Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-06-05
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TIE TRYING TINE.

Within the last twenty days and
perhaps for two weeks to come. has
been and will be, the trying time among
Changers.
We mean by This that The all impor-
tani question has been and is whether !
The Changers are 10 organize them
selves into a party and make nomina-
tons Of their own or whether they
will seek TO carry out their views
through existing parties.
We understand that these questions
were discussed in the District Grange
meeting here last week. and that il was
determined that Changers should not
organize new party, but that as citizens
having, in the main, common object
10 snbservc. they should undertake to
TO carry out their views, acting as Re-
publicans, Democrats or Liberals. We
have said sufficient upon this question
heretofore, to inform our readers that
this policy is the one we think the best
for Changers to pursue. We hear,
however, that certain parties have said
that we assume to dictate policy for
members of the order to pursue. The
feeling that gives birth to such re-
marks, is q settled hatred towards us.
Is the order OF Changers so exclusive
that touching its political action, we
should have nothing to say, but re-
main entirely silent! Certainly this
cannot be! if then we do give our
views in respectful manner, are we
to be denominatcd dictators because
we do so?
The Davenport Gazette in an article
upon this subject makes some excellent
remarks and we therefore quote from
it, as follows:
1t was never intended to found n
new party. That would have intro
duced jealousy at the start. But they
did propose to sec that the candidates
nominated by their respective parties
were worthy Of their confidence and
support.
With this policy adhered to nothing
conld break the compact phalanx OF
the.farmers' organization. They would
remain harmonious, united. cntllusi-
astic. All the objects which they had
at heart would be served in turn, with
no opportunity for serious misuudcr-
standing. The Republican and Dem
ocratic grangers would see that dele
gates were chosen to their party con-
ventions who would nominate candi-
dates acceptable 10 the Order.
But there arc uneasy spirits who can
never let well enough alone. There
are Others who have personal ends to
serve, and who feel that they must
strike while the iron is hot. These
conspire to turn an Order into a Party
Some of them are Democrats, who
have found office-gctting in Iowa a
difficult job, for many years. Others
are Republicans, whose merits theiy
political friends fail to appreciate
Both are anxious 10 give the Farmers
the benefit of their shining talents and
conspicuous popularity. So they IN
sist that the Farmers shall nominate
an independent" ticket. Ii the Gran
ges arc not pliable enough they get up
an outside movement. They circulate
\ call for a County Convention, and
draw individual Republicans into
signing it, on the plea that now is the
time to teach the "party hacks" that
the farmers are going to rule. When
a respectable list of names is secured.
the call is published, and new party
is ushered into the world! In this
way the strap is sprung" on the un-
snspecting yeomanry. What is to be
the effect of all this? Obviously to
divide the farmers. The Oranges that
go into it will be torn by intrigues for
nominations. Some of tho best men
will insist that the Order was not in
stituted for any such purpose. and will
set their faces against il. Strong and
earnest Republicans will take the
ground that everything desirable can
be accomplished within the ranks of
their own party, and that it is not nee
essary to follow strange gods. They
will discover in the malcontcnts who
want new party, some who were bad
copperheads in years gone by. and
Others whose fitness for office has been
disputed. They will oppose these am
bilious consplrators, and the result
will be, diuision among the farmers,
The breaktng mp Of Oranges, and The
explosion ofthe. farmers increment. Is
not this a high price to pay for indie
pendent local tickctsI