The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-02

the Republican leaders since congress tn
came together proves that their united Ell III
for,a are directed 10 carrying the next pr
Presidential election by fraud and force a
r. these dangerous instruments can be ga
successfully employed. Instead of seek tn
ing to furnish relief to the suffering con- 7;
d,tion of the country, or to diminish the o.
pernicious effects of their reckless legisla- q
ton, the last two months have been en- ii
ployed in exciting sectional strife, stir q
ring the embers of discord, and inhamlng +,
passions anew that had long ago subsidized n
Not a single practical measure has been u
adopted that is of the least benefit IN re- =
wing prosperity. The act pretending TO a
resume specie payment four years hence Is
snora and n delusion, which the Presi- a
Jont has been compelled to confess Dy
5oajar;no that no means have been provld- =
cd n carry il out, and by recommending
legislation for that object;
In the closing hours of the last session
Mr. Dawes and Mr.. Garfield, representing
the two foremost committees, assured the
house in the most positive manner that
the revenues would exceed the expendl-
lures by twenty six millions OF dollars tor
the current fiscal year. And now, SIX
months after these promises, made in view
of the then pending elections, the secre- |
tary of the treasury asks of congress forty |
millions of additional income to GARY ON
the government and redeem its ordinary
obligations
IL is proposed to raise this revenue by
anew imposing the duties on tea and cof-
fee-this has already put up the prices OF
those articles-and by re-enacting other
obnoxious taxes. No plan comprehending
real economy or retrenchment OF notori-
GUS extravaganza has been broached' OF
would be tolerated ii offered by the Oppo-
sition.
The President and congress have both
set their faces against any reduction OF
patronage. or restraint upon the mon
strous abuses by which the treasury Is
robbed of tens of millions every year
The army ought to be reduced to ten thou.
sand men, and host of costly officers
lopped off; but instead of reduction they
want more troops and heavier expenses.
A naval squadron is kept in the Medlter,
ranean for the pleasure OF an Admiral AND
throng Of subordinates, without even
pretence of utility and at an annual outlay
ofseveral millions. And 50 OF others
elsewhere, but none of these things are tt
be touched. =
More taxes, more hard times, more sui
fsripg for the laboring masses, and les
ability to bear the new loads of oppres
sion, compromise the policy OF the admin
istration and its supporters They will nc
take off an ounce of this weight, but II
sist upon adding to it by every posslbl
continuance.
Sheridan is kept in Louisiana as slo
match is put near powder magazine,
exnlode it when least expected: tie trle
the quick match but 1t 1alleu' anu nv
the President orders him to stay with IL
expectation that the next experiment W
be more successful, and in time to onera
for the third term.
While the military is thus used for Il
wicked purpose, other schemes are conct
ted to circumvent an election by the p'
Die, which would result in the overthr
of Grantlsm, and with it the tens of thu
sands Of demagogues, adventures, a
knaves who are now fattening on the spC
of the treasury by fees, contracts, syn
Gates, offices, jobs and thievery. The
feat of Grant and the third term wo
end the most corrupt system now exist
in any civilized country Hence the str
uous efforts to retain power at any cost.
Mr. Morton introduced recently pro
sition to change the mode of electlng
President, by abolishing the agency OF e
tors and substituting direct vote by {
gressional districts, after allowing e
state two votes on the senatorial ba
Of course an amendment to the const
ton, supposing it to be unobjectionable
this is not could not be carried thro
congress and adopted by three fourth:
the states in time to operate on the l
election in November, 1876. Everyt
knows that but behind this project is
other, which was partially disclosed i
recent speech by Mr.. Conkling. u
the 18th article of the constitution
rule known as the twenty second, prov
the method for ascertaining and recort
the votes cast for President. While
branches were Republican, of course
trouble was to be apprehended in this
spect, But since the house has bee
Democratic and in certain contingt
might elect President, the minds of
ious partisans have been exercised '
seriously about the future, on the supp
ton that the election might by chance
close, though this is far from being pr
ble
The senate might assume to throw
the vote of one or more states on the
text of intimidation or some technical q
BILE, as was done at the last and precet
elections Of course the house on its
would follow the bad example. and co
SlOD, II not worse, WOulu lOllOW. LII
fore the Republicans now seek to get
troll of the whole machinery of counting
votes, in addition to the extraordinary
err already possessed by the vice-presid
who alone can open all the certifcat
and the majority in the senate.
What is to be the precise mode of |
ing this absolute authority, while hol
msjorities in both houses, has not beer
revealed. But Mr.. Conkling intim
very Significantly what was intended
done, when he said:
"of the details say nothing; of the merits
proposed constitutional amendment say not
but do say, and had the power to do it an
leyed it TO be necessary, would bring it hor
every senator, and impress II upon him, tina
shall fall short in our urgent and imminent d
the 4th OF March witnesses q dissolution OF
two houses Wittouf their hdCing depised some
better thdn the tCeRty-secORdj0iu rule OF
fanin0 and recording and establishing the Il
The De0pke erpresssd6y elections In the states
the choice OF the CHEF magistrate.
Notice has been served on the senat
this new scheme, and if it passes by
snap Judgment the minority will have
selves to blame Let it be watched.
From the Spring field Register