Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-03-17
circular {, the People Of Iowa.

FELLOW CITIZENS: : Hastily, sad unsought
on my part, am before you as q candidate
for the Office Of "Superintendent of Public
Instruction. which Office you will, by your
votes, fill on the third o! April next.
By common consent, this Office il regard
cd ny those competent to Judge, one Of the
most lahoiious, as well rs rsspon siblc, Of
any in tho gift Of the people of the State
thence your duty, ne we'll rs right. to in
quire rs to tie morai character, tho business
copncity, and personal interest Of the respee-
tive candidates.
First, then, as to "moral character" |
reply, let those with whom, in Iowa, for
fifteen yenrs have been associated, an
swer. have not been concealed-and
fear not the verdict.
Further cuisines capacity" From ten
to thirty years of age, my time was divided
between intellectual, agricultural, merean-
Tie, and mechanical labor. Nor have
yet found time or place when those, all,
more or less, were not necessary.
A-aln: Is he personally interested with
and for MS, or is he here for Office, to retire
il unsuccessful To this say, for fifteen
years have neither sought nor desired any
other home than Iowa. In this we speak
advisedly. fifteen years Of labor or resi-
dence in thirty or more counties, with all
our secular attractions, with a, last,
after years of sojourn, surrounded
with family and friends, ami with the
tennis of ''memory's cherished ones
when we say We are greatly interested.
And further, in matters Of educational in
tcrest, remark, for near two years have
filed n station directly connected Herewith;
and lahoring therein, "my heart has burn
ed within mc,'' and no kindred subject has
had more Of my thonghts for years, than
this to devise plan by which liberal
eiscation might he at the command of all,
even the most destitute.
| am pleased with the growth, reputation.
prospects and name Of l-..-w.A: when n
broad, if 1t could no done, would make
every letter y syllable, with its full Iadisn
accent.
Our common schools, though imperfect.
our school houses, high schools and colleges,
and the manner in which the State, Uenom-
/ nations, Associations, and Indiv iduals, are
lahorlng in their appropriate fields, with a
zenl and harmony commendabln, in a work
which honors God and elavates man, are
subjects on which TIE phil ,nthropiss delights
to dwell.
The Office under consideration. we con-
cai,e, was not by the trainers Of our law in
tended ts he a political one--hence its sep
arnton from the general election in August.
And with nearly the same prorriety might
the politics of n Pastor OF Church, Pro-
fess.r Of a College, Teas her of School
or Minister officiating on Wedding or Fu-
neral occasions, he made a test; and though
we are ''neutral in nothing yet many of
our intimate friends know not what our po-
htical views are.
The Office is also of Moral and S ,cial
character, and opens field fraught with in
teres. 30 all who look to the welfare Of the
generations rising and to rise.
! ".aHy vi AHose We KNEW, IN an early gay
in Iowa, have ceased to live and act = such
ass Lucas, CLARK, an EDWARDS, and hosts
OF others rs excellent, though not as noted;
yet we have seen the children and youths OF
1889 to 1913 the Substantial men and we
men in the responsible, honorable, and high
! ly useful labors Of life in lS45 to 1851, sup-
plying the places Of the former.
We add, doubtless we are anxious to be
elected, and if SO, hope to be grateful and
uscf al: If not, (Which we shall labor tn
avoid you shall rot hear us loudly COM
plain. Your Fellow Citizen,
I. I. STEW ART.
/ Mount Pleasant lay, M,r., 9th IA