The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-07-21

Although the nominating conventions
will not be held for year to come, candi-
dates for President are pressed forward
with much zeal by their friends and fol-
lowers in parties. They are too much
In hurry. Clay, Webster, Marcy, Chase,
Seward, and ,ahost Of others, make up a
book of martyrs TO this indiscreet policy.
The uncertainties OF conventions were
strikinaly illustrated in 1868 and 1872,
when Gov. Seymour and Mr. Greeley were
nominated against all expectation. It is
no secret that Seymour, on the night be-
fore he yield his own Judgment and be-
trayed ruinous weakness, had warmly
urged the selection of Chief Justice Chase,
and distinctly refused to be q candidate
himself. While Mr., Greeley was not in
different to a nomination at Cincinnati,i it is
believed that his Judgment leaned to the
selection Of Judge Davis, whom the Dem
ocray were willing 10 accept as Liberal
Republican, and upon whom the entire
vote Of the opposition to Grant could have
been concentrated. But few selfconsti-
tuted leaders attempted to dictate candi-
date, and Mr.. Greeley was taken up to
crush out the combination.
This is a matter in which the part of
wisdom is 10 hasten slowly. The people,
who have 10 elect President next year,
are In no hurry about candidate, and they
will surely have q voice in his selection, 10
spite Of all the management Of professional
politicians. Candidates made in caucus
and by sharp practice are not now in good
order. The centennial year will not be
propihous for that sort of production.
All the present indications are favorable
10 1ha a,,ooaoa ar tba nnp0o,fior on1 Voipf
to crushing defeat of the Republicans.
The general condition of the country and
the hard times justify this belief, but the
They may be said to be on trial. They
have a large majority in the House of Rep
resentatives. and the people are waiting to
see how this first great trust will be dis
charged, before they become committed in
regard to the Presidency.
The election Of speaker to is be the crucial
test of all the professions of reform in
which the Democratic party have so liber-
ally INDUCED in the last two years. They
will be judged by their acts and not by
their promises. Any failure to meet the
public expectation in this respect must be
seriously injurious. To be satisfactory, the
record must be clean. The speaker chosen
must be free from all faint Of jobbery, cor
ruption, and that disgraceful legislation
which the country so emphatically con-
demned last year, when Republican ma
jority of more than two-thirds in the house
of representatives was by an indignant
fash of public opinion transformed into a
Democratic majority of seventy.
Personal partialities and sectional pref
erences must be given up to elect speak.
er whose character will command public
confidence and meet the demand of the
country for an upright and impartial ad-
ministration of that great office. 1t is not
place for mere politicians and managers,
10 be attained by bargains expressed OF
understood, by solicitation, or by personal
arrangements looking to the organization
Of the house. II the speakership be dealt
with in this way, the Democrats will dc
for the Republicans what they could moi
do for themselves, and cause a reaction
The last hope of their adversaries is re
petition of the blundeIs which have KEEP
the Democracy down since the close Of thu
wsr. 1t is therefore premature to specu
late about opposition candidates for presi
dent until the new house shall be organic
ed and its policy developed.
So far as the Republicans are concerned
their only chance depends upon the foil
and mistakes of the other side. Their pc
sition is necessarily passive; and as the or
ganization of the party is controlled by tn
administration and its office holders, it re
mains with Grant to decide whether h
will run for a third term, or put up som
other candidate with the certainty of hi
being knocked down.-N T. Sun.