Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-08-14
Let us have Fair Discussion.


There is a weekly Newspaper published il
this city which makes loud Professions OF
Democracy, claiming 70 be the special cham
pion of the rights OF the States, and yet IL
continually ISLANDERS, Whites and trad uces
the Democracy of che States for expressing
their opinions ia regard TO what they think
are live or dead issues. In that paper oI
Juoe "A, there appeared an editorial emit
3led "SEow- Plough Democrats whatever
that term may mean which was very abu-
slve Of the ma orIty of the Democratic party
in those States which have, this season, helc
State Conventions aud expressed their op,l
ions upon public policy. In that editorial
the writer saws:
''Hs is not q good Democrat 81 least no,
wise one, no matter what his genius or
ability, who seeks TO divide party that at
tension may be attracted 10 himself. "
cordially endorse this sentment--so
much at variance with the course Of the pa.
per il which it appeared.
The same paper says
Grant for argument, that amendments
10 the Constitution have been passed, an
are now laws. Can W. not accept the fact
without indorsing the manner Of accom-
pishment."
Most certainly We can and that is pre-
cisely what the Democratic party Of EIr-
GINA, New York, Ohio, Pen nsy lvEaia, lows.
California, Maine, and every other State
which has acted on the question, has done
No Democrat, no Democratic Convention
or Democratic journal, has Endorsed the
manner of accomplishment or proposes q
DO so. Blu: the Democratic party all over
the Z Mon recognize the fact that certain
amendments have been made TO the Cousti-
tuition, and that the Questions whether these
amendments we're desirable or not, and
whether they we're properly adopted or not
are thus removed from the political arena
That's eli they have done and IL is al they
propose to do-except OF course, to hey
them rs a portion OF the supreme law 0
the land. There ought not to be any dit |
ference of opinion among Democrats on
shese points and ! think that ''he il not |
u good Democrat, a. least not wise one.
no matter what his genius or ability, !
who seeks TO divide a party that at
tention may be attracted to himself"
as the editor Of tho paper alluded TO seems
TO be doing. Nor / see why 4 news
paper which claims to be Democratic and |
in favor Of State Rights, should continually |
deoouuoe the ma GRITTY of tbs Democrats OF |
the States | have named for simply rscog |
nlzIng the fact that certain amendments |
have been adopted, and are, therefore, no
longer in issue before the people Has no;
the Democratic party OF any State the right
10 recognize the tact thst these amendments
have been adopted, withou, being misrepre- |
scented, trAduced and bIackguarded for 80 /
doing? think so.
The construction to be put upon these
amendments, and 'ae p0rers they giUe to |
Congress, are very proper subjects tor die |
oussion and upon these questions the diff
ference between the Democratic and the
Republican parties is as vide as the poles.
The wrong construction put upon
these amend ments, and the usurpstions
committed under color of them by the Rad
lcal party, are among the very foremost and
most important questions to be discussed
before the people in the coming Presiden-
hal campaign. Let Us not seek to confuse
the people, or TO mystify and befog the is
sue. Let as be truthful, honest and Just
Let US fsanklv recognize the fact that these
amend ments have been adopted, and that
any discussion in regard to their desirable
meas or the manner Of their adoption can
only do ia harm By the adoption Of these
amendments these questions have become
dead issues The question whether the,
were properly or legally adopted or not has
,oG0 Alnce ceased to be political issue and
belongs only to the courts. There let !,
rest But the wicked aud oppressive use
MADE OF tnese amendments by the Radical
party, the startling usurpAtious cornrD;,,s "A
under them, ETC., etc, We should nova,
cease to expose and denounce, mill mo
people shall be awakened to a sense or a..
dangers that m enace republican libertv ond
aroused to elect Democratic Congress-
which will give these amendments. a. woy
~ the entire Constitution, a proper and l..
climate construction repeal the usurp;no
ADD unconstitutional and uuwise acts Of the
Radical Con1r and restoring local self
government to the States sud the people-in
the Jealous preservation of which lies tbs
only safety Of the Republic.
]. B. D., JR.
Nvw YoRK July Is, 1871