The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-01-12
Subject to Relapses."

play W w IIlS1 -NSA ASoo ~ Az " Nv |
commended as a rule of action. but it some
times happens that the man deserves all
he gets, and all parties in position to do it
can Join with good conscience in admins
tering the necessary kick. Among the
scurvy politicians of the country there are
none, not even excepting W. E. Chandler,
who more essentially deserve the benefit OF
this kind of neighborly exercise than the
famous carpet-baggers of South Carolina.
Even the New York Tribune takes lively
mart in this delightful exercise, and, ngure-
atively speaking, taking Senator Patterson
bv the nape of tie neck and heading him
towards the door, kicks with unmerciful
yigor. Its language has the resonant
sound of good plain English and does
ample Justice 10 the subject. 1t is so
seldom THE ARGUS comedies with the
political views of the Tribune that it is a
pleasure to give our readers.its article en-
tire--it says:
Great interest has been manifested of
late in the physical condition of the Hon.
John J. Patterson, of South Carolina. He
has been reported 10 so many stages Of i'll
health, varying from deaths door to con-
valescence, and there has been such in
defniteness as to the precise nature of his
ailments, that an incredulous public has
been half inclined to believe this able
statesman was "shamming." Such sus.
picion having found expression in some
irreverent newspaper, we have been graft
fed to observe certain other newspapers
administer digni6ed rebuke to such rep
rehensble behavior toward United States
senator. The only grounds for the sus-
picion were that illness would be con-
venient excuse for his absence from South
Carolina, where it is said his constituents
are more anxious to see him than he is to
see them; and ssthe further sfact that no
one seemed to know what allied the stricken
statesman, Among other reports which
have gained currency since he went into
retirement and began to issue bulletins as
to his condition, was one that he would
shortly resign his seat in the senate and
give the South Carolina legislature an op-
portunity to choose his successor. The
rumor having trickled into the sick cham
Der, reached the noble invalid's ears. 1t
lifted him up like the shock of a galvanic
battery. To the only person except Ben
Butler and his doctors" who has seen him
since he was taken sick, he said on Mon
day, in denial of this infamous insinustion:
Il shall not resign under any considera-
"tion. II | am to be sick | should be q
fool to resign. because | can lie here and
draw nv Sl3 a day." Could there be a
nobler sentiment expressed than this I
And yet it is Just what we should have ex-
expected of Patterson. After all, it is the
men who pay for their seats who must ap
preciate them. No doubt Senator Barnum
of Connecticut, would reply in similarly
lofty strain if approached on the subject OF
reslgnlng. Any man who can lie abed aDC
draw Sl3 day, or can travel about the
country and attend to his private business
on the same terms, would, IN the vigorous
language of Patterson, zee afool to resign.
Mr.. Patterson's seat, it must be remem
bered, is one Of the most costly in the sen
ate chamber. We doubt if even Mr.
Barnum's cost more. 1t is not straug
then that he propped himself up on hi
pillows when he heard the rumor, and re
PEELED with burning indignation the charg
that he contemplated resigning. Re
sign2' said he. Never while can Ii
here and draw $l3 day." We shout
have known that he would take that vie,
ton it must offer at least $l3 day for tn
balance OF ghs term. Less than that
will not take.
From the same gentleman to whom b
communicated this well-considered pun
pose, we get something like definite infol
nation as to the cause of the Senator
illness, He says he is not ''shammiD
sickness, and that all the stories to tina
effect are false. This seems to be author
alive, and notwithstanding the state
ment of the gentleman referred to-tha
Mr.. Patterson does not look sick; that hi
face is OF good color. and that his eyes ar
bright and piercing, must be accepte
as final. If the man himself says he
not shamming, that ends it. The doctor
who have been saying all along that b
appeared to be well Ienough, must be sc
down as ignorant and unfit persons. Nj
Patterson himself says be is subject {
relapses" Simon Cameron" he say.
has invited me to visit his farm, and
think shall do so but | am subject I
these relapses, and don't know whe
another will come on In almost sing
word he describes disease which h.
thus far bafled the highest human ski
These relapsesl" And that, if we ma
be allowed the expression, is what's Il
matter with Patterson. He has them, al
Is subject to them, and never knows WHIT
they are coming on. A little later on
this interview he said to his visitor. Il a
unable to move; aud even this convers
"tion eXcites me and makes me fear
relapse" And so at length we lea
beyond question that his sickness is
sham that though he looks we'll and /
color Is good, and his eyes bright, and /
physicians can discover no ailment, he
actually subject TO relapses, and new
knows when another is coming on. Is
any wonder that he sits up in bed a
draws Sl3 day, and declines to vi
Simon Cameron's farm, and looks on.
relapses? We should say not 1t
pleasant 10 know that the one visitor
sides the doctors who is admitted to t
bedside Of the rudy invalid is Nj
Benjamin F. Butler, than whom few III
IN the country have had larger experier
OF lapses as well as relapses. Mr.. But
can teach him, if anybody can, how
bear up under both-how, indeed, to tn
both to good account 1t is not n
Buffers habit, however, to wait for
relapses, propped up on pillows, at 81;
day
Of the precise nature of Mr.. Patterso
relapses he has not, in the interview rel
red to, given US any information. \
know, however, that he is not liable
relapse in South Carolina, and he says
does not dare, at present, to relapse to
native Pennsylvania and the hospita
Simon Cameron's farm. We only ku
that he is subject to relapses," and
suspect they broke out on him about