The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-09-19
THE MASS CONVENTION.

THE MASS CONVENTION
That was ghastly disappointment 10 the
Corwinites, with Cullen, of the Ottawa he
puJltcaH, in the foreground, who attended the
Opposition mass convention on Wednesday
expecting to find it made up of a set of Blan-
ton Duncan, Singleton and Richardson fools,
but found it instead composed Of calm, cool
headed, sensible, thinking men. The conycL-
tion though not very imposing display IN
the way of numbers, rs nobody expected II
would be, was made up of leading men from
all quarters of the county, and the calm,
good sense that marked their deliberations,
showed that the individual members had
given the matters before them some thought
before they came here
The first question broa chcd was that of the
nomination of Fawcclt Plumb, by the "lndc-
pendent" convention week ago CoIld tbs
meeting endorse Mr.. Plumb? 1t was stated
auhoritatvely that Mr.. Plumb, so far from be
ing banker had no interest in any bank,
and was opposed to the entire national bank
paper money system and ia favor Of an eN-
elusive paper money currency issued from
International treasury and rcdcemable in gold.
Also that Mr. Plumb was an anti-tariil man
and for year and Il half past had had no
connection of any kind with railroads and
had no interest III railroad in any shape.
Further that if elected TO the senate lie would
favor the passage of laws preventing the
Of rnilrpalS Stppl.S mr. tho
OF diyidcns on fictitious or watcrcd stocks,
and generally, that he would favor the pas
sage of laws placing all our great chartered
corporations under full legislative control.
If the convention which nominated Mr.
Plumb, and which protesSed anti.mOnopoly
as one of its cardinal doctrines, as this meet
ing did was satisfied with Mr.. Plumb, this
meeting saw no reason to object to him. II
was wisely decided, therefore, that any action
in reference to his nomination would bc un-
wise and incNpedicnt AS between him and
DR.. Corbus--thc latter being originally q
protege Of the III, Central railroad, and at all
times high tariff advocate and devoted, with
his entire party, to the national bank monop-
oy-no voter OF sound financial preferences
or anti-monopoly leanlngs could for 4 mo-
ment hesitate 70 make his choice.
In reference to Mr. Campbell the views Of
the meeting were equally sensible. While
they could not endorse his financial views,
and had desired most decidedly TO vote for a
candidate for congress whose financial views
were in accordance with the platform of The
Liberal Opposition convention that met At
Springfield on The Goth ult, and which plat
form tins meeting cordially endorsed; yCtthc
meeting could see no wisdom in placing a
third candidate in the field to dOubly insure
the election of Mr. Corwin ON The financial
question, Mr.. Campbell was ii the worst, less
Objectionable than Mr. Corwin, who favored
selling ont the entire nation 10 and placing
it at the mercy Of the national banks, while
Mr.. Campbell's scheme would at least keep
the peoples representatives. The meeting,
therefore, decided in sending delegates 10 the
convention at Morris on Thursday, To instruct
them 10 oppose placing a third candidate for
congress in the field in this district.
Wear certainly not disposed 10 challenge
the sound sense OF this action on the pant OF
the meeting There i a sort of bull.hcadcd
bravado which occasionally scilcs politicians
of the half CraZcG Blanlun Duncan species.
which, with a lamcntablc missioner they call
standing up for principle" and which would
sacrifice nine aitainablc good points because
u tenth cannot also be attained: but sound
sense has always looked upon such political
action rs a~inlnc, and has little respect for it,
After We have said To Mr. Campbell that We
utterly scout his paper money scheme Il. a
wild and airbrancG dclusion; and 10 Mr..
Corwin that We look upon his scheme 70 sell
out this nation and all its interests 10 the
hcartlcss, soullcSs national banks ~ IN out.
rage and crime, we have placed ourselves in
Il position where We are at least free 10 insti-
tulc iair comparison between the two men
ON all other points and issues that the elcc-
ton this tall involves, and if in the domain
of these issucs we find Mr. Campbell "A pre-.
icrahlc man To his opponent We can still con
scicntously promote his election.