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In 1872, the movement known as the liberal republican had a large influence, politically, having virtually dictated the democratic nomination for the presidency, and the platform of principles on which the campaign against the Republican party was dictated. The Liberal Republicans were those connected with the Republican party who were opposed to any extreme measure in the reconstruction of the Southern States,and who believed the time had come when past issues should be forgotten, and new issues formed; that the hand of reconciliation should be offered the South, and a united country, working together to build up the waste places of the South. Many of the most able men of the Republican party, including Horace Greeley, Charles Sumner, Lyman Trumbull, John M. Palmer and others, united in this movement. In May, a National Convention was held by the Liberal Republicans, in Cincinnati, which nominated Horace Greeley for president and B. Gratz Brown for vice-president. The following is a synopsis of the resolutions adopted:

1. Equality of all men before the law; equal and exact justice to all, without regard to race, color or previous condition.

2. Opposition to the re-opening of all questions settled by the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the constitution.

3. Demand for the immediate and absolute removal of all disabilities imposed on account of the rebellion.

4. Local self-government; supremacy of the civil over the military, and demand for the largest individual liberty consistent with public order.

5. Denunciation of the existing system of civil service.

6. Demand for a system of federal taxation which should not unnecessarily interfere with the industries of the people; reference of the tariff to the congress ional districts.

7. Demand for civil service reform, and for the election of president for a single term only.

8. Maintenance of public credit and denunciation of repudiation.

9. A speedy return to specie payment.

10. Thanks to the citizen soldiers and sailors of the republic.

11. Opposition to further grants to railroads.

12. Cultivation of friendship with all nations; regarding alike dishonorable, either to demand what is not right or to submit to what is wrong.

The Democracy in convention ratified the nomination of Greeley and Brown and adopted the platform of the Liberal Republicans. The Republicans re-nominated President Grant, and associated with him on the ticket Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, for vice-president. The disaffection among the Democrats in consequence of the nomination of Horace Greeley, a life-long political enemy, was so great that a third ticket was nominated, at the head of which was Charles O'Connor, the distinguished lawyer of New York. The Democrats and Liberal Republicans met in State convention and nominated a ticket composed of two Democrats and three Liberal Rnpublicans, and passed a resolution endorsing the nomination of Greeley. The Liberal ticket in this county did not meet with much encouragement, the vote given it being only that number usually polled by the Democratic nominees. The Republican nominee for the presidency, received 998 votes in Cass county, out of a total vote of 1,299. On county officers the majorities on the Republican ticket, ranged from 750 to 800.

The question of Capitol vs. Labor engaged the attention of the people in 1873. The Republican State Convention met at Des Moines June 25, and after nominating candidates, adopted resolutions declaring against monopolies, and urging the restriction, by the State and the several States of the powers of the railroads and other corporations. The Democrats made no nominations, but favored the anti monopoly movement general. A convention was held at Des Moines, August 12th, which nominated candidates and adopted resolutions, in which was denounced the old party organizations as corrupt and no longer useful in live issues, and deplored the chicanery in government affairs. The latter ticket drew quite a vote in this county, having cast 427 for the office of governor. The Republicans, for the same office, polled 866. Quite a spirited contest took place in the trial for the position for State senator from this, the seventeenth senatorial district, and Lafayette Young, the Republican nominee,was both,through his party being the dominant one, and his personal popularity, elected with a handsome majority of 343, over his opponent.

In 1874 the issues were the same as in the previous year, and the anti-monopolists made a gallant fight in this State, but were defeated.

A convention was called to meet at Des Monies [sic Des Moines], June 24, 1875, to be composed of Democrats, Anti-monopolists and Liberal Republicans. Assembling, a ticket was nominated, headed by Dhepherd Leffler, for governor, and a platform of principles adopted, covering the grounds of belief of the three elements represented. The Republicans met in convention and nominated S. J. Kirkwood for governor. A temperance convention was also held, and Rev. John H. Lozier nominated for governor.

The election in 1876 was for National, State and County officers. Rutherford B. Hayes and William A. Wheeler were the Republican candidates for president and vice-president; while Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A. Hendricks received the nomination of the Democratic party for the same offices. Peter Cooper was the nominee of the Independent party, or Greenbackers, for president. The hard times which began in 1873 had a perceptible effect upon this campaign. The Democratic party, which for some years had been acting upon the defensive, when not allied with some other politioal body, now assumed the aggressive, and under the banner of "Tilden and Reform," forced the Republicans in the defensive. On the part of the Democrats the campaign was boldly conducted. In this State the Greenbackers held two conventions, at the first of which they adopted a platform containing their principal tenets. The Republicans adopted as a platform substantially the following points: "Unity of the Nation; 2, economy in the administration of the government; 3, a currency convertable with coin; 4, all railway and other corporations to be subject to the law-making power. The Democrats adopted but a single resolution approving the platform of the National Democratic Convention and the nomination of Tilden and Hendricks. The Independents, or Greenbackers, also put in nomination a State ticket.

In county affairs there was no special interest attached to the campaign, although both parties had regular tickets in the field. The Republicans were successful by majorities ranging over 600.

The question of erecting a court house, was one of the leading topics of this election, and owing to local feeling was defeated by a vote of 2,020 to 606.

