The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-20

moi SO WITH MaJOI otlalt. HIS
lines have fallen in less pleasant
places; he has: had to steer: through
rougher waters; rs q avoid shoals and
rapids. He has jostled against 9TH
ers and been their: active: compe-
titor, and has, therefore attracted
opposition and won enemies.
What wonder then that his reputa-
ton has suffered somewhat from
these fierce collisions? That he has
made mistakes and: excited antag-
onisms? Such facts prove nothing
against him, for they are the conse-
quences Of the circumstances Of his
life. In all that is said against him,
we have yet to find one: single &C
cusation of culpable wrong. He is
not accused Of theft, dishonesty,
fraud, neglect, nor even of inability
to do whatever was required of him
in his four years Of official career.
Mr.: Thatcher accuses him of hav-
ing broken promise, but that gen.
tleman very probably accepted as a
promise what was merely intended
for the statement Of a probability.
Two years ago it was hardly likely
that Major Strait would be a candi=
date this season, and if he then. said
TO Mr.. Thacher::. swell, sir, I will
not be in your way next time,' or
words to that effect, he may have
meant nothing more than to assert
what was altogether likely to occur,
without intending it as promise or
expecting it to be SO understood.
He certainly had no right to make,
nor had Mr.. Thatcher a right to
accept, any such promise, for the
nomination of candidates belongs to
the people, and is not something
which may be promised, bartered,
sold, or given away.
The charges against Mr. Strait
are extremely vague, and cannot lie
refuted because of their indefinite
ness, and, hence, do not deserve
serious attention. Incapacity is al
legged against him; but when you
ask Of what he is incapable, you are
only answered that he cannot make
a speech. Heaven knows that
there are speech makers enough in
congress without him, and if about
nineteen-twentietlls Of those sent
there were blessed with. this Same
incapacity the country would be
better off, The truth is, Major
Strait can say what is required Of
him to say, and he has the reputa-
ton Of being one Of the most indus
trious and efficient Of committee.
men, and an interchangeable worker
for those of his constituents who ask
him to interest himself in their be-
half. His four years. experience
render him more than ever compe-
tent to be an efficient and useful
member, and give him decided ad-
vantage over Judge Wilder, not
outstanding the latter's superior
abilities.
Again, while; we do not, for a
moment, suspect that Judge Wilder
would go with his party in the COM
mission of a wrong, we must not for
get that he is a: democrat and. will.
lookat all. questions from the dem
:ocratic: standpoint. Hence, upon
party : questions generally we must
expect hin, to vote with his party,
and, as it is these party measures of
the democratic party which we OPP
pose, we cannot. regard Judge vii
der differently from what we would
any other gentleman that party
might have nominated.
Because we support the policy of
the republican party and oppose
that of the democracy, we feel it
mr. I,,t,r RI cunvort Moior Strait