Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-06-12
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TAKES IT BACK.

4
icaa take back the fairly interpreted
meaning OF its structures upon us and
exonerates us from the use of a low
style of language i'm reference TO pub
lie men. 1t however still insists that
we have exhibited spirit Of unfair
ness and illiberality towards the Hon.
M. M. Walden. We deny this In toto
and we affirm as the records Of the
best journalism in this country will
show, that we have treated Mr.. Wall
den with all the consideration aud
fairness that has been accorded by
some of the very best journals of the
nation to those similarly situated with
himself in reference to back pay.
The first member distributing his
back pay among his constituents that
we noticed, was a gentleman from
Ohio, and the Republican press Of the
country failed not TO speak out strong
ly against it. We did SO in common
with the rest. This was many days
before Mr.. Walden took action in this
natter Since then, Wells Of Missou-
ri, Farnsworth. Of Illinois, Roosevelt,
of N. X, spd others have given away,
in one form or another, their back pay
to their constituents, and all we
have said. in regard to Mr.. Walden's
action In this respect, has been Just az
liberal, just as fair, in matter and tone
as the larger proportion of the leading
Republican journals of this country
have spoken Of, and criticised the &C
ton of the gentlemen named. We
challenge the Republican to controvert
this.
Again we challenge onr friends to
show how It is we could have been
illiberal and unjust towards Mr.. Wal
den in this matter, when our severest
structures upon his method of distribu.
ting was made long before he made It,
and when we could not have had the
most distant idea that he would do
such a thing.
The Republican asserts, with great
earnestness, its belief in the purity of
Mr.. Walden's motives ; very well 1t is
the privilege Of our friend to so be-
'lieve. Yet has the Chicago Inter
Ocean, and the Journal hesitated not
to plainly indicate that Mr.. Farms
worth's motives were not pure, using
severe language which we have before
quoted. This also has been the criti-
cism of the New York Times and Post
and numerous other leading journals.
The Republican asks us to discuss
the ethics of the question. Pardon us
gentlcmsn, 1t is too late 10 do that now,
u is too stale a subject. The Republi-
can arraigned the COURIER for abuse
of Mr.. Walden, comparing it in this,
with the st. Lonis Democrat In the use
OF most scnyril.ous low flung language
This is now recanted, but II is still in
sisted upon that we are unjust and inn
bued with spirit Of unfairness this is
the question now, not the right or
wrong of the distribution. Did the
Republican ever think that it is sitting
in Judgment and prononncing upon
our motives as base, while it arraigns
us for agreeing with the best journals
of the country as to- tho motives of
members who made such distribution.
But enough, we will close by saying
that we do not place the exalted esti-
mate upon Mr.. Walden's high-toned
honor, that the Republican does and
without discussing the why's or where
fore's therefor, wo leave it simply an.
nounced.
We say in all candor we have no
bias, no i'll will, no revenge to crafty
towards Mr.. Walden. Our estimate
of the man and his acts, come of our
deliberate Judgment, based on incon-
trovertible facts, which we wish were
otherwise. We rest this conflict of
opinion between us and the Republican
with the people, only adding, that we
are sorry to see our friends in this last
article, still attempting to bcdaub us
with John P. Irish. Mr., Irish, though
in county which gives Republican
majority in the main on National aud
State ticket, has been able in spite of
the Republican, to be elected to the
Legislature time after time, and we
think our friends have enough to do to
attend to him In thoir home matters.