The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-24
arssnbaohsrs as Alllss Of The Con

Il
as Allies OF the Com
mune.
There is a broad distinction between
Greenbackers proper and the rest of the
elements constituting the third party.
The difference is Of such character as to
seem impossible they should coalesce I'M
der any circumstances Whatever. There
is no natural and spontaneous affinity be-
tween men of property and men whose
ruling ideas would be destructive of prop
erty-or, to say the least, tend to COM
munity of property only. Neither is there
any natural fellowship or common basis
of political alliance between men of means
or employers and trades unions, or associ-
atoms formed for the exclusive benefit and
protection of those who belong to the or
Ranization. The great body of greenback-
ers proper, those whose distinctive object
at this time is to have the government
issue large amount of greenbacks and
make them the general currency of the
country, including also those who favor an
irredeemable issue or fiat money" are
TO be found among agriculturalists, manu-
facturers, business men, and other classes
which have more or less of property and
are employers to agreater or less extent.
The protective principles upon which the
unions are organized are as much directed
against the farming community as against
manufacturers, and their political ascen-
dency would be as hurtful in the one case
as the other. Individual members of
trades unions may perhaps be greenback-
ers, but the money question is
not the first or primary OBJ
ject Of their association. Trade
unionism, socialism, communism, and
organizations Of labor, though not
everywhere uniform and identical, have
much that is identical and common, and as
against other parties and other citizens OF
the community have many points of agree
ment upon which they can combine and
cOalesce for party action. 1t is only
when they join in demanding greenbacks,
however, that they in any way affiliate
with or can cooperate with the genuine
Ereenback element, The two distinctive
and broadly separated elements Of the ma
tional greenback labor party have in reali-
ty but one strong bond Of cohesion, that
which comes from hard times and finaD-
cial distress. Remove this aud the de-
mands of the labor wing would he as un-
palatable to the great body Of gresnback-
ers as it is to any other portion Of their
fellow citizens. The combination sought
to be made in the formation of third
party is unnatural, incohereut, and will be
shortlived The advice of men like Kear-
ney to pool issues for the time being as
against the old parties shows the limited
range of political affinity. and is cOnelu-
give of the frailty of their union. No par
ty survives the passions and prejudices
of a brief existence which is not
founded upon great aud underlying
principles Of truth, justice and necessity.
The combination which constitutes all the
potency there is the organization Of the
third party is total disregard of the ordi-
nary principles Of justice and good govern
ment, and q proclamation to combine
simply for spoils, Pool issues and gather
the spoils exclaim the blatant ,iemagogues;
divide aud distribute is the language Of
the Commune. To whom do they address
their exho;tations, and their pernicious
advice-certainly not to the solid aud sub
stantial elements of society. not to the
sober sense and sound judgment Of the
nation, not to the conservative and law
abiding portion of the people, but to dis
affected partizans, to ambitious but disap-
pointed men, to the idle, the vicious, the
unemployed, the reneRades and the dema-
gogues. And what Is the reward prom
ised the overthrow Of all other parties,
the subversion OF Law and order, the up
heaSal of society, redistributiou of prop
erty, and the inauguration Of chaos. is
thy servant dog that he shoald do this
great lhine," said Hszael to the Prophet
who had IoretOld his ascension 10 the
kingly Office and the cruelties he would
infict upon the people of Israel. Yet
he afterwards did all the things which
had been foretOld. 1T Is true, at
first we aimed not at independence" said
tha riot John la.rs 49, 49, x,o@,~lo