The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-05-24

err, whose inordinate ambition for coveted
but undescrved, honors was discomftted. In
the complication of human affairs great eau
ton should be exercised, lest we become De
wildercd in mind, and incapable OF rightly
solving the problems that are daily presented
10 us for solution. Each one of us has part
to perform in the affairs of life, and OF course
each one who inciines to espouse ana sustain
the side of truth, will be expected to acquit
himself in conformity with its salutary teach
ings The divisions of every proper subject
are few. Right and wrong, without cxaggera-
ton, constitute the whole. In this progress
i've period of life error is less boldly cham
piOned, than artfully concealed. cause
grounded in deception and falsehOod requires
the genius of accomplished and studied effort
to clothe it with fascinating and approved
coloring and yet men are not wanting who
are willing to proffcr their cloqucnce in the
interest of trying to embellish bad, ignoble
and unworthy causes, and with the credulous,
inconsiderate and prejudced they make pro-
gress. Shall we sit idly by and quietly sub
nit to mpositions, portentous Of great injus-
tcc to ourselves, our neigbbors and our state !?
No! The instincts Of our nature forbid and
condemn apathy and Indifference to duty I'M
der acknowledged causes of alarm.
You are familiar with the fact that this
county has furnished two aspirants for posi-
ton on the Bench of State. The one, in
whom we are most interested, Judge c. b.
Lawrence has had term of nine years pro
baton in which to test his distinguished abill
ty and fitness for the position and it is AFRO
giant praise to say of HIM, that he has nobly
acquitted himself as an honest, pure-m minded
and able jurist. His time and talents have
been devoted to his calling with such scrupu-
lOus fidelity to trust, and such cOmmendable
integrity, ability and praisworthy zeal, as to
enshrine him in the esteem and commence OF
every generous mind He is, in political sen
timent, republican, but in no sense IS he
politician and under no circumstances can
he be induced to throw the opulence and fer.
tility of his well stored mind into the scale OF
political strategy or political demagoguery
He is by nature and accomplishment lifted 10
fill the highest judicial position on the Bench
of State.
His opponent, A. NJ. Craig, Esq, is in every
sense of the word politician, remarkable for
his tenacity to partisan prejudices, and equal
ly remarkable for his obstinate resistance to
everything antagonistic to his partisan in
stincts. As a lawyer, it would be unfair dis
elimination against other members OF the
profession, to rate him above mediocre. His
experience as jurist and eXpounder OF the
law consists Of one term of service in this
county, in which he graced the bench as pro-
bate judge.
Subsequently his war record rendered him
50 odious to the loyal heart of the country
that, to make investments of value in him,
has ever since been regarded as of doubtful
propricty. He is now scarcely risen from
the sad memories of the past, when he Is, by
q clique Of impoverished political agitators,
assembled together for sinister purposes, prof
fered the nomination for high judicial honor
of the state-the most important gift we have
to bestow on man, and the most trying posi-
ton for cultured ability to reflect proper light
from,-and yet this novice in the law has the
effrontery to accept the protfer without quail
tication, and withOuta vivid sense of the du-
ties incident to the position.
1t is not my purpose to disparage the man.
| take him rs he has made himself, and mir
ror him forth as he is. He asks for the suf-
frage Of the people, and the people should
know and act conscientiously on 50 momen-
tous question as that of making supreme
Judge of state 1t is a matter of no small
importance to the whole state, rs to what sort
of Judges we elect Our interests will be
best promoted by electing able and efficient
judicial heads. Mr.. Craig is untitled by
habit, by experience, and by legal accom-
plshment to acquit himself honorably in the
position, should the people submit to the
cheat they would be subjected to in electing
him. In this county all political parties out,
side of our county seat contest, will work and
vote solidly for Judge Lawrence, and they do
so under the conviction that ii is but simple
justice to themselves, and duty they owe to
the balance of the whole State of Illinois.
shall be glad to hear from you.
Yours truly,
G.. V. DIETERICH