The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-29
Let the People Answer.

What do you think2 We ask the ques-
ton of the voters of this county, and We
refer to the coming election for Sheriff.
THE ARGUS has no yindictiye feelings
against the late incum bent:it is rot against
the.naan but against the methods employed
to elect the man to which THE ARGUS so
seriously objects The circumstances
under which the late sheriff goes out of
Office are sufficiently bitter and humi!iat-
ing in their personal bearing as to need no
comm ent-and in a personal sense we are
not the one TO add anything to the weight
OF his official disgrace. THE ARGUS does
not regard the sheriff o case as exception
ally bad beyond that of some others. The |
system which has grown up in the
course of twenty five years and which has
consolidated its strength ia the hands of
q court house ring is altogether more re-
sponsible for the outcome of its own inner
ent viciousness than the individuals who
have fallen victims to its corrupting 10
fuepces. The truth il. the election of all
county officers with perhaps here and
there an exception occurring at long in
terva!s has been dictated and cantrolcd by
| or in the interest of the ring. The meth
cd of operation. that is to say, the order OF
} succession has been 80 apparent to the
eommonest observation, that every young
man whose ambition lay IN the way of po-
litcal preferment at once turned his at
tsntion AID used his best endesvors TO get
! into the ring; to be sheriff, or clerk, or
z treasurer. it was Of PRIME necessity, to get
into the line OF safe succession, that Is, get
] TO be a deputy-get 10 be connected IN
some way for a while with the effica, be
e come trained, and finally introduced to the
public uuder the auspices Of the outgoing
( incumbent backed by the ring generally
b Now the ARGUS submits to the good
j. common sense Of the voters 81 this county
5 whather that ~ not true and literal
8 statement Of exactly how the get,i;:g ct
uffice has boeu managed in our midst, and
9 whether it is likely to insure as good u run
of officials as a freer and more direo,
choice by the people themselves would
K produce True, Tie peoples votes elect
o the officer, but who makes tho candidate
y the peoples votes? Unquestionably IN thi;
!. county it has been done by the ring, by the
y court house machine. and whic an in
4 strumont of efficiency and a potent po'
/ ii,ical agency it has worked well-has
always insured party victory and perpetu.
n ated party supremacy-at the same time
t it has produced just what is inevitable IL
II the long run, namely, 4 corrupt condition
, OF public affairs Now one thing may. be
q remarked upon political parties. and Of
70 lpolitical organic atIons,-it is not the
l. "outs" but tho Gins who are corrupt. il
q there be eny official wrong going On; ,hs
% "outs" are txeEIpt ircm such a charge
10 from necessity A very serious considera
tion is the question whether the Ems,
q being convicted of maifeassnce and cor
! .upt practice, can possibly reform, or i
e they can whether they will-or expressing
( the idea 10 other phraseology, suppose ihs
1t ring admits that one of their number
lg has fallen, has proved to be unworthy ACC
i'd corrupt official. and they unite
$. with others in virtuous con-
= demnation, if the ring continues &c
N manage the party and make the candl
/" date, is there any reason to believe that 1
nt system which has led TO corruption Will.
IN further continued and managed in tn,
as same way as before will not also continu,
it 10 produce the same corrupting Influences
ae and the samo official dsfalcations 10 tn.
Is future as in The past. 1t is not the mass
e LII
Fe who are corrupt or would
o. lend their influence to uphold cor.
d. ruptior. it is the way in which they allow
themselves to be managed, the dictation
). of the party machine which puts bad mer
Of in Office and when they are dictated fine
i. excuses for misconduct.
k What do you think? We repeat the
- question to our fellow citizens. Are you
D. going to condemn tho n an but support
e the ring at all hazards-support the agency
:. that produces just the man you condemn-oI
IL is it better to make radical change and
r overthrow the agency which has resulted
Il 10 bringing disgrace upon itself and dis
honesty into public accounts. So long as
# a ring can succeed in holding the offices
J. it never reforms: and SO long rs the indi-
o Vduals comprising a party condone the
y wrongs Of it's officials BY continuing to sup.
4 port the very agency which has pro-
= duoed tie wrong doors there can't be any
e reform alton. Reforms come from outside
= pressure, aud a change of parties-a
+ change for the time being at least.
: Invaluable for railroad men-''I suffer
= ed for more than a year with indigestion.
= aud during the last six months | was very
9 bilious, occasionally having dumb chill.
: followed by fever. which prostra ed me.
g | took Simmons Liver Regulator. and for
! several months | have been as stout and
II hearty as any map could desire to be- |
= am thoroughly satisfied that it.is as recon
I mendad to be for indigestion and bilious
y eom plants. for mine was certainly q
stubborn case / have heard many of my
e friends speak of it and all agree that it
: possesses all the virtues you claim for it.
i "A, II. HIGHRowER Con. Nj IL r T..