The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-31
shoulder 70 Shoulder solid ana Firm.

The republicans are moving heaven and
earth, 80 to speak, to elect their candidate
for sheriff and encompass the defeat of
Luken. Anything for votes is their policy
Just now. Whatever bulldozing, whatever
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 OVID party, and his sym
pathies aside from his own election are
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 obserVa-
ton again for 1.-The 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
m en- themselves, but nevertheless a pro-
cess which has many times been crowned
with the highest success. Winter is close
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 a
probability, an unwelcome probability,
which gives them serious concern, and for
the past few weeks extraordinary efforts
have been made not only to keep republl-
cans true to the ticket but to gain back
those who have joined the third party. 1t
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-
lican element. The republican antecedents
of the third party candidates. aud their
known sympathy with republicans as
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
o. The nationals or labor party assert that
the republicans are not making any in,
roads into their ranks, aud that they will
be unable to do So Notwithstanding their
confident assertions it is evident TO intelIi.
gent observers that they do not stand as
firm and claim success with the boldnes'
and assurance they did in the earlier par
of the canvass, another fact which tends t;
strengthen the suspicion that enough votes
are intended to be detached and given the
republican candidate to insure his election
| if possible. The nationals have neither
5 the prestige of success or the cohesive force
Ior snlI IN hoI fhoF1
together; the party is made up Of discard
: ant and dissimilar elements with only thu
6 possibility of future spoils and office hold
:. ing to make them cohere, and when onct
the prospect of falling in this becomes ap
a., parent the process of disintegration vii
IS follow with marked rapidity. The simple
:. minded and credulous democrats who hav
unexpectedly fallen into this iugeniOu
= republican trap will learn to lament thei
y credulity and folly when the mischief
n done, and it is too late to repair it.
The plain and obvious duty of democrat
under the circumstances is to labor uu
l. ceasingly for the election of Luken, and t
Il leave no legitimate or proper means un
It employed to insure success. We ar
10 confident that both ia politica
" and personal view he is the strong
,s est and best man now Lefore th
% people for the Office of sheriff !
the democrats 50 will it, and make th
a efforts which can be made, there are SCUM
r, and strong reasons for believing he can b
= elected. despite every combination to til
= contrary. Every exertion should be mad
/. to get out the full strength and poll tn
full vote of the party in every township
ward, and voting place in the county, Th
IL energy and alertness which has Away
characterized our opponents should b
equalled, and if possible surpassed, by tn
! democracy, Many an election has passe
T when democrats have neglected to atten
. aud when half or two-thirds vote onl
,, has been cast. Indifference and neglec
never won contest The democrats 0
i this county for q long number of year
have been in minority, but that fact 8
far from being a discouragement SHOULD
stimulate to greater exertions and
l. stronger determination to win. Moreove
= sne past condition of affairs is now Sc
D riously changed, and the chances largel
:, favor the democracy if they do but avai
!; themselves Of the advantages which tn
present opportunity presents. 1t is. Difficult
to present through the columns Of publ
journal all thesfavoring causes which ar