Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-10-06
! SHALL Try THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY ONCE NIORE.
OTrUMwA, Oct. s. 1877

PARTY ONCE MORE.
OTTUMwA, Oct. s. 1876.
EDIToRs OF TIE OTTUMwA COURIER
gents IL feel impelcd at this time
to prepare short statement for the
public eye, and address it to you With
the request to publish it, if, upon cx-
animation, you do not fluid objection
to it, and can spare the space it will
occupy in your columns. 1t must be
published now If at all. To-day, if |
understand Alright, is the last opportu-
nifty to communicate with the public
through your weekly paper.
What have to say is rather design.
ed to define my own position, by way
Of confession, perhaps, rather than
as an exhortation. / have been
troubled long time about the course
which duty required me to takc in the
pending election. / have thought that
perhaps some of my fellow.citizens
who know me may have been troubled
in the Same way, and that they might
DO disposed to look with indulgence
upon the difficulties have encounter
ed, and listen with patience to the con-
.clusion to which have arrived.
! will premise briefly, that ! have
always held the belief that in this
world where q conflict of the good lie
necessarily being waged with the bad,
that each individual who, either by ac-
ton or inaction, must promote the. one
or the other. owes it to himself as well
a. to others, to make known the posi-
ton which reason, conscience, and
duty impels him to take in an impend-
ing contest. Honesty and good faith
towards all parties require this, cs-
pecially on the eve of doubtful, and
possibly a decisive battle.
It will be impossible here to do more
than to state results, hat ! will in as few
words as possible say that for come
years past in common with many 9th
ers, have been dissatisfied with
the Republican party, with which ]
have acted since its formation. Since
tho close of tho war, especially, have
thought conld realize change, If not
in profession. at least in motive and
practice. In this frame of mind,
have been looking around to find some
other organization upon which reliance
could be placed to carry out more eff
GENTLY the original purposes and prin-
ciples Of the Republican party.
have found NO such organization.
I must confess 1t. I find isolated ele-
ments and fragments here and there,
which. II combined, might, perhaps,
be moulded into one. But there ia no
time. The battle is on the eve of be-
ing joined between the Republican
party and its old time Antagonist, the
Democratic party. Which is it my
duty to support by my vote? The re-
suit Of tho election in this and in the
other States voting At this time, will
greatly influence, il not determine the
Presidential election Of next year.
The question, then, is which ought l
to support. To one or tho other will
be entrusted the destinics Of this great
nation. There must be a choice be-
tween them. To which of them, from
what We know Of their past history.
and their probable present designs, is
il safer to commit the flag of this conn
try, to entrust lite navy, and to confide
its treasury? 1t may be choice OF
evils. but am compelled to say that,
ii live to see tho day of election,
shall feel it my duty to vote the Re-
unhltcavp ttsSret " voprye