The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-14
DsmoorAssl How do You Like lsP

Democratsl How do You Like 1t2
1t is one Of the plausible fictions which
men fippantly handy from mouth to
mouth that the leaders of the political
parties are corrupt. The people, 1t is al
legged are honest aud we'll intentioned, but
those who occupy positions Of prominence
and give shape and direction to the views
and policy of the party are unworthy OF
confidence because they haye corruptly
betrayed the interests and injured the
well being of those whom they professed
to serve. The special plea of the social
istic-labor party is the alleged corruption
Of both the democratic and republican
parties. The necessity for third party
has arisen, they say, in consequence of the
impossibility of the great body Of the peo-
pie obtaining justice and the eDactment OF
laws beneficial TO the general interests OF
the country, if the government is to be ad-
miuistered and laws are still TO be enacted
by aud under one or the other of the old
political parties. Such general and whole
sale charges are more easily uttered than
substantiated. Il is certain the democratic
party for the last twenty years has not had
any such ascendency in the national coun-
ellis OK share in the administration of the
government as to render it anenable to
charges of corruption, or of iusiucerity in
its professions of regard for the rights and
prosperity of the people. The prominent
public men Of the democratic party during
that period, in personal integrity and de-
votion to sound constitutional principles Of
government. will compare favorably with
any other period in the coun
try's history. Democratic leaders are al
pure, patriotic, and exhibit as higt
qualities of craftsmanship swhen oc
casion permits, at the present
time, as did the leaders of democracy ii
the palmy days of democratic administra
ton, or as was ever attained under the an
spices of men whose reuown has become
part Of the immortal records of the past
For twenty years democratic men an
measures have been displaced and held il
the minority in the administration OF nation
al affairs; and the major portion OF the legis
lation, and particularly that portion whicl
has produced the evils of which the peopl
80 Justly complain, has been made by th,
dominant republican party and in spite o
the protests and the efforts Of the demo
cratic party.
We have here in this county class o
men, some of whom formerly acted with
aud were formerly counted as belonging Il
the democracy. At the critical time in tn
history Of our county affairs when Their
seemed to be q near approach to demo
cratic supremacy, when the party wa
steadily aud regularly gaining strength
and their opponents were becoming demon
allied and locsing influence and coBtro
over a very considerable portion of thei
vote, at such time and under such cir
cumstances the third party movement wa
inaugurated in our midst, and the grea
cry. the ostensible justification given to tn
public for the desertion Of tn
democratic party and the for
nation of another was the base
less allegation Of corruption, and the pre-
tense that democracy was no longer tru
to the principles and the teachings of il
founders, as in the better days of the re
public. 1t may perhaps serve to elucidat
the subject if we consider briefly who ar
the parties who make such charges an
for what purposes they are made. 1
the first place it is noticeable that the lead
ers Of the new party are nearly all me
who have been conspicuous in some mar
ner in the old parties, but whose emi
nence has not been Of that char
actor which eudeared them to the peopl
as either great men or trusty represent
atives. They are prominently from th
class of disappointed politicians, 9
theorists whose views were never practiC
ally OF any moment. liz their own meas
ure of greatness were the standard, (
course they would stand forth as fnancier
statesmen. leaders, las menlhrimming ovt
with tho fullnessof wisdom, --meD who tai
long aud loud about capital and its danger
WHO perhaps never had thousand dollar
ahead in their lives. and very possibly M
. even tenth Of that sum men who writ
and talk, and moralize about the dignity
labor and all thai, but who never did an hoI
setday'smanuaIIa labor and never intend to-
men who usver had any genuine sympatE
or any actual connection with intelligel
and honest sons of toll, except TO vauntin
ly set themselves up for leaders and a
sumo virtues which they we're never know
to possess. Are these would be -leade
any better men, any more honest,
patriotic, or pnssl6sh in their polite
actions now than the men with whom thl