The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-04-12
The Nationals" no sL.orgex Factor
in Politics.

The Nationals" no sLongex . FACTOR
There will be but two parties in the
coming presidential campaign-at least
the contest will be between the Democratic
aud Republican parties. The National
Greenback Labor party, as party OF the
country is dead-it cannot carry q solitary
state-nor can it affect the general result
one vote. It has dwindled to almost
nonenity in politics and cannot recover it's
lost ground. Like all other new political
parties born Of an emergency. its existence
ceased when the emergency passed. The
National Greenback party was the out
growth of the strike Of ls77-it was used
and controlled by designing politicians for
a purpose-and having accomplished the
end for which it was kept alive-it has
ceased to exist as factor in politics and
in a year will be almost forgotten. No
party founded for purposes OF special
legislation, in the interest of particular
class TO the detriment of the other classes
can exist-it is un~American. I'm Demo
cratic-it is not 10 accordance with the
laws governing free people. No matter
whether the class to be benefited be the
laborer. the mechanic or the banker. no
party favoring special legislation in the
interest of either one az special class can
achieve victory in the United States as O
party. If the bankers and mer-
chants of the United States were
to form new party in the
interest of their particular wants. as a
class of the whole people, defeat would
surely be the outcome. 1t would be the
same with any religious denomination, or
in fact any set OF men seeking to build
ND q certain class and conserve The inter-
ests of that class to the 1striment of all
others. The National party was the out
growth of the strikes of 1877. 1t was
founded to control legislation for tue ex-
elusive benefit of the working classes. This
was its speciality - this its watchword- For
a time. Flushed wi h temporary success
it increased it's demands. bco tne more
exactipg and sat about accom- piish-
ing redress of real and inagined erie~
vances by class legislation. ana this is
what has wiped it out. NJ party can live
which has for its platform glass legisla-
ton. There are some gnoi plauks iu the
National party platform, hpweyer. which
are not within the pale OF class legislation.
but these ara to be found as well 10 the
Democratic party. The history of ali pol
itical parties 10 this country whisa have
sought TO legislate In the interest of any
particular class, has but one sequel-de-
feat. The Know NothinGs. tried class
Legislation but their career was short lived
class legislation cannot be the watchword
of any political party. If success is desired.
Theirs is wide distinction. however,
between class legislation and legislation in
favor Of the many against the few-or in
few. The Democratic party has outlived
every party which has had existence, 1t
has been victorious and has suffered de-
feat, 1t has been crushed and been lifted
up again. 1t has been through prosperity
aud adversiy-but it's humiliation hss not
been effected and never will be. Founded
on the principles of universal liberty-rep-
resenting the people-opposed to the
enactment of oppressive legislation. pledged
to economy in state and national affairs
believing in that grand old maxim, ''the
greatest good to the greatest number" it
is essentially the party of the people. By
and for the people. 1t embraces men Of
all classes-the high. low, rich and poor,
aud aims TO deal impsrtially with all 1t
is the party of she whole people and must
of necessity outlive all other parties
Those Democrats who have been afiliatinR
with the Nationals can see the folly of
throwing away their vote-they must see
that it is impossible for the Nationals as a
party to achieve success. They know that
nothing is to be hoped from the contiuu-
alton of Republican rule. and that the only
way to accomplish success is within the
ranks of the Democratic party The plat
form of Democracy is broad enough for all
to stand upon-the old wigwa1l is large |
and there is always welcome extended to
all who enlist under the old Democratic |
banner. Democrats, you who have never |
faitered. you who have been true TO the |
party at all times, it is within your power |
10 achieve grand old victory, but you
must work-hard and earnestly too |
Democrats, you who have been training in |
strange camps-who have temporarily left |
the old party, you are thrice welcome 10
the ranks. Let Democrats remember that
this is presidential year. that if we work
as we ought to work. success will crown
our efforts. This is not the time for petty
quarrels or disputes. Let the Ratchet be
buried and only fraternal feeling prevail.
@n@@ss.Mz.--..~s--@E.% =
Grant.