Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1871-07-13

copy 2" And, why should the cthe
champion, with such complacent in
dignation, assert that it must be
fabrication or forgery, as if genu,n
letter OF the kind would be clearl,
infamous-unless intended by boil
champions as an appeal TO the secta
rian prejudice of all other religious
denominations? Is it not the crop
ping out in the English press of what
was commenced in the German pres.
last winter? In the early part o.
January, just past, Der Demokrat o.
your city, published articles inspire /
from Washington City, as 1t stated
impregnated with the same views
which I perceive have from time to
time, been continued and reproduced
in other papers Of the State, printed
in the German tongue. These arti.
cles ION good authority from Wash.
ing:on'' accuse me of various designs,
tricks and schemes, totally unfound-
ed-tabricated by somebody out oi
whole cloth, which if true would
have merited the severest censure.
In one of these dated January 18th,
under the caption "a word to our
Colleagues of the Republican Press, y
the writer informed them that Mr..
Allison was, as far As the writer
could learn, "a favorite candidate IN
all liberal circles OF the Republicans.
To this appeal another German pa
per responds on the 10Th of the same
month IN these words: "As for can.
didates until now, are only named
Allison, Harlan, Merrill and Howell.
The first named is our man, and the
sooner the 'Hb:ral element will be
united upon him the more frank and
successful the agitation will be car
ried on for him"
Numerous other extracts from the
same quarters and of the same pur-
port might be cited. These are suf-
ficlent to develop the design of the
manipulation, viz: to first secure q
compact combination of all "free
thinkers" within the Republican or
ganization, under cover of foreign
language, in favor of a candidate; aud
then combination of the members
of various religious denominations,
by an appeal to sectarian prejudice;
and lastly, to intimidate, silence, and
render inactive, those who may hap
pen to be members of another de.
nomination, by an outcry against
church influence.
How tar the spirit Which dictates
this policy is in conflict with the prin-
ciples OF the Constitution, which pro-
hibits the application of religious
tests as qualifications for Office, | will
not at present discuss. But l will
ask every reader OF this letter to de-
eide for himself whether it would be
wise to permit such schemers to sue
coed. Has any word or act of mine
during my somewhat long public
life, justified the opposition thus en-
deveored to be brought out? / am
not conscious that l have been sway.
ed to the right or to the left in the
performance Of official duty, on &C.
count Of my own or any other mans
religious views. l am quite certain
| have never done or said anything
to justify such suspicion. Why,
then, when my name happens to be
mentioned in connection with official
station must be pointed at as a
Methodist. as ii that were q badge
of dishonor. And if any one chooses
to express himself as favorable to my
election, why Is it deemed necessary
to search out and proclaim his chnrch
predictions.
What to me appears most strange
is, the invidious character of this
species of opposition. It has been
kept up by certain class OF journals
and 81 politicians ever since my first
appearance IN public lite. Other
public men in Iowa, without church
affiliations, or of other denomina.
tions, have not been so badgered.
No one would have known, from the
political discussions Of the day, that
out Of the five Republican Governors
OF Iowa, Crimes was Unitarian in
sentiment, Lowe and Stone Presby-
terians; Kirkwood, without any ex.
pressed religious attachments, and
Governor Merrill, a Congreationallst.
Or, that, out OF the twenty five Re-
publican members of Congress from
Iowa, including Senators and Repre-
sentatlves, with whom have served
SINCE | entered the Senate. Messrs.
Curtis, Vandevcr, Hubbard, Allison,
Smyth. Howell and Donnan, were, as
am told, Presbyterians; Grinnell,
Loughridge and Palmer, .Congrega.
tionalists; Kasson, Dodge and Cot
ton, Episcopalians; Grimes and Nc.
Crary, Unitarians; and thst, OF the
remaining number, two are Metho-
dists, two Universallsts, anl six Ito
mel not known to be attached to
any religious society. task again, In
what respect are my religious views
and affiliations exceptional, that l and
my fellow church members should be
SO specifically and pcrsistently pa
raded in each political campaign,
when my name happens to appear.
It cannot be merely because my re-
ligious associates sometimes bear
with me as speaker in their assem-.
blies; for, ohe at least of my Con-
gressional colleagues, has been in
orders and served as ssettled
Pastor over Congregational
Church, and have never enjoyed
such distinction. 1t cannot be be-
cause have ever faltered in my sup.
port OF Republican Principles, or oi
the nominees Of the party.
And this sinister admonition to
the members and ministers of the
Methodist church. to AVOID any ex.
preston of confidence in the ability
and integrity Of Methodist for any
Office. il not justified bv infidelity to