Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1880 — WHICH IS THE LUNATIC? [ARTICLE]

WHICH IS THE LUNATIC?

ThsTWmocratic national conven tion will be held at Cincinnati -on the 22d of Jone. \ - It it beneath the dignity of an editor to controvert the twaddle of M-hool boya and croea road politician*. We never cross sword* with anonym oua scribblers because they are an worthy of qur steel. If Bro. McEwen desire* to be recognised by the R«pvblicax he moat not attempt to palm off billingsgate conßaraiMcationsaaeditorials. Such things lower the standard of journalism and degrade the editorial faterujty. The Chicago Inter Ocean is for Grant, the Tribune for Blaine, and the Times for the candidate displaying the fattest pocket-book. Each speaks disparagingly of the other’s choice, and a stranger to the fasts wight safely conclude that each of the several candidates for the presidential nomination i« a Mobiliet in crime and a Ceaser in usurpation. When the nomination is made a few editors will have occasion to fall upon their stomachs and weep.

It docs well enough once in a while to set tho congressmen from Dixie on the ragged edge of their past crime and treason. This Mr. Conger did in congress when he objected to a petition referring to the Confederacy and insisted that it be called the rebellion. This fired the heart of the southron and some word play followed in which Mr. Conger, who is from Michigan, got a chance to say in reply that his objection to the bill, and to all bills like it, was that there was a constantly increasing tendency to ignor the war, or, at least, to call it by smooth sounding and uncolored names. It was, he said, “a war of treason, a rebellion, an insurrection, and not a ‘late unpleasantness’ merely.” Of course the Democratic majority passed the bill as offered. Apart from the excitement of politics this year the criminal record of the country promises to require the earnest attention of thoughtful men. We do not remember ever to have seen the journals of the land so overflowing with thp details of crime in all its varie ; ty, murder predominating. It may well alarm the public that life iq so many instances is held so cheap,J and that abundantcrime and horror occupy so large a part of the newspapers. It is not proper to criticize the publication of the facts connected with startling crfmmiflal acts, because occurrences of that kind have so important a bearing on the welfare of all the people that it is best that the largest number of people possible be informed respecting the situation. It is for the popular sentiment of the country to demand from the authorities some effective methods of reaching the sources of the epidemics of crime, one of which seems now to be sweeping over the land. And the sooner ‘ that demand is made the better. The crime of murder does not receive the kind of punishment that deters men from committing it, for some reason; therefore, it is high time now to inquire why this is true and to make an earnest effort to devise a remedy.

A new dodge in favor of maintaining the agitation in the Republican party based on the candidacy of General Grant for the party nom ination for the presidency starts lamely itvthe New York Times. Editorially that paper says that a near personal iriend of General Grant claims to announce the General's position authoritatively as follows: General Grant is not now, nor ha* he ever been, a candidate for presidential nomination. But, should the Republican national convent lion nominate him in the same manner a* any other candidate would be nominated, he wduld deem it bis duty to the country and the party to accept. Why the friends, or rather the self-comstructed advocates ot Ges. Grant's npmiuation issue bulletins like the above from time to time, without accompanying them with any name, we cannot understand. They are palpable falsehoods, or the men who start them would not be ashamed to,have their names connected with them. They prove that General Grant has not comroissoned anybody to speak forhim a and that those who do wbst talking is done behave like a set of sneaking conspirators whom Grant , would surely repudiate or himself lose the respect of the American people. These men are doing Grant a positive injury.’ How long do they suppoife tbo few earnest and honest men who perfer Grant will consent to see the Republican party dangled, at the heels of any one man who will not declare himself a candidate? Grant’s „ chances of election, even if 1 he would become a candidate, are passing away, and his advocates, by keeping him in a position where he would seem to be playing the fool with the party's favor, are gradually alienating from him the personal regard so many i Republicans have felt for our victorious soldier. It is Grant’s fault, partly, because he does not come frankly before ths public and either

take bi* name otrt of the coolest finally, or go into the fight with the other candidates of the party to win or lose according to the number of delegatee be can get the support of in the national convention. There are plain evidences of impatience with the dilly dallying abont Grant now being manifested in the party. “The hsart of the party is for Blaine,” is the remark which now finds general acceptance and is bejng repeated wtthoutcballenge over the whole country. And if the friends of Grant are living in hope of drawing a late consent from him and of capturing the Chicago convention by political trickery and trades for office with delegates, their utmost success will be a calamity in which the whole party will share. An exchange drops the following sensible remark: “If your local paper happens to tread on your toes a little in performing its mismion don’t get your back up and abuse its editor, but slop, take a long breath, and think tor a season, and see if yon can’t rembember some of the favors and kindnesses the paper has shown you in the past. Then reflect that it may not be long before you may want some favors again.”

