The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-14
Ghe 9ailg Areus.
lContinued from second page. J

mates an ideal candidate we must choose
between those who are presented, or
take to the woods
Can we trust the Democratic party? To
lS4S our southern whig friends, in justify
ing themselves for supporting the Y, hig
tl,ket with Gen. Taylor at the head, used to
say: The southern man who is farthest
from us is nearer to US than any northern
man can be-" 1t as mig profound con-
Utction that the so0rSt Democrat eDhose
nomination at 81 Louis IS possible as safer
for the county than the best Republican
,oItose nomination is possible at Cincinnati.
The inlperdtiUe, the solemn need of the
country IS change Of the national ddmtnis-
trotton A new set OF books must be
opened at Washington. Every depart
| Went of government, from the VI bite House
to the custom house, must be purified; the
accounts of $4,000 ofhcehoiders must be ex-
amined. | have no fear that while this
process of scrutiny is going on, any new
set of officeholders can organize a system
| Of peculation and corruption like that
which is now in full blast. Even if the
| forthcoming administration should follow
in the footsteps of its predecessor, l think
| | know that liz four entire years it could
not intrench itself in Office as the Repub-
lican party has done in almost sixteen
years of undisputed power; and that in
1880 the country will repudiate the
servants who should prove false to their
trusts and would reinstate Republican
party redeemed, regenerated and dis
enthral(ed But do not rest my hopes
upon my wisdom as prophet. rely as
we'll upon the record of the Democratic
party for the past four years. remem-
Der that in 1872 they nominated Horace
Greeley as their candidate for the presi-
dency and Charles Sumner as their can
ddate for governor of Massachusetts, and
adopted a platform dictated by the
d5ctrinairies and rurists of Cincinnati.
The declarations of that platform are
the last authentic utterances OF the Nation
al Democratic Party, end they have been
reafirmed by nearly every state conven-
ton of that partp since held. In Mlchi
gan enough Democrats renowned party
ties to elect Christiancy over Chandler; in
Wisconsin, enough to elect Angus Cam
eron over Carpenter. In New York the
Democratic party elected Herman for
senator and Tilden for governor. In
Massachusetts they elected CASTOR gov
ernor, and Chaplin, Thompson, Tarbox,
Banks, Warren and See We representatives
to congress. None Of these men were of
the Boul bon persuasion. All who were
Democrats we're Of the liberal progressive
Democracy. Put they elected Cockrell
in Missouri instead ofSchurz. So did the
Republicans in Massachusetts elect Dawes
instead of Hoar but they were obliged
to take suce men or be defeated" True,
and that necessity still continues. 1.-THE
Democratic C, invention should nominate a
Bourbon, his defeat is certain So, if the
Republicans nominate ring candidate, .
his defeat is equally certain.
My hope is 10 the great American peo-
pie. The president of the future must
represent honesty, economy aud reform.
Of the host of claimants to the Republi-
can nomination one name alone meets
these requirements, ard that name of itself
must be sufficient guarantee were it not
that he would 90 into power hampered by
, the corrupt men who control the present
administration and the party. | know how
hopelessly the Democratic party, as vel
as the Republican, is divided upon ques.
tons of revenue and finance; but | have
never doubted. and do not now doubt that
when the st. Louis convention assemblies
the only important question that will con
front them will be this: Who best rep
resenting the demands of the country FOL
change and reform will command the lar
gest vote? Who. especially, will mos
surely carry the pivotal state of New \ ork
TO these questions there can be but on,
answer and | rest in the faith that ove
the heads Of sectional bigots and selfish
politicians, with whom above all thing:
success is duty" the sober secon(
thought of the Democratic National Con
vention will recognize the exigency Of tn
hour, and will place upon its banner tn
name of the one man who to-day mos
fully incarnatcs the aspirations of tn
country.
liz the dark and troubled night that i
upon US | see but one star of hope-th'
United Democratic party of the Unite,
States. Confidence. | am aware, is
plant of slow growth. Dstrust of th
: Democratic party il. doubt not, honestl
= entertained by the best portion of the Re
l. publican party. and dishonesty pro
: claimed as their most effectiy+ partisa
cry by the worst.
do not partake Of the views of the on
class; bitterly despise the hypocrisy c
: the other. | have prevailing conidenc
that sixteen years of purgation and pun
I ishment have had their effect in purifyin
! the Democratic party in. perhaps as grea
a degree as sixteen years Of power hav
corrupted and debased the Republica
iparty. | want to vote for candidat
who has not only shown the courage t
fight the thieves OF his own party, but VIII
} will not be elected and surrounded by til
same gang of thieves and apnlogist
Yours very truly, /. W. BIRD,