The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-26
REPUBLICAN, TICKET.
or Commissioner Of the Demoine River Improvement
EDWIN MANNING.
For Superintendent Of Public instruction,
l.. II. BUGBEE.
For Register OF State Land once,
w. H. HOLMES.


For Register Of State Land once,
w. H. HOLMES.
ssMY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE,
The fervent ejaculation Of King Richard
meets nowadays with hearty response from
TIE sham Democrats Of Iowa. Having been
utterly routed on a hard fought battle field, and
seeing Office and power about to depart from
them forever, they are filled with dark des-
pair at their fate. They have been 30 long ac-
customed to Office, the stability and integrity
Of their party, nay it's very existence, is so
entirely dependant upon the cohesive power
Of the spoils," thai they regard it, and well
they may, as nothing less than complete ruin,
to be cast out from power. The tempest last
August shook them terribly, and they now
woefully anticipate the preaching election,
when the last of the sham Democrats j. to re-
tire. At this critical state of their affairs it
is natural that they should make last despe-
rate struggle. And for the purposes of that
struggle they need hobby. Like Richard
they are endorsed. They have r,den the dis
union hobby until il is jaded and lifeless. The
Nebraska Charger, once so vigorous and full
of mettle lies pierced by thousand darts, and
Democracy rushes frantically hither and thith-
er, up and down the great political battle field
crying out for a hobby with which to charge
once more upon their enemy. Yes Democra-
cywants hobby. 1t must have hobby and
it viii give anything for one.
II must certainly have been ina momen. Of
the utmost need, and with a spirit Of despela-
ion that they conceived of the idea of ma
king political capital out Of the liquor ques-
ton. Yetthey have done so. The nationality
Democratic Convention, which recently met at
Iowa City, attempted to make the people be-
lieve that this was question Of difference be-
tween the Parties, and everywhere throughout
the State their Journals are striving with all
their might to force the issue. Yet they know
well that the Maine Law question has not the
slightest bearing upon the issues between the
Republican and Democratic Parties. They
know that the QUESTION between the two parties
is upon the extension Of slavery, and upon
nothing else. The Republican party has not
declared itself in favor Of the Maine law or
against il. As an organization they have moth
ing 10 do with il. Doubtless there are many
in its ranks who are in favor of the prohibito-
ry law, and my others who are not in favor
Of It, and doubtless the same is true of the
Democratic Party. At any rate, all profess
to De in favor Of putting some restraint upon
the traffic in ardent spirits, though there is a
difference Of opinion as to the manner in which
1t should be done. But the question in any
shape has nothing whatever to do with the
present campaign. At the proper time, and
whenever the people desire the issue to be
made upon the Maine Law, or upon any other
temperance Law, then let it be directly made,
and let every one choose his position as his
convictions Of duty may direct. When the
issue is thus fairly made, for ourselves we shall
be ready TO meet it, but until it is done, and
especially while we have an issue we'll made
up and upon questions Of immediate and vital
importance, we shall not suffer ourselves to be
driven into the discussion Of any immaterial
subjects. The Democratic leaders have great
ly mistaken the people Of Iowa, IL they ex-
pect by hobbies and false issues, to withdraw
their attention from the great national questions
which are agitating the Country.
The wiseacres who sat in the pro-slavery
Convention, saw ft to pass among other silly
resolutions one condemning the Legislature
for not repeating the Maine Law. Now this is
sheer nonsense. Who directed The Legislature
to repeal the Law9 There was Nd evidence
that we have yet seen that the people through
out the State desired its repeal. In some
Counties doubtless it was found to be dead
letter upon the Statute book, it was impossible
to execute it, and consequently its repeal IN
those Counties was desirable. The LegislA-
ture gave such Counties the power to repeal
it, by substituting the License Law In its stead.
What more equitable and just could have been
done than thisp What could more exactly
have conformed to the doctrine 80 elegsntly(a)
expressed in the Democratic Platform that the
test Of freedom, is "the voice Of the majority
lawfully expressed in the form Of iaw?" II the
majority Of the people in any County desire to
repeal the Maine Law, they have an oppoytu-
nifty to do 80, or il they wish to retain the
Law they may do so. Nothing could have
been more democratic. And yet democrats
object even to this. We should like to know
what they do want. Are they DESTROYS that
there should be no restraint whatever put up
on the Liquor traffic? Have they taken their
stand upon a free whiskey platform? We opine
that they would not admit this. At any rate
we would not charge them with being quite so
abandoned. The difficulty lies in their too
great anxiety to find fault with the Republican
Legislature. As we said before, they want
hobby and have seized upon this as their last
resort. We think however that it viii prove
to be Of slow pace and stumbling foot.
G. The Louisville, Courier contains a long
letter from Col. Allen, Of KY, giving I'm ac-
count Of his experience and observations in
Gen. Walkers Nicaragua army. He gives
no Aattering account Of Walker or his proceed
ings. He says Walkers tyrant, without
ability, principle or honor. And that the
neglect of discipline, the drunkenness and
want prevailing in the army, and the fatality
Of the climate, produces sad havoc with the
m