Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-06-06
GEARS CANDIDACY.

DUNG OuC tAIouSu lcc COuuty duSt
the edge of Henry the other day, we
found republicans Whereabouts some
what interested in the governorship,
the more so as both Mr.. Gear and Mr..
Newbold are personally known to and
neighbors of these republicans. Tho
majority seem to have come to the
conclusion that Mr.. Gear is going to
be the successful man, and to be quite
well satisfied with that result. Mr..
Newbold is also very kindly and ap-
preciatingly thought of. But we met
one excellent and influential repub-
lican friend of ours of honest convic-
tions, who always is positive in sup
port of what he thinks right who
was quite earnest in his opinion that
it would not do to make Mr.. Gear
governor. He seemed to be conf
dent that Mr.. G. was not very defina-
bly, different from a drunkard, and
that he is whisky dealer. We think
we satisfactorily nndeceived our
friend. But it il astonishing how
persistently this unjust conception of
Mr.. Gear and his character has been
diff'used through some communities.
We have known and liked Mr.. Gear
a long time. We have not agreed
with him of course about all things
and we have sometimes differed with
him to the extent of censuring him.
We think we know how to estimate
him somewhat adequately and justly.
The nomination for governor in this
state, as In every other, is made from
political standpoint. 1t is the act
Of party. 1t makes no issue Of any
or all the wide variety of opinions
and characters that are incorporated
into and lost sight Of in party unity
and conduct. Now that John II.
Gear should be picked out as the one
prominent republican in Iowa who is
outside the pale of even political toll
erance, as the one man who must not
be nominated to q political Office from
political standpoint because of his
shocking bad character as to the mat.
ter of temperance, is too preposterous
to be discussed with patience. II
there is to be an issue made against
Mr.. .G's nomination, Jet it be one that
he and his friends can meet without
outraging their own self-respect. II
is offering needless affr0nt to the man.
hood and proper sclf-respect of Mr.
G.. and his friends to ask them to
prove that he isn't the one partic-
ular public man in Iowa de-
serving political outlawry in the in
terests of temperance. When did
this necessity of outlawry grow up (!
He has been for thirty-fivc years q
citizen Of Iowa. He has been quar-
ter of q century one of the leading
business men of the state. Burling-
ton is pretty fair representative OF
the good character and virtue and
sobricty and good citizenship that
make up the state Of Iowa. So are
the people Of Des Moines county
And to-day and for twenty-five years
past they make and have made John
III. Gear representative citizen.
Personally, socially, In business, in
citizenship, politically, the people OF
Burlington and Of Dcs Moines county
seem to have continuously seen in
Mr.. Gear, one of those citizens who
deserve respect and support. He has
been moro than once chosen law
maker for the state. He has been
twice chosen Speaker of the Iowa
House. He has more than once
been made the presiding official of
Iowa Republicanism when it met in
State Convention. lie has represent
cd Iowa Republicanism in National
Conventions. In all this it was never
thought that he was casting baleful
shadow of discredit upon republican,
ism or the public service. When did
this Limitation upon his character and
usefulness that ought now to subject
him to political 0utlaWpy in the in
terests of temperance begin to take
effect? We do not care to discuss
this matter farther. There should be
no need Of it. We anticipate that
Mr.. Gear will be Governor. He will
be supported for that place in cOnven.
ton and at the polls by 90 temperate
men, by as stannch friends of temper
ance as there are in Iowa. And when
he is Governor he will discharge his
official duties with careful and indie
fatigable efficiency, but he will be
found to maintain the prophecies of
conduct and sentiment that become
the head of state as fully and admi-
rably as any Governor Iowa ever had
or will have.