The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1871-07-13

dated January 18TH, under the cap
ton GA word to our Colleagues of
the Republican Press" the writer
informed them that Mr.. Allison was,
as far as the writer could learn, "a
favorite candidate in all liberal cir
cles of the Republicans" To this
appeal another German paper re-
spends on the 10th of the same
month in these ords Gas four can
didates until now, are only named
Allison, Harlan, Merrill and Howell.
The first named is our man, and the
sooner the liberal 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 quarter and Of the same pur-
port might be cited. These are suf-
ticient to develope the design of the
manipulation, viz: to first secure
compact combination of all Stree
thinkers" within the Republican
organization, under cover of foreign
language in favor of candidate =;
and then a combination Of the mem
bers of various religious denomina-
tons, by an appeal to sectarian preju.
dice; and lastly to intimidate, silence
and render inactive, those who may
happen to be members of another
denomination, by an cutlery against
church influence.
How far the spirit which dictates
this policy is in conflict with the
principals of the Constitution, which
prohibits the application of religious
tests as qualifications for office, will
not at present discuss. But l will ask
every reader of this letter to decide
for himself whether it would be wise
to permit such schemers to sue
ceed. Has any word or act of mine
during my somewhat long public
life, justified the opposition thus en-,
deavored to be brought out? am
not concious that | have been sway
ed to the right or to the left in the
performance of official duty, on ac
count of my own or any other mans
religious Jews. | am quite certain
| have never done or said any thing
to justify such suspicion. Why,
then, when my name happens to be
mentioned in connection with official
station must be pointed at as Nj eth
odist, as if that were a badge of dis
honor. And if any one chooses to
express himself as favorable to my
election, why is it deemed necessary
to search out and proclaim his church
predictions.
What to me appears most strange
is, the invidious character of this
species of opposition. 1t has been
kept up by certain class ofiourpals
and of politicians ever since my first
appearance in public life. Other
public men in Iowa, without church
affiliations, or of other denomin atoms,
have not been so badgered. No one
would have known, from the politi-
Cal discussion of the day, that out
of the five Republican Governors of
Iowa, Grimes was a Unitarian in
sentiment; Lowe and Stone Presby-
terians Kirkwood, without any ex-
pressed religion attachments; and
Governor Merrill, Congregational
LIST. Or, that out of the twenty-five
Republican members of Congress
from Iowa, including Senators and
Representatives, with whom | have
served since [ entered the Senate,
Messrs. Curtis, Vandever, Hubbard
Allison, Smyth, Howell, and Donnan,
were, as | am told, Presbyterians,
Grinnell, Loughridge and Palmer,
Congregationalists /; Kasson, Dodge
and Cotton, Episcopalions; Grimes
and McGrary. Unitarians aud that
of the remaining number, two are
Methodists, two Universalis;s, and
six ito me) not known to be attach
ed to any religious society. | ask
again, in what respect is my religi-
Gus views and affiliations exception
that | and my fellow church mem
bers should be so specifically and per-
sistently paraded in each political
campaign, where my name happens
to appear. 1t can not be merely be.
cause my religious associates some
times bear with me as speaker in
their assemblies for, one at least of
my Congressional colleagues, has
been in order and served as "set.
tied Pastor" over a Congregational
church, and | have never enjoyed
such distinction. 1t can not be be-
cause | have ever faltered in my
support of Republican principles, or
of the nominees of the party.
And this sinister admonition to the
members and ministers of the Meth.
odist church, to avoid any express.
ion of confidence in the ability and
integrity of a Methodist for any of.
fee, is not justified by in6delity or
political principles, by its Republic
an members or any failure to sup
port Republican nominees on secta-
rian grounds or any overweaning
greed for official station ; as is dem.
onstrated beyond all cavil, by the
fact that, during the last twenty Q
years, the whole period of existence
OF the State of Iowa, it has never
had Methodist Governor, and that
only four members of the Methodist
Church, for the current quarter of a
| century, have been candidates for,