The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-31
Shoulder 20 Shoulder solid ana rsrm,

severe party discipline, whatever swapping
votes can accomplish may be looked for to
gain their object. The antecedents Of the
candidate of the labor party are of the re-
publican stamp, his election is not expect
ed by even bis own party, and his sym
entirely in accordance with his republican |
antecedents and party training. We have
had occasion to refer to this point several |
times before, and we repeat the obserYa- |
ton again for Athe special benefit of the |
credulous democrats who have gone into |
the third party movement in expectation
that their republican allies would be as
trusty and faithful as themselves, How
much backbone does any one suppose they
will exhibit, say in Moline. when repre-
sentatives Of the mills and manufactures
of that town appear at the polls and insist
upon the men voting as they desire? A
poor compliment one would, think to the
men themselves, but nevertheless a pro-
cess which has many times been crowned
| WA1A IAO AA&AO5U 0UOOCo0s w AutCA 10 CIOSC
at hand, employment is scarce. labor plen-
ty-the closing of the mills six weeks or
two months sooner than usual, or the
threat to do so. is an easy matter for the
proprietors in hard times, but it makes an
important difference to the men dependent
upon their labor for support of themselves
rand families. Suppose such coercion is
employed, what then?
We do not say it will be done, but it has
been done in times past, it is not an i'm
possible thing at the present time: rumors
are rife that such means will be adopted,
and everyone knows that the pressing
necessities of the republican party to secure
votes were never more urgent than in this
falls election. The success of Luken and
the defeat of the republican candidate is q
probability. an unwelcome probability,
which gives them serious concern, and for
the past few weeks extraordinary efforts
have been made not only to keep republi-
cans true to the ticket but to gain back
those who have joined the third party. Il
is perfectly plain case with them that
unless both these things can be done their
candidate is certain to be defeated. The
republicans claim they have detached from
: the third party the main part Of its repub-
4 lican element Tue republican antecedents
: Of the third party candidates. and their
t known sympathy with republicans as
J, against democrats, gives strong color oil
probability to the claims Of the republicans
that they are going to re-absorb a large
proportion of the old republican element
= 1.-THE nationals or labor party assert that
the republicans are not making any In
o roads into their ranks, aud that they will
be unable to do So Notwithstanding theil
confident assertions it is evident to intelli
gent observers that they do not stand a:
10 firm and claim success with the boldnes!
)" and assurance they did in the earlier par
10 of the canvass, another fact which tends t:
% strengthen the suspicion that enough votes
are intended to be detached and given thu
republican candidate to insure his election
if possible. The nationals have neithe
is the prestige of success or the cohesive fore
of long continued discipline to hold then
together; the party is made up of discord
e. ant and dissimilar elements with only tn
be possibility of future spoils and Office hold
W. ing to make them cohere, and when one
the prospect of failing in this becomes ar
m parent the process of disintegration wi
es follow with marked rapidity. The simple
". minded and credulous democrats who hav
unexpectedly fallen into this iugeniOu
o. republican trap will learn to lament thei
Nv credulity and folly when the mischief
on done, and it is too late to repair it.
The plain and obvious duty of democrat
under the circumstances is to labor III
al ceasingly for the election of Luken, and
tai leave no legitimate or proper means III
at employed to insure success. We al
he confident that both in politics
or and personal view he is the strong
sss est and best man now Lefore th
10 people for the Office of sheriff.
10. the democrats 50 will it, and make ii
a efforts which can be made, there are soun
err, and strong reasons for believing be can /
" elected. despite every combination to th
&C. contrary. Every exertion should be mad
IT. to get out the full strength and poll th
full vote of the party in every township
ward, and voting place 10 the county, Th
lSt energy and alertness which has alway
characterized our opponents should ;
equalled, and if possible surpassed, by th
q democracy. Many an election has passe
T when democrats have neglected to atten
Il aud when half or two-thirds vote onl
70, has been cast. Indifference and negleC
never won a contest The democrats {
q this county for a long number of year
have been in a minority, but that fact s
far from being q disbursement shout
V. stimulate to greater exertions and
H. stronger determination to win. Moreove
~ :ne past condition of affairs is now 81
hn riously changed, and the chances largel
lg, favor the democracy if they do but ava
IS; themselves of the advantages which th
- present opportunity presents. 1t is. dificu
to present through the columns of publ
journal all thesfavoring causes which ar
IN now ranged on tho democratic side, an
ep which rightly improved presage success
,ic One of the most favorable signs of III