We have permission of Mr. James McClintoc, of Iroquois township, formerly a member of the Greenback party and a believer in its principles, to say, that the course o£ the leaders in Maine has cured him, seeing as he does, where the party is tending. We are glad to be able to say this much. Mr. McClintoc is a man wbo reads and thinks, and reasons for himself and always tries to arrive at just conclusions, and preferring to decide for himself, what party is entitled to his confidence in the greatest degree.—Kentland Gazette. Many of our exchangee have given prominence to the fact tliat Simon P. Thompson, of Rensselaer, was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress. From a personal acquaintance of several years jhe editor of the Record can vouch for the sterling integrity, uncommon ability and sound notions on finance which so well qualify Mr. Thompson for the position to which, he aspires, and we are free to say that no man yet suggested for the office suits the Record so well as our friend Simon, and until such a one is suggested the Flora Record will boom for him —Flora Record.

D. R. Locke (Nasby) is for Grant. So are Senators Cameron, Conkling. Logan, and hosts of other leading Republicans, including a large percentage of Representatives in Congress aud public men in and out of office. His following is as unselfish as that of any other candidate, and Republicans should be careful about spinning or smirching the men wbo have been -true in every hour of trial and whose counsels have always led us to victory. Personally we are for Sherman, but recognize the right of every man to go for some other candidate if he sees fit. Let os have no threats or bolting. The -nearer -the candidate is like Grant the better he will suit the people. The third term bugaboo should frighten rtobody. The Constitution sets no limit, and the sovereign power of the people will be exercised whether we like it or not. —Rochester Republican. Secretary Sherman will be able to accomplish his purpose of reducing the public debt below $200,000,000 before the end of his term, and have about a year of grace. His last debt statement shows that only s7oo,oooremain above these figures. This is a very gratifying exhibit, and will go far to make a favorable contrast in the public mind against the Democrats wbo all the time struggle to defeat the present admirable policy of the Government. Not the least gratifying feature of the present condition of financial affairs is that the revenue is all the time improving. The flourishing condition of all kinds of business has a wonderful effect in aiding the Government. The general confi dence felt in the management of the Republican party has also increased the value of all kinds of Government securities, and thus strengthened the Government credit, and helped to smooth the way of the administration.—Crown Point Register.

Democratic journals have special hatred for the proposed first constitutional amendment which looks to honest elections through the protection of the ballot-box,-and will fight it bitterly, though pretending not to dislike the seutament, by of faring some possible objections to the manner in which the amendments are to be submitted. But what matters it, now that the legislatures have acted upon them and it only remains for the people to vote “for” or “against” them, whether they were psssed upon by the legislatures or by a convention "rgamzed for no other purpose? Wbst matters it if the constitution will be yet imperfect, and other amendments desirable? Should we on this account defeat one when kgrfHy presented and very desirable? No; and we trust every republican to a man will turn out with his individual ’vote and influence “for” the proposed constitutional amendments. —Valparaiso- Viiette.

IPO -'■ ‘ < liLittleflel* the Mosrter he la Represented to Bet Goml> for the Cwaalpefa. Chicago, Feb. 21,1880. ’ XdUer JtfMMlatr Bgwiliiw TWr Ar.Some one inßemeiogton ba*kindly forwarded to Mrs. Ellen R. L. Littlefield a “Notice of abandonment” cut from your paper, also an anonymous paragraph, purporting to be a statement of facts in rela-tion-to his wife, her relation, and Ms unsuccessful visit to Chicago. I feel assured whoever published the paragraphs referred to, would willingly refute the slanderous charges contained in them, in refeoce to a much abused woman..’ As to the abandonment, Mr. Littlefield conspired -with relatives and others, and incarcerated his sane wife, a true and faithful wife, in the Indiana State Insane Asylum, where she was a charge upon the county and Slate, like a common pauper; thus Mr. Littlefiteld abandoned his wife to the tender mercies ot strangers. He took her to- his brother-in law’s, J.O. Lewis, about two weeks previous, and abandoned her to the threats and fiendish orgies of beings without one trace of pity, who tortured her two days and nights, in order to fit her for the asylum. They miserably failed; but would not be so easily balked in their hellish schemes.

