The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-12
The 1laitg Atgns.
ROCK ISLAND. .mLIHo
Concluded from second page. J

Concluded from second page.)
at every town, county. state, and general
election. United, vigorous, and determ-
ined. they cannot be resisted by a party
whose best members will feel that they are
placed IN false positions, aud who will
know that the honor and interests of their
country would demand the defeat of the
organization to which they belong. The
contest under such circumstances would
for long time agitate and engross the
public mind. 1t is TO be deplored, as it
would check the restoration of that conf
denee demanded by the
BUSINESS INTERESTS OF OUR LAND.
The Democratic party is too strong to be
violent; it will not forfeit the confidence of
OF the people by any display of passion; it
can assert itself through the regular chan
nels of political action. Frauds may delay
the course of justice, may excite passions
hurttul to the progress of our country, but
legal and just punishment will surely
follow, That party which controls towns,
counties, and states will control the
country. The president, against whom is
arrayed the body of the people, is an OBJ
Ject OF sympathy not of fear.
Rising above above all party consider
atoms, we appeal to the men of business, of
labor, and of capital, to assert their rights
at this time, to admonish their leaders not
to go too far in trampling under foot
rights that are vital to
SECURITY OF INDUSTRY
and OF property. Such men can, if they
will, by clear expressions of their opinions
In ways customary in the usages of our
people, settle this question in accordance
with right. 1t is not subject which be-
longs alone to those who are actively
engaged in political affairs. 1t 10 great
American question, which concerns every
citizen and every home. They can make
a grand exhibition of the genius of our
government, and the power of its citizens,
by calm rebuke to frenzied rulers
Even those who desperately seek to hide
the records OF past misconduct from the
knowledge of our people will quail before
AN AROUSED PUBLIC,
/ have not uttered one word of reproach
to the Republican candidates for the offices
of president and vice president. | haye
too much respect for the characters of
Messrs. Hayes and Wheeler to think they
wish to be put at the head of this union
against the declared wishes of a
majority of the American people. I do
not doubt that if this is to be done by men
in Louisiana, of whom they think as ill as
we do. that they would feel that the high
est offices of state would be for them not
positions of honor and dignity, but po-
litical pillories, in which they would stand
to be pointed at. now and hereafter, as
the
One thing ali men see The Republican
party cannot decide ats oaCn case an ats oaon
tdUoT against the majority Of the american
people, upon the certificate 0fbranded men
IN Louisiana, aoithoat making the body of
oar citizens and the auorld at large feel
that 1T as q corrupt and partisan decision.
Such judgement will not only destroy our
honor and credit for the day, but will be a
precedent for wrong doing in the future.
We cannothave Mexican politics without
Mexican finances and Mexican disorders.
The business men in all civilized countries
have been taught by recent bankruptcies
and disorders in governments, made un
stable by agi.ations, to be watchful and
distrusttul when they see The slightes,
deviation from political honor, without
which there can be no financial honor,
On the other hand, let the party in power
yield to the popular will. demand
honest returns In accordance with the con
stitution,
| BOW TO THE MAJESTY OF THE LAW,
and then every citizen will feel renewed
confidence in our institutions, and the
whole world will hold us in higher re-
spect aud honor.
On this occasion. as one of the repre-
sentatives of this great state, [ am im
PEELED to speak about public affairs
| There is danger that the solemn decision
OF New \ ork. with its vast interests anC
| great population. is to be Knocked at anC
made an idle ceremony by few unscrup
ulous men. trust have not been moYeG
by mere partisan purposes. My faith il
the PARTY to which l am attached and my
Indebtedness to its smembers may cIouC
my judgement, but | know that I seel
only to
SAVE THE HONOR OF OUR COMMON
| COUNTRY,
and to secure the welfare of the American
people without regard to party distinc
tons. The duty / have this day per
formed is probably the last official act o
my life. The years and infrmities which
quench ambition and calm the selfish
passions make stronger the feeling o
patriotism and deepen cur anxiety for tht
honor and prosperity of our country.
| fervently pray that the wisdom, thu
patriotism, and fraternal love whicl
guided our fathers when they formed thi
union and framed its government ma,
govern us in our efforts to avert the dan
gers which threaten them. God gran
that we may be animated by the patriot
ism which moved them hundred year.
ago, when they sacrificed all passions, al
Interests, and periled their lives to gail
the political freedom of our country. Lee
US not fail to be alike self sacrificing in oul
Iefforts to uphold the honor and the vir.
tue of the republic.
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