Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1847-03-03
An 9 Indcrcndent" WEsEg CaasGfi-
date.

AG<AS-SRtetSNa W SGdE4Nkk~
date.
In compliance with the request Of Pro-
fessor Harlan, Principal Of the Iowa City
College, we publish his card, announcing
himself as candidate for the office Of Su-
perintendent OF Public instruction. Mr..
Harlan having been a resident Of this
State only six or eight months, our &C
quaintancs with him is TOO slight to ena-
bic us to speak sdyisedIy respecting Ell
Their his qualifications for that post, his re-
responsibility, or his views as regards
the manner Of conducting the Common
School System.
This poe. is one of the highest respon-
sibifity, as well en- account Of the inpor-
tar.t interests enuasteu TO I'm. VINO is
charged with the care Of experimenting
the education Of the youth :. our State,
as OF the large amount of money which
must necessarily come into his hands by
virtue Of said office. 1t therefore be-
hooyes the people OF Iowa to exercise
grea, care and prudence in the selection
Of . man 10 fill that station, and to confer
the office on none other than such an
one as they know to be well qualified and
every way worthy Of their confidence.
1t is not our design 10 depreciate the n.er-
its of Mr.. Harlan. For ausht we know,
he may be very well qualified for the Of
flee to which he sspirss But this we do
know-irom cur slight knowledge Of him,
and our intimate acquaintance with Judge
Nason--that The qualifications of the lat
ter are IN every respect far Superior to
those Of Mr.. Harlan. Judge Mason be-
ing an old citizen Of iowa, and having,
frcln the first organization of The Terrific
ry, discharged with honor to hims elfand
to the entire satisfaction Of the public, the
functions Of Chief Justice of the United
States District Court, he is known to be
not only eminently qualified for such
station, bu. perfectly responsible, also,
AS Mr.. Harlan announces himself
candidate. for this Office "indepeadem of
perty nominations and Caucus dictation,'
wetake it for granted that he desires TO
pull the wool over the eyes of some hon
est democrats, and therefore deem i. our
duty to advise the public that he is an ul-
ira Wing, and was engaged, not long
since, as we are informed, in making stump
speeches for the Wing party in Indiana.
He will learn that, however well such
game might work in the Hoosier State.
he will ''come poor speed! at i, in Iowa.
II may os said, that Superintendent of
Public instruction is not political of.
flee, and therefore, that the people should
not be influenced by political considera.
tons, in voting for man to fill the same.
This, however, is great error. 1t is
quite as itnportan. that our Common
School System should be conducted on
the true principles of democracy and
equal rights, as that those principles
should be observed in any other depart
ment of our political economy.
I Besides, it is well known, that, though
sterling democrat. Judge Mason is not,
in the common acceptation of the phrase,
3 professional politician. Can az much be
said for Mr.. Harlan9 Is he really as Gin
dependant of party nominations and caucus
diotation," as he would have the public
believe? Has he not been nominted
BY the Wing junto Of this city, and by a
caucus Of the federal members of the Lee
gislature, as their candidate for this office?
And does ne not aim to secure democratic
~ L..