The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-28

ought, therefore, to be passed by as of no
particular consequence, For the honor
and credit of the press of the state and of |,
the great northwest, of which the journal
in question stands among the most promi-
nent, would be glad if we could assume
this position-that the record could have
closed here and the whole could have been
assigned as the work of an irresponsible |
correspondent, but such is not the case.
In the editorial columns Of this same paper !
containing the article in question is found |
the following editorial paragraph:
"a careful, and AZ we believe. conscientious re-
view OF the Legislative session at Springfield up to
the fortyeigbth day will be found this morning In
gives It as bis deliberate conviction that the lower
house Of the legslaturel Is the worst that ever as
sembled in Illinois: In support OF his position ne
to "givesthe Democrats chance this winter" ought
to read the letter of our correspondent and learn
how the opportunity has been improved,
This, it will be observed, is an indorse-
ment BY the editor himself of all that this
correspondent has asserted, and | have
called attention to this paragraph to show
that the editor of this leading journal has
adopted the views and conclusions of his
correspondent as being in accord with his
own, and whilst do not refer to this mat
ter for the purpose Of criticism upon the
motives gof eitheri the correspondent who
may have written this article, or the edi-
tor who thus indorses and gives it currency,
Il yet cannot forbear to remind gentlemen
Of the inevitable mischief that such arti-
cles-through such influential journals
must work to the general interests OF the
state at large. ....
, 1t is a principle in our society that
words uttered rejecting unfavorably upon
+ the character of another are presumed to
, result in injurious consequences to those
, concerning whom they are uttered, and
this principle is recognized as SO important
, in the code of laws of civilized life that
remedies are givenfor redress of grievances
{ in such cases. This principle is no less
, important for certain purposes when ap
i piled to the interests of the body polite
) or the people of the whole commonwealth
This unjust allusion to the general as
b sembly, and Especially this indidious at
: tack upon the house of representatives, Ii
equally reflection upon the good name o
, the people of the state whom it immedi
0 ately represents To-day the state of Lii.
: nois is competitor for immigration with
: other states throughout every portion o
e the old world. This journal of which
: Ispeak, which refers to the general Assem-
!. bly, In such terms of adherence. charac
! terizlng the popular branch as "a contin
f ual mob" and assigning to its officers mo
4 tives of the basest criminal intention il
e the discharge of their duties, circulate
and is read in every country wherever tn
:. English language is spoken. 1t is pub
r lished in our midst, ranking among thu
/ leading journals of the nation-its man
,. aging editor claiming to rank among tn
s American statesmen of the present gener
= atioD. What effect, then, | submit, mus
e this account of our people and our institu
j. tons produce upon the minds of thos
n whom we are soliciting to come among u
e from abroad to add to our population an
J. assist in increasing our wealth? 1t Ger
e tainly cannot be otherwise than destruct
d i've, whilst the truth remains suppressed
IS The general assembly is called to az
I count not only for its alleged extravs
gance, but for the little in volume it ha
produced after the length of time it ha
been in session. The constitutional col
vention of 1S69-'70, which held its sessio
Il in this hall and of which had the hone
le to be member. was in session about fv
~ months or more 1t produced an instru
"a ment containing only fourteen article
ID making its final decision upon the who
~ upon the last day of the session, and yet
IN, received the appreciation Of the people /
Us whom its work was overwhelmingly indor
ed. That man who sets out upon the tn
DRY that the value of legislation to the Pc
pie is to be determined by the mere bl
N. Continued on third uage.l