Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-08-07

peated Qe1eatS, snail now, In the hour
of its triumph, abandon all the con-
victions for which it fought and which
sustained it through all its adversely
and adopt the wild fancies and vaga-
ries of a newborn and ephemeral
party that must pass away as the
clouds. The traditions and principles
of the democratic party pledge it to a
stable system of currency placed upon
basis beyond the control and direc-
ton alike of financial spectators and
political Adventures, and now it is
proposed that these traditions and
principles be abandoned and the par
ty committed to the visionary schemes
and reckless experiments of an organ
ization composed in its leadership, al
most if not altogether, of designing
deserters from the democratic and re-
publican parties. And what induce
ment is held out for this change? Sim
ply that of doubtful success. If we
must sacrifice our convictions let us
sacrifice them not to a chance but to a
certainty. five must endorse whom
we cannot approve, let us endorse the
republican candidate whose election
our endorsement will ensure, and not
the greenback candidate whose elec-
ton even our endorsement will leave
in doubt. Let us make sure
of the price of our betrayal. But,
gentlemen, political victories are not
won by the course you seem disposed
to adopt. Anything to beat Grant
did not beat Grant. Anything to
beat Cummings will not beat Cum
mings. Surrender your convictions
to the seductive whisperings of sue
cess, and you will add to the humilia-
ton of disaster, the modification of
disgrace. Time and again have we
listened to the advice and followed
the course urged upon us to-day. We
have approved of every political her
esy and coalesced with every political
sect that has arisen In our midst, but
our alliance with them has always
proven a source of weakness and re-
suited in defeat. The democratic par
ty here has for SO long gone harloting
with every political strumpet which
would submit to its embrace, that to-
day it is SO worn with exertions and so
weakened with the diseases of liber-
tinism we are told it cannot stand
alone, and instead of restoring its
health and strength by return to the
paths of virtue, it is proposed by this
new liasOn to raise up lusty bastard
to take its place. The figure l use is
a coarse one, but it suits the
subject. Indorse the greenback nom-
inees and principles and what shall it
profit you? You but swell their num-
bers and contribute to their success.
They are hostile to you. They have
declared warupon you. They denounce
you in terms as unmeasured, and epi-
thets as unsparing as they do repub-
licans. They haye disclaimed in adj
vance all reciprocity of the feeling
you exhibit. For every Office in the
state they have nominated candidates
Of their own and left to you the poor
privilege they leave to all, that of vo-
ting for them if you will. In this
very hall a convention of the green
back party resolved against ac0mpro-
mise or coalition with either of the
old parties. Thus renounced, thus
rejected, will you insist upon a coali-
ton that is in fact an abject and dis
graceful surrender? They tell us that
this new party must come to us. But
how stands the fact? Waiting since
1876 for them to come, and waiting in
vain, we are now going over to them.
The sorcerers of Egypt appeared with
Aaron before the king, and when
Aaron turned his rod to serpent,
they did the same. But Aaron's rod
made the biggest serpent and swal-
lowed up to rest. If we attempt like
sorcery it will be with like success.
We may get down upon our bellies
and eat the dirt, but it will be to find
the greenback serpent the biggest and
to be swallowed by it. Gentlemen,
there is something better than getting
success. 1t is better to deserve it. Let
us hold fast to our convictions; let us
hold to the old flag, though we rally
but corporal's guard around it. Let
us wait but little time longer and
the time of our deliverance is come.
We owe it to the party to do this.
Just at this time, when democracy is
everywhere triumphant, let us not
present to our brethren in the other
states the spectacle of the democratic
party in this state disrupted and GO
ing to pieces of its own inherent weak
ness. Taking cheer from success, let
us continue the good fight and finish
the faith, and whatever betide, let us
not, after we have defeated the repub-
lican party, surrender to the green
back party. AS for myself, having
survived defeat, l will never submit
to surrender.