The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-08-08

| have delayed the mere formal act
communicating 70 you in writing what
thus publicly said, for the purpose Of seein
what light the action Of congress woul
throw upon the interests Of the country. II
acts, since the Adjournment Of the CONVEX
ton, show an alarm, lest change OF poht
cal power will give 70 the people What the
ought to have,-a clear statement OF wha
has been done with the money drawn fror
them during the past eight years, Thought
ful men feel that there have been wrongs II
the financial management which have DeeI
kept from the public knowledge. The con
, gressional party has not only allied itsel
with the military power, which rs to b.
brou,ht to bear directly upon tho elections
in many states, but holds itself in perpetua
session, with the avowed purpose OF making
such laws as 10 shall see ft, In view OF the
elections which will take place within lew
weeks. 1t did, therefore, not adjourn, ou'
took a recess, to meet again IT its partisan
interests shall demand its assembling.
Never before in the history Of our country
has congress taken menacing attitude to-
ward its electors. Under its influence some
of the states organized by its agents are
proposing to deprive the people OF the night
to vote for presidential electors, and the hrst
| bold steps are taken to destroy the right OF
suffrage. II 10 not strange, therefore. that
thoughtful men see in such action tue proof
that there are, with those who shape the
policy Of the republican party, motives strong
er and deeper than the mere wish to hold
political power; that there is dread Of
some exposure, which drives them on to acts
so desperate and so impoitiic
Many of the ablest leaders aud journals OF
the republican party have openly dePlored
the violence of congressional action, and its
tendency to keep up discord in our country.
The great interests of our Union demand
peace, under return to those
international pursuits without which we
cannot maintain the faith or honor Of our
government. The minds Of business men
are perplexed by uncertainties the hours OF
toll Of our laborers are heightened by the
cost of living, made by the direct and in.
direct exactons of the government; and
our people are harasSed by the frequent de.
mands of the tax .gatherer. Without distnc'
ton Of party, there is strong feeling in
favor Of that line of action which shall re.
store order and confidence, and shall lift off
the burdens which now hinder and vex the
industry Of the country. Yet, at this mo.
ment, those in power have thrown into the
senate chamber and congressional halls
new element Of discord and Violence
Men have been admitted as representatives
Of some Of the southern states, with the dec
Iaration upon their lips that they cannot live
in the states they claim to represent without
military protection. These men are TO make
laws for the north as well as for the south.
These men who, a few days since, were seek.
ing, as suppliaHts, that congress would give
them power within their respective states,
are to-day the controllers Of the actions OF
these bodies and, entering them with minds
filed with bias, demand that congress shall
look upon the states from which they came
as in condition Of civil war that thu ma.
jority of their populations, embracing their
intelligence, shall be treated as public eLe
mics that a military force there shall be
kept up at the cost OF the people Of the
north, and that there shall be no peace and
order at the south save that which is made
BY arbitrary power, Every intelligent man
knows they not only owe their present posi-
tons to disorder but that their every motive
springs from the love Of power Of gain, Of
desire for vengeance, aud prompts them to
keep the south in anarchy. While that ex.
lists, they are independent OF the wills or
wishes Of their fellow citizens. While con.
fusion reigns, they are the dispensers Of the
profits and the honors which grow out of
a government Of mere force. These men
are now placed in positions where they can
not only urge their views of politics, but
where they can enforce them. When sena.
tors shall be admitted ia this manner from
the remaining southern states, although they
will have, in truth no constituents, they will
have more power in the senate than a ma
jority of the people of this union living in
nine of the great states. In vain members
Of the republican party have protested
against the policy that led to this result
While the chiefs of the late rebellion have
submitted to the result of the war, and are
now quietly engaged in useful pursuits for
the support Of themselves and their families,
aud are trying, by the force of their example
to lead back the people of the south to the
order and industry not only essential TO their
wel.being, but to the greatness and prosper
ity Of our community, all see that these men,
without ability or influence, have been
thrown by the agitatiOns Of civil commissions
into positions Of honor, of profit, and are
striving to keep alive the passions to which
they owe their elevation, and DANGEROUSLY
insist that they are the only friends of our
union. Proof of that can only have a sure
in fraternal regard, and com
mon desire to promote the peace, the order,
aud the happiness Of all portions Of our
land.
Events in congress, since the adjournment
Of the convention have vastly increased the
importance of a political victory by those
who are seeking to bring back economy,
and justice in the administration
of our national affairs. Many republicans
have heretofore chung to their party who
have regretted the extremes of
violence to which it has run
They have cherished faith that, while
the action of their political friends had been
mistaken, their motives had been good.
They must now see that the republican par
ty is in that condition that it cannot carry
out peaceful policy, whatever its motives
may be. 1t is misfortune, not only TO A
country but 10 governing party itself, when
lts aCtloh Is unCheckeu Dy any form OF oppo
sitIon. 1t has been the misfortune of the re.
publican party that the events of .he past
few years have given so much power that il
has been able to shackle the executive. TO
trammel the judiciary, and carry ont the
views Of the most unwise and violent of its
members. When this state Of things exists
in any party, it has ever been founu that the
judgement of its ablest leaders does not con.
troll. There is hardly an able man
who has helped to build up the republican
organization who has not, within the past
three years, warned it against its excuses ;
who has not been borne down and forced
to give up his convictions Of what the inter.
ests of the country call for or if too patriot. |
c to do this, who has not been driven from
its ranks IL This bns haa, tk, oo.o L..o,,