The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-28
MONDAY Nights meeting.


generally are more or less interested. IN
der the..circumstances the meeting was an
iIl.adyised measure and resulted unfavor-
ably to those who called il. The spirit of
the occasion and the feelings Of the people |
present we're decidedly adverse to the OBJ
iect of the call. Yet the citizens who
came with predetermination not to per-
NIT the peaceable adoption Of resolutions
to which they are earnestly opposed are
not 30 much at fault as the men who have
been educating them 10 the belief that
capital is their enemy, and has no rights
which the multitude are bound to respect.
The excessive hard times tend of necessity
to render the needy and INDECENT, or those
in humble circumstances, irritable and
sensitive, and unprincipled demagogues
have taught them TO look with jealous
eye upon any facility afforded to capital as
gratuity at their expense, and as so much
additional burden to the condition of the
laboring class. The men who have pand-
cred to such feeling have labored
to intensity it--who have sought to build
up a political party founded upon preju-
dice and class interests are more than all
others responsible for the needlss excite
ment and ill-feeling exhibited at Monday
nights meeting. The longer distinction of
class interests is attempted to be made and
kept up, the longer demagogues insist cap
ital is the natural enemy of labor and the
oppressor of the masses. the more appeals
are made to the passions and prejudices Of
the hour instead of being directed to mems
reason and common sense, the oftener are
such exhibitions of popular discord likely
to be witnessed,
i In regard to the particular meas
ure in question, at the outset,
the city council committed the
unusual and unwarrantable discourtesy Of
tabling respectful petition on legiti,
mate subject from highly esteemed and
Influential citizen; there was net even the
semblauce of consideration, or reference
of the petition to the usual committee.
Tue action of the council was an extraor-
binary and palpable mistake; it was in
violation of the commonest courtesy, and
the petitioner was fully justified in deem
ing tia personal affront. At the earliest op-
portunity the council should have promptly
disavowed any intentional disrespect, re-
considered their action, sent the petition
to committee and had report. Then
if the report was adverse to the petitioner:
. request, the reasons governing the commit
tee could have been set forth, and although
in the judgment of many they might b,
be deemed insufficient. no one could have
complained of unfair treatment or ques-
toned the uprightness of their proceed
: ings II might have been said the council
took wrong view of the question but i
could not have been said they did no
( give it full and candid consideration.
Notwithstanding the wrong position il
which the council were placed by thei
hasty action, there are substantial reason
for believing thai no intentional discour
tesy was meant. The subject of sewer
4 had already attracted public attention an,
r had been more or less under discussion a
:, the council board. There had been lon
: : standing desire for the construction of
. sewer through the slough at the west en-
J. of the city, and quite recently the twenty
It third street sewer had been under cor
: sideration, and considerable i'll feeling ha
! been developed in consequence of the cour
e Gil refusing to aid it except for sma
e portion of the outlay, and that expend
ture conditioned on the adjacent propert
holders personally subscribing and proviC
ing for the balance Uuder these circuu
stances came the petition fOr the sixteent
: street sewer. II may readily be concede
, that councilmen we're placed
a somewhat embarrassing situation b
the conflicting demands for sewers an
the urgency Of the claimants in differcr
\ sections of the city, especially in the we
- known present condition of city fnanc'
= and that previous council proceedings ha
). led them to be cautious in acting upon OF
principle at one time and conversely
another Alderman may be presumed lii
other officials to have an eye to the futur
and to be governed in such matters t
Z, what they might believe a majority of Il
). voters in their ward would approve,-pa
y ticularly so in case where there had bee
!. no previous public expression Of the a0l
o. of the people,
a, When, therefore men have acted col
- scientiously, voting in accordance with the
best judgment, and honestly believe the
g. are fairly and truly representing a maj
st rity of their constitunts it is the absu
4 dity Of personal arrogance, (using a mi
= term) to denounce such menas "ignorau
uses or hypocrites" and call upon them y
resign and give place to men who can
trusted as the Organ has been SO reaG
is TO do. In fact. we are credibly informt
the editor of that paper prepared sever
q uoheredses and resolutions for the meetir
of Monday night, 1.-THE originals are said
O. be in his hand writing) in which Alderm,
Warnock, Hitler, O'Nei, Schlemme
IN Cameron. and Simmon are mentioned
ut name, and in the event of their refusir
ss to vote as the resolution indicates callil
e. upon them to resign and give the Peep
an opportunity. to choose men who W
ID carry out their will" Even if called b