The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-09-30
Linkensale on Gillaspy

"Linkensale" writes from Musca-
tine to the Chicago Post the follow
ing irreverent and highly disrespect-
full communication, about Ottumwa's
beloved candidate for Governor of
Iowa:
"Some weeks ago, as the readers of
THE Posi- wore duly informed by its
spicy Ottumwa correspondent, the
Democratic candidate for Governor
of this State, Col. George Gillaspy,
started forth in his war paint on a
scalping expedition. Though he had
long been a Colonel he had not
previously been under fire to any
alarming extent. But he couldn't
stand it any longer than this year.
He saw that Rcpublicanism here
fiourished and prospered; that De-
mocracy of the modern bogus sort
didn't do anything in particular, but
grow small by degrees and beautiful
ly less, that something had to be
done. Accordingly,
Then did Sir Knight abandon dwelling.
And out he rode a colonelling.''
In plain prose, our Iowa Sir Hudi-
bras, abandoned the,odors ofhis.belov-
Ottumwa livery stables, and pro-
ceeded on a campaigning tour W here
in he might cheer up the lively lads of
the great unwashed, and make a
tremendous splurge generally. The
platform upon which Colonel Gillas-
,py had been placed by his party was
something better in idea than usual
with the Democratic party Of these
times. 1t recognized the fact that
there had been a war, and that some
thing had come Of it. 1t even recog-
nized the fact that the people Of low
had in their last popular election
adopted the principle of the proposed
Fifteenth Amendment by striking
the word "white" from their State
Constitution by a tremendous ma
jority. Under these circumstances,
tending to prove that the leaders Of
tho party were beginning to show
signs ofsense and animation, it might
have been supposed that their guber-
material candidate would have been
able to secure good meetings and
make q lively campaign. Surely
this was not too much to expect
from man of talents in such posi-
ton, under such favorable cilcum-
stances of discussion. But these ex.
pectations, ifthere were any such on
the part of those ignorant of the
probable fatal astonishment an idea
would be to the Democratic candi.
date for Governor of this State, have
been entirely disappointed. Colonel
Gillaspy has not made a ripple on the
political waters, let alone u lively az.
itation. His meetings have been
thinly attendcd-thosc hearing him
blaze away, talking through his
nose, being entirely unable to dis
cover whether he is in favor of green.
backs or Bologna sausages for cur.
rency, or whether he is in favor Of
anything. The Democrats of this
State, in short, though they have
many notable blunders, have never
made greater one than that of NOM
mating George Gillaspy He might
have done, perhaps, twenty years
lgo, when brains were uncommonly
scarce out this way, the people i'll |
informed, and the State "one.horse"
but his candidacy for Cover
nor of the State Of Iowa now, with
is more than million people, the
great majority Of whom are highly
Intelligent, and wonderfully progress
i've, is nothing less nor more than
broad and disreputable farce. Hap
,ily, there is not half so much chance
If his being elected as of his being
truck by lightning. Governor Mer-
i'll, who has tor two years filled the
'tfice Of our chief magistracy with
,reat practical success and personal
Lightly, will be reelected by a larger
majority than he received two years
go. His majority will not be so
argc as that given to Grant last
ear, tol~wc never poll a full vote
Except at Presidential elections-be
ause we can carry all the counties
n the State except three OF four and
lot much more than half try-but it
will be largeenongh for any practical
purpose
PREMATURE.-Wc are informed by
l. ~