Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-02-19

AH"s uPob the statute books of the
free States" when we would make
niggers know their place; when we
would have a white mans govern
ment; when we would let tho South
divide the Union when we in Nation
al Convention voted the tour years of
war for the Union failure; when,
after the war, VIC would pull down
the National fabric about our heads
by Reputation Of the national debt.
and finally, when by placing us in
power, you shall be declared the
scoundrels and we the pure reform.
| ers.
The same madness that made citi
zens hope and believe that the South
in a contest for slavery, could over.
throw the hcats Of freedom. now
blinds them to believe that the people
can be Thus duped.
We publish to-day. the platform OF
the National Grange, adopted at its
recent session at st. Louis, Mo. Eve
ask for il . careful perusal by all our
readers. 1t thoroughly discountenan.
ces the action taken in many counties
of this State last fall, in the elections.
We do not mean that it alludes to the
action had in such counties specifical.
ly, but in those counties where dele
gates were appointed from Oranges to
Q County Convention, which nominal.
cd a ticket, as was the case in Mahaska
county. and which was copied to q
greater or less extent in other counties,
the platform condemns such course
very plainly, in the following Ian.
guage: j.
No Grange, If true to its obliga-
tons, can discnss political or religious
questions, nor call political conven.
tons, nor nominate candidates, nor
oven discuss their merits in its meet.
ings."
Immediately following this, how
ever, they do say:
3gl r. u
"Yet the principles We teach under.
ne al true Statesmanship, and IL pro-
perly carried out, will tend to purify
the whole political atmosphere Of our
country, for We seek the greatest good
to the greatest number; but we must
always bear it in mind, that NO one by
becoming q Grange member, gives IN
that inalienable right and duty which
belongs to every American citizen to
take proper interest in the politics
Of his country. On the contrary, il is
right for every member to do all in
his power legitimstely to influence for
good, the action Of any political party
to which no belongs. 1t is his duty to
do all he eau in his own party to put
down bribery, corruption and tricke.
ry; to zee that none but competent,
faithful and honest men, scho scfU an.
Ntncktngly stand 6y oar sisdsstri01 IN.
terests are asO,nia4fed for al positions
o. crust, andto have carried out the
principles which should always char.
acterize every grange member; the
Office should sock the man and not the
man the Office
In another resolution they add, in
connection with the preceding an
nouncement, that the principles of the
Order "underlie all true Statesman.
ship" as follows:
Many are excluded by the nature
Of our organization, and not because
they are professional men, or artizans,
or lab0rers, but because they have not
q sufficient direct interest in tilling or
pasturing the soil, or may have some
interest In conflict with our purposes.
But we appeal to all good citizens for
their cordial cooperation. TO assist In
our efforts towards reform, that we
may eventually remove from our midst
the. last vestige Of tyranny and corrup.
| ton
Perhaps Internationally committed
but it does look 81 though there was
come incongruity in this lengthy and
ably prepared declaration Of princi.
pies.
| The project OF doing away with the
secrecy Of the Order was voted down,
also the proposition to make the Ma
tionai Grange representative body.
Secretary Kelley in opposing the re-
preventative move, said:
The Order mast be patriarchal, the
light must come down to the body
from the head