The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-01
Ghe 99ailg Arg,as.
ROCK Observation-Disclosures
concluded from second page. j

K-S~ -
the present mayor of Boston, alone among
the republicans of the house denounced the
wrong. With all its wealth of virtue. With
all the enthusiasm against evil and oppres-
sion which gave the republican party in its
contention against slavery such a moral
strength, it had not the self control and
integrity to refuse the bride. With the
nobest opportunity ever offered to
America since George Washington refused
the crown, there was not enough of Ruth.
ertord b, Hayes to achieve Immortality by
an act of selt-denying integrity. If now
the same change shall come to the demo-
cratic party, with this republican precedent
before it, what do republicans suppose
will be their conduct under like tempta-
tion2 The first duty of the country.
therefore, is to insure beyond the posi-
bility of doubt the future against the recur-
renee of like wrongs. The second duty is to
punish, it possible, those who were guilty.
of this wrong. | do not know how many
Democrats there are who, like myself, are
willing to say that the third duty is to use
the power reserved IN the sixth section of
the Electoral Commission law, and drive,
II possible, the usurpers into private lie.
The present aspect of the Democratic
party is, perhaps, though [ hope not. fairly
represented by the resolutions of the
Pennsy lvania Democratic State Conyep-
ton. They desire to investigate. but do
not propose to go further But. as nobody
Is responsible for my opinions but myself,
and as | am not Democrat in good stand.
Ing by any means, being in favor of hard
money and no other gold money at that
no party organization will be damaged by
the free expression of my opinion. IF
Hayes be dlloaoed to serue out has four
years IN the Presidency ,judictaly unchal
tenqed 1T ,olU be the aoorSt precedent aohich
coatd possibly be set, the evils to flow from
which will be enormously greater than any
possible harm that can result from a
judicial investigation into the validity of
his title.
Another subject demands investigation.
1t is said. with how much or how little
truth the country is not advised. that Mr..
Hayes finally reached the White House
only by means OF a corrupt bargain between
his representatives and certain Democrats
interested in the Texas Pacific Railroad
and other schemes of plumber. This charge
has been freely made, and even the sum of
money which Injured to the benefit of one
of these Democrats living in our sister
State of Kentucky has been named. This
subject has not been investigated at all
officially, and deserves to be probed TO the
bottom. 1t is very singular, to say the
least, that Mr.. Hayes, who in the winter
of 1877 cared nothing for himself, but
whose heart was wrung with anguish for
the future Of the poor colored people.
should so soon after his election have
thrown the aforesaid African overheard.
OF course, he may have had change of
heart, The new birth is sometimes
instantaneous. But The 1esertion of
Packard, whose title was better than that
of Hayes, the majority against whom was
smaller than TiIden's majority in louisa
ma, is just such transaction as would have
followed the supposed intrigue. Mr. Hayes
is entitled to be INDICATED or condemned.
as the case may be- The country IS emit
tied to know whether his position of Office
is due to these alleged agencies or not.
Certainly. if we are to fight with any hope
OF success the schemes of private advantage
and public plumber which are said to have
promoted this result. we must uncover
Their devious ways at every opportunity,
and trust that the pending investigation
may be used and may be so enlarged that
it may be used. to learn the whole truth
with regard to this matter"