"Dear Sir,—The night before Mr. James F. Starbuck, of Watertown, New York, deceased, he completed an article intended for the Albany Argus entitled 'Political Cowardice,' a copy of which (the original being retained by his family) I am requested by his daughter, Miss May Starbuck, to place in your hands, with the request that if upon perusal you recognize the power and logic of the intellect that penned the article, you will please forward the same to the Albany Argus for publication.
"I am the son-in-law of Mr. Starbuck. Will you do me the honor to acknowledge receipt of this and oblige, with great respect,
"Your obt. servant,
"John C. Thompson."
JAMES F. STARBUCK TO TILDEN
("POLITICAL COWARDICE")
"The following facts are instructive:
| In 1876 Tilden majority was | 32,818 | |
| In 1879 Robinson's vote was | 375,790 | |
| and Kelly's vote was | 77,566 | |
| Total Dem. Vote in 1879 | 453,356 | |
| Cornell's Vote was | 418,567 | |
| Democratic Majority | 34,789 | |
| But the votes for Cornell being | 418,567 | |
| and Robinson's Vote | 375,790 | |
| gives Cornell his plurality of | 42,777 |
"The following table shows the number of votes cast for Kelly in 1879 and the Democratic loss in 1880, as compared with 1876 in each of the counties named:
| Kelly | Loss in 1880 | |
| Cayuga | 712 | 557 |
| Duchess | 673 | 2,171 |
| Kings | 5,788 | 9,179 |
| Monroe | 2,088 | 1,749 |
| New York | 43,047 | 12,640 |
| Niagara | 574 | 861 |
| Onondaga | 1,468 | 658 |
| Orange | 980 | 762 |
| Oswego | 1,327 | 678 |
| Queens | 1,586 | 783 |
| Rens' | 1,144 | 1,313 |
| Saratoga | 452 | 1,317 |
| Ulster | 1,666 | 1,882 |
| Westchester | 1,755 | 1,985 |
| 63,260 | 36,535 |