The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-08-17
Che 99aile Arsas,
noOx rsLAND. .rrr.rnors
The Thirs-reru. scheme.

The very ground plan of the campaign
marked out for Gen. Grants reelection to
Presidency paves the way to restoration
of the methods employed by him when in
office. The mysterious whisperings of a
few imported Communists, the reckless
talk of some of the working classes, and the
wild clamor of noisy demagogues, have
combined to produce certain degree of
apprehension in the minds OF peaeeabIe
and peace-loving people. There is ger
eral feeling prevailing in the country that
persons who do violence must be repressed
By force. There is feeling abroad that
security means protection of life and Anb
and property; that it means relief from
any apprehension OF insecurity, and that It
is the business of Government to assure
such security. The generaily-accepted
theory is that such protection is due from
the State Government, but If that theory
is not given practical effect most people 10
this country are ready to abandon 1t and
seek security where they can find it. Ii
the States realized the State authority
about which so much clamor is made there
would be now no apprehension IN the coun-
try. but the incompetents and the demag-
ogues who run state Legislatures are so
timorous and short sighted that, instead OF
taking the matter fully In hand themselves
they leave the people to learn to rely upon
the General Government.
All this tends to the appreciation OF
''strong central government, Aud, as the
play is played and the wires worked now,
''strong government" means Grant. This
is the only card played for the ex-Presi-
dent. He and Bismark are brought face
to face, and the chief part of their CONVEX
sation retailed to us is of such kind OF gov
| eminent, and on top of the publication new
lrumors are started of secret Commune
meetings and strikers uprisiugs that are
turned against private property, and to the
pillage of all the banks. With this repeat
ed agitation of violent outbreaks, we are
constantly invited by insinuation and in.
genious suggestion, as well as by outspok, I
argument, to consider the advantage o.
having q strong hand hold of the ma
chinery OF government that will know how
to apply the requisite force and have rht
nerve to invoke it. There is plenty of re
serve force in the General Government
and il needs not particularly strong hanC
= to exercise it. There is no need to max
|, force constantly predominant in order t
|. make it effective when its employment
absolutely necessary. That fact was abun
dainty demonstrated last summer, 70
a. every State that called for Federal aid &C
e lit, and got Immediate quiet, too. Tn
= real trouble In the country in regard {
Strong government is, that the pusillar
unity of Legislatures and the contemptib
lodging of demagogues deny to the State
/ the effective force that legitimately belong
To them. The Constitution has given th
mt ca
lit is sufficiently effective and much safe
= to have it administered by one accustome
to peace rather than war, of civil rath'
than military habits of thought and actio
1t is no disparagement of the INTEL
gence of our people to say that they do q,
all give themselves time to think aboV
this way. The ,watchful citizen, VINO cou
scare off the burglar with a little nois
y wants policeman. and frequently calls
policeman long after the frustrated BIZ
> has flown. He likes to feel that he is u
der the protection of ''strong government
it. when he is little alarmed. So people a
disposed to say, when their appreheuso
81 are awakened, that they want to feel th
there is a power to protect them. MAJ
are not disposed to believe 10 the pow
8 unless il is constantly presented to the
Tr observation. 3a
The fight against the idea on which Ge
Grant is urged for the presidency can
: successfully made only by resort to stro
lcontrasts. There are Enthusiastically stro
= indications of his nomination by the Re
ublican managers, against the wishes
many more prudent members of that pa
ty. No man can beat him on this idea
Ne, strong government aud military tori
~ The man who is put up against him MT
be civilian, trained to the administrati
ted of civil affairs by civil methods.
let Domestic violence is likely 10 occur
any time, else the Constitution would |
have provided against it, but its suppr
sion is merely an incident of governme
That can always be done, aHd always '
. be done if Gen. Grant should rent 70
in Bismarck's Palace and spend his d.
in talking TO that statesman about the q
essity of killing off uproarious peoI
What is most needed in this country is
ministrative reform. Gen. Grant will
give us that, and Mr.. Hayes cannot.
latter started off with fair promises IN {
regard, but he has afound it altogel
,c more difficult to accomplish than supprt
~ ing domestic violence, as he did last 81
mer. We chiefly want President !
can do that He cannot be found in
Republican party.-LOuisUttle Co"'
Ioa,rna1