The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-07-08

hShP Aoi II. w COuu Uut dulllAi = tIlS
zeal which animated so many men, al.
though engaged in a bad cause, and
especially do we wonder at the self
sacrificing spirit which led one of their
number to abandon other and more
promising prospects of preferment, and
consent to become the standard bearer
of a doomed and dissolving party, in a
canvass of so desperate character as
the one upon which they are entering.
1t is unaccountable to us upon any
modern hypothesis, and we are led al
most to believe that the age of chival-
ryis coming back upon us, or that the
memorable line of Horace,
"Dulce ct decorum est pro patria mori,"
is about to be practically illustrated in
the person Of the nominee of the late
Convention.
1t has been said by some one that
'sthe Office of words is to conceal ideas.
aether this be true or not, it most
S1 ss was the object of the late
block enild Congressional Conventions
kiagated Democracy to con-
ossumssns. There may be persons
aves e found 70 as9d who have supposed that
: spssas spsa lentions were held for the
n
AprllS, L. embodying the sentiments
mbers of a party upon impor-
existing questions into plat
O5f principles, to stand as authori-
. tive expositions Of political faith; but
such persons, if they should happen to
survive, are decidedly behind the times
they are not progressive. In the
State Convention of this harmonious
democracy, there cannot be found an
allusion even remote to one of the
questions which for the last six months
have agitated the country from one ex-
treme to the other, and absorbed al
most exclusively the late session of
Congress; and the Congressional Con-
vention, last week adopted that beauti-
full piece of work as their own and gave
it forth to the world as the voice of
the Democracy Of the First Congress
sional District.
Now it strikes lis that this policy
will not win. 1t strikes us that. al
though the leaders and wire-pullers of
this party may get together, as they
have done, and resolve to disregard
every issue Of the times, every question
about which there is any difference of
opinion, in order that those who hold
antagonistic views may act unanimous
ly together, the people will claim a
right of private Judgment, and being
more honest, and not seeking Office,
they will, great many ofthem at least,
refuse to harmonic upon any such
terms, and will only vote for men whose
opinions are unequivocal, whose course
and whose votes are at least pledged
to one side or another of every ques-
ton.
1t is not enough to say that this
equiyocal, eyasiye policy is political
necessity, forced upon the party by di-
visions in its ranks, and that to take
ground in favor of Lecompton would
forfeit the support of a majority of the
Democrats Of the State, and to take
the opposite ground would be equiv
alent to opposing the Administration,
and joining forces with enemies, who,
like MIR. Douglas, are striving to break
it down upon that issue !; this we say
will not do before the people, because
they are all deeply interested in that
question and viii surely teach can.
didate that carrying water on both
shoulders is an improbable business.
The people, at least great many OF
them, don't want in these times any
such man to represent them.
But there is another feature of the
late Congressional convention to which
we must allude. They met to nomi
nate candidate for Congress to 60 te
Washington and there represent the
views and promote the interests of hi
constituents in the national Legislature
hut instead Of concerning themselves
about subjects and interests coming
within the sphere of the duties Of Q
member of Congress, they enter into ar
elaborate examination Of the affairs o.
the State of Iowa, and seem to be deep.