The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-07
A Little bit of Political history.

managing republicans of the state to de-
feat the democratic party and secure the
election of John A. Logan to the U. 5.
senate. The results has justified the as
sertions The ARGUS made during the
campaign. Some further proofs are also
coming to light in the discussion now going
on between the Springfield FRegister and
the Peoria Democrat, the former edited
by democrat and the latter by some
cheap republican whom Col. Dowdall has
picked up and is trying to palm off on his
unsuspecting democratic readers. A few
days ago this fellow published the follow
ing:
With the nationals and republicans
combined the democrats are over l0O,-
600 in the minority in Illinois But the
State Register, John NJ. Palmer, Bill Nor
rison, Don Morrison, Gus. Harrington, and
a few more marplots, are moving earth
and hell to drive the republicans and ma
tionals together, Yet these marplots as
sumo to be the leaders aud opponents of
democracy, and pretend that if the demo-
cracy will only keep aloof from the nation
ais and drive them away that democra
tic victory is absolutely certain. Nice
leaders they are.
Whereupon the Register replies with
the following history of how the little game
was worked.
The Democrat before and since the cleo
ton has intimated its opinion that in some
way the democrats and nationals of this
state could be united 10 a single organza-
ton, but it has never mentioned any means
by which this could be accomplished.
Would it not be well for the Democrat to
devote little sPace to an exposition OF the
tactics it would pursue to bring about the
result il considers so desirable. Ii the
Democrat wants to send a flag of truce to
the national camp it is not at all likely that
any one would object, and it is quite GER
tain that no one could prevent.
Waving for the present all questions
as TO whether such asfusion as the Demo-
crdt proposes is desirable, it may be use
ful to consider some facts which seems to
show that such fusion is impossible. The
national movement 10 this state was or
gained under the direction Of the republi-
can leaders, tor 1.-THE purpose OF catching
enough democratic votes to leave to the
solid republican minority the control OF
the legislature and the possession OF the
state Offices The national state conven-
ton nominated two republicans for state
Offices for the purpose, it was openly de-
clsred, of preventing any possible chance
of a union between the democrats aud ma
tionals. ln view of this fact, the question
how such union as the Democrat proposes
could be formed is one which requires a
direct answer The men who controlled
10 Nu,4,1n.Ip lonlorol -
cry possible way that if th5 democrats
accepted or endorsed the national
nominees. then those nominees
should be withdrawn and others substitu
ted whom the democrats would not en-
e dorse. This fact is one which Col Dow
DIAL, should consider after he has entirely
relieved his mind as to the State Register
Another fact is that the national move
ment was largely engineered in this STATE
by j. X. Magic, republican Office holder
WHO drew Sc per day from the state treas
ury as state printer expert. If Magic haC
consented to any fusion with the democracy
his official head would instantly have gont
into the governor waste basket, and il
view Of this fact the Democrat must SCI
that so far at least as Magic is concerned
the proposition would have been futll
one. ln this county the national" move
ment was arranged by the republican poll
ticiaDs for the purpose of defeating tn
democratic candidate for sheriff, and III
same fact is true of Fulton, Pike, Shelby
and perhaps other counties. To come
little nearer home to the Democrat, W
may cite the condition of affairs in the ct
congressional district of this state. Th
republicans nominated Mr.. Boyd, the dem
ocrats Mr.. Wilson and the nationals Nj
McheiRhan. 1t was quite plain that if o
three of these candidates made the canvas
Mr.. Boyd would be elected, and the demo
Gratis of the district tried to make the yer
coalition with the nationals whereof Co
DOwdall now speaks, that is to say, the
tried to get them to withdraw Mr.. Nj
Keighan and concentrate their strength o
Wilson, but this was refused. 10 the cleo
ton BOYD got lO,543 votes, Wilson. $500
and McKeighan 3,849, and the result wa
that which was plainly foreseen before tn
TIE election. 10 this case, which is entirel
within the knowledge of the Democrat
the purpose of the national organiza
ton was plainly developed, and the fac
that no fusion or compromise with tn
democrats was possible was manifest
lt must be plain that the rational
leaders have no purpose which admits q
the possibility of acting with the democra
ey. Their interest is to defeat and, if pos
slbIe, destroy the democratic party, as a
the facts show; but in spite of this sue
men az Col. Dowdall are wasting time an
strength in an effort to bring about fu
sion which is held to be undesirable bu
which Is, in any view, impracticable.
1t was knowledge of these facts tina
caused THE ARGUS to oppose any fusio
in this district and to oppose the national
fully as hard as it did the republicans
Not that it didinot sympathize with man
OF the objects or professed principles of tn
nationals, as the democratic party has a
ways done, but because the national part
was 10 the hands Of dishonest men, VIII
were paid by republicans to divide tn
democratic vote. How we'll they earue
their money the result shows. The me
in the national party who are honest i
their desire for reform can best accomplls
those desires by acting with the Democrat
party instead of following the lead of dis
honest politicians who are under the pa
OF the republican party.