Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-12-05


o not hesitate to express a Willingness 10 8
ield all mere forms and party names in
rder 10 save the great and fundamental e
upon which the party was found {
a xho for this purpose would concede
not essentially destructive to the
i,.I elements of constitutional liberty and !
e representative government
Among such may be instanced the Hon.
iso. Il. Parker, Of Davenport, whose letter
pos the status Of the party has so recently
ppeAred in the Chicago Times and other
democratic organs. The follow
ng passages tskea from good democratic
.uthority in an article discussing this very
ubjec, are also an equally emphatic utter
Ance Of similar sentiments:
General Grants reelection 10 the Presidency
would be a virtual surrender of self government hy |
he people-the substitution Of central despousm /
The entire Democratic party, and at least one
third Of the Republican party. to-day opposed 10
the reelection OF General Grant.
The Democratic party alone cannot elect Presi-
dent In opposition to General Grant
II Is not purpose In this article TO discuss the
causes which have combined to place the Democrat
&c party OF the country In the minority. The tact
stands, and there Is no gainSaying IL. For aught
that the Democratic party rs a sole and singular
organization can do TO prevent u, General Grant
will be President until the fourth day OF March,
The conservative portion of the Republican party
II helpless In the Federal clutch-possessing the
balance OF power. but being utterly unable IT,
Inside the organization OF the Radical party It Is
hopelessly hampered, bound hand and foot.
An alliance OF the Democratic party and the anti.
Grant wing OF the Republican party for the cam
pagn of 1879 Is The only combination that can be
made 10 defeat General Grant
II l. our deliberate opinion that this alliance
should and our firm belief that It can and will be
made and without the sacrifice Of vital principle by
eiher OF the allies That there must be mutual con
ccssion OF partisan prejudice mutual ,ntcrmcnts Of
dead issues-we admit aut upon the broad platform
OF honest aud capable administration OF the govern
m Mt, return 20 the integrity, purity ana economy
OF the founders of the republican, true men OF what
party anihation stand shoulder to shoulder
In the coming contest.
In order 10 avert this imminent calamity we heart
ily favor alliance OF the Democratic party with
the antiGnnt elements outside OF that organization
ana the formation OF u solid phaanx which shall
march under the banner Of civil service aud revenue
reform and general amnesty.
| Upon the latter Issue the honest masses OF Mis-
/ soufi-Rcpuhlicnns and Dempcrats-uuited and won
glorious victory over Grant and the concentrated
powers OF the Frder raj government Revenue re-
form win sweep the West and amnesty VIII hold the
south even against Grants buyouet-. Civil service
shake his h-tarif Radicalism in Pennsylvania Even
Massachusetts, with sumner to lead. will not be ia
out Of line
During nearly half century this paper has fought
the battles Of the Democracy IT. faith l. n firm tt
hope buuyant in the days Of it, partys an'
is COuntry's prosperity IL would not Hdvisc th,
abandonment or -upprpssion Of one Of the great prln
cipcs in which the foundations OF the republic wer
laid II simply asks that party which has AWAY
been found on the slds OF free government to iorn
an honorable allince with an honorable pow1
against n common enemy.
