The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-10-23
EpIroRTRuE NoBIHERNK1 :

October, am credibly informed that charge'
Of corruption an 1 dishonesty were openly MADE
| against the incumbents Of the several County
OFF ,es, who were all renominated at the hepuD
| llcsn County Convention. 1t was charged by
several persons with brszen-faced impudenc'
that they were guilty Of corrupt practices; tina
hey had been "digging up dishonest claims
against Real Estate to be used for blackmailing
purposes" THIS is very grave charge to be
made in any place, and is especially 30 when
it is made in public meeting.
As usual thing think 1t hardly worth while
10 AJAX room in the columns Of the public press
TO refute SANDER, but when such wholesale
sweeping charges of corruption and dishonesty
are made against public officers, IN public
meeting, where all parts Of the County are
| represented 1 think it high time the people
we're enlightened IN the matter, and the truth
or falsity OF the charges made known. III they
are true. the people should by all means know
it, and il false, the parties accused should have
the benefit OF al acquittal. For several months
past a few persons in the County have been
a,siduously at work to break up what they
Ring; they have let no opportunity pass
whether in public or in private to pour their
malicious venom into the ears OF all who would
listen to them. They have used their beet en-
deavors to make people believe (and have some
times succeeded IN 20 doing) that fearful
state OF things existed; that a system of
Wholesale robbery plumber and backmailing
was gong on, and that startling Developments
were about to take place. The ring, the terrible
Court House Ring, liz the tocsin they have
sounded throughout the length and breadth OF
the County like so many " Howling Dervishes. u
Now, what has been the point and object aimed
at III all this out-pouring OF malice and envy ?
What have they expected to gain by it 7 ! will
say what think it is, and there is an abundance
OF proof that my theory Is correct One OBJ
ject has been to crafty their personal spite for
imaginary grievances but the main object has
been to bring the ofice-holders OF the dominant
party INTO disrepute and raise storm OF in
dguation, which would disrupt and break up
the Republican party, so they might build
new party upon it's ruins for their oocn person
al ernolument and dggrandizeoaent Will any
one for moment believe such men are dis
interested acorkers for the general welfare OF
the people, or that they are possessed OF any
more truthfulness. virtue, or honor than falls
to the common lot of mortals? When man
gets up in public aud announces that he cares
nothing for a declaration Of principles, but is
willing to adopt any plan by which he can cue
coed in putting somebody out Of Office, who is
personally obnoxious to hun, ! think his motive
should be suspected Is it to be supposed that
such man has now, or ever had any, princi-
Piles underlying his morals, politics, or business
relations with his fellow-men? When there is
demand by the people for reform think
they will have good sense enough not to employ
FOR guide and counselor man who has all his
life bt en- disorganizer and marplot in politics,
AID who never was known to espouse any cause
except for his own personal benefit. 1 could
pursue this theme indefinitely, but will now
p oceed to say something in defense OF the 80
called ring and against the charges upon which
they have been arragned.
Two years ago this fall an entire new set OF
County officers were elected, and on the 1sC OF
January succeeding were duly Installed In Of
fee. We came together comparatively strangers,
but believe animated with the common pur-
pose OF learning what our duties were and then
to perform them to the best Of our ability
How far we have succeeded in 80 doing is for
the people to judge and not for me to say.
have always maintained that public officer is,
or should be, the peoples servant, and when
20
step down and out
If the friendly relations which have existed
between us and the mutual help we have been
ready to render each other in performing our
various duties, constitute ring, | freely adj
INIT that such 1ng exists, and probably will
exist as long as we remain here. / deny, how
ever, most emphatically the existence OF any
ring, bargain or agreement for any dishonest
&C ION, illicit gain, or backmailing purpose, and
l challenge any and all persons to the proof Of
anything to the contrary. II such state of
things has existed as has been charged against
u, If farms have been stolen, families turned
out Of DOORS and, as was charged by . foul
mouthed calumniator on certain occasion
where many respectable persons were assem-
bed, crimes have been committed that deserved
to be ranked with murder, it seems to me that
some Of the victims could be produced to rso
up in judgment and prove It. That there has
been a number of original titles bought up and
settled on litigation commenced for their settle
ment, within the past two years, will admit to
be fact it is also fact that il has been the
case for many years past, and will be for years
to come. until all lands of any value which are
held by tax titles settled up, or the original
claims outlawed. II any person asserts that
the present County officers have rs body col
luded together to buy up and settle these
claims declare and am ready to maintain they
are graveiy misled, or else utter what they know
to be deliberate and malicious falsehoods. -
These claims have in almost every instance
been bought by parties outside Of the Court
House, and the greater port OF them by parties
outside of the State, as the public records of
the unty Will show to all who care TO investi-
ga them. This whole thing is hue and cry
gotten up bv few restless spirits, who think
their talents sad usefulness have not been ap-
pcec .atei; they seem willing TO go to any ex-
treme. even to the disruption OF the party
which has supported them and heaped hon ors
on them in days gone by, il by go doing they
can only accomplish their selfish pui poses-