The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-24
A Republican Attempt to Wipe out the
States.


The order which "the machine in
Washington has Just issued, respecting
voting at elections in any Of the states, and
purporting to be based on the resolution
recently adopted by the house, will turn
out most destructive boomerang for the
inventors. That it is partisan move
ment is apparent on its face, because, first,
the resolution was only adopted by one
house, and therefore is not joint resou-
ton with the force of ldlo; and secondly,
If taken only as statement OF facts, or an
expression Of opinion by the Democratic
house as to affairs in the south, the action
of the president is evidence that the ad
ministrGtion had been remiss in the prem
ises.
In any event, the Democratic party Of
the house, by adopting its resolution, testi-
fed to all men its settled purpose to pre-
serve the ballot free and pure, no matter
what the consequences OF such Democratic
freedom and purity might be to either
party. More than this, it proclaimed II
the south that Republican institutions
being possible only on the condition Of
preserving an honest ballot box, the ballot
box must and shall be kept honest in that
section Of the country as well as in every
other section, at the approaching presideu.
tial election by the enforcement Of the
laws upon the statute books. A negro
shall have as fair an opportunity to vote
in every southern state as "A white man.
and Democrat born in the south as u
carpet-bagger born in the north. This
resolution, introduced by Mr. Lord, it is
well known, had the cordial appreciation
of Governor Tilden, as it has Of all Demo
Gratis. But it gave no power or authority
to the president in the premises which he
did not before possess, and it was intended
to confer none. 1t was simply an effort
of the Democratic house 10 bring its moral
influence to bear on any one in the south,
or elsewhere, who might be tempted so
far to forget himself or his country as to
think Of trying to carry elections by force,
intimidation or bribery. As such it stands
aad will remain an enduring monument
Of tae patriotism Of bouy which Repub.
licans seek to stigmatize as Confederate
House To the machine" order issued
thereon the Democracy have no objection,
provided that in its execution the laws are
obeyed which demand:
/. That the president shall not use OF
permit the use Of the military arm OF the
nation gill called upon by the legislature OF
the state, n II Is IN session o. can be con
vened; and if not by the legislature, then
by the executive, setting forth why the
legislature is not or cannot be assembled
2 That the exigency for the use oil
the federal military arm be such that il
cannot be adequately dealt with by the
state.
3. That the military when employed
be to enforce order, and only under thC
direction of judi cidi officers, aud for the
purpose of compelling obedience to Lawful
process.
The Democracy require for success.
nothing, in the south, so much as peace
order and tranquility. Rumors of riot
and bloodshed there are vital to Republ
can success in the north. And so far a
this order, issued at the White House
operates to deter law breakers among tn
southern people, it promotes the election
of Governor Tilden. II the legislature O
any state reports to the president that tn
lawful authorities are confronted with re
sistence to law, which it requires fedora
troops to withstand. he is bound to send
posse TO act, as the military always mus
in such cases act, under the judicial powe
directing the sheriff or marshal.
The Republican leaders will find ths