The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-11

The people OF the United States are
certainly long suffering, if not slow to
anger. The last Presidential election
afforded the unusual spectacle of one cam
didate requiring only one more electoral
vote beyond what was known positively to
be his, while his opponent lacked an equal
certainty by large number of votes.
Three states were supposed to have given
their electoral vote to the candidate who
only required the one vote more to insure
bis success, and yet these three states,
South Carolina, Florida, and Louisiana,
were so manipulated as to give their vote
to the minority candidate, and through
the agency of juggling machinery IN.
known to the constitution or laws he was
counted in and became President. The
people were universally amazed. ma
jority grievously disappointed, and the
minority hopeful but not wholly satisfied,
There has always existed among intelligent
men of all parties grave doubts whether
or not the question was rightfully settled,
even if technically correct. The subse-
quent events of the past year. and the
present investigation instituted by the
House OF Representatives, haYe all grown
out of the widespread and well-grounded
doubts which have existed upon the sub
ject. The course of the President and of
his personal and special friends have in no
degree tended to lessen the undercurrent
OF dissatisfaction and doubt. Especially
has the appointment to office, and the
evident protection afforded to men prom
inent in effecting his accession to the
presidency, tended largely to
bring discredit upon Hayes
administration aud to heighten the sus-
picion that he was rewarding with Office
those who had been guilty of corruption
and fraud. His so-called southern policy
has embttered the radical element of his
party beyond forgiveness, for his policy is
irrecOncllable with the theory of his own
elevation to the presidency. Notwithstand-
ing the oft,repeated suspicion that the
count of the electoral vote would not have
proceeded in the House had it not been
for an arrangement then and there made
with certain leading democrats of the
south, the issue of which was that Hayes
became president aud Nichols and Hamp.
ton were recognized as governors of their
respective states, still no new party has
rallied to his support, nor has he gained
any strength among the democracy of that
section. Whether or not Mr.. Hayes had
then, or has had since, any direct knowl-
edge or privity with frauds to compass his
election, his position before the country is
as unfortunate and as unenyiable as if he
were known to be absolutely guilty. The
constant doubt as to mis- moral if not his
legitimate right to the Office ne holds is
the unwelcome specter which continually
lntrudes in every quarter That doubt
has continually grown, from the fact, that
whatever has looked like an investigation
into the facts which might serve to devel-
ope the true history of those dark and
eventtul days has been met with fierce
resistance from his adherents, and from all
whose political fortunes are bound I'D with
his 1t is impossible to read the develope-
ments of the Potter investigation of the
last few days without feeling that the dis
closures have fully justified it's organiza-
ton, and that for the honor of the country
and its future safety the truth should be
brought out and fearlessly exhibited let
the disgrace fall upon whom it may.
The result of investigation thus far is
painful commentary upon the actual con-
dluon OF political affairs, a showing up of
intrigue and moral obliqaity which must be
done away and healthier system allowed
to prevail or there is no security whatever
Tor the future. The successive revelations
OF specific viilainy, il the subject were not
traught with such stupepdous consequen
ces, would read like the pages of a
romance. The plots and counterplots,
torgeries and conspiracies, the solicitations
tor reward and the promises of immunity
tor crookedness, made by men in high
positions are simply amazing. Already
the investigation has made it plain that a
system OF politics has grown up, mainly
under Grant, that substituted for honest
and capable men sct'of utterly worthless
knaves'aud these in time have made them
selves the arbiters, and have gained
practical control of the administration of
tue government. There must be radical
change tor the better, or the life and
spirit OF representative form of govern
ment will inevitably be lost
Gen. Singleton for Congress-.
The convention at Quincy had n topob