The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-05-07
Chairman of City Com,
The Heading OFF, Dodge---What Dem
ocrats Should Do.

The Heading OFF, Dodge---what DEM
ocrats Should Do.
The eheekiness with which the Nstio-
nal Greenback party leaders boast of their
strength is wonderful, under the circum-
stances, but the readiness with which they
accede to almost any proposition which
will "boost in few of their meu. is
amusing to close observer. One of the
great tricks of the Greenback leaders is
what may be termed the heading off
process,-o 10 ether words the facility
with which they endeavor to get their
candidates before the people just little
IN advance of the other parties-more par
ticuiarly the Democrats. The object OF
this is apparent to anyone who is familiar
With even the simplest rudiments of
polltics-it is so transparent trick, IN
fact, that it is readily understood
The heading off, sprocess having
succeeded, aud the candidates be-
ing 10 the field. the next
move in order is the endorsing dodge-in
other words-the wires are then laid TO
capture the Democratic convention for the
National candidates by working up the
endorsement plan. It was for this very
Identical purpose that the N ational
Greenback convention of Illinois was held
so early and there is not leader in the
Greenback party who can truthfully deny
1t. To make the dose little more pala.
table for the nornoorats q man NOS now
mated for governor who had once been a
Democrat-or a sort of one-and then
the organs of the National Green back
party began to labor to secure an endorse
ment by the Democratic state convention,
The various advantages to follow as a re-
suit of this course are being pictured 10
glowing terms, and in suitable manner
Mr. Streeter is being written up as a man
who always was Democrat, you. know
Indeed he is really Democrat in principle
now. etc. The appeal will not win, how
ever, it is too old trick. The Democrats
tried the endorsing business in 1876, and
the result was an inglorious defe It. In
stead of nominating General Farnsworth
or Parsons or Oberly or some straight out
Democrat. Lew Steward. SO called indie
pendent, was nominated and the Demo-
Gratis have not yet fully recovered from
the mistake--but they have learned a
Z good lesson, and the experience will not
be disregarded. either. Mr.. Streeter is a
renegade Democrat, and will not receive the
Democratic nomination, 10 1878. when
Democrats were put TO the test, he was
found IN the racks of the Nationals lead
ing the forlorn hope. and managed to
poll enough Democratic votes to defeat
Hon. Delos Phelps. the regular Demo
cratic nominee. For this work the Demo-
Gratis are asked to indorse him. It will
not be done-of that N uch Mr.. Streeter and
his supporters may rest assured. But this
heading off process, and endorsing dodge,
Is lot confined to state conventions and
state candidates, but the system is carried
out 10 congressional, representative, county
and towns as well. 1t is about time Dem
ocrats understood this trick and asserted
their independence. There is limit to
all things and in this matter the limit has
DSeH EoaC1eO. w Die inc DSnOcTatIC
party is, as it ever has been, ready to
champion the whole people, is opposed TO
oppression. in favor of liberal measures.
and pledged to the policy of the greatest
good 20 the greatest number, it cannot and
will not accept any dictation from any
other political party. The platform of the
Democracy is broad enough for ali who
will to stand upon, but they must come as
Democrats, not as allies merely. The
present year is an important one, and the
presidential contest bids fair to be the
most holly contested in many years. Ii
is year when Democrats must assert
their principles. their manhood-thei
party preferences There must be no
policy" business only hard earnest
work. To this end it is particularly es-
sentiai that the county, representative
congressional and state conventions be
composed of true, tried and unfiinching
Democrats-men whom we know to be
such-who never waver. We cannot afford
in the presidential year to select doubtful
tlmber-but only such men as delegates
who will consider the success of the time
honored principles of Democracy as para
mount to all other things It is parsicu-
sariy desirable that meme but unflinching