The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-08-01
Friday, August !, 1879.
The People Want the Truth.

1t has been said OF the republican party
that its success lies In the unity of the
party-its organization, and the excellent
management Of the campaigns by the lead
ers,-and 10 q measure that is so. But
while this is partially the case, there are
other reasons why success has attended
the republican party, and that is the i'm
portant factor of the Office holding class,
backed by all the Influence of heads OF
departments, and the always available
funds to wage an aggressive fight. With
democrats il has been different, and what
ever success that has been attained result
ed from voluntary endeavor on the part of
therank and file. A party that has to be
sustained by a corruption fund is unworthy
the confidence of the people, and it is not
able that there is an awakening 10 politics
which augurs for a healthier state OF
affairs-in fact the great public questions
are beginning to be understood thoroughly
and the party palaver of INSCRIPTIONS
politicians meets with little favor with the
masses. The republican leaders see IN
in this reaction a most dangerous foe to
success. They know that the inquiry once be-
gun, il will continue until all the rotteDness
of the republican party will be fully expos
ed aud the unrighteous schemes OF the
leaders unquali6edly condemned.
1t has been the custom of Blaine, Conk-
ling, Logan, Chandler and others Of the
stalwart faith to mount the rostrum,
deliver harangue about the glorious
deeds of the republican party, fight the war
over, and claim all the credit for victory,
The deluded listeners, awe struck with the
deviltry of the democracy as pictured
from a republican standpoint, would swal-
low the utterances as sacred truth, vote
the republican ticket, and then aDxiously
await the great millennium that was prom
ised in the event OF republican success.
This dream has been repeated so fire.
quently however, and fallen so far short of
realization, that the people are asking for
something more substantial than empty
promises-and actually presuming to pro-
pound questions to the stalwart orators, as If
they had right to do 80, This unexpect-
ed innovation in the regular order Of things
has greatly alarmed the party Of Credit
Mobiliers, Pacific Subsidies, Whisky
Rings. ETC., and in wonder the leader:
stare at each other and cateohise as tc
what shall be done. 10 this dilemma
John Sherman comes to the front with 6
long row Of figures showing, Tx
prosperity of the country and ascrib
ing it to hard money and the republican
party. Directly following him comes so
called statistics of the wonderful increase
of exports over imports; then comes |
very elaborate showing of per capita re
duction Of the debt, ending always will
something Ike this-"the secretary of tn
treasury thinks" etc, For while thi
was accepted as a true statement, bu
somehow the people have got to lookin
into and comparing the figures, and tn
discovery is made that whereas, job
Sherman and his party claims reduction
that an actual increase of debt exists.
appears, and our republicans are nc
asked to accept anything but republica
figures. that under the brilliant [ p mar
agement of our finances by the illustrioU
Sherman, that while he has refunde
$300,000,000 Of bonds bearing four an
one hair and ttpe per cent. interest, int
bonds bearing only t0,r per cent. ihteres
that the debt in one year 'has increase
eighty-fUe millions, and he interest ttoo an
One-hdlf millions, These figures are froI
John Sherman's statement aud ought
be good authority with republican
While the stalwart organs are lau,
log Sherman and clarifying his fua
cial policy, it would be we'll enoul
to explain how this occurs. But the
won't do it; they never did, never will
tIey dare not explain. Republican leade
will find that while they may desire
wave the bloody shirt aud keep up the poli'
of sectional hatred, that the people W
demand aud exact an explanation of ce
tain measures which republicans origina
cd, and which were to benefit the peopl
but which instead, have proved cur
and destroyer. Keep up your section
bowling, you stalwarts, while you can, b.
be prepared to answer, if you can, Il
questions the people are certain TO pr,
pound. Theanswers must De clear, fu
and explicit, too, and non evasive. Ca
you explaln? Democrats, must hold thes
stalwarts to the record, and compel thel
to answer for the crimes they have con
mitted