Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-02-06
SECRETARY YOUNG.
fIn.., ~,t Bl,,acs NAcxxa,nt1

/ We have it from an entirely author
itative source that the Hon. Josiah T.
Young, Secretary of State, is not and
will OF again be candidate for re-
nomination and election to the posi-
ton he is now filling go worthily and
we'll for the third term. The office is
an important one, and very properly
Mr.. Young has permitted his inten-
tions to be made public thus early
that tho choice Of his successor may
be alike unhampered and deliberate.
In announcing the prospective re-
tirement of Mr.. Young from the SER
vice Of the people of Iowa as their
Prime Minister, we should be less
than true to ourself and them and less
than Just to him if we neglected to
add 9 word of deserved praise for
tho able, faithful and satisfactory
manner In which he has invariably
discharged the responsible and oner-
ons duties that have devolved upon
him as such officer. It is as high
commentator as can be given any
man to say that the State never had a
more competent official, or a more
worthy one. That commendation is
justly due Mr.. Young, and to with
hold it were to deny voice to the
unanimous sentiment of those he has
served for so long time with such
manifest ability and unswcrving fl
deity. In calling him to the Secre-
taryship something over five years
ago, the people of Iowa felt that they
were availing themselves of the SER
vices of one whose native talents, ed
ucation and aptitude qualified him in
an eminent degree for such duties,
and whose character was a guarantee
of his worthiness for the trust. Sub
sequent events have conclusively pro-
ven the correctness of that belief, and
the expression of the popular appre-
citation of the fact has been limited
only by its opportunities. He was re-
nominated and reelected at the end
of his first term and again at the end
of his second term,-the last time by
a largely increased majority. Facts
like these speak more eloquently than
mere words, which are thereby rem
dered superflu Gus and are robbed of
much of the meaning by comparison.
1t is only necessary therefore that we
should allude to the record Mr..
Young has made for himself aud the
State, and the significant evidences
of a just popular estimate of that
record in order to compliment him as !
he deserves to be complimented upon
his official career.
The above is but just tribute to
our old and we'll tried friend, Josiah
t. Young. We have known inti-
mately, the Secretary for fifteen years
past. Our acquaintance became init
mate from the date we became COM
RAIDS in the Seth Iowa Infantry, in 1862.
We studied the man in all the yicis-
itudes Of three years military SER
vice, including some months in a
southern prison pen, where, if any
where, the bed rock qualities of the
heart become apparent: we knew
him at his own home, as one of the
most popular county officers who ev-
er served any people and now the
state knows him throughout all lis
length and breadth, and no man who
knows him can or will ever say aught
to impcach his unbending rectitude,
Or attempt to belittle, the ability and
the assiduous care and industry with
which he has discharged the duties Of
the important Office which he now
fills. Josiah I. Young is an eminent
example of an earnest, faithful, court
eous and honest man. lie was equal
ly as true, faithful and modest in the
humble duty of q soldier in the nks
for thrDe years, as he has been in the
five years service in the honored po-
sition of Secretary of State.