The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-02-29

ls
Y RISE 10 EXPLAIN"
EDIroRs CouR1Ea: Finding that
I occupy wrong position before the
public, in regard to my status on the
political questions Of the day, I find
it necessary to set myself right.
This is owing to the proceedings. as |
published 10 the COURIER Of tho 23d
inst, Of . certain meeting, stated to
have been called for the purpose Of
karmonis,pg tho Germans of this
city and county, t., TO-, but which
was really nothing. moro nor less
than . meeting engineered BY demo-
Gratis and some German soreheadOd
Republicans, TO make themselves
ridiculous, and which, no one who
reads the resolutions can fail to see, 4
thoy have most completely accom-
plished.
l find, BY the proceedings, that
Mr.. N. Baker was Chairman, Mr.. G.
Auwerda, &c red hot democracy the
distinguished Yarman from Holland,
was Secretary, and Mr.. Conrad
Blind, ! understand, was doorkeeper,
being too modest to aspire to any
thing higher, for al know that be is
q modest man; entirely too modest
for his own advancement, have IL
from very good authority that he
was one Of the leading men Of Des
Moines county, who 6rst organised
the Republican party, in tact this
authority is indisputable, for l have
it from his own lips, and I give it in
his own words: ut WAS mo and Fits
Henry Warren and Grimes that done
it all"
Now wo oil know what I noble
and proud position the Republican
party now occupies In this State aud
country, organized and get 10 motion
BY this noble trio; and we also know
how we'll two Of them have been re.
warded for their zeal and fidelity.-
Grimes, the last Of the trio, has teen
Governor Of this State and an honor
ed U. s. Senator; Filx Henry War.
rem has been Minister to represent
the United States Government At .
foreign court. But what has been
done Tor the first of this noble trio :
Nothing, absolutely nothing. And
do you ask why 10 this so? The
reason is plain. Modesty, nothing
hut his extreme modesty. "Alas |!
Poor Yorick I"
This reminds me of certain pas
sage Of scripture s'Che last shall be
first and the first shall be last"
"Three shall be grinding at a mill,
two shall be. chosen and the other
lett" and many others Of . like i'm
port. But this is not all. Judge Of
my astonishment and grief, on las.
Friday evening, il goi6gs to the
famous democaa6f0 conventions. Is
pass away The evening and see tho
sights. When on arriving at the door,
what did see there? Behold oh.
my Countrymen | what q sight was
this Bear with me moment
for l can hardly write it down. oh.
shades of Grimes and tho immortal
Clay how your spirits must have
becn disturbed In their rest! "Ob,
how have the mighty fallen" "If
you have tears, prepare to shed them
now" And what did You behold !?
you ask. What affected You 90
muchf OBJ. my Countrymen be-
bold ono Of the original noble trio.
who organised the Republican party,
NJ the door of the democratic con
vention, peddling, yes. actually ped
ding Tickets. He stretched forth his
noble hand and offered me one of the
tickets, but / was so overcome that
almost burst out crying aloud and
was unable to take it from him. by
reason Of the great shock l received
at the sight Of such sad spectacle,
so l turned around and went ont into
the open sir, by which means l was
restored oil right again, and did no.
go back, but went nome, and could
not help rejecting on the ingratitude
Of Republics, more especially Of Re.
publican parties.
Now | should not have thought it
worth while to say anything about
this meeting, bad it not been that in
their resolutions and speeches, they
made such free use OF my name, and
made my defeat for the Office OF
Mayor pretext for their action and
ss some persons might think, from
this, that was in accord and sym
pathy with them, ! take this method
TO distinctly and emphatically dis
claim any sympathy or pfiistion
with oDy such movement, whatever.
Noone would regret and dcplore more
than l any attempt, by any party
whatever, TO try to foster national or
sectional prejudices and animosities
in party politics, inasmuch as / con
slider, that nothing would be more
unfortunate, in this country, com.
posed 40 it 10 Of 90 many different
nationalities, having seen its evil of
fects during the existence Of the
American or Know Nothing" ex-
citement, some seventeen years ago.
Firmly believing 10 the doctrine
that "God has made of one blood all
the nations of the carth," I believe
it 70 be our duty, as much as 10 US
lies, TO divest ourselves of the mar
row and contemplate prejudices on
account of the accident of birth, and
esteem every man for what he is.
and not on account of the place
where he was born. ! consider any
man, NO matter wha: bis nationality
may lie, who would endeavor TO
create dissension and strife, BY excit.
ing the narrow prejudices Of nation
alities. and thereby to foist himself
into office, vile domsgogue, aud q |
dangerous character to his country.
and should be frowned down by
every good citizen.
But while ! believe in this general |