The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-27
From The Chicago Tribune, 26th.
al asna Grahha1 - fha Die ffor


The Illinois state convention was large
assemblage of enthusiastic people, taking
things upon general faith, and leaving plat
form-making to the few, The few in this
case were unfortunately less than ordinarily
scrupulous, and the result is malicious
betrayal Of the popular sentiment of the
convention. The conventionsintended and,
80 far as it had knowledge. did APP
point, forty-two delegates to vote at Gin
cinnati for Blaine, and this tribute to the
statesman from Maine was cheered to the
echo. But what else did the convention
do? or, more properly speaking, What
else did Mr. BlaiDes secret enemies do?
They packed a committee on resolutions
which declared in favor of the Rag
Baby" and the Bloody Shirt. Was
this backing up Mr., Blaine? Among all
the statesmen who have been proposed or
named for the presidency, Mr.. Blaine has
the least questionable record on these TWO
questions, and, while the convention was
overwhelmingly for Blaine, the agents of
the adversary were preparing instructions
that are libel upon his intelligence and
an assault upon his patriotic record.
The second resolution declares as fact
That the policy of leniepcy by the Re-
publican party toward the people recently
in rebellion against federal authority
having resulted in death by violence Of at
laast 5000 Unionists, white and black,
since the commencement OF the present
policy of reconstruction; also in placing in
power in the lower house of congress q
political party nominated by ex-confeder-
ates, and finally in RELOCATING back into the
control of disloyal whites nearly every
state reconquered to federal authority by
the federal armies" In whose interest is
this perversion of TRUTH And why
was so slanderous an aspersion cast
on the Republican party2 By what right
did platform, committee undertake to ar
raign the policy of leniency" pursued
by the national Republican party2 Who
authorized them to call that party to &C.
count for its policies, or to denounce it in
behalf Of the Republicans Of Illinois? the
people Of this state most assuredly have
not conferred the power upon them. Who
is it that has opposed the policy of len
iency, Of peace, of harmony Who has
opposed the abolition of the color line, and
the division OF parties at the south on
other than line of hatred and extermina-
tion2 Was it Blaine, the man these
forty-two delegates are directed to
vote for,-or was it some other man
whose record has been that OF
vindictive hatred and government by the
sword? Whose platform has been thrust
under Blaine's feet? Who is the sun
known" whose friends on the platform
committee have prepared the way for an
abandonment and betrayed of Blaine at
Cincinnati? The resolution asserts false
hood when it declares that the policy OF
leniency has put the Democratic party in
power in one branch of congress. Did the
policy of leniency elect Democratic mem
bers Of congress in Massachusetts, in Con.
necticut, in New Hampshire, Iowa, Wis
consin, and Michigan? Did the policy Of
leniency give the Democrats majority OF
the representatives from New York. New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, anc
Illinois? Was it not something else
Was it not the dishonesty, fraud, and cor
ruptions, which were notorious and wide
spread, aud which were practiced under
the garb of special loyalty and under
shouts for more bayonets? Was it no
salary grab and back pay. the author o
these resolutions having his $1,000 gral
still in his pocket,-with the genera
scandals incident to Pacific Mail and othe
corruptions? Was not Mr. Blaine by hi
Own act an exception in that great salary
grab swindle? Did he not insist 10 th
open house Of writing on the face Of tn