Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1882 — “THE KIND OF MAN." [ARTICLE]

“THE KIND OF MAN."

Hon. Thomas J. Wood, the Democratic nominee for Repi esentative in Congress from this district, is a resident of Crown Point, Lake County. He is said to be very popular where he is best known, and the fact that he has twice been elected to office, by large majorities, in Lake county, with its 800 Republican majority, and once as State Senator from rhe Republican counties of Lake and Porter, with their 1,300 Republican majority, seems to show that his popularity is solid ami enduring. The cause of this popularity, however, is somewhat mysterious. The most partial friend of Mr. ood will not claim that he is an able man intellectually, or a strong man in any of the mental or moral forces of superior manhood. As a speaker he is neither graceful, eloquent nor forcible, but rather uncouth, noisy and dem agogical. As a politician he is essentially Bourbon, clinging to Democratic traditions, worshiping party idols and submitting implicitly to partisan dictation. In a word, politically, he is just about an average, Democratic partisan —nothing more nothing less. The convention that nominated him had better material within its reach in the persons of such men as Hon. G. N. Fitch, of this city, or Hon. DeFoe Skinner, of Valparaiso, and if it had the least hope of electing its nominee, should endeavored to win success by deserving it. The people are realizing that they must raise the average character of members u£ Congress in both parties by choos» I ing the best man at their command lif they would avoid plundering, 1 ttn<l scandals and corruption. If I th ne are ills in the body politic, it | is the scalpel ballot in the hands of a wise and virtuous voting majoriity that' must cut them out. In

some directions, however, Mr. Wood measures up to the highest marks in the standards of popular candidates. He id a splendid “mixer,” understanding the art of shaking hands to perfection, and knowing how to make himself “at home” in any ordinary crowd of citizens. Hence, probaly, his great popularity. Hence, also, his candidacy must be regarded as formidable. With the . movable and uncertain vote which so often decides election iu this country, and especially in Indiana, the man who can’t shake hands by note, and smile, and truckle, stands no chance, no matter how perfect his fitness or how admirable his character may be in the eyes of those who look beneath the surface. Mr. Wood is will qualified to capture this vote and will “go for it” with untiring energy and activity. It may be expected, therefore, that the canvass will be lively and warm. In the opinion of the Journal it should be largely a joint canvass. Let the men appear together as much aS posible before their constituents, so that the voters may judge between them as to their fitness and qualifications. “Bushwhacking” is an evasion of responsibility in which the smartest hand-shaker, though otherwise utterly incompetent, has all the advantage. The open joint canvass is the best test of ability and qualifications, and should be demanded by voters of all parties.—Logansport Journal.

THE Boston Traveler is responsible fefr a severe, but in view of all the facts just, indictment of the Democratic party, as follows: “As the bulwark of; the breweries I As the savior of the whiskey-still! As the foe of the Christian Sabbath! As the sneaking sympathizer with the infamy of Utah! As the enemy of the American Wage-earner, seeking to put the wages back to the European level! As the opponent of the tariff, the national banking system, and honest, hard money — the three pillars on which the prosperity of the Republic securely rests! As the enemy of equal rights, and the merciless suppressor of free suffrage at the South! That is where, and for what, the Democracy stands to-day. Mrs. Joseph Ramlee, Richmond, Wayne Co. was permanently cured of nervous prostration by Brown,s Iron Bitters.