Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-05-11
Dailu argus.
SATURDAY, May IL, 1879.
Trea.ding on Strange
Ground.

Those Democratic papers that nave
hoisIed the Greeley Brown flag hnO mem
selves treAding on new and strange gr0unu'
They pledged the support OF the DemOo'S"o
mart, N the liberals in most unequivoeal
t.vm, bsfore the CineinnAt convention, and,
after binding themselves hand and foot and
preparing themselves for the liberal saOri-
Gee, tn ey have awaken 70 the realization
that the liberal sAcrArum is not the pure
Democratic place they had painted i',out 10
presided over BY the old High Priest Of radi-
oAliSm. Yet the sacrifice was prepared and
must be offered. Had the Democratic
Journals that thus rashly and unreservsdly
pledged the Democratic support stood Aloof
from the movement until il had dem
strated its full strength and honesty OF pur-
pose, the convention at Cincinnati would
have made . stronger bid for Democratic
support than il has done by the nomination
Of Greeley and Brown. The plea ths, these
names will more certainly divide the repub-
licAn party would not then have been
offered, for il there is any element IN that
party that honestly desire reform it would
have rallied TO the support Of names more
acceptable to Democrats as readily as to
Greeley, aud Democrats could have stood
of until such was the case.
Now these papers find themselves wholly
committed 10 the movement and 1t is folly
for them 10 do other than swallow the dose
Take the Chicago Times, for illustration,
and what sense Is there to be found in tina
journals demand for straight Democrat,
ticket. Should such a ticket be placed in the
field the strongest arguments for its defea
Gao be found in its own columns. Sucl
journals have placed themselves outside th,
Democratic party, ana should not be longe
needed in Its councils. They may make wr
faces over the dose, but il is one they heE
ed to mix. The support of other Demo
cratic papers, If given to the Liberal tickt
now, will have q tendency to make the cas-
still worse, by forcing the PhilSdel phi
Convention to throw Grant overheard an
NAAVAoN AH0 NEcSAuy tANhGh WAAu HtELek
Morton or Blaine in the place of Brow
In such an event, IL is not at all certain tbs
the sage Of CbippsquA would not pref,
such al endorsement to that of Democrat
endorsement. In the absence of Anythir
TO the contrary from Greeley, this is ss SUI
prediction as any that can be made.
is fact that those radicals who now sue,
q, Greeley, would hail such a situation vii
joy-They go with the loaves and fishes evei
time. The true position for Democrats
take, would seem to have been to wishdra
their support until after II
nomination ST Philadelphia, and unit
the full strength Of both parli,
was fully developed. AZ the case now stan
Democrats should wait the action Of tn
Democratic National Con vsniiou; and, shouI
Greeley give that body assurances whic
will warrant their endorsement, he will mos
probably receive il, and be triumphant
elected. Il rests With him 70 receive th
support Of the Democracy or find n s,ron
Democratic ticket in the field with the pro
poets Of certain defeat awaiting him,
least. We have confidence that the y
tionAl Convention At Baltimore, in the ligI
Of ten years Of defeat, will act wisely, AZ
1t is the better discretion for Democrats 81
Democratic journals to maintain such
position as viii enable that convention
carry weight with its endorsement, if sue
should be found TO be the wisesi course
pursue,