, 1876-04-22

bohtnd large proportion oa tho hepno-
licana Of bis own county absolutely refused
to voto for him thcn, and 1t is possible that
even greatcr number will refuse to do so il,
1876 In 1879 ho Ind not boen Governor,
and. Of course, WINS not as unpopular as HOW;
ho had not then offended tbs prido Of tho
stnte by his weak administration OF the
Office, nor waB he then known 10 10 tbs
fccble man, intellectually aud oficialIy, as to
warrant tho general verllct TINT no
is tho weakest inan Tint ever held
tho offlco OF Governor Of Illinois.
1Ic had been Governor long enough to havo
enabled MI ordinary MIN to comprehend the
duues and pcwcrs OF hia Office when thcro
occurred jp ono of tho Eouthern counties a
period OF iawlcssness mud disorder, in which
murder became regular and conspicuous
feature. For months the murder or manning
Of ore or moro persons every wcok or few
dnys took place, aud, though tho perpetrators
were known, no effort was made to arrest
them or break up tho cut-throat gang.
These crimes md outragos had extended to
sovcrnl counties, and wero 80 hagrans that
tie people Of tho Southern States, who Ind
been repeatedly subjected to military rule
under less provocation, sncoringly reproachcd
tho Fclnnl Government for It's neglect to
intcrI,oae military force to supersedo the
confcsscdly inefficient State Government in
Illinois, which Ind failed to suppress n
systematic serica of murder that would have
Mortified tho bloodieat Ku-Klnx commu-
nifty ut tho South. II was not tn
iii TnE CHICAGO Tribune aent conn.,
missioner to tho district, had published tho
whole history Of tho crimes, and had hold
the Governor directly responsible for its con-
!; tinuance, that steps we're taken to put stop to
tho assassination business. Previously ha had
got into a controversy with tao dcmagoguea
in tho Legislature, plcatling that hc could not
maintain oriler and suppress organized crime
because of tho want Of $4,000 in his con-
tingcnt fund! But The ra1DusE taught him
his duty differently.
The people OF Illinois in 1872 had not
witnessed tho Governors proaigate abuse Of
tho pardoning power in tho cases Of convic-
ton for crimes of violence. This was also
exposed In THE TRIBUNE, not, Ms alleged, to
abuse tho Governor, but in tho interest of
good government, Justice, and public safcty.
He has, to promote his interests in tho
coming State Convention. maae sad uso Of
his patronage. His appointments Us whole
hare been with view Of constructing n
nominating caucus, md not for tho efficiency
Of the public service. It Is possible that the
machine mon may succeed ut Springfield
In forcing him On the party, but
it is equally possible that tho peop!o
1nay smash the maohino nomination. Such
things arc very common Just now. From
all parts Of tho Stnte there is 2 strong objce-
ton against tho nomination OF Acting Gov
ernor DzvEn1Dax, and protest against tho
inpolicy Of forcing the poop1o to choose be-
twoon him and somo personally bettor and
moro competent man On the Democratic
ticket.
TnE CHICAGO TnrnUSE has been governed
by no personal feeling in this matter. 1t has
sought to mike party success moro ccrtain
by making 1t deserved. This paper has no
candidate to present, but has urged that any
Of varions other persons would be profcrn-
bio. Tho name of President Of ono Of tho
National Banks at Springfield las boan sug-
gestod. This gentleman has served in tho
Legislature, and WIS very respectable mem-
Der OF Congress, and has experience and
ability. Another gentleman, President, if
VIC mistake not, Of bank at Shawnootown,
is urged by his friends Tho name Of Alr.
WAsununsE has also bcon presented, and,
while TIE TRIBUNE did not originate his can
dilncy, it has favored l,is nomination be-
ca,sso ho il uuquestionably the strongest
man, tho most fnvorably known, anu the
most certain,to bo elected This paper is in
no wiso committed to his nomination, nor is it
to TINT of any other person TuE TntnuNE is
| peoples paper, and not machine papo1
working in tho interest OF any particular
| ollce.Loldcr or of!ice-scekcr.