The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-28
A TRICKY POLITICIAN.


Personally we have no unkind feeling
for Gen. T. j. Henderson, the Republi-
candidate for congress in this district. We
have known him for twenty years, and
know that, socially, he is an amiable, gen.
ial companion. He is probably the best
story teller in the state, and as handsha-
ker he is perfect success. AS a private
citizen and gentleman we have nothing
to say against him. As politician it is
our duty to speak of him as he is.
He is thorough believer in the maxim
that language was invented to conceal not
express our ideas that the art of diplom-
acy consists in seeming to be what you are
not. He will talk longer without letting
anybody know his real opinions than any
man Of our acquaintance. He was state
senator when this county formed part of
the then district, and when he resid-
ed at Toulon. He was the most efficient
agent, in the legislature or out of it, in de-
priving this city of her right to the ferry
franchise. He is an extreme partisan; {
chronic office seeker and it is now pretty
well understood that he obtained his pres
ent nomination by the basest of political
tricks. He would never have dared to
open the contest and enter the ring for the
nomination against John B. Hawley in a
single county in the district. Even in
Rock Island county. where there was a
we'll organized plan to defeat Hawley, on
the part of half dozen men who hated
him on personal and pecuniary grounds
alone, Gen. Henderson dared not make the
attempt. Not alone for fear of failure
or he was assured that he would be as
sisted by the free use of money, to be fur
nished by some of the corporators of the
Snake River land grab but he knew that
should he succeed the very attempt would
ALLEVIATE some of the best workers in the
Republican party. Hence his more crafty
scheme and base deception to both the
Hawley and the Lyndc party, assuring
them both that under no circumstances
would he be a candidate this time To the
Hawley party, because he was too good
friend Of Hawley; and to the Lynde party,
by personal promises and by letter, because
he could not afford it, and because he
would be obliged to explain away IAN Of
fensive political record having once tried
to defeat the Republican party, by running
on the Democratic ticket being high
tariff man; never having shown
himself in favor of the canal, or of any Of
he principles of reform demanded by the
people of the district; being known
as railroad lobbyist who sold
his influence to railroad ring
to lobby around the legislature at Spring |
field for their monopoly interests and
against the interests of the people general
ly; being known as a chronic Office seeker,
fresh from the spoils of the collcctorship
of the Peoria district the old Fifth district
an Office it nearly broke his heart to have
to give up to Dick " hitney of Galesburg-
a record offensive enough indeed 1t was
so offensive that they readily dropped him
The haters of Hawley,in this county, knew
it would never do to bring forward can
didate with such record. They knew,
too, that Lovejoy old and true friends had
been waiting for years for a chance to pun
ish Henderson at the ballot box for run
ming as Democratic candidate in 1862 to
beat Loveioy, their regular nominee. They |
knew, too, that the Ingersoll men were
aching to punish him for defeating Inger-
soil with Democrat (Stevens) in 1872,
the last time Ingersoll ran. They there
fore sought more popular mana man
with less offensive record, to use as a vic
tim to crafty their personal spite towards
Mr.. Hawley.
Being in the confidence of both parties,
Ien. Henderson could watch the Kilkenny
fight and devise and mature his plans ac-
cordingly. No sooner was Mr. Hawley de.
Ieated IN has own county than report was
circulated in Henry county that he had
and Gen. Henderson's name
was announced in the Republic. This was
corrected the next week, but not before di
vision and decentralization 10 Henry county ,,
was accomplished. Just before the dis
trlct convention was held Gen Henderson
friends managed to get the Bureau county
to instruct the delegation from
hat county (who were Hendersons per
onal friends) for him. Judge Lynde's
friends had assured the people that if he
vent into the convention with unanimous
delegation from his county he would GER
talnly be nominated. For $50 ballots they
chung to this delusion, and Judge Lyndt
was the first to comprehend Gen Heuder
son tricky deception and withdraw hi,
name Mr. Hawley could not believe ;.
Z od fri, nd a. ten. Henderson could b,
holding on for any other purpose than I,
the Lynde delegates from thi V
county for their personal spite towards
aim, believing they would not be SO treach
Is to throw the nomination away from a
Rock Island. They therefore allowed his
lame to remain before the convention
utter the nomination of Gen. Henderson,
} his speech of acceptance, he dispelled /
,is delusion, and both Hawley and Lynde l
,me home with the fall consciousness Of v
lying been cruelty deceived and basely
.trayed by the crafty place hunting Hen