most patriotic organization of intelligent people ever known in this or any other land; an organization which found this Republic a collection of discordant States, and has made it a great Nation; which has exalted the American name in every civilized country in the world; which has enriched our history with deeds and names that will inspire youth and exalt manhood during all the centuries to come; which has never been ashamed or afraid to espouse the cause of the poor, the weak, the alien or the ignorant, and make their wrongs its own; which to-day stands for all that makes American homes sober, happy and pure, American industry prosperous and hopeful, and all who live beneath our flag secure and free; and which can be depended upon, in the future, to protect the interests of all classes of the people against the aggressions of corporate power.

I have read the platform you have adopted. It is a notable declaration of just principles and honest purposes. My judgment approves it, my heart indorses it, and I pledge you, here and now, that whatsoever I can do to give vitality to your declarations will be cheerfully, honestly and faithfully done.

I will not, gentlemen of the convention, trespass further on your time. You have duties to discharge, and you desire to give them your attention. I trust your deliberations will be pleasant and harmonious. I thank you, sincerely and gratefully, for the distinguished honor of your confidence, and wish you to express to those you represent my deep appreciation of, and thankfulness for, their constant and unfailing support. May peace, happiness and prosperity abide in your homes and theirs, and may that order, security and contentment which a law-respecting, sober and intelligent people can justly expect to enjoy, be the common heritage of all the people of this great commonwealth.