The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-02

Poor Ola Party; Il is in Danger.

souls We trust they all are,-wlll remem-
Der the great cutlery made by the Silver
smiths at Ephesus, who effected to believe
the craft" 10 danger by reason of the
introduction of Christianity and the success |
Of the Apostle in propagating new reli-
gion. Our Republican partizan friends
have experienced similar feeling for some
time past, which rather increases in in
tensity instead Of diminishing, aud seems
likely TO end at last in as great an uproar
as the cry of danger to the craft" pro.
duced in the days of old. Every body
Moderated very loudly during the last
presidential contest their anxiety for re-
form, and every body intended to reform,
or to reform his neighbor, which was
much the same thiug,-so that in any
event, let which party succeed that might,
there was great promise of the frightening
up of the political horizon and of the res
toration of soundness and health to the
body polite. The promise of reform nat
urally came with good grace from the
Democrats who have been so long non
participants in national administration that
in the event Of their success it was GER
tain they would make a change in affairs,
and such change they naturally would, and
perhaps properly could, denominate reform.
The Democratic House of Representa-
tives, the popular branch Of Congress,
took such action that the incoming admin
istration, represented by Mr.. Hayes and
his spotless reformers, was obliged to re-
form to the extent of adopting the Demo.
cratic policy in regard to Florida, Louis
lana and South Carolina; and though it
was done rather ungraciously aud through
the agency of an irresponsible commission,
still the administration felt the necessity
and performed the act The Democrats,
to less or greater extent, have applauded
even tie reluctant and tardy restoration Of
civil authority to its rightful supremacy
above the military in Mr.. Hayes iSoutherr
policy. One would suppose the Repub'
licans would rejoice to see the Democrats
approving q reform which their own Pres
ident claims as one of his special meas
ures, but it seems otherwise; aud we have
the spectacle in the New Hampshire legisla
ture of a Republican majority coolly. tablinG
a resolution Of approval Of the acts of tn
president upon this subject, and the inhi
bitiou of Office holders managing caucuse
and conventions, apparently only becaus
some Democrat had introduced the resolu
ton. This is peculiarly unfortunate 70
Mr.. Hayes, who about this time begins
need little Endorsement, some holding u
of his hands as was done to Joshua of old
lest be should become weary in vel. doing
and languish for want of support. Car
ddly speaking, we think the inteIhgeu
and reasonable portion of the Republica
party are DESTROYS of upholdiDg the &C
miuistration, and that they think it ougt
to be indorsed, but such is the perversit
of human minds they don't want any i1
dorsing of it by Democrats, and viii
they hold the rod of threatened disafectic
over Mr.. Hayes head, they are very Sc
sitive about any approval which does n
emenate from themselves
The parable of the Pharisee and Il
Publican has stood for the type of &c
tain class of men ever since the Christii
era, and now comes the Chicago Journ
with the same old refrain, lit says:
Speaking of the order recently issued
President Hayes against government ofhC
holders taking an active part in the ma
ipulation OF political primaries, conve
tons, ETC., the Democratic No
HOTld says: -.s president strikes at the taprC
rIS,u-service inefIicency. irregulrity, extra
ganee and corruption. II this order be enforce
all else Of reform will follow naturally and east
Officials will become the friends instead of the eI
mics OF the people and the people OF all parties
become their friends. Enforce this order and
expenses Of the national administration can
enormously reduced for one official can perfo
tive othcers cease to NEEDLE in politics. nobody "
ask for the removal of subordDates so long as tn
are honest and competent and dilligent. AS ii
now, Oficals call for and compel their own
movalb by offensive acts in politics.
These are good words and we like
read them; yet it is q fact which d
World will not attempt to deny, tn
should the Democrats elect the next pre-
dent, all the good work which ALr Han,
adIuiBirnsn IN tine cause OF civil service +
form, which that paper now approve
would be summarily overthrow aud nu
he'd. The old cry Of the Democratic par
leaders would be taken up anew-''to ii
vlctors belong the spoils and then wou
follow the corrupting demoralizing old o
der OF party discipline, the chief foatu
OF which 49, that the Offices having BET
distributed around among the most reckle
and INSCRIPTIONS of the party workers,
reward for services performed, 1t follow
as n matter of course, that the incum ben
shall use all their official influence an
patronage for their own and "the party's
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
The party is evidently IN great distress
1t is moribund; 1t has some vitality mel
the seat OF government, but it is fearful
exercised among its members; and viii
we are perfectly willing to permit the r
publicans to minister to their swn priva
ills and grievances,it is extremely Fraction
and uncivil on their part to say that Q
wisdom, intelligence, virtue and good 20
eminent will expire upon the approachir
demise of their weakened, divided, al
dying party. They have so frequent
proclaimed the death and burial of Il
Democratic party that it become melal
cholly pleasure to reciprocate the favo
1t the Democratic party is dead as RepuI
hcans allege. and if the Republican part
Is divided, MORALLY injured, and doome