The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-07-30
"ALEPROuS LEAGUE. ("

The Chicago Times, in bitterest invec-
tives, dcnounces the coalition be-
tween the Democrats and Independents
of this State, rs "a leprous league"
Why? Because MIR. Lewis Steward, the
gentleman who was nominated by the
Democratic convention for gov
ernor. is also the nominee OF
the Independent party Of the
state for the saine office. the Indepen-
dents being. according to the Times. po-
litical partisans advocating some vital po-
litical issue the Democrats ara opposing.
II this is true. then the combination be-
tween the Democrats and independents
is iniquitous (; but we are not able to see
in the combination anything objection
able, and certainly nothing disreputable.
What is the situation? Briefly as fol-
lows: a number of men, calling them
selves Independents, met together some.
time ago. and nominated two men, Gore
and Etter, for State offices. These lnde-
pendents declared, mt that time, precisely
what they declared month or two ago
at Decatur-that reform in the
government was necessary; that
the attempt then in progress to
resume specie payments in ISIS was folly
and would fail. and that since both the
great parties seemed TO be unwilling to
reform the abuses complained OF they
had concluded to organize party OF
their own. The Chicago Times, after the
Democrats had adopted what was called
the Call platform, advocated the nomina.
ton of Gore and Etter, the nominees of
the Independents, by the Democrats. Its
advice was taken in part. Etter was
nominated by the Democrats, and was
elected. Why was an alliance between
the Independents and Democrats in 1874,
when the Independents and Democrats
were further apart on the money ques-
ton than they are now, proper, and why
is such a combination leprous at this
time: In 1874 the Democrats
of Illinois had the courage to declare
that gold and silver should be the basis OF
the currency. and they refused to de-
mand the repeal of the resumption
clause of Sherman's bill. Now they re-
fuse to say that gold and silver ought to
be the basis of the currency, and declare
in favor of the repeal OF the resumption
clause and postponement OF resumption
until under system OF preparation
that will not bring resump-
ton for years, the country shall be able
to resume without injuring the business
or industrial interests of the country. In
1874 the Independents denounced the
Democratic financial ideas in 1876 they
approved them. In 1874 the Chicago
Times believed that union between the
Democrats and Independents would be
in 1876 the Times de-
nounces such union as leprous.
What is the matter with the Trnes9 Why
is it so very inconsistent? In 1874 it
wished the Democrats to accept Gore,
who denounced the Democratic platform;
in 1876 it denounces the Democrats tor
Steward, who has declared his
approval of The st. Louis platform and
his determination to vote for Tilden!
Could inconsistency 60 further
In the language of the Times of ls74,
it is necessary to unite all the elements of
opposition to the Republican party in
Illinois. How can this be done? is the
great political problem Of the hour. 1t
can not be done in any other way than
by uniting the Democrats and Indepen-
dents upon candidate opposed to Shelby
NJ. Cullom. The Democrats have attempt
ed to do this by nominating Steward,
the Independent candidate for governor,
upon platform demanding the repeal of
The resumption clause of Sherman's in
quitous bill, and abandoning the demand
or immediate resumption. Mr.. Stew
lrd can accept nomination upon such
platform without stultifying himself as
much as Mr.. Tilden will stultify himself
by accepting nomination upon it and
yet the Chicago Times calls the nominal
Jon of Mr.. Steward evidence of lep-
BUS union-a spoils-seeking union-be-
tween the Democrats and Independents
Of Illinois. The Times is, in this matter,
Inconsistent, Illogical and certainly I'M
,andid.