Rock Island Argus., 1871-11-28
Political Outlook for 1872.
A Prominent Democrat Of Iowa Takes
Another Advanced step.

That We are living in times of political
Advancement, that advanced steps can be
taken by political leaders without denying
the fundamental principles Of party organ
izatious or in suy particular Abrogating
them, and that there arise nscessities For
laying aside old names and forms to better
meet new issues and conditions, has been
made more and more evident each succeed.
ing year since the war. II was this idea
that actuAted Douglas in the beginning of
the war, aud, later, found expression in the
Virginia cOnveD tion and in the many state
conventions since. The same idea also
found expression in Valandigham's So
called "New Departure in which he abro-
gated no principles Of his party. The
movement found favor with large majority
Of the party and the conservatives of all
parties, as the legitimate result Of the differ
eut order Of affairs under the new conssi-
tutonal enactments. But it stopped
short of successful popularity, and
now comes one from Iowa, the black
est state in all the Union-where the
Democracy have bad the fullest oppof-
tunity Of studying the causes of failure at
their leisure, who takes the step untaken BY
the departed statesman of Ohio, and who
occupies the ground that he and Douglas
before him would have occupied had death
not found them with their work but lust
begun-who has taken the step from the
position occupied by these two grea, lead
ers to that Of success, if the people so de-
eide. This is what the gentleman from
Iowa says, than whom there is no abler
thinker in the stAte, who never knew Aughi
but democracy, and who could not breathe in
other air than that Of liberty and equality.
If we understand il correctly, he ignores
none Of the living principles of Democracy,
but is willing TO sacrifice names Aud forms
TO apply tbs principles TO new and impera-
tive issues-to Join with honest patriots Of
all parties against cOrruptionists, the advo-
Gates Of absolute ideas, GENERALIZATION aud q
dictator for what, under the guidance of
democratic principles, was the best govern.
men, the sun ever shone upon. But here
is the letter, read aud think
EDIToRs OF DEMoCRAT. Having faith
fully served As q member OF theD Dsmooratic
organization for over twenty years, and sill
having the fullest confidence In the cardinal
principles of that party, | am impelled to
declare my conviction that the organization
has ou,livsd It's usefulness, aud that it is the
duty Of Democrats 10 openly sckno Wedge
that she Democratic party is dead. All
efforts at departure, or 20 gRlvanize il
into lifs have proved a failure. The pres
tige Of its general policy, or, rather, the lack
OF policy during the late war wall cling TO it,
and prevent success, no matter how much
we may become purified by change OF heart
The res ult of the recent elections are sufh-
cisut proof of this fact. We can reor9 anize
BY forming some integral part of Q new
party, aud probably resurrect our principles,
but the body must ba buried-And the
stencil Of its putred remains, removed from
the public nostrils. The present is the
proper emergency to test the patriotism OF
members Of the Democratic party.
If We love our country better than we do
our party, abandon the organization, and
unite with patriots, disreeArding political
sutscsdents, and we may reasonably hope
for a change Of administration, in 1872, that
will protect and guarantee equal rights to
all sections Of our common country. Cen
trAIized power will vanish, the war will soou
be forgotten, and our country again be
peaceful, prosperous and happy.
GEo. q. PARKER.
Davenport, Iowa, Nov. 27th, 1871.