The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-17
Who Shall be Candidate?

yours is not political paper, but I
hope am not out of place in using its
space to make a few suggestions. I
am a republican and have voted
"straight" for number Of years, and,
in doing 50, I have seldom had the pleas
ure of voting for such men rs prefer.
Now, in this Centennial year Of our
Republic, I would like to vote for good
men, and don't mean to vote for any
other kind if I can help it. I see that
the republican papers are working up
Blaine stock, and Conkling stock, and
Morton stock. Wouldn't it be as we'll
for them to think of working up the
peoples stock "a little? Or are the poll
ticians Of more account than all the rest
Of US put together?
Let US have good man for our nomi-
nee for President, and in order to get
such an one let us all attend our prima-
~ meetings and send only good men as
delegates to our conventions. Decent,
respectable men, who don't want post
Offices or deputy-marshalships. We can
find such, I think. Let US give the pol
iticians a rest. They need it, poor fel-
lows, after the stirring up they have had
by the Investigations. We have asked
too must Of them, and have allowed
them to sacrifice too much. Let's ease
up on them and put our own shoulders
to the wheel. don't want to be beaten
by the democrats, but if we don't put up
good men we will be, for the people
won't vote for men any more simply
because they are "our party nominees.
That's played out.
But we want good congressman
from this district, and all others for that
matter, as we'll as good President.
We don't mean to be put off with an
incompetent, and won't vote for such
an one If he is nominated. We want a
man somewhat above the average; hon
est, intelligent, reasonable and possess
ed Of good judgment and sound discre-
ton. One who won't support meas
ure simply because his party leaders do,
nor oppose one for no other reason than
that they tell him; but who will study
out matters for himself, and act accord
ing to the dictates of his own cultivat-
ed and trained judgment.
/ have heard the names ofseveral gen.
tlemen Of this county mentioned in con-
nection with this Office, but am not fully
satisfied with any Of them. One Of
them, however, Il \,
possesses so much more merit than eth
er of the others, that if the candidate is
to be selected from the number spoken
of l should greatly prefer him. He is
well-known in this and the adjoining
counties, has held and still holds an i'm
portant public position, and has always
performed the duties satisfactorily. I
do not know that he has ever been
complained Of and he is not probably
likely to be. Moreover, he is unassum-
ing and if he il elected to congress,
do not believe that he would become
so elated as to forget who he is and that
he had constituents for whom it was his
duty to work. For party man he fills
the bill rs we'll as it can be filled.
But have a proposition to make.
This is Centennial year, and the people
of this country of all parties are friends
and fellow citizens and desire only good
government, fairly and economically
conducted. Why not throw party Who'll
ly aside for the time being, and select a
good man. 1t seems to me that we
might 10 this in the second dis
trict for congressman, as was done last
year for Chief Justice of the State, and
a few years ago in the case Of Judge
Mitchell, Of Winona. Why is it not
practicable?
Let US take suca a man, say, rs Hon.
E. I. Wilder, Of Red Wing, in whose
integrity and judgment we can all place
confidence, and propose to the people of
of the district to elect him without
opposition. Some may OBJ ect to him,
but what man is there to whom no OBJ
lection would be made: We have no
angels, ard if we had, congress would
be no place to send them. We want
men there. Able, active, independent
and intelligent men, who will do their
duty honestly, fearlcssly and to the best
of their ability, and who have the abili-
ty to know what to do. Think of this,
and if any other man suits better name
him. I am not welded to any, and
only mention Judge Wilder because he
suits me Individually. shall trust to
your honor not to mention my name or
residence. Yours truly,
A CITIZEN.
We are afraid there are too many
of "the people" who aspire to Office, to
admit Of Citizen project being reduced
to practice, hut it is plan we should
like to see adopted, and we believe that
something Of the sort will have to be
resorted to ultimately, if we would pre-
vent our free institutions heins crushed
in the conflict Of contending parties.
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