The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-15
Third Party.
A. ORENDORFF, Secretary,
Springfield, Illinois


failed to obtain such political influence and tn
preferment as suited their ambition, and az
they eagerly seize upon any condition OF
affairs out of which they imagine they may W,
be able to make little political capital so
for their own advancement. 1t is part II
of their tactics to profess the greatest pos n,
sible interest in the welfare Of the laborlng hi
and Industrial classes and to represent ia
themselves as the men providentialiy raised d
up to lead them out of the oppression and !
bondage which capital has imposed upon a
heritage of peace and prosperity. The t
antecedents of these men renders it tolera- n
bly sure they will do no such thing-they I
wouldn't if they could-if they had been S
honestly and earnestly devoted to the po-
rtical principles which they have heretofore
professed they would have no occasion to be
roaming hither and thither and allying
themselves to every faction which might
spring into existence, and employing {
themselves in breaking down that which
they havc.professed to help build. Es-
peeialy is this true Of such as have de
serted the democratic party, and are now
loud in proclaiming that it is effete and
corrupt The democratic party has been
in minority in the halls of congress these
many long years. For twenty years it
will have been without a president OF It's
making Can it be possible to charge the
legislation Of the country to the democratic
party during that period? Can it be just
ly held responsible for the evils which |
have resulted from legislation which it did
all in its power to prevent. The constant
cry is that the evils Of unjust legislation
have brought about the present Iesults,
that it has been the policy of government
and of congress to deal unfairly with the
laboring classes and to give undue advan-
tages to capital and corporations. Sup
pose that to be true-let the burden OF
responsibility fall upon the party to
which it belongs; upon the party
which has controlled the legislation
and administered the government
during the period when these evils have
assumed such formidable magnitude. 1t
was nor So uDueE ueulOCIdllC tulC L iIClO
were occasional periods of commercial de
preston, hard times as they are termed
but never such a fearful state Of affairs as
now. So long as the country was under
democratic legislation and administration
so longin the main it rapidly grew ii
wealth and prosperity. Since then it has
sunk to the very verge of bankruptcy, and
hard times" of former years were in
significant in comparison. Let the re-
sponsibility rest where it belongs, it GER
tainly is not with those who have been dis
placed from both legislative and executive
power during the period in which thu
grievances have arisen. We interpret thu
sentiment which has assumed partial ex
preston 10 third party movement il
quite different light FROM that in whicl
the se!,-copstituted leaders are endeavor
to represent it.
Its not in reality any protest agains
the democratic party, its natural afflnit
as against governmental power and or
preston is with the democracy; it is i
fact a strong and earnest desire for change
for relief FROM the enormous frauds Whlc
have been perpetrated, the misuse an
theft of the revenues Of the country, til
giving of enormous and unlawful subsidt
to huge corporations, the GROWN
tendency to Capitalization and one ma
power under which such corruptions an
fraud would become forever fastened upc
the people without possibility of relief e;
cept in revoiutiOns-it is the demand
the heart of the people for relief from the
moDstrous wrongs Which are eating aw;
the vitality of the nation which produces Il
movement known as the third party.
real friend, the honest friend Of labor Il
only true friend Of the people as mass h
been the democratic party. WithstapdiI
alike the centralizing tendencies
arlstocratic elements and the infamo
lawlessness of communicate chaC
it has always proclaimed as
cardinal principle its devotion
the welfare or the greatest numb
consistent with the preservation Of t
whole. Within the democratic purity a
III tue uRiou NuIC4i II Ls AOuHut
and upon which it administers the COVER
ment. is to be found all of civil liberty,
protection to the rights of the people
all classes, of opposition to priyileg
rights and special legislation, of suprel
regard for the citizen in all ranks and &C
ditions of industrial pursuits contra dist
guished from the pretensions Of superie
ty on the part of wealth or official pre-
gatives which can possibly be found will
tic ranks or in the principles of any h
est aud constitutional party, or any pa
which would protect and defend
rights and liberties of the whole people
legitimate and proper means. Those v
gainsay this, who denounce the der
cracy as corrupt and unworthy the CO..