The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-09-02
Tuesday, September .. 1879.


to explain what strong government ac'
cording to the stalwart plan means, 1t fall
to the Democratic press to inform the peo-
ple-and to expose the real purpose of
these sectional hatred advocates. To put
it plainly-a' strong government on the
radical plan means the building up of
monied aristocracy, whereby the wealthy
classes shall have absolute control in all
things; government that will reduce the
common peopleI to mere serfs; that will
pauperize the masses; that will be SO
strong that redress will be impossible. A
strong government on the radical plan
means more than this-it means the con-
centration of power in the hands OF the
few as against the many, the few to be
the wealth Of the land, and to be so forts
fed by arbitrary laws, as to render the
people powerless to break the barrier, |
except it break the government asunder,
and right here it is proper to say that there
are men in the Republican party to-day
whow would not hesitate to embroil the people
in bloody, war, if by so doing, the plans
of the advocates OF an ideal strong gov
eminent could be realized. 1t is not
going too far to charge, that there
are many in this country day who
have no pride in our free institutions, who
at heart hate the name republic, and who
would willingly exchange our present sys-
tenn for government whereby they could
become titled nobility and revel in their
snobdom. A government such as we now
possess, which gives to the poorest and
humblest citizen equal rights before the
law, that aims to recognize no difference IN
station when melting out justice, is abhor-
rent to these would be nobility, and there
fore the cry is raised for strong govern
ment. The men who urge this scheme
are Republicans, many of them men who,
before the war were as common as those
they now disdain to notice, and who en-
riched themselves during and since the
war, through governmental contracts
Now that the days ofPaci6c Mail Subsidies,
Credit Mobiliers, and Whisky Ring frauds
are gone, they feel the loss, and long for
the return of the halcyon days when
plunderiDg was legitimate calling and for
the opportunities for the accumulation OF
wealth at the expense Of the people, which
the by-gone days afforded. These steal
ings, frauds and corruptions were enacted
when the Republican party was in its
zenith, and when, to secure governmental
mission under Republican auspices was
equivalent to fortune. But those times
have gone. The Democratic party now ha'
control ofboth branches of congress, The
people, the masses of them, through thC
Democratic representatives have called (
halt and in alarm, lest the chances fol
stealing should never again be afforded
these stalwart orators and the radica
press tell US, that we must have strong
government In other words they say t
the masses-"We stalwarts have had unin
terrupted sway, have grown rich off the
people; have grown accustomed to ply
our nefarious calling, and we don't pro
pose to tolerate Interference with oul
plans from ordinary persons" This il
the true meaning of the term ''strong gov
ernment' and deny it though they may
the truth stands out boldly without fear o
successful contradiction, that the true pur
poses of the advocates of strong govern
ment is the building up of centralized
power, when all lawsiwill be subserYien
to the federal edict; where states will b
secondary in all things, and be unable &
act independently in any matter uules
the federal council so ordaius. This ques
ton of a strong government aims bloy
at our freedom, seeks to disrupt the repub
lic,and if allowed to prevail will ultimatel
end in the establishment Of an Imperia
Dynasty-where the Republican leader
of the stalwart stripe, aided b.
the moDied aristrocracy and snobbery o
the country would gladly drift us to-day
Ii is sad commentary on the utter degra
datiou of the Republican party. but it il
nevertheless a fact, that there is tendency
with the stalwarts to perpetuate power a
any cost, even though the blood of thou
sands be shed in the attempt. 1t is equal
ly as dangerous to centralize power will
the wealthy classes, as to allow the commune
element to control There is distinction
as to the men who would be in the move
ment, but there is no difference as to the
result, When that day arrives, which il
Is sincerely to be hoped never will, bu
which, if the theory of strong govern
meDt," and ''national supremacy" prevail
most certainly will DO the utimatum, wheu
that time comes, the middle classes the
mediocrity as it were, will be found banded
together for self protection,and party. lines
Will be obliterated in the attempt to save
the republic. There has never been pre-.
sentod to the American people question
OF graver importance or which required
more careful consideration than the latest
Republican scheme of strong govern.
ment" and national supremacy" which
involves the very existence of our free
government, and the liberties of the PEG
pie. 1t means Capitalization.
This question is one that must be met
aud it is the duty of every liberty loving
citizen to- oppose ANY scheme having fol
ITS object the contraction Of the rights anC
liberties OF the people, and the central
lzIng OF dangerous power in the few a,
against the many, The Democratic party