Mr. Littlefield himself, she informed me, set about the consummation of the desired object—to get rid of bis wife. He told her he “would get rid of her without giving her a cent.” Lewis’s folks had asked her if she would go east and remain; she replied she would be glad to do so, but they said they would not trust her. I am the “sister at Chicago,” who “by some means secured Mrs. Littlefield’s release.” The “means” w’as the good old writ of habeus corpus. I learned of her imprisonment by a letter from her pastor’s wife. Littlefield wrote me Nov. 2d that she was very sick, at a time when she had been at the asylum twelve days, as we afterward learned. I wrote immediately to a cousin, a merchant in Indianapoljs, denying that Mrs. Littlefield was insane, and asking him to visit her. Ho did so and demanded an examination; and wrote me that she was “all right and patient, which was more than he was.” Her attending physician had already recommended her discharge as sane.

Upon the issue of the habens corpus writ, we, with five witnesses, were promptly in court. The Sup’t came in with the attending physcian and Mrs Littlefield. We won the case, and she was released as sane; no one appeared to contest the case. Mr. Littlefield is under contempt of court as he was notified by a sub" poena issued by Judge Howe. I had letters with me from State’s Att’y Luther Laflin Mills, and other prominent Chicagoans, who all wished me God-speed on my mission to free my sister from of evil men. Being myself a resident of Chicago, the past fifteen years, I need not waste time to refute the silly slanders as to my own sanity, which has uever been questioned; no more has Mrs. Littlefield’s sanity been doubled by any of her friends. “Mr. Littlefield proceeded to Chicago” when informed Lis wife was released, because, he feared she would expose his conduct, and he suffer pecuniary loss, thro’ a divorce suit. Once more in his power and she would not find escape, even by way of an insane asylum—as that did not prove a grave. Mrs. Littlefield naturally refused to see one who had abandoned her and conspired with her worst enemies. lie gained admission to the bouse, accompanied by a gentlemen, a stranger to us. Calling for Mrs. Littlefield, he was directed to our apartment, and the stranger, Rev. J. P. Stoddard, presented his card to me, and asked for Mrs. Littlefield. I told them I would speak to her; and escorted them to the Sitting-room. I then told the gentleman that I would like to ( speak a few words with him, closing the door, before he could enter between him and Littlefield. I then requested him to walk up to our rooms, as I could see that he was a gentleman. He did so, and had a long conversation with sister, who informed him of the outrages to which she had been subjected, and gave her reasons for utterly refusing to see her unfaithful spouse. Mr. Littlefield became anxious, and sent the girl up to call the gentlemen, evidently fearing that he might learn of some of his inhuman deeds. After they left I went down town, calling on the way to inform Mr. Stoddard more fully, in regard to Mrs. Littlefield ample vindication of the charge of insanity, preferred only by her husband and her enemies. While I was gone Mr. L. prevailed on the gentleman to return to the house, on the plea that I “would*not Ltt him see his wife.” He pretended to feel so badly,

mor* to call and give him a ehan«J to ascertain if ho could aw bis wife. Again abe refused to see him. The statement that the “Rev. gentleman was well acquainted with every member of the lunate household” is as false in the M part as a* it is well known to be || every particular. The ‘'wife’s mother” It “refused to permit hifajo enpw the bouse.” lam quite sure »he wpulp do so if living! Our mother died Feb. 29, 1864, in Aurora, 81., was buried with the services,Tor a pastor’s wife. Doubtless Mr. Litwk field’s guilty conscience jnight have conjured up the image of his wife’ll dead mother, barring the way to prevent bis entrance to the house, as a father outrage to her child—adding insult to injury. She was covered with bruises of his infliction when taken to the asylum, which were seen by two ladies of Remington that day. I hope yon will give equal publicity to this, with the paragraph mentioned. Respectfully,

MARY A. LADEL.