Fayette Friday – Eugene B. Scofield, 4 September 1888

Letter transcription:

Rushville Ind. 9.4, 1888

Dear Sister Lena

I received your kind missive on my return home, and presume you received a card from me about the same time.
I am still improving—am very much better able to perambulate than a week ago.
Was at Flatrock Sunday and got along finely.
I do not wonder at Thad’s making Dem. speeches. The Rep. candidate for Pres. is a time-servant of all that is contrary to the interest of a laboring man—has always voted in favor of capital & against labor, and as Thad is a laboring man, & chief among them I am surprised that he had to wait to get to

[page 2] Chinese—“Ah Ben!”—ridden California to get his eyes opened. No! I am not at all surprised.
As for Bro. Chase’s chances I do not like to guess—the outlook is too hazy—Just look—Gov. Hovey—Live-long-friend-of-Saloons L.F. Chase—Friend of all righteousness Treus Lemptke—Leading Brewer of Indiana. Looks like they would catch all on both sides if they can. My opinion is, that the whole Republican Ticket will be defeated in Ind. by from 6,000 to 10,000 votes. Harrison was defeated in 1876 by some 6,000 I do not think him stronger now than then. Besides this the Dem. party is in favor which gives it the advantage. Porter evidently believed this, and when all the Rep.’s in the State wanted him to run for Gov. & were expecting him to do so, he refused without giving a reason, choosing rather to enjoy the pleasures of stump-speaking

[page 3] for a reason, than to suffer the affiction of defeat with his chosen people. He was not like Moses see Heb. 11.25
Beside all this the Prohi’s will cut an interesting figure in the play on the cool day in the month of November.
Bro C. would, I think, serve God better by devoting his excellent powers to the building up of his church, than by running a wild goose chase after no commendable purpose. Over Against all such we read: “Godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is & of that which is to come.”
The Rep. party is notorious for breaking of promises—but this year they are afraid to even make promises. I believe they do declare for Local option in Ind. a

[page 4] measure that has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Ind.
I am tired of writing; as I cannot use a pen on account of being nervous.
With Love to all,
You Brother
E.B.