The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-08-03
The Greenback Party q Repubncan
side Show.


There is no longer any question but that
the Republican party managers are in full
consultation with the Greenback party
leaders. and that they are working in con-
cert for the defeat Of the Democracy. 1t
has been established beyond question that
General Weaver ia in the pay of the Re
publican party; that the party managers
of the latter are paying his expenses; and
that the plan is to divide the Democratic
vote wherever possible. The rank and
file of the Greenback party went into the
movement honestly-did it because
they wanted achange-beeause they were
misled by the glib utterances of demagogi-
ca leaders who were ready to use them
for purpose. It is easy to trace the his
tory of this Groenback movement-it does
not go back so far but it can be easily fol.
lowed.
In 1876 the Republican party managers
were startled at the result of the election.
To discover the Democratic party 10 the
majority by quarter of million of votes
was not what they were prepared for.
The gigantic conspiracy which seated
Hayes in defiance of the will of the people
was concocted. and. by the aid of perjured
scoundrels in Louisiana aud Florida. the
crime was committed which overturned the
will of the people. and gave to the Repnb-
lican party further lease of power. The
people are familiar with the details of this
outrageous transaction, and complete
resume of the characters and incidents 10
not necessary. Suffice it to fssy that the
Republican party was enabled by this
means to retain its hold on the govern
mental purse.
Butt though in control of the govern
ment, the leaders knew that the grip, to be
maintained, must be tightened-but how
to dothis was the problemu.
The Republican managers knew that
the rank.and file of the Democracy were
discouraged sbecause of the failure to
inaueurste Tilden. They knew that the
masses were ripe for a revolt against the
leaders. and knowing this they conceived
the plan to disintegrste the Democratic
party by forming a new organization,
hoping thereby to sufficiently reduce the
Democratic vote. to enable the Republican
party to maintain its supremacy in nation
al affairs,
To think was to act. and the crafty
leaders of the Republican party. immedi-
atsly began to organize labor clubs, and
secret political labor organizations
10 Democatric districts. Emissaries
were sent among the laboring
classes to foment discord and
widen the breach between labor and CAPT
tai. How we'll they succeeded. the labor
riots of 1877. fully attest. and from this
beginning, the Greenback party sprung.
To give additional prestige with labor |
ORGANIZATIONS. the name was changed from |
''GreeDback Party" 10 The National
Greenback Labor Party" and thus was the
object of the Republican uanagers at
tanned.
Two-thirds of the labor element being
Democratic, the bulk of the labor party
strength came from the Democracy
While a certain number of Republicans
Joined the new party. the preponderance
of Democrats was SO much in excess of
the Republican element, that the damage
TO the Democracy was severe in many
localities. -s
Thus was the Democratic vote divided,
and thus the ideal scheme of the willy
plotters contaminated. In
ia sed By local successes, the new party
branched into state and national politics.
and in many districts polled enough votes
10 defeat Democrats and elect Republic
,aus. .fsn vTrar
Thus in 1878. the Republican party in
the congressional elections in that year,
we're enabled 10 make showing which
would tend to convey an impressioa that
the cry of fraud in 1867 was a Demo-
cratic invention. The temporary successes
Of the Republicans in 1878. were enlarged
upon and formed the basis of Republican
stump speeches all over the country. The
plan to form q new a -par.y-conceiyed by
the willy tricksters in charge of the Re-
publican machine, had worked splendldly. i
districts were made. By means {
Of the Republican and Greenbacks vote To-
send Republicans to Congress. .Democra- /
TIC counties By the same coalition were
made anti Democratic, and 30 we trace the