The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-04-04

politically, officially. They will find
him, we believe, in moral feeling gen
orally, a well-meaning man. He is a
Methodist minister, and ought to be
| such, at least. From what We know, and
as preacher Of the everlasting gospel, we
are willing to believe and concede so much.
1t has been thought that he entertained an
undue degree Of religious prejudice His
active oppositioa to the release Of the Catho-
Tic Convent property from taxotion, and his
payment for a legal opinion against its re-
lease, is instanced to show it. We are con
tent that that shosld not be made against him.
We question if it ought to be- We are will
ling TO conccdc that be acted towards that as
he would towards similar institutions of 9TH
er denominations, and was moved bv de-
sire to husband the resources Of the city, and
preserve the basis Of taxation to every lawful
extent. But this we believe also. and with
evidence that he lacks nerve and hrmness
Of purpose; that he lacks in decision Of char
actcr and settled opinions that he is irreso-
lutte and timid, whittier, changeling, and
demagogue, holding popularity paramount
to official faithfulncss and consistent conduct.
and holding Office paramount to political
opinion. Let us allude to facts.
Not long since there was before the Coun-
Gil Of which he was member, resolution
appropriating money to Mr.. Graham for
damages done by grading Second street
The whole condition Of the affair, the argu-
mcnts pro and con, the merits and the de-
merits Of the case, were all before the Coun-
Gil. 1t was animportant case; important in
the amount Of money il appropriated, but i'm
portant beyond any resolution which has
been for a long time before the Council. in
the precedent it established. no man tit for
a Councilman or Mayor, could have failed Of
having an intelligent opinion. No man fit
for either would have failed 70 have taken q
position, upon one side or the other, plainly
and unequivocally: TO have urged and adgo-
Gated it, and to have east an unhesitating and
decided vote lie had an opinion. He ex-
pressed IL lie viii not deny It now But,
when the question came M, he tremhled, he
hesitated, and he refused to vote on either
side. He will not deny that either. He had
not the common courage TO give an open and
honorable yote,-to give any vote at all,
embodying an honest opinion. So much is
indisputable. That for his hrmness. Who
would depend upon it2 Who would repose
any confidence in it Who would give the
interests Of the city, with its hopes, its prom
lse, and its Importance, into the hands Of 80
weak and irrcsoute man Let t'.oso do it
who are more willing TO trae with public ana
private interests than we.
Ho pretends to be in favor Of grading the
bluff in the first ward HIS friends in some
parts Of the city are maki~, hobby Of that
70 his advantage. Every effort has been en-
ployed, especially in the third ward where
there seems stronger anxiety about the
grade than elsewhere, to impress upon the
minds of its friends, that he is their pecul-
ar candidate, their only safe and reliable one
And yet it is true that as councilman lie
made report urging S.skim grade in that
quarter Of the city. That for his consisten-
cy Of conduct and the intelligence and cam
dor of his public acts.
lie is the nominee Of the Democratic par
y. Yet for many years he has been an earn
est and active Wing. we have noticed, al
ways, that Englishmen, Seotchmen and
Nelchmen are tolerably certain to he Wings
lie is an Engiishman, and true to the general
inclination of his countrvmen, he was origi-
nally, and long, Whig,-a decided. an anti
Slavery Wing. But he wanted office. Wing
gerry was unpopular where he resided His
opportunities We're slender for distinction
under such auspices. And he sacrificed opin-
ion, honest aud long cherished opinion, earn
EST and ardent political feeling. for the hope
/ Of Office.
In all this is there not ample evidence Of
weakness and INDIGESTION? Of regard for
popularity above the demands Of duty Of a
love for Office superior to 4 conviction Of
public policy and public justice9 If not.
| then we are mistaken in our deductions
What is the evidence and who are the persons
that shall demonstrate that? 1t cannot be
done. And in all candor, such ne is and such
he stands before you. Is lac the man you
want
Inconsistency at old Line vhigs.
There are many old line Wings who ring
the changes upon Abolition, Niger worship.
and such Ike terms Of reproach against the
Republican party, as sehemently and per-
sistently as do the pro-Slayery Locofocos
themselves. Indeed that class 81 our former
co-laborers in the Wing party, seem to take
greater delight in charging MS with Adolf
tonism and deriding our party as Black Re-
nahLean. than even the old line D-maera.-