Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1874 — WHO FOR CONGRESS? [ARTICLE]

WHO FOR CONGRESS?

Tm Pufmtki Guard —volume one } | number one, published \r'eftly at hrancesvilte* Indiana, by Winegar4pn * Sfomridgfej subscription prioo ♦l.4© a mt-b« readied on# tabfe We extend h friendly greeting to the infant, and wish its parent* much currency. W* believe there i* more news, general Information and j»lensure to be found In, and derived from reading, thccohimiis of the Indianapolis Sun end Sunday Herald, (both Weekly and each $2 a year, without chrotnoo, Jews-harps, or handorgans,) than in any other two pajtera of equal opportunities that come into our post-office box.— Long may they exist for bustling humanity — and pantry shelves. Mb. John T. Mussulman lives at Loganvport. A few years since his son-in-law, wife and some of his neighbors had him arrested, tried for sanity and sent to the Asylum for Insane at Indianapolis. A t that trial it was elicited in testimony that he was possessed of property which is valued at $135,000. Not long ago Mrs. Musselman obtained from the courts a decree of divorce with 130,000 alimony, basing her complaint upon the plea of cruel treatment. After paying this judgment, the costs of litigation and other similarly expensive luxuries, Uncle Johnny will probably be worth a smooth SIOO,OOO, which he desires to share, together with his board and couch, “with some fair lady,” and advertises for proposals for such an alliance. Does any of onr female friends want the “eateh?” A domestic poet writing for the Winamac Democrat tells about a time in the history of that wilderness When (be terrible shriek es the fierce panther Filled mile# of silent space, Caosing the pioneer’s heart to throb, And <fc eply blanching his face ! : When the reptile's hiss and the weasel’s snarl Mingled with the boll-frog’s croak, And the cricket and katydid their-'cymbals —-—■ imd . ■■■■ With the iocnst’a in the oak! The Democrat people should carefull foster tlteir sweet 6inger and not let him fade away and die as the fragrant violet and beautiful buckeye begins to bloom in spring, when ham and eggs are ripe, and the dulcet voice of the festive potato bag is heard in ike land. Oh, no! Such a fate would be too sad!— With proper care,%enius of a high order will certainly be developed. Nobody bnt a natural genius or an Irishman would conceive of the shriek ol a fierce panther filling miles of “silent” space, when the reptile's hiss, and the weasel's snarl, and the bull-frog’s croak, and the cricket and katydid and locust toned their cymbals all at the same time and in the same section of country; especially as he informs us that at that time “the howling wolf and the savage bear” were stalking about in the vicinity, while “happy birds sang and chirped in glee.”— The “silence” of that space must have been very oppressive—nearly 86 much so as that of a traveling menagerie, or a political caucus. Ob the fourth page of this paper is the declaration of the principles and aims of the Patrons of Husbandry as announced by tbe National Grange at its recent session in St. Lonis. They are most admirable and elicit warmest expressions of commendation from every source, Sor the lofty patriotism, broa statesmanship, clear discrimination of right, pet feet propriety, and pure democracy there expressed. The author of that platform is a person of more than ordinary ability, and is capable—whoever it may be—of filling a high position among those who make laws to govern men. With such opinions held by any considerable number of people there is little danger to be aprebended for the perpetuation of our republican institutions. The Inter-Ocean, which has ever looked suspiciously upon the Order, an* frequently accused it of a tendawey to Communism and International iatnv says: “The clear and altogether admirable platform of principles adopted by the National Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, at St. Louis, will attract wide attention. It is seldom that a more able document is submitted to the public, li is earnest without being abusive, eloquent without bombast, and comprehensive without being tedious. It not only clearly indicates the policy and designs of tbe Patrons, but it says what it has to say in such • manner as to call for universal admiration and respect.'” The New York livening Pott says that it reads something like a new Sermon on the Mount, The Cin-

gg-11 t K!HJ u«"!”ggg«! cinnati Enquirer thinks the ‘*creed is good enough for a church, and mi orthodox church at that.”

In the Ten tit District tbe pcospect is that General Packard’s name will not be presented to the rota vention. Cause: reoord on the ‘‘salary grab.” The hUtues 90 ft* are; Major W. H. Calkins, of Lapovte; Capt. W. Q. George, Col.. Humphreys and Hon. W. W. Lutterworth, or St. Joseph; Lansing, of Porter; Turner, of Lake, and Hammond. of Jasper. There is some quiet talk about Colfax, but it Is believed he will be a candidate. Tbe Republican majority in tbe Jpistrict is over 1,600. The Democrats are said to be looking for a “Granger,” and Anson Wolcott, a vain and disappointed Republican who Greeley lied last year, is working like a beaver for the race, but his chances are doubtful, and the race will be a hopeless one at the best. Thus writes a correspondent to the Cincinnati Gazette; buthe writes at random and is not posted in the political affairs of our District. If Mr. Lansing is to be a candidate it is not probable that he -will be nominated by the Republicans, but it is more likely he would prefer an election by the “people,” independent of present party organizations. He is a prominent man in the Grange Movement in this State, fold is recognized among its members as a leader. Mr. Wolcott may aspire pire to represent this District in Congress, or Le may not have such aspirations—we do not know how this is—but there would be no particular harm done if he was elected. The people in the counties which now compose the District have voted for men of less ability and far less honesty. Bitt it is not true that Mr. Wolcott “Greeleyized last year,” nor is it at all probable that be is now working for a Democratic nomination, either on his personal merits alone, or as a “Granger.”— “Hammond, of Jasper,” is not a candidate for Congress, though his neighbors think he would prove a discreet, upright andfaithful representative, and probably there is not a man living in the ten counties of the District who would receive as many votes in Jasper and Newton counties as Col. Hammond would if he was nominated. But his aspirations do not point in that direction* At present he is Judge of the 30th Circuit, and, having been elected last fall, has a “dead sure thing” for nearly six years to come; and although it is a position not quite as prominent nor paying as much as a seat in Congress yet he will not be likely to throw it away for the wrangling and uncertainties of a Congressional race at a time When the most striking feature of politics is a tendency to disintegration in existing parties, and the recrystalization of their elements around new issues.