The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-01-03
Ghe 99ailg Arsns.
lock xsLAND..........ILLIN
Republican "Cheek,"

Republican "Cheek."
St. Louis Republican.
The Chicago Inter Ocean has flaming
article every day on the Maine business.
Here is an extract from the latest:
"Why, if this proceeding of Gov. Garce-
lon is to serve as precedent, there is
nothing under heaven to prevent those in
power from perpetuating their official life
forever.
There is nothing to prevent the states
having Democratic officials, from throwing
the votes OF their respective states for
precisely who they please. without regard
to the wishes of the people, the desires OF
their own party or anybody under the sun.
lis it not plain that that means the
boldest kind of anarchy?"
1t must require no ordinary amount OF
what is commonly called 'cheek" for even
''stalwsrt" organ to publish such wall
inss and warnings as these. Nothing but
the belief that the popular memory cannot
reach back three years will justify this
exhibition ofjournalstic impudence. Tax
log the extreme Republican view OF the
Maine situation, and conceding that Gov.
Garcelon is guilty of a great political
crime. no Republican who sanctioned the
presidential fraud of.l576 can consistently
say one word of condemnation. That Til
den carried Louisiana is proved beyond
the possibility of doubt by the simple fact
that though Packard, the Republican can
dldate for governor, received more votes
than Hayes, Nichols. the Democratic
candidate, was declared telected and duly
inaugurated-by and with the consent Ct
the federal authorities. Yet the electoral
vote OF Louisiana was deliberately
stolen from Iilden and given to hayes;
thus deprivlng, not only the people OF
Louisiana of their presidential choice. but
the people of the United States. Not one
state only, but all the states were robbed
by a usurpation which will blacken the
national fame long after the party that
perpetrated it has rotted into oblivion.
let, with this Infamous record staring
them in the face. Republicans have the
sublime audacity TO raise their hands in
holy horror at the alleged wrong doing of
the governor of Maine. They ought rather
20 "lay their hands upon their mouths
and their mouth 10 the aust. and hum-
bly, accept this small instament of right
eous retribution.
AS for the Inter- Ocean, we would com
mend to its lips the cup of its own mixing,
with a reminder that the language above
quoted is substantially the same as that
which the Democratic press used while
the Centennial swindle was in progress,
and (which Republicans then treated with
contempt. Whatever Democrats may
think of the wisdom Of Gov. Garcelon's
action--none of them question his honesty
or honor-they are happy to have an
opportunity of returning this contempt
with compound interest. The boldest
kind OF anarchy" was that which allowed
two worthless negroes and two equally
worthless white men to elect president
of the United States. IF the country can
stand that monstrous iniquity, it will sur
vive the petty performance in Maine.
The proper time to talk about ''prece-
Dents was when the Republican party
established an everlasting one in Louisiana.
Somewhat too late now.