Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-05-15
The !Bloomfield Ia.l Deuocrat Vi

The Bloomfield Clap Democrat un
Willingly or pnrposely misrepresentl
us BY quoting portion only of an ar
ticle from the COURIER, and thereby
seems to convey the idea that we
charged that tho order Of Changers wal
. secret political party. Our state.
+ mentawas directly to the contrary; but
we said that some Changers were trying
to make 1t such, and then deprecated
such course and said we were oppos.
Cd 70 secret political parties. The
Democrdt further remarks that we for
gst that the oath of the Union League
is scarcely cold upon our lips. This is
very unhappy reference for our
friend: Tho Union League was not a
party, but was an association formed,
not in times Of peace, and whom the
country was in the throes of q great
revolution, and was called into requi-
sition 70 check.thate that infamous or
gahisation of democrats, "The Knights
of the Golden Circle" who were band
cd together to resist the Government
/ and aid the rebels; the same who are
|. of those who now seek to prostitute
tho order of the Grange for the de-
stfuction Of the Republican party and
tho elevation or themselves, as "The
rKnights Of, taIe Golden CircleH did Of
odd d Our feMarks in the article which
the Democrat criticises, made especial
observation in not oondemning snch
ombinations ss the Union League,
Which the necessities of the great Dem
6tatk rebellion and g Knights Of the
oolden Circle" seemed to make neces-
] zsary for the time being. We were not
lof the Union League, because called
to tie. field but the same rebel De-
INC sf16y which necessitated hundreds
eof thonsAnds to take the field, caused
Bother thousands at home to organize to
battle the fire-in-the-rear party. 4
/ Again the Democrat says: ,sj
i g But those who urge against the
IGrangers that their secret organization
SHOULD preclude them from entering
politics, forgot that il the Changers
Eahalf, in open caucus and convention,
regularly nominate their candidates,
then the secret part of the order will
be no more reason for opposing cam
didate of thoir selection, than would
be the fact of another candidates. mem-.
bership in the order of Odd Fellows,
Maaons. knights Of Pythias, or any of
the Trade Unions, constitute reason
for opposing his election" ai
If the above means anything, it is
this that II Changers as a body, or.
what would be the same thing, meet
lin open convention as q party, and
nominate their candidates, it would be
no more reason for opposing such a
|course than It would be to oppose the
eourse of Odd Fellows OF Masons or
Ipther orders meeting together in open
sconvention and nominating thei, can
didates. This is the legitimate and in
evitable conclusion OF our friends ar
/ gument.
I'VE are opposed to all such things in
toto. They may properly be classed
|among the most pernicious of things
that could arise in the body polite.
Furthermore, such course, as we are
Uniformed and believe, is directly con-
l4rary to the constitution and regula-
ftions Of all the orders named. Changers,
sOdd Fellows, Masons, or members of
(any order, Of course may properly
meet in . convention of any party
|whose organization is public, as the
members Of such orders always have
dome, in connection with their fellow
seitizens Of all grades Of society, of all
ereeds aud colors, and nominate canii-
dates for Office whose political opinions
agree with their own. But while this
De true, we regard it as not proper that
, candidate shall be named by Grangers
'or the members of any other order as
y political body In convention.