Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-09-25
DON'T DODGE THE ISSUES.
Let Us Have a Square Talk for Our Side Of
the River.

inc hlVers
We eant permit our fsoile ,psighbOr to
misrepresent Us, or to dodge or evsde the
points We make as 10 Arsenal affairs. he
insists that We shall become personally hos
tile TO Col. Flaglsr, and attack him IN
personal way, and try 80 &c. him removed.
We insist that we won'G do any such thing.
The Union ia the party which ha suggested
bis removal. II the editor Of that paper
wants him removed let him 90 about il
mAnfsshion, and not put the job on US
against our consent We don't know the
man, have soihing in the world personal
against him, don't want him removed. and
rou't have any quarrel with hin. His OIL
cial acts we claim the right 10 criticiss, and
in doing go We have no other motive or OBJ.
jec1 in view than to promote the public
good and protect the interests of our side Of
the river. II discussion Of his official acts
shall be conducted in proper spirit, with
out bitterness or personalities, and with
view of arriving at facts and promoting the
public good, it certainly can do no harm.
But what sense is there in this statement
from our ootsmporary viz:
The ARGUs with shameful lack Of candor and
justice persists in csnSuring Col Fiaglsr for the
non.Opsning of the bridge 10 the public.
The ARGUS has done nothing of the sort.
Or what sense is there in the dsmagogical
attempt to lug in "subordina.es," and
"lAborers" and 'teams," aud bring their in
diguAIion upon The ARGUs? Sensible PEG
pie laugh at such folly. That Rock Island
shares in the benefits resulting from the ex.
penditures on the Island is very natural.
The place is in our State, part of it within
our city limits. But our shops, mills, fac
tories, stores, mechanics, tradesmen, and
artizsnS have not had the proportion Of
business from the Island which they might
have Dad with shrevder and more vigorous
action on the part of certain politicians here
who claim to control matters and carry the
Island around in their breeches pockets
| Aud that share Of business which has been
enjoyed here is now being diverted from
us. Ask those Of our business men who
know, and they will say that their Island
trade is falling off. The wrong location of
Main avenue will iujure US still more That
the lslsnd business may be saved to our side
OF the river, and increased, ia the very object
THE ARGUS has 10 view in exposing the
management which spoils the drives on this
aide of the Island and directs the main ave-
nue. to Davenport.
The Union says that Col. Flsgler has not
Disseminated sgSinst this side of the river.
Ys. that paper admits tbs, the mair avenue
has been changed TO the Dayedpor. bridge.
Who did this? Was it done by order of
the Secretary of War? He is citizen of Iowa,
aud may have been influenced by Dsvsr-
por, people to order the change. Certainly
Mr.. HAwlsy thought the change was against
our interests or he would not have taken
the trouble to demonstrate against it.
/ At any rate, the change has been made
and it is against our interests. Who did it?
Flsglsr or BslLnip2 The Union now says
it would prefer little change 10 the loca-
ton of the new avenue, but it aequiesces in
what il don't like, aud abandous any effort
to get justice done to this aide The Union
says Mr.. Havley wanted different location,
but couldn't get it, aud now "he makes no
objection to the location chosen by Col.
Flagler. He, too, then, like the Union,
toadieS TO the powers that be and Ataodons
oil effort to secure justice for this aide Of
the river. Why does Mr.. Hawley so readily
bow to the wish Of the officer in charge, in
stead Of making manful fight for cur side
ofthe rivsr2 Because he hopes, in that
wey, to get the cammAndant to control ali
his subordinA,eI and employees AID make
them vote for him to 90 to Congress again.
/ The Union says ian avenue is now being
built from the end Of the Rock Island cause
way 10 intercept Main Avenue east Of the
Arsenal" Rock Island is thus enabled, by
a switch, or side-tracE or by.pstb, to reach
the Main Avenue which runs directly to
Davenport! Perhaps this will console our
people, but we don't think so. We dont
think they will be reconeilsd to being fobbed
off on side-irack, even If the Union and
Mr.. HAwley do sequiesce in it. THE ARGUS
will no, abandon an effort to secure justice
to this eide Of the river. In the nare Of
the people THE ARGUS asks three things,
viz:
LIST. That the Main Avenue shall be 40
located as 10 give this side of the river
equality Of position with the other side
and that, in future, nothing shall be done to
lessen or bslitle the position of the State
in which the Arsenal is located or the cities
in this State adjacent thereto.
I'd. That the carriage bridge be opened
to the public.
Sd. That the system of passes be Abol-
ishsd, OF so modified as not to be odious to
the people.
Are these things right? If so, THE AR
GUS will be sustained by public judgment
for asking that they be granted, and for in
Stating upon them until they shall be grant.
ed-sven If the Union and Mr.. HawIey
abandon al effort TO secure them.
NOTES, HERE AND THERE.
Pleasant weather but pretty cool.