The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-01
MERCER CORRESPONDENCE.
Politics, Newspapers, etc.

HAMLET, Ills. July 81. 1876
With the exception of a small shower
on Saturday last, we have had a continu-
Gus week of fair weather, SO that farmers
have nothing to complain of in that line
and as a consequence harvesting is about
through with.
From the position assumed by the
Aledo Banner, the Democracy of Mercer
county are left without an organ. At the
county convention, last week, at Aledo,
the Banner was virtually repudiated as
being no longer of orthodox political faith,
and an effort made to recognize the
Keithsburg Neaos as the official organ OF
the party in that county. 1t was perfectly
right to repudiate the Banner fer its
treachery to the party from whence it
derives its support, but substituting the
keithshurg paper is like Jumping out
of the frying pan into the fire." While of
course we would like to have good, sound
Democratic newspaper, published within
the county, as the official mouth piece Of
the party, we are by force of circumstances
denied that boon. therefore, how much
+ more sensible it would have been on the
part u. the Democratic county convention
10 have declared The ARGUS the organ
OF the party until such time as county
organ could be provided THE ARGUS
has an extensive circulation in Mercer
county, almost as large as that OF any OF
the county newspapers, and tar larger
than the Keithsburg Neios, which is as sick y
} in typographical construction as it Is
/ weakly in political sentiment
We have in Mercer county some of the
ablest and very best Democrats to be
| found in the state, but there is not the
least effort al party organization, and as a
q result, the Republicans, who are well or
ganized, walk over the political track year
: " to confident and assured victory. The
Democracy of this county in the past few
years have acted just as toolishly as those
of Henry county, the other day, when they
ratified the Republican nominations on
the ground that there was no use of max
=, ing any contest, as they would be beaten
anyhow. Men who display such a craven
e spirit such an utter absence of principle, are
= a disgrace to the party, and are not in-
spired by a single grand idea of which the
i Democratic party is made up. The De
: mocracy Of Mercer county, if in the mi
> nority, are capable of making a good
u square fight that will at least rebound to
a their credit. Without organization they
e can do nothing, ard only make themselves
q ridiculous by an opposition that has not
even the merit of earnestness
{ With organization there is no doubt but
It that Mercer would place herself on the list
is OF Democratic counties Nine-tenths OF
the granger element and four-ffths of the
> soft-money men would vote the Democratic
. in preference to the Republican ticket
to While there is quite respectable num-
IS Der of intelligent Democrats In the county
: who favor what is generally called the
"greenback system" when it comes tC
- putting themselves in opposition to the
l. nominees of the St. Louis convention
lie thereby virtually throwing their influence
m 10 behalf Of continuance OF the cOrrup
=. Republican party in power, would not fo
a moment entertain the thought. Th'
ID Cooper ticket, with the Banners infu
TX ence, will poll very few votes in the coun
~ ty, although the few men composing tina
= element are active to a degree that thu
Democracy might pattern after with cred
le it TO themselves.
a | have had occasion number of time
on ately, in political disputatons, to brin
10 THE ARGUS in contact with the Union o.
, questions OF 1act, ana I'D every instance
Id the Gi>credit Of the latter. While tn
RS. ARGUS is strong party paper, at tn
same time it is a source Of qualification t
its numerous readers that it publishe
pothing but what is reliable 1t does nc
permit its partisan predictions to eithe
en- warp its judgment, or resort to wifi
misrepresentation nor deliberate false
at hood to deude its readers The same ca
not be said Of the Union, which is col
ire stantly peryerting the truth in the intere>
of partisanship, and to bolster up caus
r. that will not stand the test Of honest 1--WE.
u tigatioD.
oh have not as yet had any opportunit
to STE how the state ticket is receive
IS among the, masses. But the people al
~ rife for a chang; they are satisfied tn;
the Republican party is rotten 10 the cor
err and that reformation cannot be brougl
vas about within the ranks of the party now
power Thousands and thousands
ale electors will, this fall go to the polls an
he cast their votes for change OF administr
Isl ton. No change can be of any seryi>
that retains the Camerons, the Morton
80 the Conklngs. the Chandlers and tt
97nb present Republican leaders in power. "Ti
' or den and Reform" is the watchword.