The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-09-14

The backbone of the republican |
party has been SO long tested that it's |
solidity, ito uprightness and ability !
to meet successfully any and all |
emergencies, is conceded by every
body. Thatcharacteristic of backbone
in the party to which We wish now
to refer, however, and in which We
have seen, and to-day are. seeing 90
much to admire, is its ability to dis
creetly, calmly and firmly refuse to
act in accordance with the dictation
of any man or set Of men in the par.
ty, however prominent, however
powerful. The party has met these
attacks time and again from combin.
atoms of men who were srionp its
Acknowledged and honored leaders
but it has invariably been found that
there was an unerring sentiment of
right and justice pcrvading the intel
ligent, tho honest patriotic masses Of
tho party that yields to no leaders
Tho masses have often bestowed
upon leaders unbounded praise and
have entertained for, them great
respect and love, but they have never
let their admiration of or attachment
for the man runaway with their con-
victions. This is q most beautiful
feature of the backbone of the party.
1t is the quality which gives it it's
independence ald true Value
All these attempts at d,ctation, the
masses Of the party have smothered
completely in tho space of few
weeks Or months, and their support
ers have either become oblivious to
public life or else have been hawked
about as possible candidates by the
Democracy. just now distin-
guished German citizen, who has
been honorvd with . seat in the u. 8.
Senate, undertakes to dictate to the
party who shall not be it's standard
bearer in 1872. He has some follow
ers in Iowa, bat they are very few
and far between. He and those
acting with him ought to have
learned . lesson from the past
to-wit: aThat in such q con-
test they must 60 down beneath the
resistlees sway Of the intelligent
/ citizens who comprise the party. It
is idle for any one German American
citizen to suppose that he can carry
with him his fellow German citizens,
Il there be any people among us who
read and ponder well political sub.
Ijects and make up their own opinions
it is this class of our citizens, and
they cannot be led blindly astray.
4 We publish below another cores
pondence of the State Register (thit
time not from Washington, however,
Our readers will observe how from
its character it gives tone and digni
| ty to the Senatorial contest ana
pours oil upon the troubled waters.-
The bitterness oftbis contest arising
!, from the publication of the commu
nications of such quarter bred CORES
8 pondents will soon in the opinion o
. the Register demand the entrance o
. a fourth candidate into the ring:
Il Editor Of Register:-I was mad
happy when l learned that Chic
Justice Chase could ego up stairs tw,
steps at time as was his old Gus
TOM" and ] was glad to know tina
he had friends to telegraph the sam,
for the benefit Of the newspapers, tic
but imagine the sublimity of my
happiness aud surprise, when learn
cd BY your paper Of the 7th inst, tha
increased mail facilities had beer
given to route No. LAB from Exir,
to Atlantic, and that mails went ovel
that route six times per week-Sun
days being excepted. And it is evi
dent from the mode of publication
that this great good has been the
result Of the extraordinary exer
ton, profound statesmanship. and
surprising influence of Hon. james
Harlan, United States Senator and
candidate Tor reelection. Extra
and Atlantic should support him on
the face of this effort alone. The
"yield "of the Office, the "prospec.
tive increase" Of the small business
along that line stamp the effort as
almost unparalleled.
When the first ''six days. Of that
mail business is done, / trust Mr..
Harlan will speak at Extra, and let
the meeting DO opened by prayers OF
the Rev. Messrs. Newman and Cham.
bers. ?.
HAVE You HEARD FROM MAINE :