Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-10
For the Bulletin.
Are The Refor1ners Honest?

VINO are nOneSt III lHelf ucSlIc "
assist in the correction OF existing
evils; but the evidence is over
whelming that the leaders and man
ayers entertain no desire for reform
and are running the party in the in
tcrest of shrewd politicians, and fol
their own profit and pleasure. A
comparison between their county
platform, adopted in July and re-
adopted in September, and the prac-
tice of their September convention,
and the teachings Of their county
organ and the writer's Of their par
ty, will convince any fair-minded
man that the managers are not
honest, and that their professions
and practice are wide apart.
The fourth count in their plat
form reads:
Resolced, That in the selection OF
officers, we shall be governed by
the integrity and capability of the
candidates, and their honest advo-
cacy of those reforms which we
are determined to accomplish, and
that in forming our judgment of
candidates, ace 'ciW not be influenced
bu their party proclirities; neither
by their present expressions alone,
but their past record upon the ques-
lions now at issue, will be most rig
idly scrutinized.
These are brave and honest
words, and, if rightly adhered to,
would certainly result in good. But
were they adhered to? Most GER
tainly not. They were violated the
instant the convention came to
action, they were only adopted 70
deceive the people. A portion, at
least, of the candidates nominated
by the Republicans one week prcvl-
Gus We're satisfactory to the reform
ers. "Their past record upon the
questions now at issue had been
most rigidly scrutinized"-which
was the retormers own test-and the
result was all that the reformers de-
sired. Weighed liz their own bal
ances, the candidates were not
found wanting. Nay, more than all
this, the reform leaders had APP
preached these same candidates,
and assured them that if they would
join the peoples party, they should
be nominated and just "hoated" into
Office, but failing to induce them to
turn hypocrites, and unite with a
movement merely for the sake of
Office, and Tor no other reason, the
refomers threw them overheard,
and thus giving the lie to their own
pretty words, "that in the selection
of candidates we will not be influ-
enced by their party proclivities."
The above resolution was passed
at the reformers July county con-
vcntion. At their nominating con-
vention, Sept. 6, Mr.. Rowe, the
chairman, seeing the nominations
were in violation of the resolutions,
suggested the propricty Of raising
a committee to draft neso SET of
resolutions. w. o. Curtis re-
marked that he thought it better as
it was; that they had adopted new
full set OF resolutions, only seven
weeks before, and they ought not to
be worn out 50 soon as this. Mr..
Riseley wanted new platform OF
principles; they were not Modes or
Persians that change not, but re-
formers in search Of something to
reform, and as circumstance change
they should change too. He
thought they should have a new
platform at least every new moon;
and, besides, since their old resolu-
tons were adopted, Mayor Jones
had joined them, and this had so
disturbed the center of gravity of
the party, and increased its specific
gravity, that one or Two new piers
would be necessary to make the
bridge Che meant the platform) safe
till after election.
And Mr.. Riseley's plan prevailed,
and the committee was appointed,
and Mr.. Riseley was made chair
man thereof, and Immediately
placed his gold-bowed spectaclcs
upon his nose, took wing pen,
screwed his mouth into a porten-
tious quicker, and proceeded to
business. He then fished from his
breast pocket an exhausted enve-
lope, from his vest pocket q lead
pencil, adjusted its point, and threw
himself into the attitude of man
about to write, and-stuck fast. For
an hour and thirty-three and one
third minutes he sat there, staring
with owlish wisdom at his exhaust
ed envelope, with teeth clenched
and nerves braced for the encoun-
ter, daring, defying an idea to come
athwart his horizon-but nothing
came of it. So after ascertaining
that the editor Of the Conservative
(who was accidentally presently had
no more resolutions about his
clothes, Mr.. Riseley succumbed to
fate, and gave up his new set of
resolutions, and the old ones were
re-affirmed.
But this is a depression, and yet,
it shows that the subject was agita-
tated, and the convention Of Sep
TENDER deliberately re affirmed the
resolutions at the very moment they
were violating it, and thus inten-
tionally continued to hang out a
false light. And the Conservative,
which glcries sin being the organ
Of the new party, and while it has
printed from week to week its reso.
iutions that "we will not be intiu-
enced by the candidates party pro-
clivities, but will be governed by
his integrity and capability," con
tinually splits upon that resolution,
and last week, in speaking of the
Republican candidate for the AS
sembly, it says: ellis sentiments
are good, and if his political asso-
ciates were good. they would carry
weight; but unfortunately for him,