The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-05-21
Why Don't They Do Itp

During the tendency of the Potter res
oiution of inquiry into alleged frauds in
Florida and Louisiana the republican
members of the House made the refusal
Of the democrats to accept Hale's amend
ment to investigate the Mississippi, Oregon.
and other state elections the pretext for
their extraordinary aud dilatory action.
They made public proclamation Of their
intention to Immediately introduce another
resolution of their own. In due course of time
the Potter resolution, pure and unameuded, |
passed the house and the committee has
been appointed Why don't the repuhli- |
cans ask for the Investigation of Mississippi
and Oregon as they threatened? The
democrats have professed willingness to
vote for a committee to investigate all the
frauds the republicans desire to have
investigated connected with the canvass of
the late presidential election. The demo-
Gratis have claimed in regard to Florida
and Louisiana that here were frauds the
comm ittiDg of which became operative,
inasmuch as they we're the means Of
throwing the electoral votes of these states
10 favor Of the republicans when actually
and truly, without fraud, the electoral vote
would have been given to the democrats.
In no other states, so far as known, even
II frauds were committed, did they become
operative to the extent Of changing the
true result. The democrats have insisted
that this constitutes case characteristically
of its own kind which shall be investigated
without complication with other frauds
not of Ike character. But if the repubIi-
cans want to investigate other frauds aDC
in other states let them ask for the com.
mittee of investigation and put the demo
Gratis to the test. From the declarations
already made there is no reasonable doubi
but their request would be granted. The
truth is they do not really care for Other
investigation-their object was to defeat
investigation at all.
The resolution of Potter had scarcely
passed Uefore the republicans sent tt
the country their singular and ASTONISHING
looking to the investigation and punish
meut OF frauds upon the electoral vote al
an attempt to ''inaugurate aDarchy anC
Mexicanize the government The poin
attempted to be made TO sustain thi
charge is that the democrats have stifeC
all inquiry into attempts at bribery il
Oregon, South Carolina, and elsewhere
There certainly is no ground for the charge
IN the particular instance of refusing Il
load down the Florida and Louisiana in
vestigatlon with amendments such as t,
render 1t nugatory and farce. If tn,
republicans are anxious to Investigate 10
operative frauds so as to have an offset Il
any damaging disclosures which hav
lately come to light against themselves
and which they seem so anxious to keel
concealed, let them propose as many
they think proper, and then put the dem
ocrats upon refusal ut their peril
We have no doubt the democrats Wi
concede them all the Investigations the,
can reasonably require, all that they ca
show even q colorado ground for demand
ing.
It's the general sentiment of the demo
cratic party to have the broad facts of tn
late presidential canvass brought to light
1t looks very much as if their opponen,
we're equally DESTROYS of keeping the trut
concealed, and under the pretence of dapge
and disorder in business circles, and ,
revolutionary proceedings in or out Of col
gress to create clamor and misrepr,
sentatioD of democratic action and part
policy. Let us have the truth, the who
truth, and nothing but the truth, mo matt
who may become the victims. We repe
the strong and positive language of R
publican congressional committee of inve
uganon 30 far back us 1869 at tin
when all concede that whatever frauds HI
been perDetrated they. we're at least
operatives says the committee, st
IN power to punish frauds in choosing pr,