The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1859-03-31
The Democratic State COnyem.
tiNH.

er in several of them. They have called a
State Convection at the Capitol in June, AM
although they have agreed with great IN.
nimity upon the time and place of meeting,
the ratio of representation, the rules to gov.
ern the proceedings, &C., which are duly and
prominently displayed in all their organs
throughout the State, yet they do not seem
to know exactly what to do beyond this
point, or rather how to do it, As past expe-
rience has fully satisfied them that in the
unsettled condition of the Democratic pub
lie mind, it will not do to trust implicitly to
the discretion and w sdom of even the har-
monious Democracy in convention assem-
bled, they are, as usual, anxious to fix up
things and have an understanding before
going into convention. This is all natural
and proper, but none the less difficult for all
that.
The Democracy are getting discouraged
evidently, more and more so every day, and
well they may. HI nee loss of confidence
in both their cause and their ability to de-
fend and promote it, is to be expected The
bad luck attending their late efforts in this
State has chagrinned and mortified them.
and Modified that audacity and holiness
which formerly characterized their leaders in
Iowa in an especial degree, and they mani
fest corresponding degree of caution in de-
termining the important question of a plat
form and the men to place upon it. TO add
to their difficulties and embarrassments, their
available capital, both in men and principles
is becoming limited in amount and unsound
in quality.
1t is perhaps I matter of surprise that
party even so disintegrated and disorganized
as The Sham Democracy, and so bankrupt in
principle as they have become, should still
cling, with desperate grasp, to the semblance
of political being, because it is law of all
parties to imagine and fain life even after all
vital functions have ceased to act We can
not, hence, expect the late Democracy to give
up the ghost at present. at least formally. but
they hop by keeping up their organization
anu ny SoiilS luc CcltHlpiilcS VI COLI
ventions, to delude themselve and the world
if possible with the idea that such thing as
Democracy and Democratic party does vet
exist, or if this cannot be done they may af-
feet safe retreat under the cover of past
usages and ceremonials, and gradually and
quietly dissolve into other elements.
At all events, it is quite plain that the va
rious elements composing the so called Dem
ocracy have determined to make another
demonstration, and in view Of it, those who
have been able to screw their courage up to
the requisite point of belgerence, or who
have the requisite amount OF faith, or, more
properly, brass, are engaged in a careful ex-
animation of the points Of the various politi-
cal nags to determine who it will be most
advisable to trot out; and taking observations
of the political sky, to decide what specious
fallacy will be most likely to go down with
the people. ar whether it will not be better
tofollow the precedents of former conven-
tons, and adopt platform literally silent on
the subject Of controyer ed politics, as the
safest, as well as most expressive. ...
In our own private opinion it will make
precious little difference what men they
bring out for candidates; and as to princi-
pies, they cant find one in the text books
about which Trey can agre among them
selves, unless it he the principle that the
emoluments Of office would be, Just now.
godsends tonumerous needy aspirants among
them. The candidate for Governor NAV be
General Augustus Caesar Dodge, who is sup
posed to have the inside track, or Hon. NJ. l..
Fisher, who don't want it because it is GER
tain he can't get it, or Hon. Ben NJ Samuels,
the great defeated of the late campaign, or
any otter of the thousand and one promi-
nent Democrats, whose di>trust of their abl-
ity to govern the State might be overcome in
some way-it will matter little who the man
is, for, the Democracy have no principles,
or dare not avow them, upon the great ques-
tons Of the day, q majority Of the people
have, which We take to be about as near a
fact as we can well get to one.
And we don't think that to the Democracy
themselves the question of the man will he
one ESQ much practical difficulty as the
question of platform for the campaign. As
to this matter this party is in more unset
tied condition, if we may judge from their
organs, than it has ever before been on the
eve of nominating convention Heretofore
by consultation they have been able to agree
upon policy before getting together; but at
this time we find as many views ard opin-
ions as to the line o! policy most advisable to
be adopted, as there are papers of that shade
ofpolitics in the State The Iowa City Re
publican is apprchensive of Lecomptonism,
and would avoid it in some way; thu Burl-
ington Gazette would discard even all dis
cussion of past difficulties, and 60 it on the
name, "Democratic,' without undertaking
the impossible and hazardous task of delin-
ing what it is, while the Erpress Dc Hera1d,
an influential organ of theirs, in the north,
recommends the following sensible course,
although while doing so, il was forced to