The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-02-27
Political Alliance of South and West.

Political Alliance of South and West
Clouds there are in some quarters OF the
horizon which darken the country with
threats of social strife; but at the zenith
all is clear and reassuring. The conserva-
tism of the whole country will hereafter
prove to be stronger than the radicalism
of any section.
Now as to the question so prominently
before the country the money question;
will the people of the South and the West,
including the Pacific States, unite in a
general political alliance against the people
of the North East, because they differ
from them on questions Of inanceH Or
have they so united against us? We must
answer. not for this cause alone. The fact
that the states east of Pennsylvania and
north of Delaware may be solid for a
mono-metallic currency, with gold for its
standard, or unit of value, or that they
may be solid in Congress on any phase of
this subject, only argues that their largest
interest and the greater number of their
electors require their representatives to
unite on a given policy. A minority of the
people there (perhaps large one) are not
enthusiasts for high priced money, or q
narrow basis of commercial credit, or a
small volume of circulatin coins. And
the people in all sections of the country
would equally condemn any measure OF
line Of action, in Congress or elsewhere,
that might be classed as extraordinary, in
attempting to force upon the government,
or upon the people or states of any section
of the country, policy which they deem
injurious 10 their interests, and are endeav.
oring to prevent by constitutional means.
The great majority of those who are
striving TO reverse the policy that destroyed
our silver currency are those who are and
have been the answering friends of the
Constitution.
The money question, after silver is
restored to the currency as legal-tender
coin, is only question of policy,
and not Of constitutional right. In
every respect it is question
easy Of adjustment, through the admitted
powers of Congress. 1t is a sectional
question alone for the reason that the
great and frugal people of the Northeastern
states are rich in money and public cred
Its, while we of the South and West are
embarrassed with lands that produce the
true wealth of the country, but are almost
worthless as compared with money. They
are concerned in the higher price OF
money, and we are in the lower value Of
money and the higher value of property.
While the evils complained of are griev
ious and destructive, the cause is tempo
rary, and, II relief is furnished, the cues
ton will soon vanish from public attention,
aud opinions will be reformed by the
experiences Of the next few years. The
South In uniting with the West on the
money question, will not combine against
the states of the East or the Pacific coast
In a mere effort to gain political power TO
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of one section of tn
country at the expense of another section
In every State, opinion is divided upo
the questions relating to finance, and tn
opposing interests which create or shap
these opinions are the interests Of me
who live in the same communities. 1t
called the conflict Of labor and capital
correct designation of the issue, when tn
laws of the country arbitrarily divorce tt
interests Of these classes; but it is sa
misnomer for the competition of labor an
capital, which is properly developed whe
the laws forbear TO antagonize interes
and classes which naturally unite in IL
efforts for the general welfare, IncideI
to the disturbances sought to be enge
dered between capital and labor is Il
socialistic feature in the Northern State
in politics, in the form of agrarian ar
communistic organizations.
A party organized in the interest
agriculture merely, or to advance the il
terests Of a section of country, is no mo
entitled to respect or confidence than
party organized to foster railroads
manufactures. When special interes
control any party, it is unfit to be trust
with the great and general interests of Il
community. The principles of governme
which are asserted and maintained by
party are the only tests of its claims
public confidence, The money questio
or the sectional combination of that que
ton with the tariff, with the navigati
laws, or the partial distribution of the 4
tlonal banks through the country, or 9th
causes that have provoked complai
against the Northwestern States would U
be considered by the South as affording s,
ticient cause for political combination wi
the West; but nature has decreed IL
union, and no sufficient reason exists
opposing it,
The theories of our American system
government are not yet tested by expel
ence in every particular, and we still ne
tae guidance of fixed principles La
summer we had new and remarkable re
citation of difficult questions in the lab
strikes which, in few hours, involy
whole communities and even states in t
dangers and horrors Of civil commotio
What the Federal Government could
or should do, and what the States ought
DO, were questions of serious moment, a,
they are not ended, Any day may bri
forth troubles quite as appalling as the