Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-07-24
patlp ARGUS.
An Able BETTER on the Political
Situation.

Inc iOiO"AnB very hDl0 let6r on eNN -
tical situation, appears in the columns OF
the Philadelphia Age. That paper, In
commenting upon the same, says, that 1t
'mees the full approval Of the eminent
jurist and statesman to whom il was sd-
dressed :"
NEv ALBANY, IND, May l6, 1871.
Hon. jeremiah S. Black
Ny DEAR SrR-Recurring to our inter
view few weeks ago, and the subject mat
ser OF 1t, and remembering your request
at the time, embrace this hour of leisure
TO write you, and express some conviction
concerning the duty of our great party 10
the future.
The country has now been under the
absolute control and the vicious policy OF
radical leaders since the wAr-more than
six years. These years have been memo
rAble beyond parallel for popular discomfort
and strife for Punic faith and broken
pledges on the part of rulers, for excuses
of power in defiance of the constitution and
official oaths, for disregard OF the eemen-
tAry principles of republican government,
for reckless in vasions BY the federal govern
ment of the rights of the states and of the
people, for oppression and extravaganza In
The public burdens and expenditures, and
for gross immortality and corruption in the
practical administration of civil affairs
These truths and evils are, in greater or
less degree, understood, felt aud confessed
BY nearly all intelligent citizens. Almost
al virtuous and patriotic neil throughout
she country, without distinction of political
relations, desire reform. The country can
not, without fearful danger, endure existing
conditions many years more. To suffer cur
government much longer without check, to
run in these grooves of desp otic power and
uurestraipsd vice. will most grieveously, If
not fatally, imperil our institutions and our
liberties. In my Judgment, therefore, q
change, q victory in 1872, over these I'M
wise, selfish and tess leaders has become
a supreme necessity alike to the country and
friends Of constitutional govern uent and re.
form.
Is this result AtsSiaAble? Can these els-
ments be effectively combined and organ
lied Is 1t possible for the most enlght>
ened aud honest popular sentiment OF the
country to regain control Of il? | believe
il is, and without the sacrifice of any lust
principle or policy, and that it is the im
perAtive duty Of the democratic party to &C
oomplish 1t. l believe a vast majority OF
the electors earnestly desire il, and, under
favorable circumstances, wall heartily CO
operate 10 secure It. A million or more
patriotic epubiicans are deeply dissatisfied
and Disguised with their leaders and with
their public conduct and measures. At the
same ume, they sincerely concur in Z est OF
the essential principles and purposes Of the
democratic party. They bitterly appreciate
the necessity for honest and effective re.
form ; for a reduction OF at least twenty
five per cent. in the aggregate Of taxation {:
for such fair aud equal adjustment Of
taxes IS will secure to the treasury what is
paid by the people aud not give larg.
part OF II as tribute 10 monOpOlists aud
tsvorites for retrsnchment, economy, and
viglAnt integrity IN the expenditures Tor
thorough reform in the civil service. and it,
release from The oorrupting and dtful con-
troll Of mere party discipline for the firm
aud faithful maintenance Of the constitution
and OF the reserved rights and Jurisdiction
Of the states, as Of vital i'm portance % the
safety aud perpetuIty Of free government 4:
for the epetciest possible restoration
Of peaceful, kindly and equal rola-
lions between the states Rad the genera
government for the immediate abandon
meut Of the iaia! policy Of Capitalization,
she withdrawal Of al fSv0ritism from mo.
nopolIes, corporations, OF other coubina
tions, aud the indignant rsLukss Of al cor
rupt "riuEs,' lobe and lobbyists and for the
earliest practicable revival o: American
tonnage and commerce, by giving free trade
in ships aud in the material used in their
construction.
Why, then, do such men hesitate to CO.
operate with US? Are they afraid to trust
the democratic pCfty ~ the exercise OF
power? 1t appears 10 me that Their hesi.a
ton is the result OF tesr-urjus t Gad il.touud
ed ! agree-that II the democratic party
were again restored TO the practical control
of tne general government, It would become
resctionEry, or in some sease, + rsvo.u-
tionary party. They fear chiefly that IL
does not in good faith accept the couatitu
sion as 1t is, with the Fundamental aud fixed
results Of the late struggle embodied in the
thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments.
VIVA. are those results? Stated without
reference TO the chronological order, they
are
/. The perpetual abolition Of slavery.
.. The counting Of ell ex-slsves, instead
of three tiihs only, IN making basis for
the appointment Of representation in Con-
gress.
3. The equality of civil rights to citizens
of al races and oolors.
4. The lnviolaole character of the federal
public debt.
3. The perpetual invaIidisy Of all the con. |
federate debts.
6. The sAcrednsss Of pensions and boun-
ties.
:. The disqualification of certain persons
10 hold Office, unless relieved theretrom By
Congress.
&. The equality of ell citizens in political
rights and privileges, including suffrage
3. And certain inhibiiions in the States, |
and negative guarantees, chiefly declaratory
10 more specific terms OF the pre-existing |
law Of the land.
Such, II appears to me are The legal and |
constitutional pith and marrow Of those /
amendments. To the manner ia which all /
these propositions were ratified, and 10 the .
substance of only few of them, the demo .
cratic party, upon the highest grounds Of /
public policy aud personal conviction. were
opposed. So far as they made opposition on
either ground they were prom pied BY no
spirit Of faction of opposition, but simply by
a fervent desire to vindicats the true prin
oipes Of our government. and to maintain
the integrity and purity of our institutions
but these several propositions have been
declared 70 be legally and constitutionally
raIhed they are so accepted and executed
oy every department Of the government and
by every State in the Union, and they are
resisted by none, They have bssn ecoui.
esoed IN by no portion of the country more
promptly than by the democratic party and
BY democratic States Practical acouies.
cence by all classes of the people il now 0
general and complete. Radical leaders !
almost alone now abuse and exceed their G
provisions Convictions in most minds are
perhsps unchanged, and await the results of
experience TO determine their correctness or
error: But resistance by violence, or by
rAn