A snll holder negatiou Of democratic &C
tivity in the coming presidential contest
and perhaps a step in advance Of any othe
proposition yet made on the Democrat,
side, is the so-cAllsd Passire or MiSSou'
policy which has been urged with no les
ability than earnestuess IN q series of We
considered leaders in the Missouri RepUbli
can, and which has received the warm SO
provSl Of many distinguished men in ,hs
state, and elsewhere 10 other states. Tn
subioined synopsis will serve to Indicate tb
general tenor and purport of the pssSlr
policy;
The proposition for a withdrawal Of the Demorr,
cy. Is a party from the presidential comics in lel
has m tde ruch headway that the details are nlreud
being discussed. There i such weight OF sent
ment In IT. favor thut the question whether II -ha
be adopted, not. already beginning to Civ
place 70 the next question, how II sha! De carrie
We think careful review of the whole situation
uninhuenced by party traditions and party tactic
will show that The simpler the plan J. mude The nor
satisfactory and effective it will be- IL should No
be mnde TO depend upon bolt OF the anti-Gant K,
pubcans rrom their National convention
|, President Grant is already renomina.ed He III
been authorilstively presented rs candidate by
power greater than his party. lie hes nominate
himself; and his party knows nothing better than tn
notifying fact that 1t will really only ratiiy dict
, ted Selfnomination which IL may neither reject nc
question II Il the presidents indecorous precipiu
ton OF his candidacy than two years before IN
election. hi deliberate and successful attempt
forestal the action Of his party by peremptory pr
occupation OF the Geld against "A other claima' {
and his extraordinary Use OF the federal power 10 g
tah-h his personal title to the unquestionng aleg
ance Of his party. that has been the mnlh agency
/ estran,yinr In. thoughtful liberal element OF IN
party from him; and " would be dthculf 70 imagli
70 what more Il needed to make this e~traugemt
= complete. IL II already sufficient; and y u we
NOT 1t Is growing every hour IL has the dispositc
10 act II needs only the opportunity aud Thar won
b. The Dsmocrsey from, The Held When the lnt'-Gra
Rrpub licans shall have beeI assured mat the ID
y mocracy a. a party will contest the pre-ldent
with Grant nut Weld tina, high honor and hard du
= to them. they will not need TO bolt; they VII o.
wait 10 bolt; they VIII Instantly recosnHe 'nelL Oh
ANITA oLst. and leap into the field with an empha'
that will distinguish aud decide the most tntere-ji
| presidential CAMPAIGN have ever had. The q
pubcans that 10 oppose President Grant i seriu
= business and that wnen resolved on II must De
o routrance.
q n the Democracy Yield the contest TO the an
Grant Republicans. they should do il fairly and ia
without Instructions ~ To how they shall cotduct
II the Liberal opposition be left TO adopt their on
e platform t. select their position and fight "
NJ hcir weapons, they will act with the more fr'
Gom d ana power @hG ng b {ngG e To" p ,b no.
eru side by n bold and inspiring reclamation
re those great constitutional principles and ho-e hi
a. personal rights which form the ground OF DemoCr
!" ic opposition to the present administration.
o. This mode Of proceeding wouId avoid the diGlc
90 ~ of making ticket sufficiently Republican tu
supported BY Republicans, and sufi ientlN liberal
81 be supported by Democrat; tor its simple nomi
J. ton by a Republican national convention WI
~ comply fully with the irst condition and It. ah-nl
an need Of the Democratic vote would cause To- co
ply with the seconG. It. might be urged that ~
i'd Democracy would supply tue bulk OF the vote
ought Ia name the ticket that l. To receive the
d Bus " must be remembered that the supreme obi
of the Democracy In lSI2 r. not to eject tlrkc uu
Ia mated by Itself but defeat President Gram 40
IN hazards Can the party that has lost The NOyem
TO- elections do thiz can the party that lost t,lif,r
IN IN September and New York 10 November prom
liberal Re ublcans victory under It, lrbdrr.hi
IT, year from now The Democracy have, indeed M
n gain at the south In the TALL elections bat W..
Sc know that the great struggle o 1872 L. 70 b. drci,
on Northern soil and h may be que- toned whp
III er Il Is wise for that party 70 demand th" leader
mi OF the opposition 70 President Grant m 1872 VIII
w has lo-t two powerful Northern Statc. aud not m!
il a single Northe RI gain III 1871
on Most Assuredly this Is not only IN
Nv departure" but vide one from the supp
nv ed general sentiment of "o!d hue def
ga Gratis" and yet If once admitted that
ir. democratic party cannot Without the siC
a, conservative allies eeets President in I
n even this plan, startling az 1t may al hrsi
ri pear, hs. many points which seem tea'
,h- and sensible to commend II. The pee
va themselves are not yet corrupted, the bon'
IN and int gritty Of the nation as such Is al
OF suspicion, aud furthermore there Is as j
i'd doubt also that a majority Of the people
Zip the country desire some sort of change &
90 he corruption OF office holders. the ne
sm ism, inc cheney, and military characters
Sc Of the existing administration
To accomplish this some common gro