Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-09-10
THE DISCUSSION.

The discussion in this city on last
Saturday between the Hon. E. s.
Sampson and the Hon. f. N. Gates,
candidates for Congress, was
a very unexpected affair to us. Judge
Sampson having a few days that he
could possibly spare after his term of
court at Osssloosa, took advantage of
the situation to make hurried visit to
the south half of the District. BY
some mistake his coming here was un-
heralded. He spoke in Abba on
Wednesday of last week, and from
there went to Bloomfield, where he
was taken violently sick and was una
bic to speak. He had intended to 20
from there to Centerville, but being
unable to do SO, he came on here after
getting better, arriving here on Satur-
day in the forenoon. He had in the
early part Of last week written to Mr..
Gates asking him to divide time with
him here at Mr.. Gates appointment
Both being here, therefore, the joint
discussion was hastily arranged, and
so very little notice could be given OF
I. 1t is proper to say that Mr.. Gates
was suffering from quite severe indis.
position Or Saturday. AS VIC will pub.
lish a synopsis of the speeches of both
gentlemen it is hardly necessary for us
to make extended comment upon them
We will say, however, that the ability
and fitness of the two gentleman fol
Congress was very palpably contrast
ed upon the occasion. Judge Samp
son has been entirely out of polite.
and political speech making for eigh
years, and this was his second al
tempt. Besides his duties upon til,
bench have been so assiduous fol
months past as to make it impossible
for him to prepare himself for thor
ough review of the political situation.
His opponent, however, a lawyer by
profession, until late years, and now a
gentleman farmer, had been weeks in
the canvass, having made perhaps a
score of speeches.
Mr.. Gates opened the discussion
with q forty minutes speech, and
though he commenced by saying that
he had come to tell the people what
his views were, and what he would
do, he did not advance q single
thought or measure which he sdvoca-
ted, during that forty minutes. He oc.
cupied the whole time in complaints
against the present administration
He was guilty of the boldest untruth
or ignorance in his statements. From
the style and manner of the man we
incline to be charitable, and say that
his stupidity led him into his errors,
and yet it is difficult to conceive, for
instance, how he could be so ignorant
as TO say that this administration evin-
ced no disposition to liquidate the
debt of the Nation, when it was the
ringing motto and pledge with which
Gen. Grant went into power, ami the
one thing above all others intimately
connected as it is with elevating tho
public credit, that he has studiously
persisted in accomplishing so far Of
possible. We would not be severe
and yet we must be strictly just, fol
the good of society demands it, and
| weiis're forced to say that Mr.. Gates eff
fort showed clearlya startling inca
paci.y to fiji SO high position as h.
asptrcs to. A sad deficiency in intel
ligence. A gentleman of his age, ex
periencc and opportunities Of cultur,
and requirements, who so sadly mud
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connection with public affairs, has Gel