Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-10-11
MIR. BARNES REPLY.
BRoOKLYN, Sept. q, 1916.
LeptS C.. Mead, ESQ. Chairman. etc.

Ae"tS Y. 4ueuu, Esq. Chairman, etc. !:
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 10th
inst, making certain political inqui-
ries, was duly received. Most Of the
facts in relation to Gov. Tilden's pub
lie career have been set forth in the
Brooklyn Argus, and some of them
were repeated in my letter to the
Ohio State Journal, Of which you
make mention. have spoken in the
interest of the country, and in the in
terest of the democratic party.
supported Mr.. Tilden for Cover
nor two years ago, his record then
being unknown. His majority in the
State was little over $4,000. Over
one-third of this majority was given
to him in this city where the Argus
is published.
The democratic party is in the mi
nority in the country. To succeed it
has to earn the confidence Of the peo-
pie and secure republican votes.
With Mcclellan as military candi-
date in 1864, we were beaten by AL ;
600 majority. In 1868 we nominated
our ablest statesman, Horatio Sey-
moui. Again we were beaten by
100000 majority. In 1872 our leaders
decided to nominate a Presidential
candidate from the republican ranks.
But with Mr.. Greeley and an incon-
sistent platform we Jared worse than
before, and came 702, 600 votes behind
our opponents.
With these results staring us in the
face, it behoovcd the democrats at
this time to have a consistent platform
and nominate men whose integrity of
character would recommend them to
the conscience of the people. Mr..
Tildcn's character had become well
known 10 the leaders prior to the ST.
Louis Convention. lie was repudia-
ted by Charles O'Connor, Horatio
Seymour, Chief Justice Church,
Judge Parker. Augustus Schell, and
the best men of his party in this State
But he made his arrangements with
the plundcrcrs of our State. He pack
cd the State Convention by use of
executive influence, and through ex-
tensive advertisements in the South
ern States he succeeded in securing
the nomination.
The democrats could have carried
all but six of the states, and would
have swept Grantism out of existence
with almost any other candidate than
Tilden. An aspirant for the high po-
sition of President must always face
his antecedents. Mr.. Tilden's ante
cedents are now spread before the
| world. l regret to say they are
worse than those Of Aaron Burr, of
those Of any man who ever before
sought high office in this country.
He is corrupt, ambitions, unscrilpu-
lous and despotic. He virtually op-
posed feeding our soldiers during the
war by making false returns Of his
income and refusing to pay his taxes.
He was q member of the Committee
on Resolutions at the Chicago Con-
yention in 1864, which reported the
resolution, "We demand a cessation
Of hostilities.' He dcfrauded the
Government by Issuing illegal cur
rcncy on the Upper Michigan Pcnin-
sula, and secured exemption from
his penalties and taxes by smuggling
q "relief' bill through Congress. Tie
was the head of the great Northwest
ern Railroad ring, which led to the
granger rebellion, and was compelled
By decision of the United States
Supreme Court to restore over $9,-
100000 of stock wrongfully taken
from Julius Wadsworth and other
owners of the Galena and Chicago
railroad. lie was associated with
Tweed's ring in New York City, and
received compensation by under as.
sessment of his property, etc.
These are few Of tho transactions
in the career of our candidate, which
If indOrsed by a majority of the
American people by clccting Tildcn
as President, will undermine the in.
tegrity Of our party, and open the
door for ambitious and unprincipled
villains to overthrow our institutions
The Democratic party cannot afford
success at any such sacrifice of itt
principles.
Grant is not now candidate. He
and his first, second, and third choice
wcre beaten at the Cincinnati Con
ventiom. But were Grant candidate
the country could better bear another
four years of his administrative rule
than IL could the tyranny of an un.
principled man like Tilden, who
would owe his election, If elected, te
the corrupt plnndcrers in the NORTH
and the rebels in the South. Respect
fully, DEArAs BARNES.