The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-10-06
SURGEONS STEALTHY STEPS
To get a denomination.
HIS DELIBERATE FALSEHooD
AND MISREPRESENTATION
70 FRIENDS.
SUPPORTED By THE REPUBLI-
CAN ORGAN oNLY FROM
BASE PERSONAL MOTIVES.
What Lifelong Republican Has 60
Say About Sturgeon and the
Union.

What Lifelong Republican Has TO
Say About Sturgeon and the
Union.
Rock ISLAND, Illinois, Get, 2, ~,
To the Editors OF the Argus:
1.-THE purest treasure mortal times afford,
Is spotless reputation; that away,
Men are but gilded loan or painted clay.
A jewel in a ten times barr'd up chest,
Is bold spirit in loyal breast, |
Mine honour is my life; both grow In onei
Take honour from me, and ny life Is done,
X. IL. l. /.
A distinguished writer of the present
day, speaking Of the security of political
liberty, declares it to be attainable only by
the force Of public opinion, formed and
Influenced by a free press, and the leglsla
tors being chosen by and from the people
upon whom those laws are to operate.
No nobler mission can be claimed by any
class of men than that of mouluing public
character, elevating the aims and aspira-
tons of their fellow-kind, and directing
them in that channel most productive of
public good. Experience has taught us
that men are prone to forget the nobility
Of their calling; often it it eclipsed by base
and unworthy motives, aud that which
acter, a blessing to the community, too
often becomes prostituted to the most sell
fish interests: and yet, professionals, how
ever lost to all sense and appreciation OF
the dignity and worth Of their profession,
will draw their cloaks about them and
pharasaically exclaim u belong to this or
that profession"
We know Of no profession so chameleon
IN sko oh oa modern
editorship. We know of no profession
which more Justly falls under public ban,
gropes in lower depths, which falls
so far below its genuine aims. We believe
it TO be the true province OF the press to
denounce and expose any state of affairs not
conducive to public welfare; to applaud
and uphold only that which is truly good;
10 denounce or commend the acts of men,
collectively or individually, regardless OF
rank or external circumstances, as those
acts may be 10 opposition to right and
Justice or worthy OF commentator.
By so doing can the press become useful
institution in society, can it command re
spect and become powerful agent for
good. Let it carefully observe men as
individuals and seek to improve their So
cial relations; OF men in public capacities,
let it hold them responsible for their every
overt act; let right, honor and justice be
engraved upon its ensign; let it desplse
trickery, sDurn the demagogue, denouIce
what is groveling and commend what is
virtuous, honorable and wise; then will the
general tone of society be elevated, and
the press accomplish its true mission.
But so long as it screens dishonor, SO
long as it countenances what is disreputa-
Bile, so long as it sanctions the unfair deal
ings of mao with his fellows, so long as II
seeks to hide from view the putrid
sores aud social cesspools which con
tamina.e society aud breed socia
corruption-just so long should it bC
despised, and those ghouls, those
news mongers who prostitute their calling
should be held up for public condemnation
There is bar of public opinion and befor,
it we hold that men should be arraignet
whenever their acts may be antagonlstc Il
the general welfare of society. L hav
been lifelong republican from choice;
have glOried in the achievements OF m
party; | have seen much worthy OF prals
and not little worthy of condemnation
| have witnessed many a political contes
and have frequently assailed what con
sidered pernicious to society. l have quiet
ly watched the recent political develop
ments in my own party with sincere regret
/ have observed self-interest outweig
public welware the press prostituted
the most unworthy ends. prominent re
publicans lending their countenance an
support to the most unfair dealings of ma
with his fellows; the general intere'
sacrificed TO that system Of political jug
Cling practiced by chronic politicians;
fine, so damnable and so utterly regardless
of every insterest, save that of self, ha
been the cause of those who take
upon themselves to direct the affairs
the republican party; and so pernicious
the course pursued, tnat we can not lODge
refrain from publicly calling them
account and exposing the talsity of pOsitio
and the baseness of motive by whic
certain things were accomplished. W
sincerely regret the present state {
affairs, but il our own party organ possess
not ono single instict aside from that
self interest; if candidates, az part, hay
sunk ;heir manhood in becoming the cal
ddate; if prominent republicans hay
thrown themselves open to censure-W
care not where the bolts may iall-C
what devoted heads they may.
In the present communication we cann
the prominent features, the nomination
NJ NJ Sturgeon, by the republican count
convention in name, but, 10 fact, a Co
ventiOn for the purpose of protecting tn
business interests of the Rock lslaI
Union But first, we have to do with tt
nominee Our principal information, '
obtained from q prominent Goal Valli
republican, delegate to the convention
aud man whose word is above suspicio
Some two years since, Mr. l.. Il. Thorn
remarked, on convention day, MIR. Stu
geOn came to me and in course of co
versaton, spoke of Mr.. McEarlane in Il
most fattering terms; stated he wOu
not be a candidate for denomination; th
he desired McEarlan TO be his successC
and requested me to convey the same
him, | did So" McFarlane saw Sturget
some time subsequent; saw him frequen
ly; saw him frequently through last wInte
definite understanding was betwe,
them. Sturgeon repeatedly advised hi
TO come out as candidate; insisted upt
1t, and McFarlane concluded to do &
Sturgeon sends for Grover, OF Moline,
April last, and insists upon his enterll
the field in the same capacity. Sou
time in the latter part OF June, StuIge
and McEarlane meet, Adams being pre-
ent; they canvass the situation togethe
advises McEarlane to 60 ahead; positive
declares to him that he will in no event
candidate; pompously asserts that
would not be bothered with the office; tn
he has Outgrown it, but declares it to be
good thing for young man just startir
Mark what follows: In less than a TO-