Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-01-01

Not only did the Voter denounce
the Changers in every possible man
ner during the canvass, but since, 1t
has let no occasion pass to heap OPP
pr0Drium upon its officers elect, as
| witness its continued siurs at one Of
the Representatives, and the unman-
iy attack upon the Sup't. of Schools
in its issue of few weeks since
democrat.
The VOTER did not denounce the
Changers, nor the Grange. The po-
liticai action of the Grange the Vo'
TER did honestly denounce, as con-
trary to the declared principles Of
the Order and all the promises made
! byits speakers.
Whom does our neighbor mean by
its officers elect? Does he mean that
Green L. Clark is an officer elect Of
the Grange? Isn't it a terrible thing
to cast slurs at Mr.. Clark about his
mileage grab? Is n salary grabber
a "thief" because he happens to be
a Radical" and mileage grabber an
angel because he happens to be a
Granger? That man is moral cow
ard who dares not raise his voice
against wrong simply because he
fears to offend a popular party. He
is doubly moral coward if he occu-
pies the position of an editor and
fails to do his duty in warning the
people against men seeking official
place who have once proven recreant
and betrayed official trusts. If it is
right that the Republican party or
Democratic party should be held re-
sponsible for the misdoings Of those
whom they elect TO Office, then the
Grange party, which makes spec
ialty of the cry for honesty, must not
claim immunity from such RESPONSE
bility. We do not hesitate to say
that Green t. Clark once disgraced
Marion County by an act which has
rightly named him a mileage grab
ber. The fact that a majority of the
Democracy and of the Grange in this
county have endorsed him and his
act by re.electing him to the Legisla-
ture cannot wipe out the remem-
brance Of it. And the fact that he
was a Grange candidate cannot be
held over our heads as club TO keep
our mouths shut about him. Neither
the Grange club nor Mccormack 3
newspaper club shall frighten US
from our duty in exposing dishones-
ty and denagoguery wherever we
| find it. We have not hesitated be-
cause Mr.. Mersnon was q Granger,
and officer elect, to tell in plain En-
glish just what had already become
the common talk all over the coun-
ty. This the Senator callsan unman-
ly attack. We claim TO have done
Mr.. Mershon favor in stating the
facts boldly, and in manly manner,
taking the whole responsibility up
on ourselves and our paper, and thus
giving him opportunity for manly
defense il defense he had to make.
We have nothing to recall Of what
we have said Of Mr.. Mershon or Mr..
Clark. They have not dared to de-
ny our statements. Our columns are
open to them IL they wish to reply,
and any communications they choose
to offer will receive respectful treat
ment. They are public servants,
however, Eave entered the political
fell, and they must expect that
their acts will be watched and criii.
cised. We have no objection what
ever, to having our plain statement
of facts denounced by the
Democrat as an "unmanly attack"
Why does ii not dare to deny?
1t knows they are true, and can be
fully substantiated and no amount
OF dust thrown In the eyes OF the
public by its bsseless and irrelevant
vaporings In reference to the editor
Of the VOTER can change the facts
charged against Messrs. Clark and
Mershon, or wipe out the disgrace
which Senator Mccormack himself
brought upon his constituency by his
beastly intoxication on his way 10
Des Moines last winter. Perhaps he
thinks it WAS "unmanly" I'm US 20
refer to that matter; but he IL now,
and WAS at that time public Official,
and the people have right to know
the character OF the man who repre-
sents them in the State Senate. We
reiterate the charge. He has not yet
dared to deny IL! Is he unable to
defend himself in manly way with
his pen, or must he take refuge be-