The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-07-29

red. 1t was written TO a gentleman IN |
New York before your movement began !
and without reference 10 IT, IL was not
written for publication, and not exactly as
would have written it with that view
but you are at liberty TO publish it If you
think It may contribute, in the least degree,
10 closer and firmer union of all who are
opposed to the present Administration.
Very respectfully, w $. GRoEsBEcK.
CINCINNATI, May 5, 1878.
My DEAR SIR have your letter OF
April %. | should have answered II soon
cr. and have no sufficient apology for not
doing so. Permit me 10 say that the reply
/ here make 20 it is not for publication, bat
personal 10 yourself and those at whose
suggestion you have written.
believe the historical Democratic or
c,nilation is spoiled Blundering con
,tantly during the last ten years, and shat
tered by many defeats, it surrendered
finally. at the last Presidential election. 1t
cannot recall that surrender, or it, COMES
siou- then made, and il has no longer
strength enough for victory. In this eN
tremity it will be wise 10 lay aside the old
organization and enter into new one. The
new organization should accept the results
of the war. as was done ut Baltimore, and
il should accept them IN good faith, and So
rs 10 command the confidence OF the PEG
pie aud in order 70 command the conf
deuce Of the people, the new organization
should be something different from a re
cast of the old one There should be no
eXclusivencss about il, nor should it be
merely Democratic Ii should be made
up of present Democrats and former Dem
~ 90. al r.. -
ieuded by the policy and tendencies of the
present Administration.
The new organization should bee the
Joint work of Democrats and Republicans
and both should be equally at home in it.
neither being the guest of the other
You ask what should be its name Call
r. the Liberal Democracy That will mean
the free. uu~elhsh government of the peo-
pile.
And now. as 10 its doctrines or princi-
pies You ask, in this connection, how the
question of negro suffrage should be treat
ed That question Is no longer before u.
Negro suffrage is the bloody consumma.
ton Of great war and nothing short Of
war can undo il IN our day. Ia my opin-
lou it will endure in this Government as
long "a, general suffrage | comprehend
the objections to it, and think il was grant
ed too soon to that part of our population
recently emancipated
All should make some preparation for
this duty. We deny suffrage 10 the for
ci1ner for q time in order that he may
prepare for IL and we have schools for all
uu the theory that all should pref are for it,
but it Is granted, and il cannot be recalled
Nor do ! think it wise in such govern
meut as this, to keep permanently, 5,
large a part Of our people in an inferior
degraded position Slavery was Away, a
danger. To hold this population, now free
in a degraded condition, would be- great
er danger. and always trouble Us. Say W,
have adopted doubtful policy. 1t is done
! accept it, and on all such questions, ad
mitted to be of doubtful expediency. !
shall, for the remainder Of my life it, per
chance ! must err, strive at least to bl
tolerant, generous, and humane and at
ter all, | rely for good voting as much up
on the heart as the head
concur in what else you suggest TIL,
new organization should oppose all form
Of monopoly. This is too plain to neet
argument Monopolies are an outrage ant
otfense against the people. The new or
ganizaton should oppose Capitalization
and it should advocate home government
W an lp'dl dlldllNs dlltl W Allt AlulN@l tA
tent that is practicable.
You cannot keep a people free, sturdy
and intelligent without a home govern
mcnt 1t is home government tina
trains US teaches self-relance, and devel
opes manliness Take it away, and tn
freeman disappears Centralze power a
Washington, and we are transferred Il
outside manacementAno longer governin,
ourselves We must be governed. DE
pending upon Washington, we lose on
selfdependencc, and the free citizen 500
degenerates into mere subject, who's
whole duty is to obey the law, and who's
only desire is to be amused in idleness.
You refer me, also, 10 the question q
free trade The new organization shout
make il one Of its cardinal doctrine,
There should be no equiyocation or double
meaning about this A prohibitory tart
Is in plain contradiction 10 the character
our government. We are all equal i
rights, privileges and immunities Their
should be determinations, no iavortisn
no partialities, personal or financial anC
a a commercial policy, a prohibitory tart
Is behind the age, almost a barbarlsm, an
belongs To the times when nations wei
walled and commerce was without wing
believe have substantially answerc
your letter
The new organization may properly al
tagonlze the party now administering oJ
affairs az almost every point While tn
il so, il should not undertake b do ever
thing at once, or push reforms withOl
some regard for immediate consequence
Changes that shock by their abruptne
are not always just and fair We shou
never forget sound principles, and v
should move toward them constantly sur
~, and steadily, but sometimes gradual
! don't believe in daily revolutions or
sudden and violent arrangement Of publ
affairs. Let me suggest a doctrine
which YOU have not referred | mean u
doctrine Of strict construction of the const
ton. Have you considered what certa
preventative Of misgovernment may
found in the faithful application Of tn
doctrine2 | believe such an application
il would correct almost every public evil
which we complain. II is worth yOl
while 10 test its reach and efficiency Al
what n splendid doctrine for. such a 20
eminent as ours How it exalts the inc
vidual man, aud how it subordinates Il
government 1t may better the cover
ment, now and then, but never the citize
lie always remains uppermost and maste
] am not politician, or competent
advise, but II you should make such
movement as you propose. 1t should
conducted 50 as h. give the strongest a
surance that it sought reform, and n
power.
am Democrat, but should be We
glad To see the Democracy move out Of
Old organization into q new one. You "
not succeed unless they do II may
that they will refuse and prefer to tar