The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-12-04
Ths 9ailg Arsns,
ROCK rsIAnD............IIz1no1s
(Concluded from second maze. !


soften the effect of the nonpartisan
statements of the majority. This was
done, Messrs. Hoar. Wheeler and Frye
presented a narrowing picture of the
intimidation practised by the white league
to carry the state, affirmed Kellogg's title,
disputed since 1872, and under mass Of
yerbiage contrived to confess that
the Returning Board had been guilty Of
changing the results Of the election of 1874.
They describe its action as THE illegal con-
duct the Returning Board in attempting
to cure one wrong by another" So con-
Edent were the Democrats of Louisiana in
the justice of their case and 10 their ability
to make it manifest, that they proposed to
submit the whole matter to the members
OF this committee, and MIR. Wheeler and
some of his associates became arbitrator
in the dispute. acting simply on their honor.
They effected compromise by which they
secured kellogg 8 possession of the Guber-
Material office and overthrow some of the
decisions of the Returning Board In regard
to the election of members of the lower
house, but on the whole lett the State still
pretty well in hand under the control of
their own party. In word, Mr.. Wheeler
managed to concede to the injured people
of Louisiana as little as possible, and to
bring Louisiana Republicanism out of the
conflict as little torn and bedraggled with
mire as could have been expected alter its
disgraceful fall. With his reputation as a
mediator still new and glossy Mr.. Wheeler
received the nomination of the Republican
party for the Vice Presidency, and instantly
| f1inging the spirit of compromise behind him
gave his voice Immediately afterwards, in
public speech of acceptance, for bloody
shirt campaign, and that in the most often
siVe possible spirit. After the election he
kept quiet while the Louisiana Returning
Board was tampering with the returns.
though the report which he had signed de-
clared in express terms that this body had
mo right Ito do anything except to canvass
and compile the returns" and that in cases
where riot was alleged by the proper au
thorities the board should investigate the
charges on hearing of both the parties in
terested in the result of the election. He
made no protest whatever against the re
suits Of a canvass conducted 10 a manner
which he had himself described in these
terms: ut never could have been mean
that this board, of its own motion. sitting
in New Orleans, at distance from The
place of voting, and without notice. coulC
decide the right of persons claiming to b,
elected" With the Inauguration of course
he disappeared politically, and the oblivion
of the Vice Presidency covered him. I'll,
has taken no active part in the Cancellation
or civil service reform policy of Presiden
Hayes, and it is generally understood tina
neither with Cancellation nor with reform
has he any hearty sympathy. The hast
with which he has now come forward t
, throw his influence in favor of continue
carpet bagging to serve plain party end
will certainly confirm this impression.
Is clear that in bis anxiety to secure the &C
mission of Kellogg he hesitates to apply
the work of the Returning Board done las
winter what he said of the same work tn
winter before There lis no more dan
geruus form Of sef-delusion than tina
which Induces men 10 high places of pub
tic truSr to violate law 10 redress or pre-
vent what they deem public wrongs" w
wish it were possible 70 believe that in hi
present course the Vice President had eve
tie poor excu>e u, "a, ,uSIun.