The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-13
From the Princeton Tribune.
Republican Harmony, ". Anti-xonopoly Dis
cord, 40 shown BY the Proceedings
NJ thu two Conventions,

Of the two Conventions,
) Nh. EDITOR TO those opponents Of
J the Anti. Monopoly movement In the 9th
, con gressional district, who relied upon the
hope that the new party would be rent as
! sunder in its efforts to nominate candi.
date to represent the people in the next
congress, by antagoniZing the men whose
s. efforts have been largely instrumental in
organizing it, the harmony which charater-
lied the proceedings of the Anti Monopoly
!, convention. which met here on the oath
ult., must have proved bitter disappoint-
I ment: for if ever party gave assurances
that il was not t. be divided by personal
preferences for candidates, or diverted
from its purposes, by the introduction of
issues upon which it might be divided, the
action of that convention afforded one OF
the strongest kind.
4 How could distinguished devotion to
1.-The principles which the Anti Monopolists
Ibaye declared to be the only sound basis
of democratic form of government, be
better shown than in the maguanimous
act of the Hon. John III. Bryant in posi-
lively forbidding the use of his name be-
yond certain stage in the proceedings,
only because he feared that too persistent
| an nuUcICuCC ~ tuC btIuCItDuS uuuCi
which the delegation from his own county
entered the convention might jeopardize
the harmony OF its action; and again, the
same spirit was manifested by Gen. Elliott,
who, after the nomination had been tender
ed him by the convention, declared that he
would upon no consideration accept it I'M
less it should be unanimously concurred in
by the delegation from his own county
Such acts can bear no doubtful signif-
canoe, and the assurance which the
Bureau county delegation gave zen. E., by
rising in the convention to express their
unanimity, and pledge their cordial sup
port, proved most conclusively that if he
ever entertained any doubts as to how he
might be received by them, those doubts
were groundless.
The enthusiasm with which his very able
speech was received, and adopted by the
convention as its platform, in lieu of a
formal series Of resolutions, is sufficient
indication that the new party is determin-
ed to proceed straight forward in the direc-
ton of political reform, which the people
demand at its hands, and will not be d.
verted from this purpose, by turning aside
to contend oyer any issues made by politi
clans to withdraw the attention of the
people from the fearful corruption and
pernicious tendencies of the old parties. -
The issues which the people themselves
have made, between themselves and the
old parties are the only ones to be decided
in this campaign, and nothing can be gain
ed for the new party by going outside Of
them.
The experience of the world has fully
demonstrated the truth of the old adage,
that in union there is strength" and the
that they fully appreciate the benefits to
be derived from it, by not allowing them
selves to be governed by personal prefer
ences for candidates or to engage in any
contention over outside issues.
A comparison between the proceedings
Of the two conventions which have met
here to make their nominations for con-
gress will perhaps indicate as clearly as
anything else the comparative degree of
harmony which exists between the two
parties. Enough has already been said in
regard to the Anti. Monopoly convention to
convince all who take facts into considera-
ton in making up their judgment that
there is no lack of it in the new party
camp, but will ths facts justify a similar
conclusion in regard to the Republican par
ty? Let US see
In the Republican convention l47 bal
lots were taken before the nomination
could be made, and these were ipterspersed
with nearly as many recesses, for log roll
ing, bargaining, etc., the whole perform
ance lasting one whole day and night and a
good part of the next day. The Anti Mo-
nopolsts made their nomination upon the
7th ballot, and took only one recess, and
the labors of the convention we're conclud-
ed within less than three hours, from the
time of its permanent organization.
Certainly no comments upon these facts
are necessary, to lead to a conclusion in re-
gard to the comparative harmony of the
two, but some reflections suggested by the
result of the l47th ballot, and of the in
structions of the Bureau delegation to the
| Republican senatorial convention will not
perhaps be out of place here. Nobody
who has read the Republican organs or lis
tened to the arguments advanced by Re-
publican leaders can fail to haye observed
that the principal objection urged against
the new party has been, that i; was orig
inized and controlled by disappointed Office
seekers, and self seeking politicians; and
from the bitter denunciations they pour
out upon that unfortunate class of men,
Que would naturally infer that they are not
regarded by Republicans as available can
ddatcs. If anybody believed in the sin
eerity of their animadversons, or the hou-
esty of their opposition to such characters,
how profoundly amazed must he have been
when Gen Henderson was nominated for
congress, and Whiting declared to be the
choice of Bureau county for the state SEN
ate 1T in this whole district, or any 9TH
err, two more perfect specimens of the self
seeking politician and disappointed office
seeker can be found than Gen. Thomas
Jefferson Henderson and Lorenzo Dow
Whiting, we should like to hear from them
If the prestige Of success in anything
would constitute recommendation in
candidate, there is precious little of it to
be found in Gen. HIS record, but if an IN
! blushing pertinacity in the seeking of Off
cial position, and total Indifference as to
what party the favor may come from are
qualifications then nobody will doubt that
both the Genl aud Whiting are fully en-
/ ttled to the nominations they have re-
ceved
Let 1t not be understnC d that these nom
nations are regarded as at all inconsistent
with Republican policy or practice or that
the nominees do not fairly represent the
party. On the contrary no two persons
can do it better The only intention of the
reflection is to direct attention to the wide
difference between the pretences and the
practices of the grand old organization.
and if the result of the November election
does net show that the people fully appre. |
ciate this, and have determined to be no |
longer used as the puppets of such men or
such party, then is there no meaning in |
Il. -