The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-01
Tuesday. June ]. 1875.
Some Parallels. :

The Republican papers are very fond OF
drawing parallels between the past record
of the Democratic party and that of the
Republican party, in every instance the
former being condemned as the very es-
sence of all bad things and the instigator
and perpetrator of treason, robbery and all
manner of wickedness, while the latter is
Landed to the very skies as the savior Of
the country, the party of reform, of hon
esty, of liberty, and all the rest of the po-
litical virtues. Now let us see how the
case really stands at the present dav.
In New York we find the great Tam
many ring broken by honest men of its
own party, and Tweed in the penitentiary.
In Washington is the Republican Boss
Shepherd ring, prosperous, defiant and
powerful, proved ten times more corrupt
than the New York ring, yet upheld by
congress, by the president, by the kepub-
lican party. =.
In Iowa we see Rankin, the defaulting
Republican state treasurer, at liberty, pet
ted and fondled, while Bryant, the de-
faulting Democratic county treasurer, IS IN
the penitentiary, scorned, kicked at and
condemned.
While the Democratic legislature Of
Ohio, reduced its own expenses 100000
and passed good laws, the Republican
members of the legislature of Louisiana Of
last year, stole $1,000. While the New
York legislature has passed bill for rap
id transit, has reduced canal tolls, helped
to break up canal ring, saved to tax-pay-
ers hundreds of thousands of dollars an
nually by reducing salaries of judges and
officers, the Republican legislature of Ala
bama elected Senator Spencer, who bribed
or intimidated all who opposed him.
While the Democratic legislatures of Con
necticut and Massachusetts, are abolishing
unjust prohibitory liquor laws, the Repub-
lican legislature of Iowa is constantly en-
acting more rigorous ones.
While the Democratic or Opposition
party are electing able and honest govern
ors, such as Tilden, Castor, Ingersoll, Gar
land, Hardin, Taylor, Allen and Hendricks
the Republicans pin their faith to Kellogg
Hartranft, Brooks and Furnas, not one o
whom has an approach to a clean charac
ter, and all in blessed ignorance of wha
constitutes official honesty.
Why is it that under Grantit costs $40,
100000 annually to maintain an army o
$4,000 men. while under Buchanan, tn
cost was only $20,0G0,000?
If the Republican party is the party o
reform, of progress, of official honesty, VIII
is it that the revenue depaItm become
corrupted by whisky ring? Why is
that the Indian agents are allowed t.
starve Indians, and grow wealthy b.
swindling both the sayages and the govern
ment; why is it that the District Q
Columbia ring is allowed to live; why wer
the Credit Mob;lier and Pacific Ma
jobbers never punished; why were the ma
frauds allowed to go so long unchecked
Why, too, was Z. S. Supervising Arch
tect allowed to squander 81 100000 on tn
Chicago Custom House, which it will re
quire several millions more to tear dow
and rebuild?
If the Republican party is the party {
honest men, why is it that Delano. Wi
liams and Mullett and Casey receive al
pointments from the President, and sue
men as Spencer and Cameron enter til
Senate?
1T it is the party of economy, why is
that the expenses of the government f
the ten months ending with April exceed
ed the receipts by several milliOnsI
In nearly every instance in the last tt
years the influence and actions of the Der
ocratic party have been for economy, f
justice to all, and for official honesty.
nearly every instance, in the same tim
the influence and actions of the Republic;
party have been exactly the reverse,
That this is true is evidenced by Il
fact that the Republicans never attem
to Justify, explain or condemn the cour
OF its party, or correct existing abuse
They allow such matters to pass in silenc
and content themselves with prOscribin
deIouncing and obtaining the critics of Il
party and those who abandon it.
The facts cited are matters of cure
history, the records of the men alluded
are known in every household, and the
statements cannot be controverted. Th
such has been the record of the tV
parties the elections last fall abundant
proved. This being true, then, who tn
is in favor Of honesty, economy, and alb
ity in high places can hesitate betwe
them?