The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-08

and Iowa, VIII De toUAOu iVh WIN H0A
than ordinary interest, The greenback
element is supposed to be stronger 10
Ohio aud Indiana than elsewhere in any
part Of the country, aud also to be longer
aud better organized for political work.
Aside from the unknown quantity repre-
sented by the third party, it would be en-
tirely safe 70 predict democratic success in
all the states above mentioned except
Iowa. Some ardent enthusiasts have pro-
fessed to believe 10 the possibility Of sue
cess even in Iowa since the coalition was
formed between democrats aud greenback-
ers. but the hollowness of the alliance is of
itself enough to defeat the ticket, aud il is
therefore probable that Iowa will give
something like the old time republican
majority.
Undoubtedly there are democrats, that
is, men who have been heretofore identified
with the. democratic party, who have be-
come restless aud dissatisfied under the
pressure Of hard times, and who are hon
est in the opinion that the greenback par
ty, il successful, would effect measures of
relief not likely to emenate from either of
the other parties, They think the democrats
have been so long shut out from control of
the government that they can't get back
aud the measures proposed by republicans
they know are not intended as a means of
relief to the large body of the people.
Notwithstanding oil this, and although
the result in Ohio aud Indiana may not
be all that is expected, there is no reason
why the democracy should be disheartened
or relax their efforts as a party to obtain
control of the national government. The
errors Of to-day will sooner or later be
rectifed, and the folly as we'll as the in
utility of separate greenback movement
will be fully demonstrated.
And when it becomes apparent, as it
will, that permanent aud substantial relief
TO the country can only be obtained through
the supremacy of the democratic party,
those who have temporarily alienated
themselves in the hope of lettering
national affairs will return to the party
which shows the strength and will 20 &C
complish what is so much desired.
The fact that the democratic
party in every state has declared
against the resumption act, has also de-
clared against the national banking system
aud has expressed willingness that what
ever of paper is to be used as circulating
medium shall be greenback or paper Of
equivalent character, while the republi
can party is unquali6edly pledged to the
enforcement of the resumption act anG
the support Of the national banking sys
tenn, aud las shown a desire to retire
greenbacks altogether, must convince tlC
great body OF the greenback element o.
TIE county that their interests aud poht'
cal views are much nearer in accord witt
those of the democracy than with those
of the Republicans. When the day o
their disintegration as a party comes, ant
we have little doubt that is merely
question Of time, they will naturally en-,
properly join the democratic party as be
ing more truly and positively their politica
friends.
These remarks apply specifically an
distinctively to that portion of the thir
party known as the grecnbaek elemeu
proper, not TO those who indulge 10 vii
and irrational theories 10 regard to labO
aud whose tendency, if not intention, is I
develop commuDistic ideas. With tina
class the genuine greenbacker has reall
as little affinity as the democratic part
itself, and when it becomes apparent I
greenbackers that instead of leading th
movement they are only to be used by th
eommunlstic element, we are satisfe
their intelligence and patriotism will in
dhce them to abandon an organizatio
which is not conducted in their iutere,
and which if successful would be as per
lous to them as it would be to all others
their fellow citizens 1t would be mi!
fortune to the country that democrsc
should be defeated at this lime throug
the means Of a defecuon on greer
backs, because the greenbackers ar
not bene6tted to any extent by the loci
successes which they may possibly gal
here and there, and they only the longe
postpone the success of the only part
from whom they can derive snbstantir
benefit. The election of few member
of congress AMI the possible event of holt
ing the balance of power is of no essenti
service. As to the whole country, the
would only represent a small and uniDHI
ential minority without power to accom-
Dlish anything by themselves, and open a
ways to the charge of mercensry inf uer
ces 10 case of acting with either of til
other parties.
The accident OF holding the balance
power is entirely vaIueless except upon ii
suppOsitiOn of bargain or iutrigue, au1 il
dependent action would be equally valu
less because it would effect nothing.
If there are any democrats who hay
joined the third party with the expects
ton that itwll become the great party
the nation, able to defeat and destroy OF
or the other aud become itself the dom
DeDt party, the logic of events in Il
near future will disabuse their minds
such fallacy. The democratic party hi
survived much more formidable danger
and will continue TO be great party ~