The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-29
Is There a Cat in the Meal-rub.

To the Editor of the Argus:
If the republican party of this scity per-
sist in making straight party nominations
for the coming municipal election. the an
eUitable consequence will be the success of
the National ticket. IF the last two cleo. |
tons are an indication of party strength,
then, numerically. the Nationals are the
strongest of any one of the three parties.
In order to defeat their ticket there must
be combination of Democrats andRepub-
icans. Such combination is impossible
in case the Republicans resolve to nomin-
ate strictly partizan ticket. Such action
on their part would compel the Democrats
in self defense to do the same The Dem
ocrats will not join either the Republicans
or the Nationals to elect ticket which is
to be exclusively a Republican or Ma
tional victory.
There are two ways in which the Re-
publicans may elect to consider this mat
ter. AS affairs now stand the attitude of
the National party is aggressive towards
both Democrats and Republicans-we
mean in this city. The Republicans may
choose to make the contest by themselves;
| if so, they invite defeat by putting it out
of the power of Democrats to join them in
defeating the common enemy-using the
latter word in its political sense. Or in
stead of pursuing an ultra course they
might, for the time beiog, drop par;izan
warfare and invite union and Co operation
among all citizens who are opposed to the
success of the National party organization.
If this were done, the issue would be sim
pie and direct. If the Nationals are an
actual majority Of the voters of the city
they would elect their ticket, and there
would be no help for it; if they do not con-
stitute such majority. then there
ought to be enough good sense
and non-partisan spirit among the
citizens opposed to their organization to
sink minor differences for the sake of the
public welfare, aud to unite to defeat
their ticket II keeping party lines I'M
broken is considered of more consequence
f than the welfare Of the city, "a matter il
which every citizen has greater persona
= than political interest," then the game il
up and the nationals will win. Both dem
ocrats and republicans may as well looi
the situation directly in the face. Il citi
: GEMS ticket composed Of good and accept0
bic men ,oould probably be elected; but q
strictly Republican portizaa ticket aooulC
. render triangular contest iaegitdbie, da(
tile result Of tJloaglsgar contest aoOult
undoubtedly be victoTy for the Nationals
The Union is just now very energetic il
urging the substitution of the genera
incorporation law Of the state in the plac
of the present charter. Why this urgenc.
i at this particular juncture, and for wha
) purpose? Is it alarmed at the prospect o
majority OF the City Council bein;
Nationals, and of the probability that tn
d appointed officers will be taken from tn
K same party; il SO, how much better vii
the case De with fourteen instead Of tel
'' aldermen, and with most of the preseu
8 appointiye officers elected on a genera
It ticket? Ii the Nationals are able to cleo
!. the general ticket, it certainly would b
d, but d meagre few which the Union part
- friends would be able to elect in the gen
% eral scramble. If the Republicans thin
!. they can defeat the Nationals singly an
S alone, they are at liberty to try it on
- The Democrats are not going to assis
them to gain merely Republican victories
q Butt there is magnanimity and patriot
:? ism enough in the party to sink partyisr
ID and work for the public good, like citizen
at interested in a great and common cause
Of then there is little doubt but they will fin
% the Democrats are as patriotic and sensib
1t as the exigencies Of the times require.