Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-07-02
THE iN1I-lGNoFSLT FIAT.

Words, words, words,e said one OF
Shakespearc's characters on an occa-
sion that never could have justified
the exclamation like the platform
adopted by the Anti Monopolists on
Wednesday last. The confusion at
the building of Babel could have been
NO greater than the confusion Of ideas
"lying around loose" in this wordy
document. Ii the occasion had not
been serious one; those present not
Of the most serious visage, and the
platform not extended at both ends to
the most inordinate length, it would
bc found to contain vast sources of
amusement and mirth. Let us look at
some Of these words" The conven-
tion resolved first to form can indie
pendent political party" Independ-
ent or what or in what Independ.
ent Of principles independent in
membcrship9 As cvery party must
be independent of its opposing parties
what can this phrase signify? There
is but one snswer--to catch the popu-
lar ear.
Following this is string Of polite.
al beads, sentences and phrases
political maxims, aphorisms and PROV
erbs selected from constitutions the
bill Of rights, party platforms OF times
immenlorial, nuggets Of wisdom from
Statesmen Of all parties, and woven to-
gether into glittering generalitice,
meaning something or nothing, accord
| ing 10 the credulity of the reader. But
it is the third resolution that hath mu-
sic In il. II condemns In, q furions
fanferonade of jerky adjectives, the
reckless and unstable finance poll
icy" OF the Administration, and :. its
total incapacity to meet the vital ques.
tons Of the day, and provide for the
general welfare" Il giving elk months
Of the most patient study and delibsr-
alton to the finances any evidence OF
recklessness on the part Of Con.
gress ? IL the adoption of y pelicy,
which had the approval and support
Of almost the entire membership OF all
the Western statos an evidence Or sim
stability ?" And having done its work
in this way and time, 1.-The work, be-
ing generally greeted throughout the
country as satisfactory because Il hon.
orably and nationally compromised
the differences existing among mem-
bers aud constructed in The various|
distant sections Of our extended coun.
try, and by both parties alike, in Con-
gress and out, 10 this an evidences ofI
"tctal iDcapacity to meee the vital
question of the day. on the part Of
the Republicans! And this conven.
ton declares its purpose to correct
these accommodating evils, and bring
the Government back TO its ancient
landmarks and economy" One Of
the chief instruments for Infringing
1t back"i is Ex-Governor Swamp Land
Stone, the gentlemen who wrote and
read these high sounding revolutions
to the convention! The disability,
capacity to meet vital question:" and
economy " OF Bill Stone seem to be
the hopeful examples for emulation
among the Anti Monopolists.
The resolution to maintain inviolate
the public credit is not only Republic
can doctrine but Republican practice,
opposition Of tho Democratic party
which constitutes the constituency of
five.sixths of this convention. II de-
cisres against al "over issue of paper
money" and resolves 1t to be the duty
OF Congress to provide volume Of
currency that shall at all times be ad-
equate to the business of the country"
In other and palmer words, the con-
venticn in this resolution ride the
stubborn contraction mule towards
the camp of specie resumption, and
the friaky mustang Of imitation into
the wild prairies Of unlimited paper
currency-riding both At the same
time though they do 20 in directly op-
posite directions. Mr.. King, of this
county moved to strike ont that por-
ton relating to specie payment. The
flexible, economic and reformatory
Swamp-Lsuder, Ex-Governor Stone, |
opposed this. and in explanation stated
with shameless brassiness that the Ian
guage Of the resolution WAS puypossly
sadcf'sste; its ambiguity was for the |
very purpose Of cheating III shades of
opinion into the selief that it meant
something, when in fact it meant moth
ing! Such confession must have
put to sksme every honorable man in
the Convention. ~
Tho tenth resolution treats OF tho
temperance question In words ~
meaningless as could DO woven togeth-
er by the most artfpl dodgor. Col. 10.
Eiboeck instantly saw the swindlc, and
introduced the following outspoken
resolution in its stead: q, - .aso
Resolued, That in view of the rayag.
es of intcmperances, and of the dem
onstrated inability of . prohibitory
law to check the same, We favor its re-
placement by judiciOus license law.
This Was discns.ed With NO fittla