The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-10-15
A Significant Letter.
Who Shall Be County Treasurer /!
WHICH SHALL TRlU MPH, HONESTY
OH RASC.LITl! =
The Constitutional Convention.

In today's issue, we publish Hgh'heah'
letter written by one of the most prominent
Republicans of Port Byron. 1t will well
repay perusal by the general public, ire
spective of party lines. 1t illustrates feel
lug which pervades the Republican party in
Rock Island county from center to circum
ference. The honest masses, without regard
TO political feelings, have grown sick and
tired with the shievery and corruption car
ried on at this city by the Court House
Ring, and which can scarcely be exsggerat.
ed. The effort of the Ring to get Mr..
Thomas gu, Of the way, who will not be a
party to their rascality, has created deep
feeling in the Republican ranks.
Mr.. Thomas has been number one Off.
Ger. We frankly aver that we do not know
a man in the county with whom we would
rather entrust its finances. He is the first
and only treasurer we ever had who has
kept our county orders at par, saving our
county thousands and thousands OF dollars
per year. which would otherwise have lined
the pockets Of the Barnacles. Before his
election TO the Office, it was the custom to
collect county mouey aud deposit it some
where. When bill was to be met, an or.
der was issued The holder was then glad
to get it cashed at Fifty cents on thu dollar,
and the very money used in cashog it, be
Jomged to the county, and the enormous prof
its of these fraudulent transactions, went
into the pockets of the Barnacles. In this
way were the hard working people OF the
country swindod out Of their earnings to
keep up the extravagance OF gang OF
scoundrels at this city who should every one
be in the Joliet State Prison. Whether the
same old order of things is to be brought
about again romains with the people to de
eide. We we're in hopes that the Republi
can Convention would re.nominate Mr.
| Thomas, in which event it is highly probs
| bic that the Democrats would have brought
out no opponent against him. He has
given such universal satisfaction, that he
seemed to be unanimously the choice of the
people. When you touch mans pocket
you touch q tender spot. The successful
manner in which he had managed our Fl
nances, met with general appreciation. Oul
| taxes are now enormous, and the Democrats
| felt like tacitly sustaining any man who
would help keep down the taxes, but as We
feared, the Court House Ring had the whole
business cut and dried to get man Of theil
choice, and succeeded. That the honest re
pubicans are Disguised is very natural, but
| the question is one of their own, and with
them remains the task Of disposng Of it.
We fully endorse our correspondents re
marks in regard 10 the fitness Of Mr.. John
ston for the Constitutional Convention, al
compared with that OF DR.. Truesdale Mr.
Johnston's legal reputation ranks high
while the Rock Islander who defeated hin
| is VIGOROUSLY deficient in all that SHOULD
render him qualified for the position fol
which the Court House Ring secured hi'
nomination. In fact, the idea of kicking {
sound lawyer aside in order to send phys
ician to such place g. Constitutional Con
vention, is utterly laughable, and is a fail
sample of the style in which the Cour
House Ring conducts public affairs. So faI
as we are concerned, our columns are oil
ways open to the public, irrespective U
party lines, for fair discussion of sucl
important matters, in which all are vital,
| interested