The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-04-24
From he LOann Citn prsss.
OPINIONS BEFORE THE FACT.


The leading Republican papers of Iowa
had their say about Hayes's recognition of
Hampton and Nichols, in advance. They
were frank in saying that if Hayes re-
fused to sustain Packard's title he COO
demned his own. Ben Butler expressed
an opinion which may preface theirs.
When asked what he thought of the pros
pective abandonment by Hayes of Pack
ard he replied:
''Tf client of mine had been acquitted
on the testimony of two or three witnesses,
aud, after he was discharged from custody,
should have the witnesses indicted for
false swearing in his case, would be
inclined to think that he was a damned
fool"
The Oskaloosa Herald, edited by the
chairman of the Iowa Republican central
committee, Mr.. Leighton, said:
IF Rutherford B. Hayes had entered
the canvass in Iowa with the avowed pur-
pose of Withdrawing the troops from the
southern states, and thus virtually giving
them over to the tender mercies of white
leagues and bulldozers; instead of 10000
majority, Iowa would not have given him
600. That is the way the Iowa Republ
cans feel about the matter. So far as we
are concerned, we feel that the recognition
of Hampton would be an Internal outrage,
and Nichols worse yet IF he
displaces the legally elected governor
Chamberlain, simply to satisfy the c-y of
more, more," that goes up from the
Unsuitable nav of southern rebels, the
blue has been utterly discarded, the grey
recognized, and now the bloodlest handed
murderers in the south are arguing their
claims for supremacy, with, as it now
looks, a fair chance to be recognized. Ii
they are, then we think the Republican
party. nationally, would do we'll to knock
the goddess of liberty in the head, decapi
tate the American eagle, trade the nation
al flag for stars and bars, and then 1--WE
were going to say, commit suicide, bu
there will be little left to commit it on.)'
The Fairfield Ledger, edited by Mr.
Junkin, had this opinion:
'The administration can recognize thu
Hampton government in South Caro-
lima without casting a stain upon its title
but should it recognize the Nichols gov
eminent, of Louisiana, we shall believ
that Mr.. Tilden and not Mr.. Hayes shoulC
be president of the United States"
The Gate City excused the coming &C
by declaring that the election in Louisi
ana last fall was all fraud, and declare
that:
Had presidency not been at stake, W
have no doubt but all fifteen members O
the commission would have been unanimou
in so finding. We also have no doubt tina
there must be method by which a stat
or states shall be prevented in their cleo
toral vote and return from committing
fraud upon the other states, the other par
ties in interest, in federal election"
The Desmoines Register was holder thar
any and in a studied editorial insistedItha
as Packard and Hayes rose together, to
gether must they fall. 1t said:
There is no possible chance. that j
honest, to distinguish between Hayes an
Packard in the vote of Louisiana Packar
had thousand more votes in the state tina
Hayes had, If Packard did not have
majority of the fair and legal vote O
Louisiana, Hayes did not have-and i
Packard is not legally the governor of Loui
s;ana, Hayes is not legally the president 0
the United States.
IF the whole Louisiana question is t
be opened up anew, on the grounds @
justice and the demands of honesty
it should be opened up to ascertain
whether Hayes holds his Office honestly
as well as to ascertain if Packard hold
his honestly. And, If President Have
doubts the. title of Packard to the gov
H.
he sends commission to investigat
the matter, he must also doubt his owl
title to the presidency, The other, an
final, and illogical conclusion is, that
Packard is found to have so little rea
claim upon the Office that he must
displaced with Nichols through or b
federal Intervention, then the presiden
himself, who began the inquiry in
to the honesty of the vote of the state
must, on the same grounds of honesty ant
legality, decline longer to hold the offic
he is now occupying Let the question o
honesty go to the severest and extemes
length of honesty. Then, with the issu,
pitched on its last and most solemn stake
the country will be able to see who ar
indeed the most honest Republicans
those who, talking so much about INA
chine Republicans, want to give away tn
Republicans OF the south, and cali tn
treachery and ingratitude by the name
of craftsmanship and reform. or thos
who insist upon the maintenance of tina
sort of Republican which the party plat
forms have always outlined and declared
There is certainly something in such Re
publiclsm, else the party has lived Ii
and been he all its life. And if there j
anything in such Republicanlsm, which ha
either the honesty of principle or tn
courage OF fellowship, it ought to be jus
as willing to yield the rights to the part
IN the nation as it would be to yield right
OF the Republicans'o of single state. We be