Ottumwa weekly courier., 1878-08-07
Wiley Democracy.

Might it not be possible that repub-
licans in the Sixth Congressional Dis
trict have been giving too much at
tention in one particular direction
pushing forward and aiming our guns
at the fallacies of the greenback party
without looking out for flank move
ments, or guarding well the rear from
attacks by the other, and by far the
stronger wing of the opposing army?
We fear this is SO, and from some late
development we are quite sure that
our fears are well grounded. Is itnot
a fact that the democratic party is the
most wiley foe the republicans have
to meet: 1t always has been so and
we doubt not it win be so in this cam
paign. The greenback issue has been
pushed forward as the issue in this
campaign, by not only the adherents
to the views espoused by that organi-
zation, but the theory, wild as it Is,
has been urged and advocated by
some of the strongest democratic pol
iticians in the district. 1t has been
made to appear that the democrats in
the district would vote for Weaver,
largely; and it has at times appeared
that Weaver would be the nominee
of the coming democratic convention.
This talk and work has had Just the
effect it would seem that our demo-
cratic opponents desired it should-to
induce republicans to go to Weaver,
under the delusiOn that he was going
to be successful; or, in other words, tO
drive the floating vote in the repub.
lican party-those who always want
to be on the winning side-to Weav.
ca, and get them to commit them.
selves to the greenback theories. This
has, of course, if their plans have
been successful, greatly weakened the
republican strength. This done, and
the democrats will nominate popu.
lar man from their own ranks at the
coming democratic convention. They
have cast around to find the best man
Many names have been mentioned
j. l.. Mccormick, of Knoxville, and
others-but prominent democrat o.
an adjoining county informs US thai
the democrats of his county, and in
the counties of the south part of the
district, have about decided on j. G.
Cook, of Jasper, as the man, and they
have chosen well. A more deserved
ly popular man cannot be found il
the democratic party in the district
nor man with better ability. He i!
the district, also. With the republic
an forces divided, and as good a mar
as Mr.. Cook is as the democratic can
didate, is there not good grounds fo
fears?
The democrats have evidently beer
using the greenbackers as cats-pawst Il
draw out the democratic chestnut
We would, to be honest, Though W,
do not know that it is policy to men
ton it here, but the truth should b'
told, fear the democrats with such {
man as Cook or Mccormack at theil
head, more than the whole greenbacl
outfit, and more than we would were
a dozen Weavers in the field. Ont
can see at glance what the resul
would be: With the republican force
demoralized as set forth above, a full
democratic vote land all know they
would vote for the candidate of thei
own party to a MANI, might possibl,
elect. We are not at all discouraged
however, as we believe if republican
understand the situation, and go t,
work i'm earnest, that Judge Sampso,
can, and will, be elected by hand
. some majority.