The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-16
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There is among thoughtiul and patriotic
Democrats desire SO intense in its earn.
estnessl as 10 amount alsAost 10 anxiety that
the Victorious Democratic party OF the
whole country shall deport itself with Q
constantly acknowledged sense OF It's re-
sponsibiliHes. Moderation in success Is
virtue 80 graceful and becomipg a. 70 ex-
tort the admiration of enemies even. The
brave and confidently strong are always
iikeiy to BE- moderate and thoughtful in
the hour Of triumph. ~ 4-@@ "
The first duty Of Missouri Democrats is,
however, at home. Our state ia the fifth
in the Union. 1t is the first in material
prospects. The example and influence OF
so CREST commonwealth must be power
fully felt. Missouri not only oughtto have
one of the wisest governments, but 1t
ought to be represented in the national
councils by men of the first order, both in
integrity aud ability. To this end patriotic
Democrats most earnestly counsel the lead
log spirits Of the party to act with the
greatest care and an ever present sense OF
the gravity of the responsibility now rest
ing on them. There are Of course in the
party 10 Missouri, and in places Of trust,
some men without any sort Of fitness for
public duties. 1t is impossible for any
party to exclude all such. But the inhu-
ence of the reckless, dishonest and blather-
skite element should be now reduced to
the minimum. The good and sincere men
in our party and in the Offices in our state
need not even be embarrassed by the abso-
lutely or indiferently bad, Only yigilant
and resolute devotion tc the public good is
needed to insure the triumph of wisdom
and moderation. Every suggestion of ex-
travagance in state affairs in things small
and great must be met with instant re-
preston. 1t is matter Of sheer principle
at this time that the proAigate should be re-
buked everywhere. To stop all small leaks
at first is the easiest mode of dealing with
the whole subject. A step in the wrong
direction is like pebble thrown into the
water. The circle of its influence widens
till its bounds become practically illimita-
BILE. There is no place so easy
to stop in wrong doing as at
the very threshold. There is no
Mace beyond where to say no will not
be more difficult and where the disobiged
and offended will not be far more numer-
GUS BY as much as the pebble is less in
its circumference than the circle it creates
when thrown in the water, by so much is
the task of preventing wrong less than
that of checking it when the career is fully
entered upon. In the little things, in the
perauisites, in the incidentials, as well as
the great and essential measures of the
government, there must be conscientious
discharge of duty. IF the responsible
Democrats of our state will not heed these
truths, il they will treat them as unworthy
their attention. then the tenure OF Demo
cratic rule in our state will be short, aDt
cannot be too short for the good Of the
people,
But there are great and enduring nation
al questions which enter into the politics
of the country, and which must be deal
with in its legislation and administration
1t is of the utmost Importance that Their
should be entire harmony between thu
Democracy of all the states on the subjec
of tariff, internal revenue and finance |
is idle to talk about ignoring these great
questions. The action of the Democratic
party in congress will have constant refer
ence to them. Democrats had as well lool
at this matter unequivocally. The cardin
al features of the Democratic creed or
these great questions have been well defn
ed. Free trade and hard money have
been watchwords in the party, and hav'
received the approval of every Democratic
statesman whose name has any place IL
the calendar of the party or the country.
To this formulation Of the wise creed OF
the party has been APPLY and wisely added
in the greatest of the Democratic states
the demand for home rule'-a demand
which the condition of several states made
absolutely imperative. The creed Of the
party is now epitomized in the terms
free trade hard money and home rule. "
No Democrat can keep long in the line of
the party who does not subscribe to these
fundamental demands The party in the
nation will 60 wisely and honestly into tn,
next national struggle upon this unassail
able platform. 1t is useless to attempt t
set up any other standard The benefi
cient results sought to be achieved by
change of national policy can be reache
by no other course Upon this groun
alone can there be harmony, The fac
cannot be too earnestly needed. The v;
carries of loose and superficial thought an
new and crude theories on subject tn;
is new in none of its phases should be e
chewed absolutely ard at once by the Den
ocrats of Missouri. The teachings of wi
dom aud experience point to but OF
course. aud patriotism demands that the
should be no wavering or hesitation in e
tering upon it.