The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-05-03
To The Democracy of the civ ottawa.

" sNS ASAcCiIC! OA t1S tANy ottH"Ss
Omitted, Standardized, we fall"
FELLOW DEMOCRATS: \ crisis is approach
ing-aye, is here-in the political affairs of
OF our city, the most important that has pre-
scented itself since our municipal organza-
ton. Circumstances have lately TRANSFERRED
which demand our most serious and anxious
attention, and propositions are being made
by some interested spectators and political
demagogucs, which threaten to swamp our
CITY in debt to impose upon NJ 4 set Of ruler s
alike incapable and d,sagrceablc, and to place
upon our shoulders many burdens '.grieyous
to be borne" Surely, then, it is the part Of
every true democrat, every patriot, and eve
~ well-wisher Of our beautiful young city to
awake to a sense of the impending evil, and
to use every honorable means in his power
to gain for Us a better state Of things
Our motive for thus taking the liberty OF
addressing you, is not from any desire TO in
terfere with any matters beyond the limits
of cur own ward, or to dictate to any the
course they should pursue. But we do it
merely that we may take counsel together,
and by giving our views and asking yours,
VIC hope that a mutual feeling Of amity and
good will may spring up between US, which
will enable us triunphantly to sweep from
our midst the new tangled doctrines upheld
by our opponents.
1t would be useless for US to remind you
of what we have to oppose, for, as demo-
Gratis, you know well. The opposition, like
the witches caulIron, is composed Of all
sorts of materials; it is "potch-potch' OF
all the isms-all the political futures Of the
day. Abolitionists CHhO 50 love their bi1ck
brethren) expect to carry out their peculiar
motives with shapes rifles, provided they
cannot DO so at the baiiot-bOX. Yet they
call themselves ReguJlicaHs. Is this repub-
lieanism! We leave their acts to answer.
know-nothings, forgetting that politics is
the science of government, and that the
governed have a right to know who arc can
dilates for their sutfrages, in order that they
may vote for such as viii truly rep escnt
them leave their homes at midnight, dark
lantern in hand, to sneak into some secret
den, and there plot the political overthrow
Of all who have not been so fortunate a. to
have been born in this particular portion Of
the globe. Is either their sccresy, their
terrible oaths, or their bigoted opinions con
soDant with the principles Of a free and en-
ightened Republic? FeIlew Democrats, will
you encourage either Of these sects;
1t Is said by some, even Of those who pro
fyss 10 be democrats, that city election has
nothing to do with party polite, but we
may b. pGIloueI for saying taa; s-s think il
has great G.a. 20 90 ".tA L. Il tae p!ia-
ciples OF our party are worth maintaining At
all, why Is it not as important that they be-
maintained hero ~ hy.ts, Is at Washington
City or Springfield: l. is true that no sTe y
political measures are 90 b. passed - the
City Council, nor would We wish such a
state OF affairs; but In our city r glla' Oas
we en.inen ty require the adoption II one Of
the cardinal principles of Democracy, VI
that Of "dying the greatest good 10 the
greatest number This rule has not here
toloie been cried cut by cur city council,
let US now unite heart and land u elect a
Mayor and Council that 1sH.
We are panied. fellow democrats, to learn
that in some wards the seed, of dlssensloI
have been s0wn in our ranks, and that there
is some dissatisfaction with regard 10 the
nominees How IS this: Why is It: Ii
the men have been nominated fairly, why
not vote for them. even though some ci you
would prefer others: u act otherwise
would be both selfish and aUt.-dcm1c!a;.c.-
Il they have been nominated a'.JE,'ty, then
we are certain there are none Oh iutih VINO
would refuse to resign, If shown that rGrA
was the case. You have hut little time left
to think, for or Monday You will be called
upon TO act leS, brethren, IN tDe on and
6th wards, let Us oXhJrt yon kindly a;.4
sincerely to be Dajiei, for IN union alone =
strength. Ii any OF you would prefer other
candidates, be willing 70 sacrifice your per
sonal references for once in order that our
glorious banner may wave victorious. The
result here will speed on the wings Of light
ming to the democracy Of or sister cites,
either to rejoice or to discourage 01a. Shall
- N..r. .. ID
believe not.
In our own ward we are 5-0rktng. Tor there
is no success without jaj0r. We have
Juckled on our harness, nor DO We mean to
put it off until there is no further need to
work We are almost a unit-the opposi-
ton, coming as it does fro:n tro gair u BEL
l0r,, being merely trtHd. We mean TO give
Hos and Sla r. a rousing maj rty, al
though the opposing candidate OF Mr. Stat
terry thinks that all the ,chtte men Of the
ward are for him.
y word more, and we are done. You all
know that a vote is 10 lie taken for or against
a loan Of $4,000, to be borrowed by the
city. Already several thousand dollars in
debt, is it wise-is it eXpedleIt TO cripple
our Young city by plunging her still further
in the vortex of debt? VIII it pay: 1t
may benefit few capitalists, but will It benc-
tit mQjority Of the peopls: Are our taxes
already too low: Is our treasury too full
Let every taxpayer and every good citizen
look to the matter, aud act wisely.
We have hard battle to fight, and it is
no time to shrink like towards from the
contest Arrayed against US for Mayor, We
have their most powerful champion, and
while we would say nothing against him
personally, we feel compelled to oppose any
man who IS the representative of fusion and
all its kindred evils. But If the contest Is
difficult, the victory will be all the more
glorious. We have a standard bearer III the
person of John Y. \. Hoes, of whom we
are proud-a better man for the Office can
not be found, and surely then we can. and
will elect him. Let US then fight ya,ianty,
and If we fall, let it be with our back to
the field and our face to the foe" Let Us
/ not give sleep 10 our eyes CT stunt err to
our cvc-lids,' until we have won the victory.
/ In order to do this, we would sugge-t, lst,
J That every democrat be at the polls eFyjy.-
2l, That after voting, if he knows Of any
/ absent to get thcm 10 come aud vote. Sd,
/ That such wards as think best hold meetings
( on Saturday night to consult together, and
acrce on their course Of action. Ii we have
! been tedious, we hope you will pardon Us;
but we could not contine what we wished 10
saw in a smaller compass. And now we
/ leave you, hoping that on Monday night the
"sl&d tidings" viii be shouted from mouth
TO mouth that Ottawa is redeemed, regene-
/ rated, d;seuthrallel' from abolitionism, Hin
doois,n, and every other disunion and anti
democratic ism that now curses our fair,
own beloved land Respectfully yours,
5. c. SLOANE, JOHN W ARREN,
/ HENRY NIECE, Edwin SHORT,
! u lillian DOwNEY.
C,-,cDr The Hpnnepiu Tribune publsh