The Osceola times., 1880-02-21
Meet tho Issue Fairly.

trlct. In Its issue OF Jan. III 1t no
tices that "several papers are try
ing TO create boom for Col. j. w.
House" In this che TINES is mis-.
taken; for tho "several papers
which are advocating bis claims
"with commendable zeal" are but
expressing what they candidly be-
lieve to be the wishes Of a majority
of tho people IN this district, and
that belief, in our opinion, will be
fully approved by the peoples
voice at the proper time. Colonel
House was the strongest man be-
fore the people IN the last campaign,
and in tho next will appear with
increased strength.
The TINES thinks it would be I'M
polite "to make any change in our
Representatives just at this partic.
ular juncture." If 1t be so now,
was it not two years ago? What
Importance has "this particular
juncture" over two years ago? The
TIMES favored q change in Repre-
sertatives then, as we did and as we
do now. The TINES says further /:
"If we will look over the records
of Congress, we will find that the
most prominent and influential men
are those whom their constituents
have returned term after term"
To some extent this statement is
true; but it is true of the Demo
cratic as well as of the Republican
party. Men who are returned to
Congress, because of their 'promi-
nence and influence" are generally
elected on the same ground; hence,
the TINES can gain but little from
this argument, unless it shows con-
clasively, that our present Repre-.
sentative possesses qualifications
superior TO those Of his opponent.
This the TINES can not do. All it
claims for Col. Dunn may be truth
fully claimed for Col. House, ex.
cept the experience of one term in
Congress. While it claims "large
legislative experience" for Col. D.,
we righttully claim larger "legis.
lative experience" for Col. IL, "a
claim which the TIMES cannot de-
ny. And during Col. Houses "leg-
islative experience" he was promi-
nent and influential, exerting his
iSauence in q manner, which was
clearly recognized by his constituents
II the TINES wishes TO rest the
claims Of the two honorable gen.
tlcmen upon the question of capac.
ity and Legislative experience, -
Col. House will be the gamer, or
if ii will rest their claims upon the
strength of the two men before the
people. as shown in their county
conventions, Col. House will be the
gamer more than hc0 10 one White
County Beacon.
From the above it will be seen
that our brother of the White
County Beacon takes very serious
umbrage at our expression of opin-
ion as to the policy to be adopted
In the approaching Congressional
race for the first district. AS be.
tween Col. Dunn and Col. House,
as man and man, it has never been
our intention or design to say any.
thing IN Eavor of tho one or TO the
disparagement of the other, az to
their merits or demerits, as isdiuid.
aals, for the proper filling of the
office, to which they are both asplr-
ants. They are, both, personal
friends in whom we admire their
characteristics Of gentlemen and
ability. But, being stringent ad.
herents Of that golden maxim OF
our party, "measnres and not men,"
VIC simply took the position in the
article alluded to, that during these
present times when the great fight
is being made between centraliza-
lion and Republicanism-for the
supremacy of the North and East
over the South and West in the DO.
itical control of the government
t behooves the Democratic party
not only to concentrate their ranks
n tho conflict that is waglng, but
,lso to see that it is marshaled and
,aptained by vtierdns, who being
irilled and disciplined in the grand
common school Of political knowl-
edge, shall be competent to cope
with their equally trained adverse
-ies. A position we still MAINTAIN.
It makes no difference how much
general capacity a man may pos
'ess, it requires the experience Of
line and practice to fit him for the
'ucccssiul working of almost any
position; much more go that OF the
routine and intricate machinery OF
/ federal pariamcntarian. Giving
both gentlemen, therefore, credit
or equal general ability, we SIM
ply take the ground, not because
ic is Col. Dunn or Col. anything
,lse, but because as it takes at least
,ne term Of Congress, however
lble the incumbent may be, to