The New York herald., 1872-09-23
A Huge Task Before the Liberals
What Two Years May Do.
Review Of Iowa's Nine Con-
gressional Districts.
THE KASSON-PALMER FIGHT.
Possibilities for Greeley In the
~ 1850 . Northwest.

N--4IIItI
Ngmo-
fs ga0sn8l DEs MONIES, Iowa, Sept IA, 1872.
The political contest in the State OF Iowa Is in no
whit less fierce and fervid because the State is
reasonably sure to GO for Grant, In Minnesota,
where Greeley's prospects are brighter, Ignatius
Donn0ly, Ex-senator Wilkinson and others show
no moro tenacity than Grinnel, Warren, Stone and
the Greeleyites Of Iowa, which State is known by
the name OF the Vermont of the West the agricul-
tural whg stronghold. The contest In Iowa Is
mainly to break the back Of the regular party pre-
pare the way for the great party predicted for
lS74 and pick up portion OF the Congressman.
rr snefc- WHAT Is TO BE ovERcoME.
In Iowa General Grant In 1858 had 48, 900 ma
Sorfty. At the last State election Carpenter, re-
publican, carried 1t by 41,oo0 This Mr.. Grinnel,
6x-Congressman, aflrms can be reduced one-half
this year, and three ffths II Pennsylvania ana Ind
Ana "go right" There are still between ten and
twenty per cent Of undecided votes, showing that
the campaign has taken q shallow hold upon
the sympathies Of the bulk Of the people,
Grant being no favorite and Greeley not the first
choice Of Grants antagonists.
The republican party in Iowa has had for fifteen
years great and uniform success in its State admin
istrati0ns and unusual unity and good fellowship
In Its leaders, 1t is made up of the best elements
OF Ohio, New York and New England. The Ger
mans had about prepared to leave it before Greeley
was nominated That nomination delayed their
departure but they are still slowly drifting away,
and the majority are already over on the Greeley
stde In every township also there are republican
boilers, and good and sturdy ireside thinkers who
have lost interest in the republican party. There
6 general reaction, ill-concealed even among the
republicans who win support Grant, against the
negroes, particularly Of the slave States, and ap
prehensions OF evil to arise in States like South
Carolina and Mississippi from the solid and aggres
sive position Of the black voters In Minnesota,
and the same Is true of the Northwest generally,
the Greeley liberals are strongest in the large
towns, like st. Paul. Minneapolis. Mankato and
Hastings. Grants majority in this State was less
than 1900. o.dfio gv
A REVIEW OF THE FIELD IN IOWA.
The whole interest OF Iowa has of late been con-
centrated upon the central or Des Moines district
where two very able and very much emblttered
fellow townsmen, Kass0n and Palmer, made o
struggle for the republican nomination. and the
sitting member, Palmer, was utterly routed by
personal revolution as singular as 1t was unex-
pected. OF this shall speak further along when
reach the district In its order.
THE PREVIOUS DEFEAT OF JAMES HARLAN o
for the United States Senate threw out of the active
Grant ranks the most assiduous and subtle organ.
izer, and replaced him with VIM. B. Allison, of
Dubuque, who cares little nothing for Grant, and
having his comfortable years before him, is inds.
posed to throw himself outside Of any new party
that may arise. The other Senator, Wright Is an
inferior man of whom little Is heard and that little
generally In the style Of weak
Jas F Wilson, formerly chairman Of the Judiciary
Committee OF the House Of Representatives who
has been OF late conspicuous for the number OF
Cabinent positions which he says he declined and
the number Of nominations for which he was sug.
gested, but Gid not get Is out Of the way present.
acting as government director of the Union Pacific
Railroad. His closest friends have taken the Gree
icy shoot. Thus the men OF the most noted posi-
ton In the republican party are neutrallzed in Iowa
In this campaign. 'Allison,n said one OF mis- towns.
men to-day, "dont know whether to turn his face
towards Mecca or Jerusalem; he is very tender on
Grant and very gentle on Greeley and wants all the
patronage he can get whichever be elected. Jim
Wilson Is or on the rampage and Harlan is editing
newspaper in Washington and hoping to go into
the Cabinet in Beknap's place If Grant makes q
second term. cd H ~
THE DEMOCRATS OF THIS STATE
are practically united and are all working
good humoredly for Greeley, led by ex-
United States Senator Dodge, ex-United States
Senator JONES' late of Fort Lafayette, Judge
Mason, Judge Knapp, &c. The liberals, men like
Grinnel, Vela, Butler, Warren and Stone (the lat
ter four years war Governor), claim that there is
detection in their favor Of from five per cent to
cent will give them the State. Nearly the whole OF
the old antslavery party set Of agitators with
them, standing by Greeley as the exponent Of that
school.
1t is remarkable now many of the war Governors
are out for Greeley. Stone, referred to above was
six years Judge, four years Governor, and was
wounded at vicksburg. He is perhaps the most
make tour for Greeley In Indiana and Pennsyl-
vania.
Iowa has heretofore had six members Of Con.
gress and for the future will have nine. Four OF
ne present hay have been renominated-
. The First district, the southwestern corner Of
the state, Of which the chief city is Keokuk is now
again with the tradition Of 1000 majority behind
him; His opponent will be an eminent resident Of
anti-slavery men Of this part Of the State, who
give him their support and the democrats as well
rem and Schofeld, the latter OF Washington county;
na s d S the
In sheey's behalf are the oOnstitutfon Of KeOkuk,
y Moys States s ss Senator ssi q al out
IN Mr. eecon S to be IN
doubt, and the enemy press him with determine.
BeEnap Secretary Of war He is fespecta6Ie ss and
well thought Of but he was never Considered
Is probably aoomed to retirement II Il his H;ia CHIEF H be
reelected. He Is admitted to be honest Impartial
and no conspirator and in this contest he Is act
ing modestly and as bureau officer should. Keo-
kuk has 10000 people, Burlington 10000 The lat
ter was Crimes home.
THE SECOND IOWA DISTRICT.
Clinton, on the Mississippi River, due west is the
chief place in the Second district. Cotton, the
present member and candidate for reelection, has
ato0O majority. He Is mediocre man. whom the
liberals aver that they can beat. Probably their
candidate will be Leflngwell, lawyer, OF Lyons
and a soldier and good talking orator. Prominent
liberals here are Jacob Butler. ex-Speaker; ex-
Attorney General Cloud, ex-Mayors Bills and
French, Judge Hubbell and the State legislators
Clauson and Rolls. Nearly the entire German vote
OF the district, which ia very strong will cast