North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1867-07-03

policy that rose above the vulgar level
of selfish, party spirit and looked to
the common welfare of the whole Of
our reunited Republic.
1t will be gratifying to those men to
learn your present views on the great
questions of National and State policy
that divide public sentiment.
Very truly, yours,
GEORGE l.. BASS,
JOHN Il. SLOVENIAN,
and others.
GENTLEMEN Il have yours enquir-
ing my views of the political situation.
While l desire not to take an active
part in the campaign this fall, / have.
no opinions to conceal from any por-
ton OF my fellow citizens who are de-
sirous of understanding them.
will begin by examining briefly the
Republican Platform. Within my re-
collection of the history of political
parties, seldom have I known such a
timid and cowardly platform" to be
adopted by any party. The Republic
can party has generally had one merit
of manhood which could not be deni-
ed by a candid opponent it has been
distinct, bold and aggressive in the
enunciatiou of its principles and this
has been prominent cause of it's sue
| cess. Courage and boldness generally
| command respect from the people,
when timidity and cowardice, while
indicating rust and decay, simply eX-
cite disgust and contempt.
Judging the party by its platform, it
is simply held together by ''the cohe-
sive power of public plumber" Not a
single measure, either of State or Ma
tional policy which to-day interests the
people of Iowa, is touched at all eX-
cept the negro suffrage question. The
great questions of the Tariff-Taxa-
ton of National Banks and Bonds, the
PrOhibitory Liquor law,-questions of
deep moment to all our people-are en-
tirely ignored.
The first Resolution endorses Negro
Suffrage, which will refer to when
noticing the Democratic Platform.
The second Resolution endorses the
Military Bill, and reads lecture to
Atty Gen'l Stansbury, because his le-
gal opinion of the Construction act
does not correspond with the opinions
| of the SOlOnS in convention assembled
at Des Moines. Whether the Military
bill is right or wrong is quite inmate
rial, since it is now settled that the
South has accepted it, and will organ
ize the states under its provisions.
| The third Resolution is rich, and
well worthy Of a convention which
dared not promulgate principles of the
| most vital interest to our state. 1t was
fitting that such a body should go to
Richmond, take charge of prisoner
in the custody of the law, bring him to
Des MOines, and there, in advance of
the Radical court, try him and condem
him, according to the forms of Iowa
Radicalism. In Gods name, were
there no Lawyers in that convention ?
If SO, why did they not inform the
convention that in this country Courts
are organized to try and condemn cri-
minals. If jeff Davis was not already
under indictment in a court controlled
by the most eminent judicial dignitdry
Of Rudicalisna in the country, there
might have been some propriety in a
resolution demanding his trial, but to
pass judgment before trial is piece of
justice left to an Iowa Radical Conven-
ton to administer. To be consistent,
the Republican Co. Convention, to
convene next Saturday, should pass
! judgment upon the prisoners awaiting
trial in this district. Why not? jeff
Davis committed crime against the
Nation, these men, at home, commit
ted crimes against the State.
The fourth demands economy in Ma
tional and State officials but has no
word of condemnation for the admin
istration of w. M. Stone. So much
for the sincerity and good faith of this
resolution.
The fifth endorses our Members of
Congress on reconstruction, but has
no endorsement of the same delegation
for their opposition to the swindling
tariff bill, which they, with the aid of
"A few other republicans in the west,
and the Democrats in Congress, defeat
ed at the last session. That tariff bill
would have robbed Iowa of millions of
dollars annually for the benefit of
Pennsylvania and New England man
ufacturers. The Iowa members of con-
gress, except one, who fought the swim
die, were denounced by their own par
| ty friends in congress as the IOaU0
free trade gdng," and yet it being evil
dent that there is danger OF this great
wrong being fastened upon the coun-
try at the next session Of congress, the
Des MOines Convention dare not take
u position upon the question because
there are few radicals in the state in
favor of the measure.
The Democratic Platform in my
judgment, is very nearly right as
a whole, except in regard to Negro suf-
fragc. The error of the convention
was, that it did not cut itself loose from
the dead past, Ind attach itself to the
living present.
While the question was an open one
l opposed Negro suffrage. Not that l
had any. prejudice against the negro,
but because l believed that races of
men so entirely dissimilar as the Euro
pean and the African could not live to-
gether upon terms of political equality
without intensifying the antagonism
of races to such pitch as to result in
lesseniLg rather than increasing pro-
lection to the weaker one. My opin-
ions upon the subject remain unchan-
ged; but, as regard it, the question is
no longer an open one in national
point of view. The South has already
adopted negro suffrage, and once con-
ceded it can never be taken away with
out Revolution. There the great ma
jority of the negroes live, and if they
vote there, is it wise for the people OF
groes here, who are far better qualified
south? Besides, there is now strong
parties should unite in giving ballots
Radicalism, SO called, is to strengthen
M and n1ppcixn fn,