Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-07-22

=. 1907. m -as ..r .s..
Our GubernatOrial Candidates
Believing that plain statement of fact
touching the history and qualifications of tn
nominees of our party for State officers viii
have more influence in their favor than who'll
columns Of adulation and fillsome flattery, w
have collated the following concerning ou
candidates for Governor and Licutenan
Governor from articles written by gentleme,
well acquainted with them.
Hon. S. j. Kirkwood, the Republican can
didatc for Governor Of Iowa, is self.educatet
and self made man. lie was born in Hartfort
county, Maryland, in 1913, and at the age o
ten years he was sent to Washington City t,
be educated, but remained in school only fou
years. At the age of fourteen he had to leav,
it and make his own living. He remained il
the city of Washington in the position of clerl
for an cld:r brother, until he was of age. II,
then moved to Ohio, because, having his owr
way to make in the world, he had the goot
sense to see that new country, such as Ohio
was twenty-five years ago, presented more
inviting field than any other. Plunging into
the wilderness, where he made his frs
impression" with the axe, he subsequently,
emerged in pursuit oc wcll-merited honors
In connection with his father and brother, ht
cleared large farm in Richland county, Ohio
Unlike too many farmers boys, however, he
did not content himself with hard physical
labor, but devoted considerable portion o.
his time to reading and study, verifying, in
his mental progress, the truthfulness of the
remark that "the spare moments of year are
mighty la3orers, if kept to their work."
After working on the farm few years, he
entered law Office at Mansfield, and was
admitted to the bar in ls4s, when just thirty
years of age. His standing at the Richland
county bar may be inferred from the fact that
he served two terms as Prosecuting Attorney
He represented that county in the Convention
which framed the present Constitution OF
Ohio
Mr.. kirkwood continued the practice of law
until March, 1855, when he removed to this
State, since which time he has forsaken law
altogether, and confined himself to farming
and milling But his occupation has not
concealed his talents and worth. They were
soon discovered by his political friends in his
Senatorial District, and in lS56-one year
after he settled in Iowa-he was elected to
the State Senate. Two years aftcrward, he
was reelected, and distinguished himself as
the leader of that body. Political opponents
as well as friends cheerfully concede to him
the palm in debate. He has few superiors as
political canvasser west of the Mississippi
Mr.. Kirkwood was Democrat up to the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise Act, which
infamous measure shocked the moral sense Of
the nation, causing hundreds Of thousands o.
high-minded Democrats to leave that party
Since 1866, Mr.. X. has been an earnest and
efficient worker in the Republican cause
Wise in council and blessed with fine execu
tive abilities, as we'll as skill at the plow, the
Cincinnatus of Iowa is soon to leave his farm
to preside at the helm of State.
NICHOLAS j. RUscH, candidate for Lieut..
Governor on the ticket with Mr.. Kirkwood,
is German by birth. He is about thirty five
years of age, and has been resident of Scott
county thirteen years. He was educated to
the Lutheran Ministry, but, abandoning that
profession soon after taking orders, has been
one of the largest and most successful farmers
in the State. He has twice been elected from
Scott county to the Senate by Overwhelming
majorities.
Mr.. Rusch has thorough University edu.
cation, and speaks and writes the English
language with great correctness, though he
speaks some words with a foreign accent
Some OF his articles have passed the censor.
ship and been published in the New York
Tribune, and other papers and periodicals Of
large circulation. He is familiar with othe,
modern languages besides the German and
English, and is we'll vcrsed in the ancient
Classics. 1t is sheer folly to talk about Mr.
Rusch not understanding the English Ian
guage well enough to preside over the Senate
Unless his competitor, Mr.. Babbitt, has inf
nitely improved his education within a fep
years, he does not approach Mr.. Rusch il
point of educational requirements, nor is ther,
any man ON the Democratic ticket who does
unless it may be Judge Mason. .,
To sum up all, Mr.. Rusch is modest
prudent, educated, honest man, commanding
the respect Of all who know him. He is a.
we'll qualified to properly discharge the duties
of the Office of Lieutenant Governor as an,
man in Iowa. Several years experience il
the Senate has rendered him familiar with the
political history and policy Of the State, ant
acquainted him with the routine of the oficia
duties he will be called to perform.
---e s>.-
An undignified and discourteous per
sonal controversy is going on between tn
editors Of the Davenport Democrat ant
Gazette in regard to each others moral AM
financial standing. We must confess, how
ever, that, as it appears to us, the editor Q
the Democrat is the aggressor, and mos
censurable. He is becoming notorious 70
personal defamation. We admire his indie
pendence and fearlessness, but think it woul
appear better with less of the harpy's instincts
He is the blackguard par erc, Hence of tn
Iowa press, and deserves only the silent con
tempt of the fraternity. Our neighbor of tn
Gazette should remember the reply of tn
lion when challenged to combat with tn
skunk, and profit by it.
ANOTHER SOLUTION OF TIE SLAVERY QUEs
rIoN.-Senator Doolittle delivered an cratic
at Buffalo, on the Fourth. in which he sal
that the true solution of the slavery questio