The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-18
From the ". Y, World, 18th.
EY-GcV: SEYMOUR.
HIS VIEWS OF THE SCHOOL
QUESTION" HUMBUG.
The "Palse Issue" of the Caught
Thieves.

=
Thieves.
Ex-Governor Horatio Seymour arrived
10 town Tuesday evening and is staying
for day or two at the Westmoreland
Hotel on private business. A representa-
tire of the World called on him last even
ing and had conversation on political
matters. ln answer to a question as to
his opinion of the school or ti-Catholc
issue, lately imported, the governor said
that, in the first place, what the Republi-
cans call the school question Is not
the school question at all. Every
one knows that it is brought up to excite
sectaran passions; it is a mere strategic
movement on very serious question.
Strategical movements in politics, said he,
rarely succeed, and never when the
motives are 80 transparent as 10 this case.
The very fact that the movers feel that
our school system is so popular with the
American people proves that there is nc
danger of its being overthrow. Mere
political strategy is very odious at this
time, for the people feel that it is an at
tempt to turn the public attention away
from the reforms which are needed to re-
lieve the public distress. 1t is simply
saying to American citizens, Let us
talk about something else than bad lcgis
latlOn and worse administration. 1t is
very much like giving religious tract to
u starving family. II our city, state and
ational governments, continued the
governor, without regard to their political
characters, will cut down taxation and
lessen expenses they will do much to re-
store confidence and revive business: but
every man knows this will not be done if
the public mind is to be agitated by either
sectional or sectarian hate.
Aside from these objections Of principle
Governor Seymour thinks that those who
are striving to bring in this policy of hate,
with view of covering their transactions
by clouds of passion and prejudice, have
made hlunder fatal to themselves. 1t
lost them, said he, the state of New York
at the last election. In this city the labor
question turned away many votes from the
Democratic party; it would have swept a
much larger number into the Republican
ranks il its leaders had not made the sec
tartan issue. In the interior OF the state
we have nearly one thousand miles IL
length of canals running into all sections
The stOppage of work threw great nun ber'
out of employment, who could get nothing t.
do elsewhere, and who were appealed to b,
their former employers to vote agalns
the Democratic ticket on that account
These appeals would have carried then
off but for the sectarian issue. A larg
number of German Catholics have here
tofOre voted the Republican ticket, an
many Hebrews, an important class OF GU
citizens Beyond these many of TIA
smaller denominations of Protestants wer
disguised with policy which they felt i
the end would reach them.
The Republicans also lost sight of anotl
err great fact. When the Know Nothin
feeling was excited large number Of tn
foreigners lived in our large towns, an
the great number of local elections natur
ally excited from time to time, prejudice
between different nationalities. But sine
that time the Germans and Irish hav
scattered throughout the country. The
have strong desire to become the owner
Of farms, while it is matter OF great Tt
greet that in too many instances the Amer
leans are inclined to leave their farms an
to go into the towns and cities. This
particularly true Of the young men. In "a
parts OF this and Of other states the Iris
and the Germans arc getting to be tn
owners OF farms; they are hardworkinl
saving and prosperous, and they hay
gained the respect of all classes of OF
business men, who seek their custom an
are anxious for their good will. The Iris
are making great efforts throughout Il
country to promote temperance amor
themselves While the adopted either
are thus becoming valuable members
society and important agents in promOtir
the business interests of the whole con
munity, it will not be possible new to e,
cite against them any narrow prejudic
so at war with the genius of our COVER
ment.
In answer to question as to what ben
fit could accrue to the Republicans
making an issue of the religious questio
the governor said that the Republica
have certainly nothing to gain by it, {
that class of men who like to indulge eth
in sectional or sectarian prejudices have
ways voted for their ticket. They W
surely drive out from their ranks maj
who have heretofore acted with the
while our anxious business men, our 81
fering mechanics and our laborerS ont
employment will feel themselves insult
by such efforts to turIPthe public mi
from the causes of their distress, and tn
will regard such attempts in the light
declarations that there will be no refoI
OF the abuses in city, state or general &c
ernments. In word, Mr. Seymo
thinks that the fact of the Republca
having recourse to such desperate rem
dies shows the desperately low ebb of tn
political fortunes.
In regard to the proper action to
taken by congress on the currency questi
the governor thinks that nothing at
will be done at this time, the senate bel
Republican. in the course of the conf
year we shall have such 5eveopmel
with regard to the business of the count
as will enable congress TO act more wis
at its next session. There is a pervadi
business distress at this time very mu
throughout the commercial world; agi
ton and confusion prevail which wol
more likely be made worse than better
congressional meddling. Congress |
two clear duties, to cut down expenses a
lessen taxation.
As to the third term, Governor s.
mOur says he has given it no spec
thought but as far as the Republicans
concerned it is simply aquestion of whetl
we shall have Grant, or Grantism in
person of some one else