Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-03-25

been no way 10 which the poiIcy OF the par.
" could be opposed and changed except by
the democratic psrty 10 power,
and our people have but reproduced the his
tory which free governments always devel
op, and that Animas from which Americans
never yet departed, when they swallow any
thing, endure anything, aha permit any.
thing, rather than restore 20 power that par
~ believed TO be the opponents of and cause
of the war.
The British people, after the Nspoleonic
wars, refused to invest with power the op
posing party for the vhole life OF the gen
GRAFTON passing through the struggle.
Our people, also, have always carried
this practice 10 the death. The federalists
Of 1912, aud the whig party which opposed
the Mexican war, each died lingering but
q certain death. These were the resu us OF
sentiment alone; but the present facts pre- !
scot stronger reasons for this determina-
ton. The northern people believe the de
mocracy have always been nodded and
controlled By the south, and II they had,
themselves, resisted the sggreSsions OF sla
very, We would have had no var. Our peo-
pie, therefore, have entertained sincere fear
that if the democracy should be restored as
party, il would reproduce the cd south
err alliance, and visit unknown mischief
upon the whole country Therefore, they
have been compelled TO select between a.
lowing misrule In the south on one hand,
aud 90 the other, restoring to power q party
odious TO them, and one which they believe
would bring back the evils OF the war. 80
strong has been this sentiment, and this
fear, that | do not think . temptation to re-
store the democracy has ever seriously
crossed tie public mind.
The present situation, therefore, Is bat
the result Of a corner made on the people
by which their sentiments are stitled, AMI
does not commit the public mind 70 the
! present southern policy. II only proves
what our people will suffer aud perGlit rsth-
or than restore the democratic party TO
power. lie, no man deceive himself The
principles OF liberty are ~ dear to the re-
I publican masses as they ever were. The
present southern governments, and all ct
forts to pervert or stias enlightened public
sentiment there, are ss odous at the north
as they can be at the south, and the people
only uaut . square opportunity TO cay IL
Tbs Cincinnati convention, therefore, 10
my opinion, meets an urgent public want
IL proposes to break loose aud organize a
eEty Rsd amnesty. II proposes 20 carry out
and apply those principles aud preeep''
which their great leader taught and prsc.
ticed. Is proposes TO adopt, as cardinal
feature, the substance Of the resolution
passed by our state convention last Ssptem
Der; 20 libera,e within our land the enslHved
OF all colors aud races; to enfrsnchise oil
ths people. And, remem bering only the vir'
> L -
a generous forgetfuluess Of al the harrow
ing memories it produced
: The republicans On power excuse and
! continue political disabilities on the ground
that, whenever left to free the southern peo-
pie have been ard will be uurnly. Many
answers TO this position are apparent In
the FIRST place, it is not true. No war 90
EreSt was ever followed by seven years OF
peace so universal and complete.
And then the excuse, itself, is nothing bot
one Of the worn out, false pretences by
which tyranny justices its abuses. England
Ssserts this Of ireland; Russia does Of Pc
land; Austria did Of Hungary and Italy
{ the master did Of the slave, and We do o
the master.
, The fault of this policy is sba, it leads t,
3 no end Of our troubles On the contrary
bsluo AIOuA tue NEOAk ~ ihFoANoSf tuO sOoE
p it is pursued the greater the 10 DRY and Iht
/, harder TO stop. Can We pin this countr.
!, together permanently with bSyonets2 vii
1 -four, eight, or twelve years of misrult
3 sweeten the southern disposition? On th'
contrary, are not enslSved people unrul.
r because they are slaves? Contentment j
= not the fruit of tyranny and misrule, bu
! liberty alone brings peace. If We woulc
49, gha nj
treasure it has cost, We mus. lay its broAC
! foundations, not 10 toree, bot in those affrc
, tionS which good government only will de
velop.
], Add delay not only widsns the breach
. but cOrrupts, ana hsrdenS, aud un6u us
: year BY year, for concessions which ulti
] mStely must be made.
Can you give me q letter TO some proml
= nent man in Washington, said he-to m,
she other day. IL think understand tn
q negro character, and If our national com
! mittee will send me down south, can
between this and the election, mAss the ne
o gro vote IN several states
Surely, If be performs such splendid ser
q vice 10 psrverting enlightened public sent
8 ment be must be quArtered upon the indu'
A try Of those people for the next four years.
+. have troduced him as -, but you kuo'
his name is "legioH."
70 And when can We dispense with his SCI
: vices? Surely not this year, when bar
n pressed 10 the campaign. Surely not afte
the election, when we make up our jewell
- and he awaits his ''just rscompense of re
q ward Not next time, for We will be wors
= off then. When can We dispense with him
J. Never
= Aside from the condition of the south
J. there are other changes contemplated b
J. the Cincinnati movement which demAud GU
especial consideration. Prominent anon
!, these ID the tariff question, and the releAs
}. OF our people from the expressions Of prt
}, lection. The situation OF chicago most Aptl
e illustrates this necessity. From 10000
!, 900 70 S2OO, 000, 900 TO oil human ussiulnes
.e have been NnnihiIAted by tire. 1t must b
reproduced ia kidd. Architects and mAste
2 builders, TO use ones expression, sAJ -
large third" could be saved If torsig
b. materials we're Ad mitted free of duty. Nov
ii this is 80 necessary to Chicago, becGu'
sr burned up aud poor, why is 1t not nsccei
8, sAry for the whole west because poor, bt
le not burned II we can save $50 100000 O
ID the reconstruction of = single city, wis
.. would tho hand of labor save in Adornin
ID the empire yet TO the west with It's wealth {
q. oItieA, villages, and homes.
in OF course no one will pretend that tn
70 necessities Of the government will perm
e. absolute free trade, nor should we tell I
~ afford such protection as may be incidents
So to revenue, but this whole subject need
revision BY n hand not hostile TO the mani
10 faciurer, bat friendly TO the consumer.
IL You and l became republicans At th
=, same meeting-ths frat In the state. A
n though for many years retired members,
N presume neither Of US have ever voted OF
ne Of line. Another presidential election
ar now upon US, and we must decide, agAil
whether We will cling to the party. sI'tlin
re our convictions, and hnping for reform,
ot whether we will break ranks and 60 to Gu
n cinnAti.
he II we stay will reform come? / hA'
"a bsen watching for il for seven years, b.
ds the star Of promise has not yet appears
/, chanua of narties NAV mi hvinu n. n,