The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-04-12
Government pap and the party Mach1-
nery.

merry.
Instead of announcing "there is good
time coming" the republican congressional
caucus has lively apprehensions the good |
time is abo1t ending. The preamble and
resolutions adopted 10 the caucus indicate
very clearly what the trouble is, and in |
what manner it is hoped the danger may
be overcome. One of the "whereases"
reeites with statistical formality that near
ly 10000 republican officials throughout
the land understand themselves TO be under
orders from the President to abstain from
participation in some of the necessary steps
OF party duty and discipline, That party
duty is defined in another whereas" to be
an obligation on the part Of the faithful to
prevent the restoration Of the democratic
party to power, affirming that such restor-
alton would be a national calamity. So
far as the overthrow of the republican
party and its 10000 government officials
may be considered national calamity there
is no doubt their fears an perfectly
UNSUITABLE; but as the late presidential
election demonstrated that the democrats
had half million majority Of the voters Of
the nation, the assumption Of a nationai'
calamity in consequence of the loss ofplace
aud power by the minority is not only
bold proclamation of their own superiority
and goodness over their fellow citizens, but
is directly in conflict with the principle of
allowing the majority to govern.
One.of the most difficult things in nature
is to realize and acknowledge the nearness
of approaching dissolution, and when such
conviction at last becomes a certainty it is
still difficult feat to die with becoming
decency and grace. That the republican
leaders clearly perceive the moribund con-
dition of their party organization needs no
better proof than their appeal to the Presi-
dent to order the noble army of 10000
into active service, and permit them to use
their official positions and patronage for
the benefit of the republican party. The
language used fully warrants what we
have just said. They resolve that a con-
gressional committee be empowered to
confer with the president on the subject,
and that the president be requested to
''rescind his order forbidding participation
'by officials in the executive branch of the
civil service in meetings, caucuses, con-
"ventions, and committees of political
character"
1t is not so long q time since the repub.
lioan party claimed in its platform and
through its leading journals its champion
ship OF civil service reform, that the peo-
pie cannot distinctly recollect their lofty
pretensious and their, allegations that all
reform depended upon the election Of re-
publicans to Office.
There is little doubt,in the light of party
action subsequent to the presidential
election, that the leaders designed all reso-
lutions and promises upon civil service re-
form to be merely a sham and blind, but
unfortunately for their purposes the presi-
dent for some reason became impressed
with the idea that it would be proper and
necessary to adhere in some degree to the
proiuse promises and party declarations up
on which the presidential contest was con
Quoted, aud consequently the nation ha
now before it the beautiful spectacle of
congressional caucus beseeching the presi
dent to stultify all his professions and hi
pledges to the nation for the purpose G
saving the party from defeat and disorgani
cation. The call for assistance and 70
permission to dagroon the ofice-holder
indicative political service, and the re
newal of the system Of assessments upo
clerks and placemen for the siuews c
war, is Of itself one of the strongest proof
Of a waning cause and of the desperat
political straits to which the politicians {
the party feel themselves reduced
must be personally gratifying to the pres
dent and personally humiliating to th
HOwes and Chambers who have elaine
that be had no friends or political inhuenc
to see congressional caucus appointing
committee to humbly entreat of the pres
dent that he will falsify all his attempts
be true to himself and the nation in az
cordance with the principles he has hithe
to protested, and turn over the patronag
and power of the government to the ba.
uses OF running political machinery for tt
benefit OF those who have been loudest an
formOst in assailing his administration al
policy,