In 1877 State tickets were nominated by Democrats, Republicans, Greenbackers and Prohibitionists. In Cass county the Republicans were successful by large majorities on all officers except for treasurer, to which office the Democratic candidate, John P. Gerbrich was elected by a majority of 31.

In 1878 State tickets were nominated by Greenbackers, Democrats and Republicans. Subsequently a fusion was effected by the Democrats and Greenbackers and a portion of the nominees of each of their State tickets were chosen as the choice of both parties. On the State ticket, Cass county gave the Republicans a majority of about 450. The Republican county officers were also elected without much effort. The question of buying a county poor farm was voted down.

The campaign of 1879 was opened May 12, by the Democracy meeting in convention and nominating a State ticket, headed by H. H. Trimble for governor. A lengthy platform was adopted. The Greenbackers were next in the field, their ticket being headed by Daniel Campbell for governor. The Republicans met and nominated John H. Gear for governor, together with a full State ticket. Lastly, the Prohibitionists met and placed in nomination George T. Carpenter, of Mahaska, for governor. Mr. Carpenter declining, D. R. Dungan, of Eldora, was substituted. The Republicans nominated a straight ticket, while the opposition combined upon a "People's State Ticket," composed of independent Republicans, Greeubackers and Democrats.

There were three tickets in the field for the county offices. Oll. Coomes, of this county, was elected representative; William Waddell, treasurer; William Crisman, auditor; L. F. Mullins, sheriff; R. H. Frost, superintendent of schools, on the Republican ticket.

The general campaign for 1880 began quite early, especially among the aspirants for office and their friends. The preliminary canvass for the nomination grew quite warm, as both Republicans and Democrats were alike confident that they would succeed in the national struggle. James A. Garfield received the Republican nomination for president. Winfield S. Hancock was chosen to lead the Democracy. Gen. James B. Weaver was nominated by the Greenbackers. The canvass was pushed with vigor, the Democratic and Republican parties using their utmost endeavors to be successful. The national Greenback party, under the lead of Weaver, also endeavored to increase its votes, Mr. Weaver making speeches in more than half the States of the Union. The first State convention held in Iowa this year was by the Republicans, at Des Moines, April 7th. The platform adopted consisted of three resolutions, the first demanding that the candidates nominated at Chicago by the National Republican Convention, should be of national reputation for ability; second, that James G. Blaine be the choice of the republicans of the State, and third, instructing the delegates to the national convention to vote for Blaine. The Greenbackers met at Des Moines, May 11, and adopted a platform re-asserting their demands for the abolition of the national banks, the reduction of the army, the limitation of Chinese immigration, the reduction of salaries, and the payment of the national debt in greenbacks. The Democrats met at Des Moines, September 2, nominated a ticket, and adopted a platform endorsing Hancock and English, and the national platform adopted at Cincinnati. In this county the Republicans carried the State ticket by a majority of 735. The entire vote polled was about 3,731.

On the 21st of December. 1880, a special election was held in Cass county, on the question of building a court house. The board of supervisors of the county submitted to the qualification of the electors of the county the following questions: Shall, or shall we not build a courthouse at Atlantic, Cass county, at an expense not to exceed fifty thousand dollars? Shall the county issue fifty thousand dollars in bonds to pay for the same? Shall a tax of one and one-half mills on the dollar be levied on the taxable property of the county, each year to provide a fund to pay the bonds and provide for the payment of the interest thereon. A strong contest was the result, but the friends of the measure carried it by the handsome majority of 513, in a total vote of 3,481.

The election for 1881 was for State and county officers, and the three leading parties bad tickets in the field. In Cass county, the vote on governor stood: Buren R. Sherman, 1,640; L. G. Kinne, 840; D. M. Clark, 285. William Waddell, county treasurer; William Crisman, auditor; L. F. Wullins, sheriff, and R. H. Frost, all Republicans, were elected to their respective oifices,that political party sweeping the field.

At the special election of June 27, 1882, on the adoption of an amendment to the State constitution, prohibiting the sale of any intoxicating liquors, including ale, wine and beer within the State, the vote in Cass county stood: For the amendment, 1,826; against the amendment, 1,728.

In 1882, the election was for State and county officers. The contest was a warm one and the vote stood as follows: W. H. M. Pusey, Democratic candidate for congressman, received 1,493 votes; A. R. Anderson,Republican, 1,417; J. B. Hatton, Greenbacker, 475. On county offices the majorities in favor of the regular Republican nominees averaged about 315.

The campaign of 1883, was probably the best managed by both parties, of any for the last twenty years. The Republican State Convention that met at Des Moines, adopted as a leading feature of the platform the prohibition movement, and the enforcement of it. This the Democratic party took exception to, alleging it a breach of our rights and liberties as freemen. On this issue was the contest. Buren R. Sherman was chosen as the leader of the Republican cohorts, while L. G. Kinne, of Tama county, led the Democratic forces. Long and hard was the conflict, but the Republicans gained the day, by a bare majority in the State. In Cass county the vote on governor stood: B. R. Sherman, Republican, 2,0l8; L. G. Kinne, Democrat, 1,405; J. B. Weaver, Greenbacker, 375. The full Republican ticket, on county officers was also elected.

Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, February, 2025 from: "History of Cass County, Together with Sketches of Its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens" , published in 1884, Springfield, Ill: Continental Historical Co., pp. 326-330.