Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-10-23
EDITORIAL CoRREsresDENCE.
AsToR HoUsE
N. Y, Dot. 18th 1871.

~. :, Got 18Th 1871.
Ia the intense feeling that has been mani |
fest all over the country on account OF the
terrible 6rss that have dsvas,ed Chicago
and swept over four states OF the West, even
the Tanmany frauds have lost their interest.
But having seen the glee with which the
Republican party looked to this city for
rich revelations that would take the shame
from some Of their little speculations with
Uncle Ssmuel's cash boz, aud how they
hoped the Rochester convention would re-
enao, the disgraceiul scenes Of the Republi.
can Smashsrs q, Syracuse the week before
and having seen all their hopes dashed, and
also having had opportunity Of learning
facts, few words Of consolation TO 'he
Lemon miIters scattered over the west
may not prove embarrassing even Il the
comparisons may b. disastrous TO those who
are 40 anxious 20 fAs,en the corruptions Of
TAmmAny-ths prO,egs Of Republioanleg
ialature-upon the Democratic party. First,
however, let me say to the old readers Of the
ARGUs, havsAnei their old friend Col Dan
forth, who is up to his elbows in politics,
making speeches, writing for the papers,
aud working hard iu the ward organizations,
and has good standing here among the
best men.
The political condition is looking hot the
TEmmAuy Organization having been eifee-
tuGlly shut GU, Of the State Convention, and
its organization placed in position where
il will BE- utterly ignored in future State
Conventions. II lie friends choose to vote
the Democratic tiehos--very well If not
Just a. we'll
The Republicans OF this State denounced
corruption in al parties sxcep, their own.
The Democracy denounced corruption in
their own party as we'll as 10 other parties,
aud are taking mos, effective measures to
hunt down thieves in their own party Ne
vol as ia the Radical party. The diff
ference between the two parties Is very strik
ing. The Republican State Convention de-
nouncsd Democratic thieves and was ruled
by the chief Of the RspublicS u
swindlsrs--Murphy, their collector
Of customs The Democratic State Con-
vSntion denounced thieves wherever they
could hnd them, whether in their party or
Nny other party
remember that George MiTter, rot ion Z
ago, asked me, in he peculiar sneeribg wAY
II ] had no, better re publish Col Dsnfortb'.
letter Of last July, on the TAmmsny frauds
IL will bear rs-publishing, for it was strictly
true, then, and is true to-day The Repub
hoAn party ia responsible for all the legisa
lion which made il possible for fraud to b,
committed, aud Republicans and Demo
orsts-not a. pSrtizsns. but as individuals
shared alike and profted alike in tie swind
ling From 1876 TO ls7O-twsnty fou
yeArS-the Democrats never once had ID,
Gscendsncy in the Senate Of ths State. Blu
twice daring oil lhs, period did they have
slight majority in the House. Practically
for a quarter Of a century, the iegislGsv,
power Of the State WAS IN the control Of N,
Republican party or the party from which i
sprAng. They made the city Rovernu1eu
what they chose TO make j., Tney had fol
power TO lesislAie for city affairs. Durin.
oil that time they had the power to remoy
the Mayor, the Comptroller and the Stree
Com missioner, by the Governor. Ia ls5.
tae Republican party in It's present foru
was created In 1856 it swept this STAT
by over 10000 majority iu favor of = ,e
mont. The Democracy hsj, ia 1as ., ..io,
Of 1857, but fou- Senator, out c, tbi,ty
two, and tbiry-seyeu Assem- o'ym,l out q
one hundred ana ,uenty-cigh,. A, tia
session vs. .ormsd the city Charter uuds
""''' .ue people Of this city lived nat
at wear AT the same session Was forme
the hybrid Board Of Supervisors, which h'
bsen the Pandora Box oF evils 10 this OIL
to the present day. lhst body was
totally irresponsible body. Under the prA
tioe Of an equal division Of mem bers anon
Democrats and Republicans the whole eie'
tionAl principle was violated. Il was cou
po.ed OF twelve mem bers but each ciiize
could only vote for six, 50 that the men
bsrs NON mated by each party was sure
the position, beoause the law required II
MAYOR 70 Hppoin, the SIX who had next
the larges. number Of votes thus the me
nominated by each party were placed
nina h, the law. No scratching IF q bI
man nominated by either party had any I
feet. No competition between parties "
possible. The selection OF the party Gu
Gus was final Thus, oil the wirs-Workt
in each party had TO do was TO get tn
friends on the tiekst-Suoh men as Wo'
allow their swindliur bills and then divi'
But even this was not oil. The next u
the Republican legislature extended tn
terms Of ofiOe from one to six years. !
Board therefore became incapable Of bel
changed hy any act Of the people, or
anything short Of the concurrence OF b
party oAuousss for four years in suooessi
The Board became toIAlly irresponsii
and like oil other irresponsible bodies,
tally corrupt. leSr by year new pow
we're added by Republican legislatur
aud sanctioned by Republican Govern'
until 1t became a great agent tor public
pendiiurs, acting n secret, without fear
pubHo opinion aud without responsibi
TO the elective power Of the people. 1t
the centre Of AL AssociStion of corrupt
publioans and corrupt Democrats, that
been called "The Ring Il was orea
BY the Republican party. 1t cOutin
during thirteen years, when The Dsmocr
never had the power, If they had all b
united, TO change it.
In 1870 the Democrats had Q small
iori:y in both houses Of the Legislature