Lincoln writes to Charles H. Ray, editor of the Chicago Daily Tribune, in response to an editorial which appeared in the June 4, 1858, edition of the paper. The article accuses Illinois Circuit Court Judge David Davis of heading "a movement . . . to defeat the renomination of our present Representative in Congress," referring to Republican Owen Lovejoy, who is running for re-election. Lincoln defends Davis, whom he calls "my intimate friend of more than twenty years standing," and rebuts several of the editorial's statements. Lincoln argues, "I think no movement against Lovejoy is led on by him [Davis]." Lincoln also contests the editorial's assertion that Davis "has no more sympathy with the vitalizing principle of the Republican party than an Egyptian mummy." Lincoln counters, "the charge that he has no sympathy with the vitalizing principle of the Republican party, is surely a mistake. He is rather ahead of, than behind you and me, in that respect." Lincoln concludes, "I wish to take, and will take no part between Lovejoy and his rivals—or opponents. Many of the latter are my very best friends . . . I write this chiefly, however, to express my regret that articles like the inclosed should appear in our own Republican papers, planting poisonous thorns to rankle in the bosoms of our own best men." Abraham Lincoln to Charles H. Ray, 6 June 1858, Cantigny, Colonel Robert R. McCormick Center, Wheaton, IL; Chicago Daily Tribune (IL), 4 June 1858, 2:3.