The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-19
G gu 9ailg Argas,
Labor Champions.


The political season is prolific with new
issues, or, to speak more correctly. with
new questions. 1t has witnessed the birth
OF the nationals, the greenbackers. and has
given strength to the so-called labor move
ment. All these new movements" are
easily traced back in their source to repub-
llcan INSTRUMENTATION The prostitution
OF the Offices of the national government
by republican renegades, the loss of the
public revenues in the pockets of unprin-
ciple and greedy republican statesmen, the
administering OF the government with the
sole purpose to perpetuate radical mlsrule,
to the utter disregard of the interests OF
the people, had their result in tie financial
| depression which has existed 10 the coun-
| try since the fall OF 1873 The business
crash which set in at that time opened the
eyes of the people TO the manner in which
| they had been misgoverned. With the
stoppage of the manufactures and the
prostration of all business enterprise, the
determination became general to remedy
the evil by striking at its source. With
the majority of the public that pur-
pose took form in the determination to
place the democratic party in the control
of the government. On the other hand,
however, with the honest rank and file of
the republicans, who believed in reforming
within the party, the purpose was evinced
10 the aim to nominate as a candidate for
the presidency a man who had not been
contaminated by the corruptions 10 the
republican rule. The result of the cleo
ton in 1876 disappointed both of these
classes of political reformers. The repub
licans saw in fraud triumphant" a
worse exhibition of radical rascality than
any which had gone before, aud later in
the rule OF Mr.. Hayes beheld no hope OF
that reform and wise administration OF the
government that would bring relief to the
suffering people generally, and especially
to the laboring class of the community.
This was the foundation of the movement
within the republican party which has
taken shape in the so-called nationals and
greenbackers
On the other hand, some of those who
strove for democratic success in 1876 have
since felt dissatisfied with that party be.
cause they believe that, sfter all their eff
forts, the party victory vas thrown
away by the timid and yacilating course:o
s the democratic candidate Tor the presi
e dency, They have the impression that il
that fight tie democratic cause was con
Quoted in the interest Of capital, to the ex
elusion OF those of the working people
And to this fact it is due, that some VIII
r labored in the democratic ranks during tn
last campaign now class themselves witt
the new movements" But as a rule tn
? detection from the democratic ranks i
smail, as compared to the number VIII
= have left the republicans. The laborers
as class, still look upon the Democrat
q party as the enemy of monopoly, and a
the champion of the workingman's cause
10 New ork city this is especially the CASE
The national party in the metropolis
composed mostly of those who hav
heretofore been c!assed as repubI
cans. The little strength whic
it would have if a solid organization is al
most entirely dissipated by the dissensior
8 OF its leaders, and its political infuenC
s can only be weighed by the efforts Whic
political adventures make to use it to the
!, personal advantage, There is, and ther
naturally always will be, in this city, s,
- of political hawks whose only stock
D trade consists III their ability to palm then
selves off for what they are not. Thei
adventures cannot obtain any standing
5. tberegular political organization, for thel
FF they are known, and the only positiC
which they could obtain would be that re-
: resented by notbingness. But the sci
esteem of these men is something wonde
full, and their greed for position is insati
= BILE. Since they cannot obtain it in Il
regular organizations of their fellow-m
they become political adventures, waitiI
for something to turn up which they C,
'E' turn to their advantage. There was nev
ty, a new movement organized but that the
-, men were found claiming to be especial
nd lifted to champion aud lead its cause
let would not matter whether the party W
formed for the propagation of Bob" !
gersoll's principles or to put down heath
nism in the world, there they would
found demanding to be its leaders, Th
. are to politics what the putty-ball is 10 t
mechanic, always ready to fill up t
. cracks, no matter what shape or size til
may be.