The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-29
Col. Flagler and The Argus.

committee having repeated to one of our
reporters remark which he says Col.
Flagler made to him Ito be found in our
Moline column) we feel called upon to say
that Col. Flagler is wholly mistaken if he
supposes THE ARGUS. or any man con
nected with the establishment, has any
uDfriendly feeling towards him, We be-
lieye that only one Of the proprletors of
this paper has the honor of personal &C
quaintance with Col Flagler, and that one
holds him in the highest estimation as a
gentleman, aud man of ability.
Whatever course The ARGUS may have
pursued towards Col Flagler has been
taken from sense of the duty the paper
owes to the public. Col. Flagler Is public
servant, and bis official acts are public
property, upon which this paper, as wei
as any Individual, has perfect right to
comment. No one can question that right.
Some of Col. Flagler's acts THE ARGUS
has not approved, and does not approve.
!. 1t did not and does not now approve
of the manner of laying out the Central
Avenue from the main buildings to the
bridge. 1t should have been laid out to
run down the centre of the Island, and
with perfect fairness to each city, and
with a branch from it to each bridge,
giving no preference to either side. And
the railroad should have been laid out
with reference to that object We know it
would have cost more, but it could have
been done. and then each side of the river
would have been treated alike. Of course
it will be said that it was his duty to do it
the most economical way. We think rot,
for the reason that it is a permanent aud
national work, in which beauty as we'll as
utility should be combined, and he can not
be justified in marring the symmetry of the
drive and of the avenues by putting Rock
Island on side track We think Col
Flagler did wrong, but we bear no spite
towards him.
2. THE ARGUS differed with him in re
iation to passes which he required between
this city and Davenport. The ARGUS
appealed to the secretary Of war and the
passes were abolished.
8. THE ARGUS criticised his course il
refusing permission to circuses to eros
the bridges, and We give Col. Flagle
credit for abandoning his untenable posi-
ton in that respect. The owners O
circuses are American citizens and tax
payers, and have just as good right t.
cross the bridges as a Rock Island or Daven
port hackmau, or anybody else, and Col
Flagler has shown good sense in permitting
them to do so,
4, The ARGUS claims that Col, Flagle
has no right to use public property for
private or partisan purpose-no matte
whether it be one cent or one million
dollars. THE ARGUS will main tain thi
) clalm-not in spite" but in right"
THE ARGUS has often disagreed will
with the acts of Col. Flagler, and ma.
often do so IN the future. 1t has tn
same right to do so that any American
, citizen has-but it will do so in candor an
sincerity, and not in spite" 1t has n
spite towards Col. Flagler, but holds hin
in high esteem as man and public off
Ger. But it will not be his "toady," G
fail to say what duty requires as to hi
public acts. THE ARGUS may not Away
be correct, but it will exercise the right {
expressing its opinions, candidly, frankly
y and from the best information it can pr
cure. And because it does so, neiths
n Col Flagler nor any other public servar
a whose acts mey be commented on will
,e justified in attributing ''spite" to its cours