The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-11-11
J. ". NORRIS, Editor.

The late canvass in this State. we hope am
Belicve, will Be profitable to the Republican
Party. A generous and public spirited party
full ~ enthusiasm and alive toall the vast con.
eeptions and requirements Of the age, they
Nave manifested in their policy and measures
perhaps an imprudent disposition to bnl6 up
and endow, useful and necessary institutions,
faster and on a larger scale than our infant
and immature community, having more in
prospect than in possession. would Justify
They have accordingly either originated or
sanctioned large and muhi6cent appropria.
lions for various public institutions, FOR the
Insane, the Blind, the Deaf and Dumb, for
Agricultural Societies and Colleges. for &C.
illogical Survey, for revision Of me Statutes
and the Code, all very necessary and very well.
provided the times were good, and providing
the people were able and willing to pay for
them. and 1t ia also very possible that In the
matter Of the current expenses Of the govern
ment, a few items OF expense, such as the
practice handed down 70 us from our Demo-
cratic predecessors, OF furnishing gold pens 10
members Of the Legislature and the like, might
have saved a few thousand dollars to the State
Treasury.
Generally. and the circumstances, demands
and exegencies Of the times taken into account,
We don't think much fault can be found
with the Republican Administration Of the sf-
fairs Of this State. II 80 happened that the
Republican party came into power at peri
Cd Of extraordinary prosperity, and at a time
when public sentiment eagerly demanded the
immediate commencement OF al those M
merous institutions which human and chari-
table age has deemed it the duty Of every CIV
lized State to furnish FOR the alienation Of the
unfortunate when revision Of an o1ious
Constitution could no longer be delayed when
removal Of the Capital Of the State to .
more central and convenient locality could no
longer be put of, in short, at period when
almost everything Of public importance and
necessity demanded countenahce, encourage
ment and support, at the hands Of the party in
power. Considering the general prosperity Of
the country, the rapidity Of our growth and
development, and our real wants, it is not
matter Of surprise, that the came mania for
Improvement and progress which Characterized
the whole community, should have entered the
halls OF legislation and Influenced our Sen
ltors and Legislators. ...-...
But there was one view Of the matter which
perhaps did not occur to our friends npon
whom the responsibility Of directing the az
fairs Of our young State devolved. They din
not OF course, anticipate that revulson in the
commrrc,al'world which so suddenly stopped
emigration. deprecated property, and dried
mp the sources Of 'our immediate wealth and
prosperity, and certainly they did not antici-
pate that tre policy which they had every rea.
son TO believe, and in fact, which was, mere
reflex Of popular sentiment, would be set down
by vindictive opposition, as a fault If no,
as crime; that very opposition who had
counselled and aided the adopt,sn, devel.
epment and carrying out, Of that policy Of pub
Tic Improvement. encouragement and aid BY
the State, Of useful, benevolent and charitable
institutions. ...a. ...
But so II was, and is. The Republican party
is responsible, though we claim, II impr,,dent
as individuals under the same influences were
il is excnsable. That respo visibility we must
and intend to meet. The canvass is over, and
the people, looking at and appreciatine our
motives, and extenuating our faults, If faults
we had, have nobly sustained US. We must
now see to il that that confidence is not mis-.
placed. We must now adopt the policy Of
economy in the public administration. and
that is the wisdom which we stated we hst:
learned in the recent canvass. The times are
hard. and the policy Of rigid economy in State
and County, as we'll as individual expendi-
tnres, is demanded and must be adopted
This we contend, should and is the present
policy and mission Of the Republican Party
Of Iowa.