The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-03-16

the loss Of all control over the public purse
and the means Of investigating corruption
and abuses,
Second The loss to the Democrats of
the majority in the senate. which is likely
to turn upon two votes. one OF which will
60 with power and patronage.
THIRD THE restoration OF Grantism In
all Its most odious forms. with ring rule
and reckless expenditures. 1t will be held
that the election of Grant was a vote OF
approval for his two former administra-
tons, and hence that the policy of the
past should be the policy of the future.
F0snth-The reconstruction Of the SUI
preme court. with new judges pledged to
the EXTREMIST theory of central power at
Washington and to the destruction oil
home-rule in the states.
Given these results and what sort OF Q
government would be left. with the thiro
term established as precedent tor az IN
| definite number of terms? Violate the
principle once and the moral restraint Is
removed for all time: N 80.
| president in power. bent on having his
own way, claiming that the people have
mt him ia Office to exercise it, and ready
| TO summon the army to enforce dictatorial
de,rees. absolute authority would be en-
throned 10 the White House.
With q subservient congress ready
to pass the most obnoxious laws
in consideration of q share in the
common plumber, to multiply Offices fol
the sake of Increased patronage. and tt
inaugurate a system OF so called in
ternal improvements, with hundreds o.
millions for addition. division and silence
new era for corruption, compared with
which all former experience would be a.
the minnow is to the whale, would bt
| opened up, backed by combination &c
Include large portion of the south.
With q packed supreme court ready to
obey orders, to Iegislate by judicial DEGREES
| on acts of congress that stand In the way
| of license, to reverse inconvenient decls
| ions and to declare unlimited power 10 the
executive, that highest tribunal would be
converted into q mere creature of despo-
| tism,
Here, then, are the three great depart
meuts, into which the authority OF the
government is distributed, committed to
its subversion by the restoration OF Grant
ism to power, without check OF any kind
to curb career of license. These are no
foolish fears, or political alarms. bat stern
forecasts of certain future with the third
term approved by a popular vote.
II Grant is elected the northern proyin-
oes of Mexico. with their mongrel popula-
ton, will be annexed, perhaps within the
first year, 10 order TO make good the
schemes and 'speeulations of adventures
with enormous claims on and pretended
concessions of mining interests that eau
have no value without annexation.
The San Domingo and other jobs will be
revived with audacious disregard OF any
opposition that may be made by the press
or by the people. These territorial
acquisitions would soon seek representa-
ton in congress. and then new problem
would be added to those which already
exist tor solution. There are great diff
cuities in preserving intact the Integrity OF
the union as it now stands, with so vast
an extent of territory to cover and such a
variety of interests to guard. The contilcf
of cOntendng forces that come up are only
harmonizsd By concessions that cannot
always be expected.
Mr.. Clay and Mr. Benton aud Mr.,
Webster. and other statesmen Of the last
generation, foresaw the dangers Of territ0~
rial expansion when they opposed the
annexation of Texas, covering a mighty
empire. and with the right of subdivision
into four states. Add to this perpleEiDg
question distant colonies like San Domingo
st. Thomas or Cuba-for they are all 10
the third term programme-and 1t re-
quires no prophet to foretell the future.