The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-09-06
Injuring ones self TO Spite Another.


rnjuring ones Self TO Spite Another. g
Occasionally we hear of man who has
professed to be democrat, and to act
with the democratic party in times past b
that shows leaning towards the third
party movement in order as he says TO
beat the republicans. In such case one
of two things is tolerably certain, such q
man never was sound reliable democrat, I
or else he does cot fully understand the
situation and has no rightful conception Of
what is necessary to be done, or how to do
it. When a man goes over to another
party and renounces all connection with
the old party to which he previously be
longed his action is plain, straightforward,
and subject to no misunderstanding. But
to retain, or pretend to retain, connection
with one party while giving aid and sup
port to another party for the sake of beat
ing still third party is sheer nonsense.
1t cant be done. To make the matter |
practical, apply these remarks to our county
politics.
Every now and then the Organ of the
third party has spell of exhortstion and
falls to entreatiDg democrats to vote for
their ticket for the sake of beating the re-
publicans. This is one of the shallowest
old tricks known among politicians. In
the first place there is no such state of
affairs. The contest does not lie between
the third party candidates and the repub
licans; and in the second place, II it did,
the success of the third party would be as
Objectionable to democrats as that of the
republicans. If this were not so, no third
party would continue in existence.
As tits, they claim to be distinct and indie
pendent and opposed to both the other
parties; they charge corruption upon the
leaders, and assert that the rights of the
people are not safe in the hands, nor prop
erly protected by either Of the old parties.
What claims have they then upon the sup
port of democrats. As well might man
call his neighbor a corrupt scoundrel aud
then ask that neighbOr to join him in u
squabble against third party whom they
both happened to dislike; the natural reply
would be, we don't need to pool issues, you
settle your own affairs ami will do the
same.
The democratic party wins success for
itself or it don't win at all The success
of the third party is no success for demo
Gratis. Take it in this particular locality
and it would be no success for democrats
Look at their ticket All old republicans
throughout, with the bare exception of
one who it is alleged at some time in his
lite acted somewhat with the democrats.
Suppose democrats to vote that ticket in
order to defeat the republican ticket, and
it should be successful, what has been
accomplished9 The republicans have still
won as against democrats; or in other
words democrats have helped to elect old
republicans under u new name-that's all.
A still stronger reason why democrats
should stand by their own organization
and vote their own ticket, successful or
not, is to be found in the fact that all
which the new party pretends to
be specially seeking, s0hieh is of any ma
teriaL benefit to the people, is to be found
within the organization and the principles
of the democratic party; and it would be
worse than folly, it would be criminal
blunder,to abandon an old and efficient or
ganization and coalesce with newly form
ing and imperfect party to accomplish OBJ
jects which the democratic party already
have in view. No old democrat, familiar
with the history and traditions of his
party, whose principles are the ground
work Of his own political faith and action,
and who has supported its candidates with
all his might in adversely as we'll as
prosperity,can for moment afford TO give
way to the absurd notion of anything to
beat the republicans" The true idea is
this,-if democratic principles aud policy
are the true theory and frame work upon
which the government Of this country
should be administered, then every demo
crat should stand firmly and loyalty with
bis party. In all that relates tc
the production and distribution Of wealth
the agriculture and manufactures. the
the traffic and commerce Of the country, =
in all the questions which bear upon reve
nue. and expenditures. civil and crimina
laws, education, or the the true Interests
OF classes and occupations, the democratic
party has always been, is nOso, and seem
likely to continue to be the only party O
the country with basis broad and com
prehensive enough to embrace all thes
subjects 10 their true relations, and friend
enough towards all to insist upon RICH
ane justice despite popular clamor or tn
fallacies Of new departures and third part
heresies. ii 4.4 .Iaals..s j .a1.a-a
The height Of absurdity is to ask or o.