The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-03-15
ron THE OTTAWA FREE TRAnER.
To the Democrats Of I'm snIIc, dsrundy, mud
Kendall Counties.

Fellow CIrzESs--Onc of your own number,
whose interest and affection bind him strongly to
you, assumes the responsibility of address ing you
on the suhec, Of the approaching district and
county conventions. Never, since the organza-
ton of the county and distrlsl, have conventions
assembled upon which greater responsibilities de-
VOWED than on the approaching ones.
1t will be the duty Of the district convention to
nominate three candidates for the legislature TO be
supported by the democratic party at the next
August election. And, when We take into con-
sleraton the facts That our delegation may deter
niue the political complexion of that body and
that there are several Judges and United States
senator to be elected, il is evident that union and
hqrmoHy should prevail in our ranks. The wings
are preparing to take advantage Of our desertiuns
and should We spllt-shoulI dlsunion prevail, it
United States senate and enable that party to
maintain their nscenj4ncy in that branch of the
national legislature for years to come. As a par
| ty, we have every thing to lose and nothing to
gain by disunion. There are causes now at
work which will make it necessary for every de-
mocrat to put his shoulder to the wheel in order
to eject our congressman aud carry the state for
Mr.. Van Buren, at the presidential election.
The wings are already thoroughly organized
aud preparing for desperate conflict and rcjoc-
ing at the prospect OF division of the Democrat
party in this county. Shall their hopes be realize
ed J Are the scenes Of 1912 to be re-enactcd
shall a few men in Ottawa continue TO sow the
seeds of discord and hurl frc.branls into our
ranks, merely t, crafty their own ambition or
private cnmily shall the democratic party in this
county and district follow in the wake of these
men, who have assumed the command Of the dem
ocrac ship and are quarreling among themselves
about who shall be captain, lieutenant, &C.
war of determination against each other, and tear
asunder the vitals of the party, by intestine brols
among ourselves to enable them to tatien Oh the
'qoaycs and iishesl' No, l.et US frown down
these seeds of discord, dsuppont the hopes Of the
wings, and unite, us one man, in the great cause
of democracy, And, if those dis-orsanzers still
continue to keep up strife in our ranks, then let
us throw every ID of them oUeyJOasd
1t is contrary to the principles of genuine de-
mocracy for Us to keep up continual strife in
our ranks about this or that man--ths or tina, Of
fee. This is trait of character which has DIS
tinguished and distracted the universal whig par
ty for the last three years. and, for one, wish 10
see it confined to their own ranks Let them go
on heading Capt. Tyler aud heading each other
until they beAead their whole party; but let eve
ry honest democrat scorn to follow such fatal and
ingloriuus examples. The greatest good of the
greatest number is the grand basis upon which
the principles of tho democratic party rest. No
man has any claims upon the party for any office,
but i, is the party tina. has the claims on the in
dviduaL, Then why not let every tub stand on
it, own bottom, and 10. every man stand on his
own merits, aud leave the representatives of the
people in the conventions to decide whether his
services are needed Is it no, the duty Of every
democrat 10 occupy whatever station may be as.
signed to him by the majority Of tho party, no
matter whether il be that OF leader or private
IN the ranks, and battle maniulIy for the triumph
of our principles The only contention among
us should be, TO see who can do the most to es-
tablish good will, union, and harmony in our
ranks, and carry out those glorious principles of
equal rights upon which the welfare aud happi-
meas Of our country rest. How beautiful, how