The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-17

The Mississippi Office Holders Disband
their Party in that state.

We have confidence in the wisdom OF Pres
ident Hayes, and paralyzed and powerless
as we are, we profoundly regret any effort,
coming from any quarter, to weaken his
arm, or which might tend in the slightest
degree to render unsuccessful the high
experiment In statemanship which he is
now making.
The facts of history speak for them
selves Fraud, intimidation, and violence
hare practically diSfrdRchiSed the Repub-
LicdR party iR.this State: and until the. time
shall come when we can stand erect in any
presence as freeman, and assert and en-
force our rights at the ballot-box, we be-
lieve it to be the part OF wisdom to refrain
from the unequal and hopeless con-
test. With the recollection of the
campaigns Of 1875 and 1876 fresh in
our memory, we decline to engage in a con-
fiict which promises an increase of bitter
ness, with equally disastrous results.
A host of heroes much more numerous
than the members of the Republican party
in Mississippi have, in days gone by, laid
down their lives to save their country.
We can we'll afford to sacrifice our party
organization upon the same altar, and leave
the solution Of the problem to those who
have the power to solve it.
In conclusion, we desire to add that our
action is not influenced by any want Of
faithful adhesion to the principles of the
Republican party. We confidently be-
lieve that upon the success of those princi-
Piles depends the perpetuity of the govern
ment itself, but we also believe that 1t IS
expedient for the Republican party to re-
tire from the political arena in this state.
This is no doubt intended to be severe
upon Mr.. Hayes Southern policy and civil
service orders. If the Office holders are
to be deprived the privilege Of managing
caucuses and conventions, then, so far as
the State of Mississippi is concerned it
becomes necessary to disband the organi-
zation. This is virtual confession that
the Office holders constitute all there is Of
the party in that state capable of mana
ging party affairs and of keeping up the
semblance of a party. Republicans have
hitherto claimed that Mississippi has a
Republican majority of 10000 at least, and
the action Of the committee in the face OF
such claim is certainly very unusual
proceeding. The present step is not at all
in keeping with the pretended claim. We
see no such movement on the part OF
Democrats in iowa or Vermont where they
are known to be hopelessly in minority.
Though always beaten at the polls. and
conducting their political contests in the
face of such known result, still they yield
nothing to adversely, but continue from
year to year to do battle in behalf Of the
political principles which they have so long
and ardently cherished and maintained.
But it is otherwise, it seems, with the
Republicans of Mississippi. So soon as
they find they are left to take care Of them
selves, and that the federal power is not to
be prostituted to the labor of creating and
upholding a carpet bag party, they
Immediately throw up the sponge and re-
fuse TO longer make any contest. The
reasonable presumption IS that their
boasted majority is myth, that they ore
perfectly conscious of this fact, and that
the pretense Of fraud, intimidation and
violence is merely al endeayor to con.
ceal the fact that they have fallen into 8
helpless minority. The pretense of having
a majority is based entirely upon the fact
OF there being a greater number OF color
ed than white votes in this state. Bu
this Of itself is not proof Of a majority. A
very considerable proportion Of colorec
votes is cast with the whltes-even Re
publicans admit they voted largely fol
Hampton in South Carolina. and it is mol
improbable they voted largely with
the Democrats in Mississippi. Look
ing at the number Of votes polled
taking the whole state together
it is very certain that large numbers Of
oolored citizens voted the Democratic
ticket. A much stronger reason for the
detection of the colored vote may be found
in the notorious dishonesty, worthlessness
and reckless administration of the carpet
bag governments, which have plundereC
white and black Unfortunately. Such o.
the coored citizens as possessed either in
telligence or property have come at las
to recognize the prohigacy and ruin which
were impending, and have wisely deter
mined to leave their pretended friends GU
in the cold where they belong.
Knowing these facts, as they very vel
do, the Republican State Committee have
concluded to disband their organization
and it was a very sensible thing for theu
to do.
If the committee had desired to main
tain their organization; if they had fell
real and earnest devotion to the principles
which the party Processes to inculcate il
short, if their whole end and aim had no
been centered exclusively 10 the possession
Of the spOils, it would have been an easy
matter TO have resigned their Offices unde
the government, and periodically devoted
themselves to the labor of running thu
machine" 1t is sad to think that Mr.
Hayes has only left them the ALTERNATIVE,
OF ceasiDg to intermeddle in caucuses anC
conventions,or elseresign the governmental
pap 1t seems they prefer to let the part,
slide, and hang on to the emoIuments ant
profits Of office.
Under these circumstances we are no
inclined to attach any great weight to tn
doletul whine of men who have mad
themselves such a plain and obvious ex
ample of the moral andintelectual SLAYER,
10 which an ofice-holding habit reduces il
victims. Presented in its proper ligh