The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-03-18
Wall OF THE CHIPMUNKs.

The FREE TRADER mentioned two week
ago that committees appointed by organiza
tons in Joliet, Rock Island, Davenport, &c
in behalf of the Hehnepin Canal and the Iii
nols Ship Canal improvements, had publicly
and privately called upon and urged the Hon
Washington Bushnell to go to Washington
and address and labor with the committee.
and members of congress in behalf of those
enterprises; and the FREE TRADER, IN tina,
connection, took occasion to remind the peo
pie Of this district OF the fact that two years
ago, when they we're about to elect con
gresham, we streuously urged the importance
OF selecting man of recognized standing and
ability, on account of the great interests we
had ut stake IN the matter of said Hennepin
and Illinois Ship Canals And the FREE
TRADER said further, that if, as they seemed
to be determined, the republicans nominated
and elected some "chIpmunk politician" 1--WE
borrow the elegant language of Styx MELON
add to congress, they would be Obliged, when
the time came IN congress to work in behalf
of those improvements, to call on Hercules"
for help IN the absence Of a competent con-
gresham to represent them, whereas If they
should nominate and elect a man like the
Hon. Wash. Bushnell, no such humliatins
necessity would arise. And the FREE IRA.
DER went still further and gave assurances
that If Mr.. b. was nominated by the republl-
cans no serious opposition would be made on
the part Of the democrats to his election.
The FREE TRADER had no other thought,
when 1t made them, but that these unpleasant
reminders would provoke responsive grunt
of malevolence and vi,apera,on. Naturally,
the Ottawa Republicans, and next to it the
Streator Free Press and he La Sale Democrat,
feel themselves especially asgrieved. They
can't gainsay but that Nv. Bushnell has been
called upon to come to the help Of our con-
gresham, nor that such he,p is needed; but
dropping these essential and unpleasant incl
dents Of the case, they go back and deny that
in 1880, when the FREE TRADER assured the
republicans II they nominated Dir. Bushnell
for congress he should encounter no serious
democratic opposition, It had any authority
on the part of any democratic hedy or Organl.
zation 20 give such assurances. Now al the
insane md gratultOus blather of the payers in
question Nn that subject can be answered. in
very few words. The FREE TRADER never
pretended that any democratic organization,
committee or body authorized to speak fog the
party cxcathedra had given it such Authority;
bat it will be remembered that at the time this
whole district was intensely walked up on the
subject of the proposed Illinois ship Canal,
and from all sides there was demand tina, IN
its behalf, our ablest man should be sent to
congress; AND then it was thas dozens of
prOmint democrats from all parts of the Dis
triet, verbally and by letter, urged as n do our
best to coax OF drive the republicans into
nominating Mr.. Bushnell, solemrly assuring
Us, if MIR. Il received such nomiration, they
would work and vote tor his election. There
WAS no secret about the matter 1t was so
well understood, tina, had Mr.. b, been nomi.
mated, no democrat would have dreamed of
taking the field against him. That was. all
the authority we ever claimed ,or pledging
Mr. b. democratic support, and We knew ex-
actly the ground we stood upon.