The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-09-05

Will they condemn demagogisu? The
lime has come when every citizen should |
take an active part in the primary meet |
ings to the end that their delegates may
understand their wants and wishes and
that the best men may be nominated.
The call for the democratic convention
cannot fail to meet the approval of al who
believe 10 reform, and all who do thus
believe are invited to participate in it; to
select delegates; to nominate men of their
own choice, thereby checking one of the
greatest evils Of American politics, viz.
demagogism. IF all the people who under
stand the obligations of citizenship and
who are willing to fulfil them would join
themselves together for few years, with
out reference to political differences, and
make common war upon the demagogue,
it would work a wonderful reform in poll
tics, In times like these the dsmagogue
is pestiferous nuisances to society and
the common enemy of all classes. Whether
upon the stump or through the press, his
utterances are always made with reference
to their use in the next election, If a mob
defies the law he first measures the size
and influence of the mob before taking
sides, and if be finds 10 it material which
he can convert to profit in the future he
will either apologize for or array Almself
forIit. If the mob is broken down and
defeated. and prevented from destroying
property and shedding innocent blood, he
will, in the most plausible manner, claim
that his temporizing with the mob pre-
| vented these things. If the mob is sue
cessfuI for time in defying law and the
government he will stand IN with them
| lust as far az he can without subjectlDg
himself to the penalties of the law.when
| it is vindicated. He is too cowardly to
ioin the crowd, but ever willing to apollo
pize and palliate and excuse their acts,
however desperate and revolutionary.
He discusses fuently the liberty of the
press, and yet is ready to excite the vicious
| to destroy any press that exposes his
villiany and hypocrisy. His theme is the
rights and liberties of man, yet he can see
no wrong in one man on his side holding
a pistol to the head of one who does not
agree With him, and saying he will blow
his brains out if he moves in the line oil
duty. He proclaims for our bill of rights
and asserts the innocence of men
who seize and hold the poperty
of others. He bowls for the
rights of labor and laudsT the laborer, YET
meyer did an honest days work in bis life
He asserts that the labor should bt
literally rewarded, and yet in his OWE
affairs will grind the face of the poor la
borer aud deny him the payment of wages
he has honestly earned, wearing him GU
and discouraging him by tedious course
of litigation In courts when he possess
superior influence. He will invest il
profitable bank stocks and share thu
dividend of United States bonds, and ye
; denounce the charter of the bank tina
enables him to grind the usurious interes
from the borrower. lie will denounce tn
wages paid to labor by bis neighbor as 10
ADEQUATE to sustain life when he is, him
self, compelling men to work for less pric
per diem. He will encourage and apollo
pize for schemes which are unlawful ant
utterly destructive of all business, and ye
plead with the business men whom he ha
injured for power and patronage, Hei
for protection" for the manufactures ant
in mining districts and for free trade
with the farmers. He is for universe
J suffrage if he can obtain the votes for hi
party, and if not, he would exclude Who'll
race from the state. He is for all kinds c
mouey in limited quantities, withou
reference to redemption or depreciatio
10 value He would persuade day labor
er that shinplaster was Of more value
IL 1Ol1 oh1a 10 of
has taken advantage of his ignoranc'
These are only few of the characteristic
of modern demagogue, whoi is today th
o greatest enemy Of political society and goo
e government. How are we to deal wit
/, him is the question of the hour. Or
greatest safeguard is, of course, IN ii
/. education and intelligence of the peopl
What kind of figure would the men CT
d who have (by means purely demagogica
been elevated TO the highest Office in Il
gift of the people in some of the westel
states if called to the same Office in Il
10 eastern states? The thing is ridiculo1
; TO contemplate. The demagogues mu
Z be sent to the rear.
The times are propitious for doing
The political parties should be taught tn
d. it is unsafe to nominate a demagogu
They often obtain strength and promi
ence in the primaries on account of the
re cunning in the tricks of demagogy. Let
a. few such nominations be condemned
the people; let it be understood that dem
&c gogism cannot be rewarded, and we W
have less of it. And the surest way to
this and condemn the demagogues W
J.. have held sway in this county is to attel
H. the primaries, to be present at the &C
he ventioD, to nominate men from the pt
Ii pie and then go home and elect the
II The democrats call for a convention
- broad enough for ALL 1t means all it sa,
Ut 1t is in fact the peoples convention in o
er position to the politicians and Office see
xt ers convention which meets one week ca
lier.