The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-03
The Union and the "Organ's" Game Of
Bluff.

The Union and the Organs" Game of
Bl1ff.
The republican paper Of this city,i late
issue, figuring up the future result of the
congressional canvass in this district claims
the election of Henderson by several
thousands more or less. OF course the
calculation caught the Discerning eye of
the venerable statistician of the Organ"
who is nothing if not mathematical, and
with equal ease and assumption he cyphers
out majority for Preacher Haney equal
to the Unions majority for Henderson,
and with an air Of inordinate vanity and
self assurance proceeds to invite democrats
into the socialistic fold under the pretence
that 10 voting for their own candidate they
would only be throwing away their votes.
The very appeal which is made is a con-
fession that the Haneyites have no such
magnificent expectations as the Organ
puts forth, and that it is only game of
bluff and brag to prevent their rank and
file from deserving.
The Unions mathematical display is
made for the same purpose. Any one can
turn to tabulated statement of votes
cast at the last congressional election, and
doing so will find that Henderson's ma
jority was about FIVE thousand What of
IT'D
Has the Union so little respect for, or
belief in the Intelligence of the people of
this district, as to suppose they de not
clearly perceive marked condition 10 the
political situation between then and now.
A third candidate, if his vote should
amount to anything like respectable
showing, necessarily divides the votes
previously given to only two, to the material
detriment of one or the other. OF course
the Union would like to hold out the ides
that the support of the third candidate
will be drawn mainly from the democratic
party, which if true would be very en-
couraRiDg to the hopes of the republican
candidate.
The organs calculation is predicated
upon an entirely different basis. Ii th'
third candidate did comparatively nothing
more than to divide the old democratic
vote, of course that would be Inevitable
defeat, and insure the election of the re
publican candidate by majority relative
ly greater than before.
The Organ, therefore, while it ha
hopes OF drawing away from the democrat
some portion Of what is known as th,
greenbaek element, and few who may
have been taken in by the labor move
ment, necessarily must look to detection
from the republicans for the much create
portion of its voters. Ifthis be not so, W
have already seen that its prediction o
success would prove the boldest o
assumptions and most perfect fal
lacy. We take it for granted all intelli
gent people understand very well that tn
unknown and undetermined factor in tn
congressional contest of this district is .h
proportionate DETECTION from the demo
cratic aud republican parties TO the So
cialistic-labor candidate Unless the secre
alliance and personal pledge arrangement
of the third party are such that the!
know the exact number Of votes they car
poll and from what source derived, it i
impossible that either the Ualion or tn
Organ" should be able to declare will
any more certainty, or with any mor'
reasonable grounds of rational belief, wha
the precise result will be than iDtelligeu
observers in the democratic party can.
THE ARGUS has never INDUCED in thu
useless and vapid method of trying t,
create furore Gsd stampede among III
opponents by belittIeing their strength, o.
appealing to their leaders to desert thei
party to take the coDceit out of their as
sOciates. We have no expectation tina
men can be induced to exercise the i'm
portant and responsible duty of voting up
on such shallow or contemplate grounds
Neither do we believe that men of com
mon sense and ordinary firmness of prin
ciples are to be frightened into desertior
of their party with the stupid bugbear O
being in the miuority-if such should b,
case. 1t is very true that il all DEMOCRAT
IN the district were TO cast their vote TO
thethird party candidate itwou.d render tn
result pretty. certain in his fayer. Is tina
any argument why democrats should de
sert their candidate ana their principles
because union Of me democracy an
the third party would defeat tho republ
cans2
With equal psopriety and much create
political force the democracy might say I
republicansyea had better vote for th
democratic nomihee for every vote cast fc
Hendersoa isa halt vote for sHaney. TIL
relative strength Of the. parties
this time, in our honest judgmen