The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-07-22
Then and NOW.

Just before the great change of political
sentiment in 1874. the Republican party
managers were continually telling the
people that, if the Democrats gained con-
troll of Congress, there would be war; that
the country would 60 to pieces, etc. Well,
the people elected a Democratic lower
house of Congress. and Democrats leais-
latures in majority of states. and the
country remained safe. Before the Dem
ocratic majority in one branch of Congress
in 1874, the Republican party had un-
checked control Of the purse strings. and
every conceivable job was rushed through
under the guise Of public improvements
Before the Democrats gained control of the
House of Representatives the people were
swindled out of millions upon millions of
dollars, iobbery. land grabs, steals of oil
sorts, were the order of the day, and went
unchecked SO long as Republicans
controlled both branches of Congress
It was under Republican administrs-
ton the Credit Mobilier job was concocted.
It was Republican administration which
fostered the Pacific land grab. the whisky
rings. the District of Columbia steals
the post leadership robberies, the salary
grab. and dozens of others equally
atrocious measures were enacted under a
Republican administration.
When the Democrats gained control of
the House of Representatives. this whole
sale stealing ceased. Investigations were
ordered and the frauds and thievery of the
Republican party made SO apparent as 10
convince the people that the election of q
Democratic House was not mistake, but
the best thing for the Interest of the peo-
pie which could have happeud.
Iu 1876 the people were SO we'll satisfied
with the work of Democratic congress,
that they elected Democratic President
and Vice President SO that there could be
complete change in all departments So
much good had been accomplished by a
partially Democratic Oongress,rthat the
people were ripe for a complete change
and accordingly declared for the Democra-
tic candidates by over quarter ct a mil
lion majority. The Republicans leaders were
cbange-they knew that complete
cleaning ont would unearth knavery in
the administration which would consign to
everlasting disgrace the party of sectional
hate. Then by the most fragrant fraud
ever enacted, the Republican managers
deliberately reversed the will of the people
and placed in the executive chair a man
who was not elected.
James A. Garfield was the man who
helped to coDsummate this fraud-remem-
Der that.
In 1873, the people again had chance
to speak and the combined opposition to
the Republican party was nearly half a
million in the country.
In November 1880 the people will again
decide, and the decision will be final and
conclusive. That the. verdict will be for
Hancock and English is beyond reasonable
doubt, and when elected they u0iN be seated.
The people are not afraid to trust the
DEMOCRATIC party and the resul. in Nov
ember will so determine. La fact the ,
people are DESTROYS of ID change and will
continue the good work already begun by
electing Democratic administration entire
50 that the much needed reforms can be |
fully accomplished. When the change
occurs the country will witness a new era
of prosperity and peace from one end to the
other