North Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1867-current, 1869-10-27
BY request we give place to the follow

I Much has been said and written during
The campaign just closed, on the subject
,f party and party obligations, or tho
luty, OF Electors, As the common phrase
. ito stand by party nominations. 1t
a the tendency Of all governments, and in
fact Of oil organizations, churches, benev>
,lent and scientific societies, railroad and
insurance companies, indeed all places
where frail humanity is aggregated to
divide into parties. In government, it is
presumed the different political parties
different policies Of administer
ing the affairs Of State, hence 1t is that IN
a free government like ours, almost every
citizen becomes politician if he does
not, no ought to I: it is no credit to IN
American citizen to say he is not poll.
tician. Our free institutions are not worth
having if they arc not worth some Of our
therefore every intelligent
citizen will instinctively cooperate with
some political party. 1t does not follow
that he should bliadly adopt the action OF
bis party conventions. If they should
violate their trust and nominate grossly
improper persons, it Is the privilege, nay,
it is tho duty Of the gooA citizen not 70
ratify their action.
The people OF Chicago OF all parties,
are struggling against tho action OF tbe''
conventions ring Of corrupt ofhce
holders had controlled them and nornin-
atcd corrupt men; the only remedy seemed
to BIO to make new ticket Of good men
without regard to former party lines, and
for the people to rally and elect them.
The difficulty was occasioned BY gross
neglect on the part Of citizens; they
should have turned out to the primary
meetings and themselves ruled the con-
yention in the right direction: had they
done their duty, good men would have
been nominated by the parties and the
principles of the republicans would have
beer sustained.
Such was the action Of the Republicans
Of Clayton Co.; small ring Of federal
Office holders from Allison down to small
postmastcrs, &c., claimed to control the
county. They had secured the English
republican press and fancied they owned
and controlled the party. They had come
to act with an entire disregard of the
wishes and welfare of the people to make
the most corrupt appointments on the
most corrupt bargains and even to tell the
people to "object and be id" The
animus of the ring had shown itself, and
the people had seen it and decided that 81
far as Clayton county was concerned, they
would crush it. They wisely considered
that corruption, showing itself even where
they had but little direct interest, was
only an example Of what they themselves
might expect. The ring made almost
superhuman efforts to carry the Convention
ut least the legislative ticket, in the inter-
est of their master, Mr.. Allison. Every
town and even school district was thor>
oughly canvassed, but the people were
not to lie deceived. They turned out all
most cnmasse from every corner OF the
county every town was represented by
a full delegation. The largest, most
united, and most intelligent convention
ever assembled in Clayton county, met on
the 10th of July last. True, as in all
large bodies, there were some exceptions /;
one or two acknowledged they acted is.
norantly, but it is presumed honestly, and
they are to lie pitied rather than blamed.
The convention passed, unanimously,
resolutions condemning the action of the
ring. Their candidate for the legislature.
who had visited every school district in
the county for sympathizing friends, re-
ceived but screen votes out Of l34.
So complete was their defeat, that they
howled with rage. On certain members
Of the convention, every cpithet that low
and groveling minds, urged by malice and
revenge could invent, was heaped. Nc
attention was paid to truth, except te
carefully avoid it. All the convention
were branded as knaves, or such consunl
mate fools as to act without knowing wha
they were doing, and then were told tina
the latter alternative was no SANDER. TIL
press, representing the ring livery proper
~ for them) refused to support the ticket
They tried to get up boiling convention
published what purported to be CORES
pondence, but it was really of their ow
make. TO this, however, the people pal
no attention. Not one single individua
responded. The candidates, in the face {
the threatcnings of the press, stood b
the action of the convention.
The Journal of Aug. 4th says: 18th
candidates must know that, were we
give them our support while they endors
the resolution, we would virtually adm
its charges" Did the Journal suppo
the candidates? We presume not. Again
in the same issue he asks the pertinel
; question: "Will you abide by, and endor
the clique, headed by Glib Douglass
Will you endorse tho candidates vi
, either by public notice or ti,nid silene
endorse the fraud? We want the peoE
', to speak. Republicans, We are not aski
you to justify us: We ask you to DO tr
to your party and your principles, and
accordingly" Well, his question "
answered at the ballot box. They d
endorse the candidates they were true
their principles and "acted accordingly
Tho Ners. after branding the althe
, ! 0f the rccnlntion nS fha old defeated P(