The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-05-24
EvadIng the Issue.

occasionally there IS republican paper
that attempts to dodge the real issue be-
tween the two parties through Ignorance.
Such we believe TO be the case with the
Aledo Banner, when it says there is not a
shadow in either of Hayes two messages
favoring the use Of the troops at the
polls. The last message was veto OF q
bill which prohibited such use Of troops
only this and nothing more-and when
Hayes objects to such bill, ordinary in-
telligence would seem to see in it q shadow
of favoring the use of troops at the polls,
The editor Of the Banner has not read up
on the opinions Of his party leaders He
imagines that the intentions of these lead
ers are not known. He does not know
that the debates in congress have forced
his party TO acknowledge what they have
secretly entertained all the while. He has
not read the speech of Senator Blaine, de-
livered on the 10Th, wherein that sun
stroke" gentleman from Maine boldly
stated the present acknowledged position
and attitude of the republican party. He
did not try to evade the issue, but assumed
for himself and his party the total RESPONSE
biIity for the election laws and all the
frauds aud outrages that have been COM
mitted under them; for Davenport and
his miDions; for the use of the Federal
army in elections and to break down the
authority of State governments; for test
oaths which shut intelligent and loyal citi-
zens out of the jury-box, and leave their
lives and property at the mercy Of igno-
rant and prejudiced negroes.
It is as the New York Express says:
mot satisfied with accepting these points,
he even gloried 10 them, and declared that
the Democrats would be forced to submit
to republican dictatioD, so far as these
questions are involved. This is the
issue, reduced to its lowest terms
1t is not an issue of Democratic
making. 1t has been forced on the
country by the Republican managers for
partisan ends, against the earnest and
patriotic protest of Democrats everywhere
Down at the bottom it means simply that
the. Republicans cannot hope to carry the
next Presidential election on any 6nan-
cial, or economical, or administrative is.
sue. On all these questions, which are Of
vital interest to the country, they are
hopelessly divided. They know that they
are weak Oh any question which concerns
the real business welfare of the American
people. They are united and strong only
on old war issues; and they mean to revive
those issues, and attempt to array solo
North against solid South in u purel!
sectional contest, if it is possible to do 30
1t is conspiracy on the part of set o
damagogues to retain the Federal Govern
ment by sacrificing public quiet and bust
ness interests and all financial and com
mercial concerns in a senseless. causeles
sectional contest over questions that hav
been settled and ought to be left foreve
at rest"
VIII the editor Of the Banner ponde
over the position in which his party i
now placed. II he is an honest man will b.
continue to support a party committe,
to such issues? Does he believe that
standing army IS necessary to keep tn
peace at the polls in Aledo or in Boston
Does he believe that liz order to have
tar election partisan deputy marshal
should have power to arrest citizens with
out process of law, without accusation anC
without trial? Does he believe that tn,
graves of the soldier dead should be tori
open to furnish his party with poitica
weapons in their political warfare2 Doe
he desire peace and prosperity and still
think this movement is patriotic. politi,
and for the best interest of the business o
the country.