The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-03-18
The g aiIg Arg'ts.
Illinois State Register.


The endeavor that, for nearly fifteen
years, has been systematically made By
the Republican managers in every general
election, to arouse sectional hate bv the
discussion OF long settled war issues-es-
peclally the negro question" in its innu-
merable phases will be made again this
year. There Is reason, however, to be .
iteve that the scheme will yield bat little
fruit. Lit is too old to deceive. The peo-
pie have begun to see through it. They
have detected the motive of it. But.apart
from the inslncerlty, the hypocrisy of the
party leaders in this annually recurring
sectional strife, the fact is indisputable
that there is nothing in the actual con-
dltion of affairs In the south to supply
even pretext for the continuance of sec
tional controversy respecting the negro in
that region, The exposure already eff
feotualiy made OF the origin and character
OF the notorious exodus" has extracted
from 1t every element that could have been
perverted 10 sectional and partisan uses
against the south; and it has been made
further manifest that in every southern
state, the safeguards of law are thrown
securely around the white and black races
aiike. LIZ is apparent that, wherever Dem
ocratic rule has suppianted carpet bag re-
constructionlsm ia the south, peace pre-
walls IN society. and law is supreme over
all men. Within the last FIVE years, not
only has local self government been re est
aoilshed and wisely maintained ia that Sec
tion, out all interests, industria., commercial
ana political, have been put in a constant
~ improving condition. Democracy, law,
prosperity and peace are inseparabiy I'M |
lted in the south.
1hese facts having grown more and |
more FAMILIAR IN the north, partly through |
the press and partly as the result of per-
sohal observation, the people can hardly |
De again misled BY designing partisans.
In fact. the northern masses are tired OF |
the OLD negro agitation. They can see In |
It no profit to themselves, to the negro.
nor to the country. The view of the sub
Ject which was expressed, a few evenings
ago, before large audience in ST. Louis.
oy ex-Unlted States Senator Henderson.
now prevails among the intelligent peopIe
of the north. Mr.. Henderson said:
me negro il free He possesses the ballot and
L e clothed in The whole panoply of civil rights
ne can go ana come as he pleases. Ii the south
does not suit him let him go the east, the north
dpe T e he mas the right Of exodus he
less than to the white man. He has the RIGHT To
the ballot and unless he has the age to yndi-
American freemen. The courts are open 10 him |
aud no one knows it better than he. these rights
IL
be waged to v1ndicate his privileges he should
wage 1t himself"
The significance of the foregoing ex
pressions acquires specia! emphasis from
the fact that ex-senator Henderson is an
eminent Republican, and also. the author
OF the fourteenth and fifteenth amend {
nents to the constitution. Thus, the )
ground for sectional agitation-for crimi-
nation and discrimination with reference
to the negro in the south-has been re-
iuoed to sucn narrow limits that it cannot
be utilized for party purposes in the cam
paign of 1880. Party leaders must apply
their energies 10 different direction.
They must engage public attention by the
discussion of living issues that relate to
he country's present and future. And it | {
3 10 view OF this fact that universal conf | :
fence Is being developed in the achieve $
nent OF great Democratic victory in
November next In the absence of Sec
ional luminosity the Republican party will
surely die.