The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-06

Gov. Seymours speech before the Utica
convention has been read and pondered by
Republicans as well as Democrats through
out the country This is a refreshing and
significant omen of the times.
1t is rare for political leader, when ad-
dressing an audience chiefly composed of
the magnates and managers of his party to
raise the level of his speech SO high above
all partisan considerations as Gov. Sey-
mour did on that occasion. 1t is encour-
aging to see a statesman who enjoys the
confidence of all shades Of opinion in his
party and the respect Of his political oppo-
nents, at the threshold of a presidential
campaign in which the chances are in favor
of his associates, throw aside the low sell.
fish appeals to party spirit, SO common in
such performances, and tell the Democrats
that they do not deserve success in the
pending contest merely because the Re-
publicans are dishonest; that they will
only be worthy OF triumph when they can
prove to the people that they themselves
are economical and faithful; and so far as
he is concerned that he does not desire a
Democratic victory this fall, unless the
party can stand this test. The nation is
not hopelessly given over to prohgates and
plunderers when such a man as Horatio
Seymour thinks it wise to open presiden-
tial canvass by sounding a keynote like
this.
Gov. Seymour speech was marked by
a noble moral tone and broad and gen
uine patriotism. He rebuked both friends
and opponents for their tolerance of fraud
and corruption in the conduct of affairs,
and asserted that these vices were not
confined to the Federal administration, but
existed in all our state and municipal gov
ernments. He pointed to the general
greed for money and the haste to get rich
as the main cause for the demorallzatin OF
society. He had the candor to say that
though, in his opinion, the Republicans
hold certain lax constitutional doctrines,
which lead up to the doors OF the treasury
nevertheless he believed that il the Demo
Gratis had been in power so long they would
have been about as corrupt as the Rcpub'
licans have been. He was severe or
shoddy, tinsel, wild speculations, and ex
travagant Lying, and denounced the ven
atty and profigacy Of men in Office as the
natural outgrOwth of reckless expendi
lures, inordinate love Of money, and lacl
of sterling integrity among the masses
Of the people, He pointed to an early re
turn to the simple habits and genuin
virtues of the fathers of the republic, boil
in society and government, as the bes
remedy for the evils that surround US.
There is nothing very original in thes
views. They have been uttered by scat
tered moralists, by portion of the publ
press, and limited number of independ
ent politicians ever since the close Of tn
war, and especially during the administra
ton of Grant. But that which challenge
particular attention in this instance is tn
fact that at an important convention of hi
party on the eve of fierce struggle 70
supremacy in the government of the cour
try, philosophic statesman and sagaciou
leader deems it not only proper, but tn
highest reach of expediency to send ring
ing along the line of his followers speec
in which he bases the claim for victor
by the Democrats mainly on the contir
gency Of their ability to satisfy the voter
that they will administer the goYernmcr
more honestly than Republicans.