The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-25
Cincinnati and St. Louis.
From the NetU York World.

candidates nor 10 the party, UuC obvious
though it be, the fact is too significant not
to be pressed thoroughly home upon pub
lie consciousness.
This canvass is discrcditable to the
candidates because of the shameless greed
with which they seek the Office. The
country has often seen political leaders
anxious to secure the prize of the presi
dency, but Conkling, Blaine, Morton and
Bristow are the first presidential aspirants
in our history who have made the presi-
dency an object openly competed for
within one political party, each man Of
them pushing his own fortunes by every
species of petty intrigue. Heretofore it
has been held that the presidency, the
highest political trust in the land, should
be conferred in the interest, deliberately
weighed and publicly ascertained, of one
or another great political organization, and
that it should lie hopelessly beyond the
reach of him who strove to get it by mere
personal influence and contrivance This
theory has not always been accurately
carried out in practice, but the decent pre-
tense of its observance has never been
neglected. Ambitious statesmen in free
countries have been held to bear them
selves in some sense like women in love,
and by certain bashful arts to solicit with
out solicitation. 1t is true that this is
leap year; but the Republican candidates
of 1876 have transcribed even the liberal
limits of bissextile propriety. There have
been other discreditable features in their
rivalry besides the open vehemeuce of
that rivalry itself. In their eagerness
they have forgotten party loyalty; each en-
deavoring to damage the reputation of his
rivals at the risk Of ruin to the organiza.
ton. Morton has set on foot successive
inquests of scandal into the public life of
Blaine; Blaine and Blaine's friends have
given life to the Investigations which have
dampened and depressed the snowy
frills of Bristow, Morton has suffered at
the hands of his colleagues accusations as
malicious as those which he has himself
suggested and Conkling has been defiled
by all his opponents in turn, as the especial
champion and representative of the presi-
dent. Republicans have done more than
Democrats to make the country regard it
as vile thing to have supported Repub
lican administration. Political comrades 10
arms, honestly leagued together in good
cause, could never thus have betrayed
each other; and the attitude towards each
other of the Republican leaders tells the
story Of party shame and corruption more
eloqueutly than all the invectives of the
opposition. IL has produced and is pro-
ducing its natural effect upon the tone Of
the Republican party throughout the
country. Nowhere has there been any
uprising of the Republican masses, fused
together and glowing under the stress oil
some strong political feeling and purpose
The party as a party has no definite aim in
action; no intense purpose to carry out; nc
reform to effect Its best and abest
members frankly Sdmit that they are
ashamed of its recent past and dismayeC
and dubious about ito future policy
Nothing stirs within the organization
pulse of simulated life save the struggle:
between the friends of one or anothe,
leading candidate, TO get-control of thu
party machinery. Everything IS made
question Of personal success; nothing i
made a question of principle, or ever
policy. Even those few men hanging OF
the verge of Repubicanism who assum,
the virture of intellectual independence
whenever they find themselves cut loos,
from their party mornings, and take up th'
crusaders badge whenever they have beer
outlawed by their associates, are infected
with the curse. They pratte vaguel,
over all broad issues. They ask tn
people to regard the history OF party a
without meaning, its principles as mer
words, its policy as a mirage, tn
organization itself as sort o
barren ideaity" in the natur
of those hugh whirlwinds of thistle
down which blow hither and thither owe
the high plateaus of the Himaayas. The
ask the country to put all its trust in tn
honesty of one man, and maintain tina
nothing but virtuous president is needle
to relieve us from the evils under whic
we labor, no matter upon what platform
he may be elected, by whom he may
chosen, or what party obligations he ma
fatally assume.
This endeavor to exalt individuals at tn
expense of parties and of principles, it
the mission and duty of the Democl att
party to Illustrate. The nations quarrt
lies not with this or that Republica
leader, but with the Republican organiza
ton. We care nothing for particula
members of it. Conkiing, Blaine, Morton
Bristow are nothing, except so far as the
have helped to maintain it liz its misgoV
eminent and may help to maintain it still
1t is the Republican party which ha
squandered the public money. multiple
public Offices for party ends, deranged tn
laws of trade, disordered the finances
paralyzed the industries of the people
trampled on the traditions of the republ
and broken down the safeguards of civ
liberty. 1t is the Republican party whic
has fastened itself upon the country like
huge devil-fish, till the resources of col
tinent are shrivelling up in its deadly en-
brace. The instant political necessit
OF America is to pluck this thing away.
feelings much longer to the body polite
will suck the life out Of Republican go,
eminent. After we have got rid of thi
all changes, all reforms will begin TO
easy. Until we get rid of this any re-
reform, any serious change is ridiculous
impossible. An angel OF light elected
the presidency by the Republican par
must be elected by Republican politician
and office holders, and pledged to Repul
lican methods. Though nominated by a
the parsons ard professors in MassachI
sets, such president, elected by such
party, will be powerless for good,
matter how good his intentions may
II the Archangel Michael, who dea
with the serpent father of all rings, pas
present and to come, were TO appe
IN person in the Cincinnati convent,
and be acclaimed there as a heave
sent compromise candidate. assuapi,
the bitter rivalries of the fateful fonr.
would find himself groveling under his d
ieated adversary OF old before his fir
PRESIDENTIAL term was half spent Not
ang could prevent this, For his elect,