The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-25
Thew Die Hard.


One Of the hardest things for a republi-
can to make himself comprehend is that
his, is no longer the majority party and no
longer rules the country. A large MAJOR
ity-oF the republican party have come
upon the political stage since that party
has been in power; they have been
trained in the belief that their party owned
the government, the country and especial
ly the offices; they have been taught that
democrats were always wrong and repub-
licans always right; they have therefore
grown up in the belief that whatever
legislation was Instituted by republicans
was sacred, and that not even the hands OF
an outraged people should tear it down
or even question its holy origin. All its
legislation in the past, for the protection
Of rings and thieves, to perpetuate party
power, to make iobbery and swindling
possible was all right in the minds of these
people. But when an outraged and long
suffering people have placed another party
in power, and demand that the ills they
have borne so patiently, until liberty
seemed rent in twain and representative
government was a mockery, shall be re-
moved, what do the stalwarts do? They
simply fail to comprehend the changed
condition of parties. When the
democratic majority, fresh from the
people, attempt to obey the COM
mand of the people who have placed
power in their hands and who will sustain
them in the exercise thereof, these stall
warts cry out revolution, congressional
usurpation!" Just as though one con-
grsssional majority has not the right to re-
peal what former majority has enacted.
Usurpation, indeed! Why even the bar
barians conquered by Caesar recognized the
right of the majority to rule.
The Union of this morning objects to
the method adopted by democrats TO re-
peal these obnoxious laws as revolutionary.
Does the Union remember that these laws
were passed in precisely this same man
ner to avoid the veto Of Andrew johnson
1t was not revolutionary then,-it was not
usurpation for a republican majority tc
adopt this same method! Oh. DO, it was
for the benefit of the republican party
then! They felt their power waning aDc
they must place in the hands of their party
the power to overcome the will of thu
peoples as was done in 1861. 1t was thi
act that aroused the people, and nov
causes them to demand the repeal Of thes,
dangerous laws; and the democratic
majority in congress will do we'll to recog
nize this demand, and he, who by frauC
holds the veto power, will show himself I
poor student Of politics if he attempts t.
exercise that power. Revolution, indeed
1t is the opposite Of revolution. 1t is thu
peoples veto of constitutional power
Grauduiently held by one man the same a
it was accidentally held by Andrew Johnso
when these laws were passed. 1t
the positive demand of the majority, and
under our form of government, when th
majority is defed, then look for revolution
When a minority attempts to dictate, the
call it usurpatiou. We are not at all SUI
prised that such incompetents as are a
tempting to teach the constitution to tn
readers of the Union should cry out "revc
luton and usurpation, for they only ech
she editorials Of the New York TriJun
and papers Of the east, but when me
Stapd up in congress and defy the majorit
81 is time for that majority to stand fru
and remember that any signs of weakness
or cowardice will cOnsign them to privat
life aud their party to ignominious DE-
feat.