The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-04-29
Business or Agitation 2

One of the strong points made by Sena-
tor Davis in his noble speech on the Army
bill was the disastrous effect this pro-
longed political agitation is having on the
business interests Of this country. 1t tends
to revive historical hatreds and rehabili-
tate feuds and snimosities which every
patriot should wish to have forgotten. We
are one people, of the same blood and
with the same destiny, and unity of feel
ing is essential to lift US out of the mire
and TO help US on the road to prosperity.
The different parts of our common couu-
try are so intimately connected in trade
and commerce that, as general rule,
whatever iniuriously affects one part has a
corresponding effect on the other, and
whatever benefits the one benefits the
other. Well did Senator Davis say that
the legitimate business principles which
lead to wealth and social happiness require
a cessation from agitation on past sub
iects, and that sound policy dictates the
cultivation of peace and good will between
the sections. The country cannot be pros
porous so long as the old conflict between
the North and South is used at each re-
curing Presidential election as an instru-
mentality OF party success, and the states
man who shall rise equal to the occasion
and put it at rest will receive the gratitude
of suffering people,"
This is admirable. and admirably put
1t is the simple truth. What are the rea
issues before the country to-day2 What
are the questions the people are every.
where interested in, and want Congress tC
settle? They are neither sectional, moi
historical, nor partisan. They relate tC
none OF the old issues settled by the wal
and erased by Constitutional amendments
which have been cordially accepted
by all parties and sections alike. They
concern business, industry, commerce,
finance, transportation, the development oil
national resources, the public health. Here
are half million people with no work
20 do, idle mills, closed furnaces, mines
worked only half the time, farms it does
not pay to till, railways doing only hall
business, merchants with only one quarter
OF their legitimate trade, banks lesseninC
their capital because they have 80 little tc
do, generally stagnation after the unparal
leled depression of five years aud half
Capital which should be invested in pro-
titable business and productive enter
prises is locked up in Government four
per cents. With all the materials for IN
exampled prosperity the country is poor
aud suffering. The universal demand OF
the people from one end of the nation tc
the.other is good times, IN improvement of
business, an increased demand for labor
and capital, confidence, prosperity. There
is no longer any South, or North, or West
TO the American people, but one country,
with one sentiment and one purpose, and
one overmastering want Yet 10 the face OF
the general poverty and distress, instead
OF trying to relieve the suffering of all
classes and furnish the conditions favora-
BILE to the material improvement of the
country, the Republicans have received an
old sectional Bipartisan agitation, and are
ing their utmost to disturb every class
and lDJure every interest by their ncessant
clamor and cries of revolution" Their
course is 80 unwise and unpatriotic, so in
furious to every vital interest of the
American people, that it deserves rebuke.
Indeed, at the beginning of the last session
of the last Congress, Mr.. Garfield himself
condemned the reopeniDg of these old is
sues, aud declared that the country now
wanted peace and legislation that would
promote prosperity. But The exigeDcies
OF his party have proved too much for his
craftsmanship or patriotism, and he has
eaten bis words and joinedwith other Repub-
leans in creating the present disturbance.
Such conduct is its own condemnation.
The conservative common sense of the
country cries out against in T. Er
DregS