Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-03-15
Dem Ucr:ass OF Iowa!

and important in its immediate political
bearing as regards the success Of those
bsnificent principles Of equal rights upon
which depends the perpetuity of our re-
publican institutions. In about two weeks
you will be called upon to exercise the
preroga'ise offreemen, in selecting man
to superintend the vast machinery ofyour
common school system. Upon the char
acter Of the man to whom you shall en-
trust this vital interest, depends, 10 great
extent, the success Of the grand scheme d
education. and the happiness, the mental
and moral culture Of the rising generation.
The question to be decided is, whether
this great system shall be confded to the
control Of a Democrat, ''honest, capable
and faithful to the constitution" or to a
federal representative Of class avoritism
and prescription whether democratic
measures shall prevail, and democratic
men rule, in the administration of this
mos! important department Of our govern
ment, or WHITTIER it shall be 'confded to
men Of opposite political principles, who
will WELD il for the up building Of fede-
rslis,n on the free soil Of Iowa, which has
never yet bowed the knee 70 Baal nor ac-
knowlrdged any other allegiance than to
republican democracy.
This is the true issue, fellow democrats,
however our opponents may attempt to
blink or shun it. Are you ready for The
contest? The opposing candidates are in
the field. James Haglnn is the candidate
of the federal party, under an awkward
and most unseemly Disguise assumed for
the moment, to be cast aside SO soon Us the
contest is over. lie has succeeded in max
ing himself sufficiently well known to
y"a without the aid Of our pen.
Col. Tuo>. H. BENTON, jr. is the dem
ocratic Standard bearers man eminent
" qualified for the high statlph 10 which
he Is nominated, and every way worthy
the confidence Of the people at large ant
the undi.id ed support Of the Democr acy
This is station not of his seeking. He
comes before you,nct voluntarily, bu, will
no little reluctance, at the urgent request
| Of his democratic friends. Having nc
cepted the nomination, he relies, fellow
democrats, upon your known fidelity I.
your principles and firm adherence to ev
cry faithful champion Of those PRINCIPLES
to carry him safely through the contest
Thus coniiding, let bis faith not prove t.
have been misplaced. --... a
We have the same willy and treacher
Gus political foe TO mett.as of yore. H, po
crisy and deceit form their ambush; a hol
low profession Of neutrality, their deco,
net; fal'e issues, calumny and detraction
| theT weapons OF warfare
While their party organs are indu.tri
ous'y exciting the political prejndices o
the mass o'the wing party; while those or
gans are teemirg with the low est scurril
ity and the vilest defamation of Mr., Ben
ion; they are at the same time cry ing to tn.
democratic masses, "Peuce, peace; This i
not party contest;' and their candidate j.
travers'ng the State, appealing to the sym
palhies OF the people, representing himself
as an injured aad prosecuted being, and
striving TO convince them that they should
| vote for Superintendent without regard t.,
his political principles-that is to say, il.
other words, that the Wings should all
| vote for him, and the democrats TOO,
and so compromise the matter by elec,ine
him unanimously! This, fellow demo-
Gratis, this is federal no party ism!
Need you be assured that is, and that,
in the nature Of things,is is impossible tina,
it should be any things else than, party
contes?-a contest between federali. m
aud democracy-a contes, for II sup. ema-
cy between the enemies Of REPUBLICAN pr,n.
ciple., on the one hand, and the friends OF
equal rights on the other? NJ man who
has the Independent ce to think and act for
himself can fail TO see tina: such is the fac,
Every intelligent de moerat, who has the
good Of his country at heart, will spurn
the base attempt 10 s,uItify lis Judgment
and $, dnec him from allegiance to lis cher
ishsd principles.
The contest % the part Of the enemy is
to be fierce one, Tut victory will be the
more glorious when it perches upon our
banner. Then, be up and doing, fellow
democrats! Let every man be v,giIant in
guarding every pass against the approaches
Of the sku'king and insidiuus foe. Meet
their crafty Vaccinations at every turn, and
put them 10 shame. See that the forces
are duly prepared for the engagement; and
finally. let every man be If HI, nn.t o,rl,,