Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-05-08
Hold the Helm Steady.

We cannot but listen with regret TO the
eulogistic comments Of the newly converted
liberals, when speaking of Horace Greeley,
especially of democratic papers thas Jump
st the Cincinnati nomination ss the only
deliyerauce from the Grant dynasty. While
II man be q deliverance il is best to wait the
coming events ofth next few weeks, before
mailing the Gresley-Brown flag to the mast
head. Democrats who were at Cincinnati
last week saw how their preferences we're
disregarded in the selection of candidates,
and how they were told that the liberals ex-
pected to secure a majority of their support
from the republican party, and now let us
wait until We see some disposition on the
part Of the candidates who were nominated
to obtain democratic support before We
pledge our support. It is mAnifestly the
duty OF democrats to stand by the decision
Of the Democratic National Convention and
to keep themselves in position to be able to
do this. The haste with which some dem.
ocratio journals pin their ears back 10 be
swallowed adds nothing to their weight in q
cause. We believe the Cincinnati platform
to be good one, but coming events may
possibly dissolve the combinA ton
against the Philadslphia convention
and scatter the Greeley and Brown
ticketsnd its supporters; and the Democracy
want no colored corpse on its hands.
Grant is already sick and wants peace, and
should the Philadelphia convention be cap
tured by James G. Blaine or some other Re
publican, Greeley might possibly resign on
the ground that he entered the liberal cam
psigu only to make war on the administra-
tive corruption Aourishing under Grant, that
the liberal movement accomplished the
N oral effect intended for il, and that having
no intention 10 do battle against the Repub-
liean party, he would feel il his duty to sup
port his old friends.
Democrats should therefore hold them
selves intact from the Cincinnati ticket until
after the assembling of the office-holders'
convention ct PhIladelphiA, and that body
will have little else to do but record the de-
Oision of the congressional esbAl and mill
sary ring at the capital. Later still the
Democratic National Convention is 10 meet
By the time it comes to act the whole field
will be before it. The strength of the Gin
cinnati movement will have been unfolded.
The weakness of the Grant administration
will have been demonstrated. The corrupt
Congress, after squAndsring the public lands
and revenues and taxes, will have dissolved
and its members will be confronted By an
indignant people. The Democratic Con-
gentiOn, which is Alwsys accustomed to aos
through forms which Assue it of it's identif- |
cation with popular sentiment, will act when |
the hour comes as the interests Of the peo- |
pie and the cause of the Constitution de- |
nsnds. II will consult expsdiency but it |
will not abandon principle. II has held out |
no false lights to the party at Cincinnati |
That convention has made up its uomina-
lions and it's platform (the latter indicating
marked progress in liberal idsAs) not only |
without reference to Democratic preferences,
but with evident care to avoid any appear
Ance of completely With Democrats. As
Democrats, then, we have entire freedom |
to do as we choose-except that we are
under the necessity of acting wisely and |
we'll, and so as to rid the country of the |
ncumbus at Washington which pAralyzes
and demorslizss it. Therefore hold the |
helm steady. It will be time enough to run |
up the Greeley flag when it iS certain that
he is the only delversnce from the central.
izing Grant dynasty.