The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-18
Political rrickery Exposed.

Wendell Philips understands about as well as
any body what the republicans of congress are
driving at by their legislation. In recent
Fourth of July speech in Massachusetts lie said :
Congress. in the true sense of the word, has
no policy. Ii has a purpose, and It's purpose is
to ride tie fall election. Now, the ma iority
in congress believe that by saving the unity of
the republican party they viii save the nation
will acknowledge the honesty of the convie-
lions of N majority of congress; but what want
you to observe is that congress to-day does not
propose to settle the question involved in the
revolution. 1t only proposes to lay before the
people such measure as will save the republi-
can party at the baOt-box. | believe that all
history shows that, it is said in the Good
Book, ''He who seeks only to save his life shall
loose it : and SO Of party when it is reduced
to policy cOncocted only to save its life-it is
sure to lose il.
Our leaders in congress know that the
amendment will be rejected. OF course it will
be- The president has put his foot down against
it, aud has warned the southern states, not to
indorse it. He has told them III SO MANY words
that they have his support in refusing to ratify
it. 1t is not possible, therefore, that that
amendment will be accepted. Congress judges
that the republican party will be victorious at
the baIlot-box, and that, unfettered BY the adop-
tion of the amendment, congress will be able TO
pass act that will give ballot to the ne
gro. They hope and expect that after the defeat
OF the amendment they win return to congress
at the fall elections stronger than they are to.
day. They do not want tue amendment accept
ed. The worst possible news that Thad. Ste
vens could hear would be the ratification Of the
amendment. ] do not disgrace the whole pro-
ceedings when l say that it is a party trick
(Cries of'Hear hear.O 1t is got up to serve a
purpose, TO kill time after the elections, and get
rid OF pressing emergency" 81
The Chicago Journal of the 10Th, gives
congress good smart raking down for not
adiourning and going home. The Journal
says congress Hcould have omplished all
it has done in one half the time it has been
in session" says it Elaoks practical legisla-
tive energy :" that "shere has been too great
disposition to talk by the "li,tle-great
men, whose only capacity consists in maxim -,
speeches, or, IN other words, in spreading
themselves, and whose only ambition is to
assure their re-eleetloa-in short, mere poll.
ticians, who clog the wheels of legislation by
making the public interests secondary to
their personal schemes and ambitions"
The Journal, after pitching in, in this re-
freshing manner for awhile, says:
We have no oojecAion to congress sitting all
summer, and all the year round, If it sees fit
but "what's the sep" II is argued that if an
adjournment takes place, the president NAV do
something improper that be would not do while
congress Is in session-that he might remove an
officer here and there aud place his own friends
In their places-and that he might otherwise do
that which republican congress would not ap-
prove or permit. As far as this is concerned.
we think it well to leave the president to his
own responsibility. i = Adjourn and cool
down. Adjourn, go home, and keep as quiet as
you can till December. We have no doubt that
the country will be just as safe if you should
finger and bubble and blow and sweat in Wash
ington through the months of August, Septem
Der, October and November. Go home be oui-
ct, and refresh yourselves for the labors of the
next session.