The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-04-21


cratic ranks of New York. and the appar-
emf impossibility OF settlement, satistact-
orily, to nominate Tilden would be to
sndauger success, or ct least make the con-
test too close to be interesting. It's clear
IL demonstrated from the action OF theDem-
ocrats at Syracuse, that harmony between
Tammany and anti-Tamany is beyond
question with Tilden ms leader. This was
made apparent last fall when Robinson
was defeated for governor, and it is shown
that the opposition of Kelley and his abil-
ity to keep his forces well 10 hand Is as
strong as ever.
The facts exist and must be squarely met.
Last fall when John Kelly declared MS
intention to defeat Robinson and asserted
his ability to do so, he was laughed at'
and the regular organisation or Illden
faction treated his protests with contempt,
scorued to compromise. and de6ed his
power to defeat the regular nominees.
Kelly kept on. however, and when the
votes were counted, Robinson fell short OF
q majority, and the entirei Democratic
ticket went down with him. IL matters
not whether Democrats approve or con-
denim Kelly-for his desertion OF the regu-
lar nominee-it is not q question of likes
or dislikes of Kelly or Tammany Hall-or
any other faction, but it q question of suc-
cess for the whole party that is to be con-
sidered. and which must be looked at
calmly and deliberately. TO reach an intel
ligent, unbiased conclusi It is
not for Democrats to throw away
the chances of success to vindi-
cate personal .grievance-but they must
weigh all points in the controversy and de
eide accordingly, 1t was predicted only
few days:ago that John Kelley would be
unable TO organize an anti 'Tilden conven-
ton in New York-that his influence was
gone, and that the second convention at
Syracuse would be izzle. What is the
result2 Is Kelly's influence gone? Was
the second convention failure? To these
interrogatories the answer is No" John
Kelly did organize his convention, The
convention comprised some of the most
influential Democrats in New York. 1t
was o grand success, aud as an earnest of
its opposition to Tilden, full delegation
was chosen TO the Cincinnati convention.
Does any one pretend to say that all this
amounts to nothing-thst it will end with
the decision of the national convention?
1t is grave mistake to so suppose, and
instead of ridiculing Kelly's strength
the Democratic party must look at the
matter in its true bearings, and decide not
in the interest of John Kelly
NOT in Tilden's interest, but for
the whole country. 1t is idle
to suppose that such men as Dorsheimsr,
Kelly, and thousand other prominent
men in the Democratic party Of New
\ ork are acting like children-they mean
,Utat they say and WU not support Sun,
UcI j. TSlden but they ciH support any
other candidate. A large number OF
these men are opposed to Tilden because
they kHosc he cannot carry New York. and
knowing this dare assert it. In this hope
less mixture of affairs in New York, and
In the face of the indisputabe fact that
the Democrats must carry New York in
order to elect Democratic president, it
is clearly evident that Tilden's candidacy
would be an objectionable bIuuder The
question of the hour is-who can be nom
mated to restore harmony2 A New
York man will hardly do, or any eastern
man, scarcely. What then shall we do?
The answer is-nominate o western man,
q man clear from all cliques or dissenting
factions-a man on whom all can unite
with enthusiasm and feel that
success is assured. The one
best calculated to bring order
out of chaos, harmony from discord,
strength from weakness-is Senator David
Davis of Illinois. Allied TO no clique,
owned by no managers, controlled only by
his sense of right and duty, and having a
record without stain-a man whose high
position was Won of merit, 9 man whose
every act has been that of a statesman,
and whose candidacy by the Democracy
means success beyond question. Such O
man is David Davis, of Illinois. But while
Davis is at this time, to all appearances,
the strongest man before the people. The
ARGUS stands ready to abide by the will of
the Cincinnati convention. While pro-
testing for the sake of harmony and success
against the nomination of Tilden. it bears
MIR. Tilden no malice, but thinks his nomi-
No ton at this time unwise, for the reason
that it seems impossible to harmonise the
Democracy of his own state in his behalf.
With Davis We can win-with Tllden it
will be up bill work, to say the least.
Senators Carpenter and Blaine are
ranged against each other, and so bitter is
the feeling between the two. that even on
party questions. they vote oppositely. in