The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-31
Gov. Tildsn stin Fighting Corruption.

To Gov. Tilden more than to any other |
man Is due the credit of exposing the
frauds of the Tammany thieves. The
Tammany Ring was q corrupt CORPORATION
of Republicans and Democrats. They did
not care which party was in power IN the
state,-thsy always got such laws as they
wanted to enable them to rob the public.
Their robberies, enormous as they were,
amounted to only q trife compared with
the straight Republican robberies at
Washington, in the District Ring" the
Southern Rings" and the lobby geDer-
ally-all supported by Grant and his ad-
ministration.
Gov. Tilden having scattered the Tam
many thieves, sending some to prison. some
into exile, and allinto disgrace, has now at
tackled the state canal ring, as stated In
these columns last week. The unanimity
with which the press in the east, without
regard to party, cheer and applaude him
in his effort to stop public corruption is
gratifying in the extreme. The New York
papers contain column after column, every
day. of extracts from Republican, indie
pendent and Democratic papers in regard
to the contest Gov. Tilden has inaugura
ted with the canal robbers-al cheering
him on and giving him support. 1t
evident that the people of the state
New York and of the east generally ar
greatly excited on this subject, and will
singular unanimity they applaud Gov. Til
den for his courage and his skill in exposing
the public robberies. Of course we hav
not space for full extracts,-but we con
deuce some sensible remarks in the Ne1
York Herald on the topic, as follows:
It was a wise suggestion of an inspire
writer, LET not him that girdeth on ri
armor boast himself as he that putteth
off" Governor Tilden has girded on n
armor against the Canal Ring with gres
eclat and applause, but it still remains
be seen whether he can uproot the frauo
which he exposes and denounces. 1t
fails he will be still entitled to the cred
of good intentions, but he will have I
solid claim to public gratitude unless
succeeds in extirpating the hagrant co
ruption against which he makes SO earne'
aprotest Everybody who takes an intere
in state affairs has known tor years TIL
the management Of the canals is rotten
the core, and if our new governor success
in forcing remedy he will deserve We
of his fellow-citizens But he must u
expect to be crowned with laurels for
unsuccessful attempt. Pope, Hooker al
Burnside attacked the oonfederates VII
great courage and vigor, but as each
them got terribly worsted in the conte
the country does not award them hi
place on the roll of military merit. Not
ing succeeds like success, and II
worthy governor secures such ieglslatl
before the session closes as will protect t
state treasury against the Canal Ring q
morauts he will have gained an envlal
standing in the long list Of able men W
have done good service as governors
New York. But it does not always b;
pen in human affairs that the vigor of
man comes up to the pomp of the manif
to. His predecessors had the sa
cards in their hands as Governor Tild
but they did not know how to play the
1t is creditable to our present COVER
that he is skilful enough to put down
trump at the right stage of the game.
Governor Tilden cannot afford to fai
the contest he has precipitated. That
will be warmly supported by an hor
public opinion is already past doubt;
his success depends on the one hund
and sixty members of the legislature,
it is possible that the influence, money
intrigues of the Canal Ring may be pov
tul enought to thwart him in one or
other branch of the legislature. Had
drew johnson succeeded in his bold {
fiict with congress he would have bect
the most popular man in the country,
his failure was fatal blow to his infiue
for the time being. And, in like man
if Governor Tldcn carries the legislai
with him in his intrepid onslaught u
the Canal Ring he will be the most
plauded man in the state.
should not the legislature proceed at {
to enact laws which will preclude
possibility of such frauds hereafter, lea
past offenders to the tender mercies OF
new civil remedies lawl For our part
do not believe that dollar of the SOU,
cred money will ever be recovered, al
is preposterous to institute investigat
in that view. For all purposes of leg
ton the present information is ample
The proper thing for the legislatul
do is to pass law which will shut
lock the door against such swindles
after, and, as they have already infol
ton enough to guide such LEGISLATION
regard these projected investigations
juggle of the Canal Ring to gain time
stave off the passage OF laws which W