The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-11

ton coming within the spirit of these
amendments. These amendments have
settled forever the question of secession,
have abolished human slavery, snfran-
chised the negro and made him the
equal of any white man before the law,
have in effect prohibited forever seees-
sion, and slavery, the payment Of any
rebel debt, the giving of pensions to
confederate soldiers, the payment for
the loss of slaves, or for the loss of any
property ofrebels in any manner. Now
if Judge Wilder opposes any attempt at
resurrection Of any of these questions,
what different or more stringent course
toward the South could Major Strait
pursue?
FourtAly, Major Strait stands before
the people, charged by papers of
his own party, as being entirely igno-
rant Of the science of government, want.
ing Gin economic and political erudition,
and stranger to the laws of finance
(see Pioneer Press,) and as man of
inferior ability and devoid of anything
approaching craftsmanship; and as
having obtained his nomination
''through the potent influence of federal
patronage wide Hastings Gazette.
Yet these very party papers, suppliant
slaves to the same ''potent influence of
federal patronage" and controlled bv
slavish party rue, are giving this man
their ''ho"sst' (God save the mark
support. He stands convicted as an
Office seeker, who has used all the en-
ginery Of packed caucuses and conyen-
tons to defeat the wishes Of the people:
and worse than this, he stands forth as
the champion and protector of David
Blakely in the infamous sale of the
Chicago Pension Agency, and the in
famous eztortions practiced upon the
daughter Of dead soldier, and of re-
ceiving as a reward for this service the
potent support Of the Pioneer Press,
which had previously been conspicuous
in pointing out his peculiar unftness
for the Office to which he modestly (?)
aspires for the third term.
He stands before the people public
~ convicted, by his own tacit admission,
with having voluntarily held out a
promise cltsei; affecting his honor to a
political rival, to secure his aid in a
previous nomination and election, and j.,
after having received this needed sup
port, given in good faith By Mr.. Thatcher,
of having openly disregarded this VOL
untary promise, using his acquired posi-
ton to the detriment of his recent politi.
Cal friend, and showing that the pro-
fessional ofice.seeker has little of that
honor which is said to exist even
among thieves.
After all this Major Strait has the
temerity to ask republicans to vote for
him, not because he is their candidate,
for he feels his own unworthiness, but
t. save the party, for, in sooth, he is
It's standard bearer. God help party
that depends upon the election of such
a Man for its salvation. TO offset all
these objections, the only plea is that
the Major is a very accommodating
chore boy to run errands to the differ.
ent departments for the ATTORNEYS,
postmasters, and federal officers Of the
district. But when the fact is stated
that every department of the govern.
ment at Washington is efficiently
manned, and that every letter receives
prompt attention, and that the bother.
ing of members of Congress with these
matters is entirely unnecessary, it may
occur to tue voters of the district, that
something more may be required Of
members of Congress than to play the
accommodating errand boy.
The duty of a member of Congress is
to represent his people, and every con
gresham should be a Representative
man. The character of a constituency
must, ofnecessiry, be judged by the man
whom they chose as their representa-.
tive, but what can the country at large
think of the people of Minnesota, tax.
ing H. B. Strait and Bill King a,
specimens of our intellect, learning and
political honor?
Lastly, In Judge Wilder we find a