The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-04-29
CONGRESSIONAL SCRAMBLE.

cans of this district. AS the district Is wholly
without any man of commanding talent, every
little whpsnapper imagines himself as wei
qualified as the next man for the place, anC
the number of candidates promises to be END
less. Thus far the following names have beer
brought prominently to the fore:
Col Ralph Plumb Sreator
Charles Blanchard, Esq, Ottawa.
DR.. j. G. Corbus, MENDOZA
| Hon Frank Corwin, Peru.
Hon. 0. A. Marshall, Will co.
William Cullen, editor Ottawa Republican,
Gen. G.. L. Hayes, editor Morris Heratd.
This list could be largely extended, but EN-
bracing already the best timber in the dis
trict it is long enough to illustrate with mel
ancholy force the astounding absence Of ever
moderate ability in the ranks of the truly
Ilol" of this congressional district. We doub
whether another district in the county car
make in that respect so lamentabe an cx
hibit
Ralph Plumb is good, easy pleasant sor
Of gentleman, of very moderate abilities, quite
at home, no doubt, among railroad contract
ors, but III congress woulG be like a bounC
boy at husking. His connection with thu
Fox River Valley railroad, one of the bes
paying lines in the state, but of which the
stockholders to the amount of 100000 were
robbed of their stock, would kill him in hal
the district, though it might be hard to prove
that Mr. Plumb, or any other man, for thai
matter, was responsible for that swiHdle.
J. c. Corbus is still very lame from the
mercilcss clubbing he received from Fawce
Plumb for Senator in this district two years
ago. lie can hardly be regarded as danger
Gus to any Of his rivals.
Frank Corwin was permanently crippled
in the same campaign by Alex Campbell, and
must be regarded US past propping up even
by cru,ches.
Hon. o. A. Marshal, "the senator from
Will" is small man even in such group
of plgmies.
General G. p. Hayes is very empha,lcally
ditto.
Charles Blanchard is an Ottawa lawyer Of
respectable ability and towers at least a foot
and halt above any other in the above list
but suppose such men as Wash, Bushnell
Judge Cation, Judge Dckey, J. o. Glover OIL
B. c. Cook were eligible as republican can
ddates In this district, who would think oil
Charles Blanchard,
But the drollest idea of all in connection
with the above list is that of sending our
saffron colored contemporary Cullen, of The
Ottawa itepuJtican, to congress. We have
suggested the singular and melancholy alb
sence of even moderate abaility among the
faithful in the district. The fact is dumb
founding when one is compelled to admi,
that even Cullen makes respectable show in
the list. Why not? AS an editor he can
write more and say less to the square foot
than any inkslingcr we know OF in the state
and on the stump, in that particular faculty,
he is the equal of Frank Corwin Why not
then, nominate Cullen?
There is bu, one drawback. If Cullen is to
be regarded as among the eligible, then we
SlSt tnat u ike prominence SNAIL ne given
to our friend Radcliffe, of the Joliet Sun
Cullen, 1t is true, can beat Radcliffe as a rot
luminous writer, but Rad is more luminous.
Cullen can beat Rad in noise and proliXity
on the stump but when Rad speaks he has
been known to say something, Then Rad has
this otlrer advantage: For years past he has
been stout greenbacker and believer in the
Campbell mOonshlne paper money theory,
though as a loyal republican he has allowed
his paper TO advocate specie payment and the
supremacy OF the national banks; Cullen is a
squarctoed, outand-out i.greenbacker and
as devoted to the interests of the national
banks ms if he had bank or two of his own
Radcliffe could thus make decided inroads on
the strength of Campbell ameDg the green.
hackers, while not a word could be found
among his recent editorials to challenge his
entire loyalty to the true blue republican par
ty as illustrated in It's devotion 10 the inter.
ests of the national banks and profession of
hollow promises Of an early return to specie
The contest being thus virtually
narrowed down TO a choice between Cullen
and Radcliffe, the FREE TRADER is unable to
conceal its preference for Radcliffe.