The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-29

Everybody knows Mr.. George w Win.
ton. of the Moline Plow Co.. and they
know be has been Republican for Is
years. He has sfstate aud national ac-
quaintance and was prominent candidate
for iieutenant governor at the Republican
state convention inls76. and is one of the
best posted men politically In the state.
He has tired of the corruption of the
Republican party aud thinks change
would be beneficial to the country.
La answer 10 letter from an old
time friend at Des Moines. Iowa. asking
his opinion of matters political. Mr.. Vim
ton wrote the following letter. which is
published in the Davenport Democrat. 1t
| is as follows;- rH
MOLINE. ILL.,. July "a, 1880.
p. E. BARTLE. Esq, Des Moines. La.
Dear Sir: You want to know how stand
on the coming Presidential election. L
will tell you. After mature deliberation l
have determined to vote with the Demo-
cratic party at the coming National cleo
| ton. will briefly give some Of the res-
sons that lead me to this determination.
have been an active aud consistent Repub-
licau for twenty five years. and it is only
for many and serious reasons that | leave
that sparty ut this time and ally myself
with the opposition.
| have watched with much concern the
growth in the party OF the influence of
some OF its most corrupt and most uuscru-
pulous mem bers. in whose tightening grasp
the party seems now to be we'll nigh pow
eriess, The old and houored friends
| anta b,,n
Palmer, Doolittle, and host of others wLo
sought to preserve the old standard of
honesty aud morality in that party, are
now allied with the Democratic party.
! have seen the civil service become
more and more corrupt, prostituted to the
basest ends, aud every attempt at its
reform laughed to scorn aud rendered
tfutiess. Corruption is eating at the
Ifououation Of the government, and is fos-
tered for the personal ends OF the men in
power; and the ballot is becoming day by
day Less and less representative of the
will of the people have stayed with the
party for the last five years in the hope
and belief that there was moral strength
and purpose enough IN it TO work reform.
| believed it had yet mission to perform
and that eventually il would be able to
perform it. And for this reason l, with
with reclamation the nomination of Presi-
dent Hayes. 1t meant to me,in the event
OF his election, pure government and
reformed civil service, check to monop-
lies and the supremacy o: the civil over
the military power in times OF peace.
| The recent contest 10 Chicago between
o SECTIONAL dig atchy on the one side and a
railroad monopoly on the other has result
ed in a compromise IL one whom his own
party friends have convicted of perfdy
aud corruption, with a second whose only
fame in this nation is. of having been dis
charged in disgust from the public service
by the head Of his own party.
1t ii is bV their fruit we shall know
them, how stalwart a reform are We to
| expect from such ~ these?
The Southern question has had it's
i Influences with me as with most Republi-
cans. have fancied there might be too
much truth in the once reported charge,
that the South were still at heart hostile
to the Union and bent on it's overthrow.
In recent and somewhat protracted visit
to the South | am thoroughly convinced
| that this is mistaken view | have no
u ore reason to doubt its loyalty than the
loyalty of the North. They are anxious
for the removal of all sectional issues and
sectional feelings and for the full devel~
opment of true national resources.
Yours respectfully.
GEORGE w. VINTos.
MIR. Vinton's conversion will be an
acquisition to the Democracy which will
have its influence. He has an extensive
acquaintaece. is a clear talker and never
hesitates to state his opinions. Keep up
the boom. There are still few choice
seats left on the Democratic platform,