The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-08-17
A FEW SERIOUS THOUGHTS FOE
rNnRPENnErrR EPuRr.rcAMs

INDEPENDENT REPUBLrCANs.
We have reached period 10 the condi-
ton of our country that demands the
serious reflection Of all who properly ap-
preciate the supremacy Of law, of good or
der, and the stability Of our government.
1t cannot be truthfully denied that for
many years past there has been a great
falling off in the moral tone Of protessed
politicians and particularly among that
class who have been prominently connected
with the administration of government.
We have seen whole communities en-
FILTERED and drawn into strife by reckless
associations of individuals taking the law
into their own hands and executing sum-
mary vengeance upon suspected parties.
We have seen mobs, again and again, put
all the authorities of great cities to def
ance, and in their fury resisting not only
the civil but the military authorities, and
inviting all the dread consequences of the
torch and the bullet.
We have seen the highest officers and
directors of incorporated institutions en-
riching themselves by fraud and robbery
and bankrupting the corporations whose
management had been intrusted to their
care. We have seen officers of the general
government violate their oaths Of Office,
and by speculation, peculation, and fraud,
become defaulters to the aggregate amount
of many millions of dollars. We have
seen men in high places stepping above
and beyond the constitution in the exer-
else of usurped power, and we have heard
the transgressor lauded by the multitude
for his boldness and daring. We have
seen foresworn officials suppress and count
out the votes of elections in order to return
minority candidates and obtain control Of
state legislatures and state Offices, and we
have seen all possible preparations made
to maintain by force and arms these
monstrous schemes, and the aid of the
general government invoked TO perpetuate
the fruits of perjuries iuDumerable. and
frauds which shamed and disgraced the
manhood of the times and were an outrage
to modern civilization. All these are but
a part of the deep stains that rest upon
the country, from the conduct of those vino
have set the laws at defiance, and have
disregarded all the restraints of morals and
duty.
Evidently these crying evils are the eff
fects of adequate causes. May they MOI
be largely traced to the departure, in the
: administration of the government, frou
those sound principles which distinguished
the earlier history of the country. Ma.
they not be for the most part attributed Il
the legislation and the mal-administratioI
c of public affairs within the last ten O
twelve years, for great part of which
time the government has been admins
tered more in reference to the prospects o
party leaders, and to the supremacy of the
party, than in obedience to the great inter
ests of the country? The Acknowledgment
is general on all sides that business i
greatly Frustrated. and that the people ar
. on the verge Of severe, and possibly o
Il protracted suffering. We have only t.
j look around us on either hand to be sur
that such is the case.
: The insidious legislation in behalf @
certain classes, especially certain classes c
public creditors, has given to the capital
lists and tie bondholders control over tn
" finances of the country. The refined mod
= of fleeing and extortion which moder
= legislation has accomplished has given
the few as against the many positive cor
, y troll over the price of food. of raiment, an
other indispensable articles of necessit
and comfort Pretending to egislate wit
q. view to promote industry and protect th
$ general interests of the community, th
= management of government machinery hi
= beer secured and used to levy obscure an
= indirect taxation on everything used by th
common mass Of people, to the creation
. huge overgrown monopolies, and to rel
dering more and more marked that broa
distinction of society of few very rich al
the mass very poor, which is apparent
any attentive observer who contemplate
the present distress Of the laboring class,
~ and the appalling future Immediately nea
= 1.-THE appropriations of the earnings of Il
" great body of the people is to continue
80 be the special privilege of the favored FEY
the time has arrived when reforms
legislation and in government affairs a
he absolutely necessary, when the hone
lis poor men aud the honest rich men shou
an join hands and labor together for true r
wv form. The old issues, over which parti
u have fought for thirty years, are dea
lie The great battle of the sections is foug
be out. There is no longer a South; Il
e, negro's rights are so safe that even 10 Il
an recent Mississippi Democratic Convent,
of there we're colored delegates, and color,
be man was voted for for State office. Ne
on questions. are coming up, questions of tart
Id trade, capital and labor. commerce, Gu
Id rency and transportation, and on these
at is inevitable that new issues will arise al
be new parties come to the front, and u
e. will step out of the old parties and a
"a. their associates to come up to the nj
positions they take.
1t will he useless for the politicians
attempt to push back the new question
lis to array Republicans against Democra
ur by empty denunciations of political opr