Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-07-17

safe'tO assume, he received as salary.
$4,000. He held the office of Asses
sOr for six years, receiving his ap-
pointment in March, 1867, and hold
ing it until the Office was abolished in
1873. The last two years the salary
was reduced, and to be safe, we put it
at only $1,000 year. So that, adj
ding 81, 900 to the sum already men
toned, we find that the republican
party gave Gen. Weaver Office from
which he received at least $4,000 in
salary since the war.
Of course, If Gen. Weaver is a good
financier--if he is a man who, as a
representative of the people, can bring
about financial reform, he must have
some ability. Did he do that? Every
man in this community knows that
he did not. All know that with SO
large an income Gen. Weaver came
out at the end Of the six years over
$3, 900 in debt.
How he succeeded in doing it is not
for us to explain, and we have never
heard any one attempt an explana-
ton. So that, judging Gen. Weaver
by the result Of his own business, we
find him an exceptionally poor finan-
cier. The fact that he has had SO
large sum from the public treasury
also disposes of his claim that the re-
publican party never would treat him
fairly.
Now as to his desire for Office
When McCrary was up for his second
nomination, Weaver tried to have
thiscOunty give him complimentary
vote in order to get his name before
the people for the Office he is now
seeking. The party declined and in
structed for McCIary. In 1872 he was
a candidate against Loughridge, and
was defeated. In 1874 he was again
candidate, and both he and his friends
Travelled over the district to secure him
the nomination. Again he was defeat
ed. This time defeat began to sour him,
and he began to threaten. In 1875 he
was candidate for Governor. Re
fusing at first to run, he became quite
anxious as the time for the conven-
ton drew near, and both he and his
friends worked with all their power
to secure the nomination for him, but
again he was defeated. He wasagain
indignant at the way he was being
treated. His home friends made him
strong in the faith by ynominating him
for the State Senate. He made a
strong fight-speaking in every town.
ship i'm the county, upholding the f.
nancial acts of the republican party,
and especially endorsing the National
banks, showing how that act had sus-
tanned the credit of the government
and furnished the best currency the
world ever saw. He showed how
that party had steadily and honestly
reduced the public debt; how money
had appreciated in value, and how
the percentage of loss would convince
any man of the honesty of the repub-
lican party. But when the votes
were counted he found that he was
defeated this time by the people, and
that he had run behind Mr.. Power,
our candidate for Representative.
In 1876 he began to think new
movement would take place which
would cause Simpsons defeat, and he
wrote an open letter and scattered
copies of it all over the district. Find
ing his ground-swell failure, he
withdrew from the contest and asked
as favor that he be put ON the dele
cation to the Congressional conven-
ton.
He stumped the county for Hayes
and Wheeler, and was especially Sc
we're i'm his denunciation of the demo-
cratic party. In a speech at Milton,
he declared it impossible for man
to be Christian and vote the demo-
cratic ticket. During the Hayes-Til-
den fight he was warmed up to his
Old-time republicanism and was ready
to fight to prevent Tilden's Inaugural
ton.
In 1877, discouraged with his many
defeats, he began to weaken in his de-
votion to the principles of the repub-
lican party, but he strengthened up
his backbone, attended the State con-
vention, and came home shouting
happy. Last July he wrote an open
letter advocating the election of the
republican ticket and praying for co.
600 majority.
In August, 1S77-not one year ago
he wanted the nomination for Repre-
sentative on the republican ticket.
When he found that he could not be
nominated he determined to leave the
republican party and do all he could
to destroy the organization which he
had spent SO many years helping to
build up and defend. From that time
until now he has had no language too
vile to hurl at the party. He has de-
nounced every act which he formerly
advocated; he charges corruption
where he spent hours in proving pur-
ity, and has so conducted himself as
to forfeit the political confidence ofall.
Looking at his political life, is it
strange we doubt his sincerity? Look
ing at his career as financier, is it
strange we doubt his ability?