Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 January 1876 — CAMPAIGN CAPITAL. [ARTICLE]

CAMPAIGN CAPITAL.

The Inter- Ocean is well aware that the“southern out,rage”aml “Kuklux” arguments will hWe very little effect in the coining campaign. People begin to see that there are other than mere party interests to work for.— Remington Record. Herein is oar neighbor at fault. The Southern Outrage and Kuklux arguments will enter largely the discussion in the coming campaign. It is to supply campaign capital that Mr. Blaine and Mr. Garfield .nd their republican colleagues raked over the history of the rebellion and made their violent speeches last week. It is for the same purpose that republican newspapers all over the land havecaught up the echo and are now ringing their changes on it. This is why the blood is boiling in the veip| of so many store-counter 4nd beerbarrel politicians, who stayed at home and made money during the war. It is reported that Senator Morton has done little else tor six months than collect data for a great speech upon political intimidation in Mississippi, which he proposes to in the senate at the proper time. Every movement of republican leaders indicates that they mean to make this the great' and absorbing topic of the approaching campaign if possible. 1 Why do they do this? For a wry {daw reason. They know that universal dissatisfaction is caused by their legislation upon national finances; the. con traction policy is

creating suffering and alarm everywhere in the land. They know that the Credit Mobilier scandal of othei* days, the Pacific and Brazilian mail subsidy acts, the Chorpenning olaim case, the District of Columbia and Boss Shepard swindles, the salary grab steal, added to whiskey ring revelations now being wade, have, and are weakening public confidence in the immaculate honesty of those in office. They feel the scepter of power slipping from their grasp, and know something must be done to divert attention from their own dishonesty and inefficiency, hence they create false issues. By reopening the cruel wounds caused by the rebellion ; by arraying the inhabitants of one section agaiust those of another; by playing upon the jealousies, fears, hatreds and baser passions of people, they hope to prevent the consideration of questions which really bear upon the country, to prevent public investigation of their own failures and crimes, to confuse and befog the discussion of true issues, and to ride into power again by the means of the strategic tactics of the demagogue. They are shrewd, cunning, dishonest, unscrupulous; they may be successful.