The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1867-07-19

l VAC NulkuI 1CNCA VI SCIHSu, purity sDlTlU ttIl(
looked to the common welfare Of the Who'll.
Of our reunited republic.
1t will be gratifying to those men to leari
your present views on the great question:
of national and state policy that divide
public sentiment. -. ~
Very truly, yours, f.< ...
! GEoRas L. Bass,
| JOHN 7. SFoxExAN, "a
| ... and others.
! GENTLMEN:-1 have yours enquiring my
views Of the political situation. While
desire not to take an active part in the
campaign this fall, / have no opinion tx
zens who are desirous Of understanding
them. .5....,.'. a....
will begin by examining briefly the
republican platform. Within my recollec'
ton of the history Of political parties, sci.
ardly platform to be adopted by any
party: The republican party has general.
ly had one merit of manhood which could
not be denied by a candid opponent: it has
been distinct, bold and aggressive III the
enunciation of its principles; and this has
been prominent cause of its Successes
Courage and boldness generally command
respect from the people, when timidity and
cowardice, while indicating rust and de-
cay, simply excite disgust and contempt
Judging the party by its platform it is
simply held together by "the cohesive pow
er of public plunder." Not a single meas
ure, either of state or national policy which
to-day interests the people Of Iowa, is
touched at all except the negro suffrage
question. The great questions of the tariff
taxation Of national bands and bonds,
the prohibitory liquor law,-questions Of
deep moment to all our people-are entire
ly ignored
The first resolution endorses negro suf-
frage, which Twill refer to when noticing
the democratic platform.
The second resolution endorses the mil
itary bill, and reads lecture to Atty
Gen'l Stanberry, because his legal opinion
of the construction act does not correspond
with the opinions of tae Solons in conven-
tiou assembled at Des Moinos. Whether
the militrry bill is right or wrong is quite
immaterial, since it is now settled that TIE
eouth has accepted it, and will organize
the states under its provisions.
The third resolution is rich. and well
worthy OF convention. which dared not
promulgate princ. pies of the most vital in
terest 10 our state. 1t was fitting that such
aoody snould 60 to Richmond, take charge
OF" prisoher in the custody of the law,
bring him to Des Moines, and there in adj
vance Of the radical court, try him and
condemn him, according to the forms of
Iowa raulcallsiI. i'll UOd'S name, were
there no lowyers in that convcntion! If
so, why did they not inform the convention
that in this country COURTS are organized
to try and condemn criminals? If JEFF.
Davis was not already under indictment in
u court controlled by the most eminent ju-
dicial dignitary Of radicalism in the coun-
try, there might have been some propriety
in resolution demanding his trial but to
pass Judgment before trial is piece of
justice left to an Iowa radical convention
to administer. TO be consistsnt, the re-
publican county convention, to convene
next Saturday, should pass Judgment upon
the prisoners awaiting trial in this district.
Why not? jeff Davis committed q crime
against the nation, these men, at home,
committed crimes against the state.
The fourth demands economy in nation
al and state officials; but has no word of
condemnation for the administration Of W.
M. Stone. So much for the sincerity and
good faith of this resolution.
The fifth endorses 0 ur members of con-
gress on reconstruction, but has no en-
dorsement ofthe same delegation for their
opposition to the swindling tariff bill,
which they, with the aid of few other re-
publicans in the west, and the democrats
in congress, defeated in the last session.
That tariff bill would have robbed Iowa of
millions of dollars annually for the benefit
of Pennsylvania and New England manu-
facturers. The Iowa members of congress
except one, who fought the swindle, were
denounced by their own party friends as
the "1owa free trade gang and yet it be-
ing evident that there is danger Of this
great wrong being fastened upon the ccun-
try at the next session Of congress, the
Des Moines convention dare not take po-
sition upon the question because there are
few radicals in the state in favor Of the
measure.
The democratic platform, in my judg-
munt, is very nearly right as a whole, ex-
cept in regard to aegro suffrage. The err
ror of the convention was, that it did not
cnt itself loose from the dead past, and at
| taeh itself to the living present.
While the question was an open one,
opposed negro suffrage Not that ] had
any prejudice against the negro, but be-
cause believe that races Of men SO en-
tirely dissimilar as the European and AT
rican could not live together upon terms
of political equality without intensifying
the antagonism of races to such o pitch
as to result in lessoning rather than in
creasing protection to the weaker one.
My opinions upon the subject remain un-
changed; but, as regarg it, the question
is no longer an open one in q national
point of view. The South has already ad-
opted negro suffrage, and once conceded
it can never be taken away without revo-
luton. There the great majority Of the
negroes live, and if they vote there, is it
wise for the people Of Iowa to deny suf-
frage to the few negroes here, who are far
better qualified to exercise the right than
the negroes south Besides, there is now
strong reason why liberal-minded men
of all parties should unite in giving bal
lots to the negroes. The plain tendency
of radicalism, so-called, is to strengthen
monopoly and exclusive privileges for the
benefit Of the few at the expense Of the
many. 1t proposes, by its tariff policy, to