The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-10-16

nropounded By Lincoln2 Why do you
hesitate or tremble2 The doctrines of
Jefferson and Lincoln are those OF every
man who would preserve the union pure
and uncorrupted.
The argumnet of solid south has been
presented to your fears. No greater hum
bug has ever been presented. What is a
solid south and what made it SO? The
Repu blIcan party want TO be told that the
south il stiIl of rebel proeiivisies; that,
although il is in the union, it may tear
down the structure. They want to be
told that these are the doctrines of the
Democratic party. They have not read
we'll the political history OF the United
States. When was disunion threatened
1t was when the old Democratic leaders
refused to comply with the demands of the
south jackson scotched the snake 10
lS32-"1he union must and shall be pre-
served" but a weaker administration did
not do SO; but we were glad when our
troublesome friends withdrew. and huZZa-
he'd TO be rid of them. But the people
were prepared to fight for their country,
right or wrong, and there was no need to
call for soldiers-the people all went to
the front. When the war ended Grant
said: Let w have peace" but what
peace has it beep2 Every two or four
years they have taught that the south was
among US but not of us, though they spoke
the same language and had the same
religion. They were told day by day that
they were our enemies aud must be oblit-
Grated from the face OF the earth. | need
oniy tn quote from the words of one of
their own rank aud file, Grant, delivered
at Bloomington. in April last, when he
told how cordially he was received in The
nd hos 10 ~ -, Al
north there was, to disprove all this
These words OF the leader of the three
hundred aud six 10 the convention
iaag hter when be sought TO become
president Of the United States-were they
talse, or is their author now false2 A
friend In trout OF zoe said, a moment
ago. that the carpet Dagger made solid
| south, and he guessed Alright When
| it went south tho deb: OF the
states began to Increase, and grew from
seventy six to two hundred and twenty
| i've millions Of dollars. The carpet bag
gers devoured the products of the south as
tie Iocusts Gid everything in Egypt and
II was not until they were driven out that
peace restored. There are no longer
stories OF the Nu-klux. outrages and
wrongs. since the south has come into the
| hands of home rule Carl Schurz told
EY the SUul IS soma Ia Dis speech In OF.
| Louis III 1872, before he was one with THE
gang Robbery In the south and plumber
| OF its products diminished its property in
value after five years of peace until Ii was
far below its price in 1860 Who is RS
| sponsible for these things carried on 10
the name of the Republican party2" he
asked. There you have it on good authority
| What other reasons do we hear advanc-
! ed for the defeat of the Democratic party
| besides a solid south? Ii is said that the
south will get control OF the treasury and
unlock its doors; that the rebel debt will
| be paid Ii there was any foundation for
this, ! should say that it was u calamity,
| indeed, and should be aver;ed Section 4
| of article Ia Of the constitution says that
no debt Incurred by instruction can be
paid but shall be held to be illegal aud
void. But, say some, the south will wipe
out this part Of the constitution. Do they
forget also that article provides that
amendments 20 the constitution cannot be
made except by enactment of the legisla"
lures OF three quarters of the states, fol-
loving a two third vote of both Houses?
The constitution cannot be tempered With
as stated even if some should desire it,
The speaker then proceeded to show
what been done with the rebel claims
presented to the house, aud be spoke
authorltsveiY. as chairman of the house
committee on war claims, aud closed, at
length. By referring again enooGrageingly
to the contest before the Democrats party
this fall, and prophesied victory.