The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-12

Republicans wish to do, but what they
win have to do, if they take false step at
this time. IF they accept power from I'M
clean hands, they can meyer check or lay
bare the fraud of those who thus make the
tenure of their authority. They must
hide wrong doing and shelter from punish
ment or they win expose the rotten basis
of their positions. The past shows the
danger Of such false steps. If the admin
istration had needed the warnings of its
own friends and had not upheld by force
the men 10 Louisiana convicted of Illegal
acts, our country would not now be
INVOLVED IN THESE PERILs.
Because it shielded wrong doing then, it is
pressed TO do so now. 1t must 90 farther
and deeper in violence, if it lacks courage
and patriotism now, When it bases it's
authority upon mere force, it will fall
under the slavery of men it meant to use
as tools and to tolerate merely for party
purposes. They will be compelled to meet
their brazen demands. Their claims as
the makers Of the administration cannot
be questioned. On this history willrepeat
itself.
10 view OF the vital Importance of the
questions which agitate our country, mere
partisan results of the election sink into
insigni6cance. If the only question was
who should hold certain political positions,
we might look with complacency upon the
| political outrages and blunders which our
opponents may commit, In their efforts to
THwART THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
The majority cannot be kept out of power
for any length of time, by any devices.
The policy heretofore pursued by the ad-
ministratiou toward the south, and partic-
ularly iu Louisiana, has cut down the
Republican majorities in the northern
states since 1872 more than FIVE hundred
thousand votes
If we sought merely party advantages
we could not regret their folly if they con-
tinue policy which has driven from their
ranks such multitudes of men; which has
placed them in the minority in the union,
and which will drive them out of power in
every city, county, and state. At the first
elections it would clear the senate, and
purge the house of every guilty actor in
wrong doing. They have more political
power to lose outside of the capitol at
| Washington than the honest result of this
election will take from them at the seat OF
| government. Complaints are now made
by Republicans throughout the country
that their interests are sacrificed to the
SELFISH SCHEMES OF FEW LEADERS.
will not speak harshly of what men
may have been inclined to do before the
heat of the contest had passed away.
They have been tempted to follow the
shadow of victory, although it would proYe
ghost of success which would lead TO 9
| political grave. We trust that calmel
moments will bring wiser counsels, for il
the end their own partisans will condemn
them and look upon them as tainted mer
| who are to be summed The politica
action of the year has taught the lessor
that men must not be too hot Republican:
if they wish 10 stand we'll with the Repub.
lican party. Its honors have not beer
given to those who have been foremost in
defending its action or indicating its poll
cy. Let those who have triumphed in Its
conventions take care that they in turn dc
not become over jealous, and fall as did
their RIVALS by outrunuing the wishes and
purposes Of their own organization. Ever
those who love the treason will desert the
traitor
IN THEIR TINE OF TRIAL.
At this crisis of our affairs, the Demo
cratic party, conscious Of its strength anG
the business Of its position, and feeling
that future power is theirs, will do NJ
unwise or unpatriotic act which will de
stroy its heritage. Its members will as
sert their rights and vindieate the charac
ter of our political institutions by all lega
methods. They will arouse the spirit o
justice in our people by exposing outraget
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