Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1874 — A NEW CATECHISM. [ARTICLE]

A NEW CATECHISM.

The South Bend daily Tribune of July 3d, contained the following “query ofconsiderable importance:” Editor oj the South Bend Tribune: The Vidette of this county published recently a biographical sketch of Major F. F. B. Coffin, and accompanied the same with complimentary references to him as very proper materia! out of which to make a Congressman. As there are grave doubts among the Republicans of this section as to the real political status of the gentleman in question, we request you to ask .of Maj. Coffin whether he still considers himself a Republican T and whether his name is announced as a candidate for Congressman “subject to the decision of the Republican ■nominating convention.” ” Many Republicans. Valparaiso, Julj' 3d, 1874. Certainly, gentlemen, it is pertinent to know exactly the political status of candidates who aspire to seats in Congress. Grave doubts should all be removed fiom the minds of the people before they are called upon to perform the highest duties pertaining tq the manipulation of a convention and the hatching of a candidate. “The real political status” ol all aspirants should be determined to the fraction of an atom. In order that in the present instance this may be done to the complete satisfaction of every postmaster interested, we would suggest that an investigating committee be appointed, whose duty it shall be to propound questions calculated to elicit a full expression of the opinions of each candidate presented, upon the revised and enlarged articles of faith recently promulgated at Indianapolis. An investigating committee is suggested, because such an appendage has of late become the necessary adjunct of all deliberative bodies where the Republican element preponderates, and the Valparaiso convention would hardly be considered an orthodox representative of the party should this highly prominent feature be omitted. In order to expedite business in said convention, aqd it may not consume, time to' originate: questions to be propounded to can- ; didates, as well as to convey to 1 the public an idea of what is required, we beg to suggest that something similar to the following formula might be adopted : Each candidate being duly sworn may be catechised as follows: Do you “appeal with pride and confidence” to the Credit Mobilier revelations, the railroad and stearn-

ship subsidies, the moiety system and other interesting incidents of like nature in the ‘‘past, history of the Republican party in proof of its principles” ‘and its consistent discharge of duty to the country? Do yon firmly believe that the principles and measures growing out of them’ have been stamped with public approval and that there is no taint of suspicion now resting on the honor of the Republican party? In view of the fact that Bingham, Richardson, and scores of others whom these men fairly represent, were simply removed from one position to be transferred to another important office after their shortcomings were detected, will you solemnly swear to the people and proclaim from the stump that “the Republican party has shown itself ready ancLcompetent to remove public ills when they are known to exist, to condemn the conduct of faithless and dishonest public agents, and to detect and expose abuses in the administration of government, even when practiced by its professed- supporters?” Do you believe that the present tariff system was ever calculated to carry out the “true policy of government” as that policy is defined in the second resolution of the Indiana Republican State platform? Are you in favor of free National bankings expansion of the volume of Currency, and immediate return to specie payments at one and the same time?

In your daily prayers do you constantly and thankfully remember the zeal with which William Williams, John Peter Cleaver Shanks, Jeremiah Wilson and Jasper Packard represented the principles of the Republican party by voting for and pocketing the salary steal? Have you still entire confidence in the integrity and honor of a President who approved a bill that doubled bis own salary and then vetoed a bill that was intended to provide an amount of currency commensurate toj the demands of business, giving as a reason for his veto that the currency was irredeemable and consequently worthless? Have you ever voted for a candidate for constable, road supervisor, town clerk, or for any other office, who was not regularly nominated in a Republican caucus?