Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-12-08
FArR PLAY SUGGESTS THIS.


We see it noted by many Republic
an journals something like this: we
do not question the right Of Governor
Kirkwood to be candidate for U. s.
Senator, but then his great majority
in the recent election, was due to the
fact that the people of the State be-
lieved him possessed Of peculiar 1T
ness to discharge the duties Of Gov
ernor, and If he should be elected
Senator this idea Of the people would
not be carried out: that having ac-
cepted the nomination whether he
desired it or not, it should be reason
ably expected Of him not to leave the
place until the completion Of his term /;
that he was elected Governor, and not
u. G. Newbold Other similar rea-
sons have been urged against his
candidacy and election. We think we
would be strictly correct in saying
that these reasons are urged by those
whose choice is other than Kirkwood
for Senator. In what we shall say
in regard to this course OH the part of
several journals, we wish to be nn-
dcrstood rs avowing no choice rs YET,
in the Senatorial contest, but as the
events of the past six or eight months
come up i'll review before us, accord
ing to our recollection, we cannot, in
all candor, find 1t in our hearts to urge
one single phase of the Gubcrnatorial
question against the candidacy of Mr..
Kirkwood. AS we recollect history,
previous to the assembling of our
State Convention, the eyes of a large
portion of the Republicans of the
State had looked wishfully and hope
fully upon Samuel J. Kirkwood to
head our ticket 1t finally became
we'll and thoroughly known that Gov.
Kirkwood positively declined, and
that he, with an honorable and just
ambition, would gladly receive from
the hands of his fellow Republicans
Of the State, the high honor Of being
chosen q. S. Senator. We say all Of
this was thoroughly understood be-
fore the assembling of the State Con-
vention. II was for the express pur-
pose Of avoiding any Gubcrnatorial
complications in other aspirations
that he might have, that he declined
absolutely to be considered cam
didate for Governor. The conven-
tion met. The names of the Hon. John
Russell, Hon. Hiram Price, Hon. John
II. Gear, Gen. Weaver, and perhaps
others, had been named in connection
with the Governorship. Mr.. Kirk
wood was not present. Very soon
there seemed to be tide setting in
strongly that Gov. Kirkwood should
be nominated. lie was telegraphed
to, asking if he would not recant as to
his steady refusal, and he emphatical-
ly refused again. Still the convention
would have him, and nominated him
amid great enthusiasm, against hi:
most positive protest Tclegraphed
to accept the nomination thus forced
upon him, Mr.. kirkwood did not fin
ally yield until some old and persona
friends most earnestly urged him tt
!. do so. Indeed, the convention placed
him in the dilemma Of being subjec
to the unfair criticism which we have
alluded to, in reference TO his Sena
torial candidacy, or to undoubtedly
lose friends by snubbing the conven
ton. II was then circulated III TIL
mors that somebody, opposing Gov
Kirkwood for Senator, desired hi
his nomination for Governor, that h
might be gotten out of the way. w
gave no credence to such rumors, no
do we now, and yet, some persons, j
does seem toug, might infer from som
OF the objections raised, that the rumo
referred to, hit the mark here an;
there. II was our opinion however
al the time of our State Convention
as il II now. that inasmuch as ther
had been much straggling insthe Re
, publican ranks for two years past, tn
popular Republican voice wanted tn
stalwart logic and high character Q
F, Samuel j. kirkwood in the canvas
to close up the Republican, column
and ,'oll mp rousing Republica
! majority. Unerringly the needs of tn
9 hour. in our opinion, as spontaT
! eous outburst Of the Republican mas
!, cs, called Governor Kirkwood TO IN
!, leadership in the campaign, and h
could not decently deny the summon
We must say. that in our opinion,
f is begging the question badly to sa
a that the splendid majority given hi
L for Governor, was only because Of h
+ recognized fitness for that place W
g cannot believe that the Republican
e of Iowa had any such circumscribe
d views OF the Governors ability or q
r ness for Office. Verify there must ha,
,. been some other father than the o
Z tensible one, to that thought. II wa
Ii and always has been well understoo
i that Coy. Kirkwood, in complyiu
with the demands Of the Republics
o party against his 4ciU. did not at Il
= same time that he reluctantly, b,
e gracefully Yielded to take the brunt
q q the battle in the campaign, assent
4 the theory that, therefore, ,he was no,
, rightful and very proper candida
. for Senator, or that the Republican
- of Iowa would not. therefore, ha'
% their will carried out if he should b
if come Senator. Ii is unnecessary
lc mention the needs or the difficult
- - of the last campaign. If we remeI
r ber rightly, nowhere was the nomin
ht tion of Coy. kirkwood more siren
!, ously urged in convention than in I
- Mississippi river counties. 1t won
If be no .disparagement of any Of Z
lc Senatorial candidates or of any 10y
W Republican, to say that the wishes
: the party were more directly center
as upon Gov. Kirkwoed to lead in I
%, last Falls campaign than upon a
es other man. This seemed to be I
y case, regardless Of the expression
the convention. 1t was well und,
stood, and was stated from the stur
,'s and through the press, that the tel
X OF Senator Wright would not exp
,e, until March 4, 1877, and hence, thou
,r. an election should be had for Sena,