Rock Island Argus., 1872-07-02
gatlp argus.
Koerner as an Aristocrat.

say against Governor koerner, have. by
common consent, united in calling him an
arissocrst. They do not mean by this that
Mr.. koerner favors q monarchy, or the
establishment of an order of nobility, or
thegr anting of special privileges to par
tieular families or persons. The charge OF
aristocrscy rests upon the fact that Gov
ernor koerner iE a scholar. a man Of high
legal attainmeEts, a student of history,
man OF dignifed bearing; wears q clean
shirt; is neat in his dress; does not use
profane and vulgar language; does not
become intoxicated in private or public
and esteems his time too valuable TO be
wasted on los fers. In Office and out of
Office, on the bench and at the bar, and at
all times, he is the same quiet, cordial,
frank, and courteous gentleman. He new
er entertsins bAr-room gatherings with OBJ
scene stories. He treats all men politely,
aud expects himself to be treated in the
same way. Therefore. he is termed an ar
istocrat.
1.-THE supporters Of General 0glesby in
sist that q man who conducts himself as
Governor Koerner does, in public and pri-
vate, must of necessity be an aristocrat, the
inference IS that General OglesbY is some
thing else. We think the State of Illinois,
with g population nearly as great as that OF
the American Union when Washington was
made President, will not consider it An OBJ
| lection to a candidate for Governor that he
is decorous in his department nor do We
think that the want of bad language will be
considered fatal defect in his qusli6ca-
tions for the office. The State of Illinois
has once experienced the pain and mortif-
cation of having an Incorporate man Gov
ernor, and Of having the same morti6ca.
ton deepened by the transfer of the inebri
ate to the United States Senate. The peo.
pie who remember poor Yates will not shinA
it an objection to Mr. Koerner, as Governor
that he never gets drunk, and that there i.
no man who ever knew him to be in thiI
state, or in any other state where his friends
had reason to blush for him.
We think tie German voters of Illinois
will hardly consider it q compliment to hav,
it stated that true representative of thei
nationality must be q rowdy or a loafer; ant
that they repudiate any man of scholarl,
attainments and Judicial distinction, who a
the same time is a gentleman in all his hsb
its and speech. The Germans Of this Stat
did not support Governor Y stes because o
his convivislity, nor will they think less c
Koerner because he never makes public ex
hibitions OF vulgarity. The American news
papers who object to Koerner because be
at all times digni6ed gentleman, d
injustice 10 ihe German population b
insisting that, for this reason, the Germs
voters of Illinois dislike him, and will Civ
their support to Oglesby, who is not sttic
ed with such "aristocratic' pretepsions.
1t is objected, also, that no German hs
ever been elected governor Of any state i
this country, and that the Republicans {
Illinois will not consent 10 have the prect
dent established here. This, of course,
but revival Of the old doctrine Of Henri
Wilson, that citizens of foreign birth shoul
= hold 10 Office. The people of Illinois, {
both parties, have hetofore disregsrded tn
narrow rule The frat Lieutenant Cover
or of this State was a Frenehman, Pier
Menard Twenty years ago, the people
this Stale, by En unusually large ma orit
I elected Mr.. kGrner Lieutenant Goyerno
In 1860, the people of Illinois elected Fra
els A. Hof'man, Of this city. Lieuiens
Governor, no one otlectlng 10 Mr. Hofms
because Of his German birth.
In Wisconsin, tte people elected Mr.. 5,
omen Lieutenant Governor by iuli ma jor
sy; he succeeded as Governor, aud prov
10 Re one Of the best >nd most accouphs
ed Governors that State ever had. In Ca
fornis, John q. DoRLev, g citizen Of Iri
n birth, wss elected Lieutenant Governor, a
. sgcceeded as Governor,-the place of
4 nativity not attracting the least attentiC
1t is not true, therefore, thst there has ney
Is, been a Governor of foreign birth in 8
State. The Constitutions Of all the Sta
as make them eligible, and in the instances
have named they have served as Lieutens
Governors and Governors The office
Senator is generally esteemed higher th
IN. that OF Governor. Surely nobody fills I
Office Of Senator more creditshiy than G
Schurz.
The citizens Of Illinois who do not p
NIT their partisan pTejudices to run aw
7, with their Judgment, Will remember that
kmrner came TO this country sn accol
plished scholar and iurist, forty years a
5. settling in Belleville, St. Clair coun
the With the modesty which benefits a gent
man, he has never sought sny Office.
BILE was unanimously selected BY the bar 9
Ow appointed Justice Of the Supreme Cou
I "a From this ofice he retired to resume
tne practice, and was again, against his wish
r made Lieutenant Governor. After per
~, Of service in the war, he WAS sent BY
: Lincoln-ss a tribute to bis eminent qua
cations-ss Minister to Spain. This Of
he also resigned. He has refused non
ous offers Of an election to Congress. v
talents and qualifications fitting him for
- highest Offices, he has always been IN
II srusive. In 1868, he consented to serv,
I an elec,or on the Grant ticket, and was,
unanimous consent, made President of
electoral body. The present nomna
has been forced upon hm,-he and
h friends seeking to have Governor Paine
- Judge Trum bull accept the position.
verv much mistake public sentiment If
j.. n mere accident of birth or the charge
'A'O ''aris.ocracy" will prejudice any porto
the the people Of Illinois against a man vii
public history and record like that of
tavus KerBer.- Chicago Tribune.