The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-03-31
Reply to the Unions Third Ward"


vention having solicited space for defense
of the action of the convention and a reply
to Third Ward" in the Union, we do not
feel at liberty to refuse him hearing.
The following is his communication:
Whenever chronic candidate for nom-
ination to office is defeated he never fails
to ascribe his failure to some improper
motive on the part of a convention-and
heaps abuse both on the convention and
his successful competitor. If he has an
unquenchabie thirst tor Office he runs with
out nomination, and endeavors, by fair or
foul meanr, to excite public sympathy to
secure his election.
E. G, Cropper is chronic office seeker
The charms of the public crib have lured
him from the paths of private life and he
clngs to an Office as though he enjoyed
divine right" to public emoluments, and
now he insists on being candidate for JUS
tice of the Peace, although the Democratic
convention by a vote of 2l to IA emphat-
ically rejected him as a man unworthy of
their Endorsement or support.
A writer in the Union charges the con-
vention with being blindly led to reject
him. There is not a single one of the q
delegates who voted against Mr.. Cropper
who will verify the charge of that writer;
not one but what of their own motion cast
their vote against man whom they be-
lieved to be unworthy of even administer
ing justice in an inferior court. Such a
charge is only made because Mr. Cropper is
determined to get an office, by fair means
or foul, and the first thing he must do is
to satisfy the public that the convention
rejected him without cause and by under
handed" means; and then he procures a
friend to proclaim the convention fraud
and himself highly their superior in every
respect" and pretends to scorn the base
degrees by which he would ascend. Such
la plea takes with the masses Of the people,
and Mr. Cropper, knowing we'll that ''the
tear of sensibIhty has salted many a claim
trusts to the sympathy OF those who may
be led to believe in his injured limo
cence."
The Union correspondent speaks of the
high per8onal character, ability and in
tegrity of Justice Cropper." Let US see
how this is: A justice of the peace is not
expected to be a learned man, but he
should have good sound common sense, and
should to the best of his ability do sub
stantial Justice to all whether rich or poor
high or low, without fear, favor or affec'
ton. Unjust, partial or corrupt judges
have ever been condemned throughout the
civilized world. The learning and posi-
tion of Lord Bacon could not shield hl'
character when it became known he hac
: an itching palm. Tammany's creates
: nfamies were committed by the aid OF
corrupt judges operating under the torm
| of law.
Q Why is it that poor man, f.
It mere boisterous language, would b
# publicly ined by justice of such "hig
personal character, ability and integrity,
and his name published broadcast oyer tn
i land as law breaker, and when youb
y men who are caught in the very act {
,e committing a breach of the laws of bot
2 God and man, through influential friends
wake up this high minded justice afte
midnight on Saturday night, organize
Sunday court, impose a slight penalt!
e. adjourn, in haste that all may keep th
Lords day holy, aud then suppress II
public records and shield both crimes al
criminals? No wonder some persons a
te working hard to create sympathy amor
n. the poor men!
Again:-The law allows Justice a f
of 81 Oh trials before him in contested cas-
only, An examination Of Mr.. Cropper
docket will show that in great mar
cases where there is no trial this So ext
is charged This may be seen by any o.
who will take the trouble to examine b
docket, if he will allow it to be examine
All other justices of the peace keep the
records open and public. Mr.. Cropp
keeps his closed and pirate Why?
he These are not the only objections addu
ed by the body of the convention again
rs 'our superior in every respect" Charg
of partiality, and others not necessary to
h. mentioned here, were made, one
~ which high minded" 'superio
and chivalric delegate of t
ties Third Ward" defended on the ground tt
on- he did that hineselt ! and then fin
fault because the convention thought th
at fnUo wrongs will never make one rigl
he The simple convention, after reading t
my Union, must feel, Of course, that tn
we're led astray. and our candidates MI
his hide their diminished heads and recogD
oks that they, too, knoU nothing while t
hat independent candidate embodies all t
virtue of their party and gets votes tr
r,, them while they get abuse from him.
49, This communication is not written i
al spirit of malice toward Mr.. Cropper
@'' was defeated in both conventions, VIII
mil his name was put forward, and his def,
rnoa w was not without cause. He has made hi
sa;s "S self a candidate and his public acts
90 liable to investigation. His friends cha
that he was defeated fraudulently.
per convention know that to be false.
pre- friends have maligned the Democratic c
In didates for justices, and the people kr
they have done SO, and will resent
put There are grave charges made against
aud Cropper which cannot be disproven.
ID Democratic delegates have a right to
her, card man they believe unfit for of
and and to defend their action in so doing,
to do all 10 their power to correct
ator abuses complained of by nominating
our for the Office of justice who, if elected,
the do all things fairly aud publicly and
ming know no difference between rich or p
n an high or low. ONE OF THE INFERIOR
e.