The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-11-18


The democrats are giving out that the
republicans will have no trouble at all il
organizing the House; they say they would
rather help than add to the importance Of
the greenback clement by giving balance
| of power. This sounds very pretty. but
the same siren song was sung just before
the extra session of the Senate. We al
remember how the democratic Senator,
on the funeral train pledged themselves tt
secure the uncontested election of Henry
B. Anthony to the presidency of the Sen
ate-and how nobly they redeemed Their
promise by electing Bayard. The repub-
licans had no resource after that but con
centrate upon David DAVIS the indepen-
dant. and they did it. Just now they can
secure greenback support of a republican
| candidate for speaker by honorable recog
milton of that party on the committees
II they take democratic advice and alien
ate these friends the speakership Itself
to prevent the control of the house from
falling into democratic hands.-R. l. I'm
| ton.
! While perfectly willing to acknowledge
| that the Union fails by long distance OF
representing anything like the sentiment
of its party yet the above article is rather
an instructive one.
1t states that the republicans would pre-
fer to see the organization of the house
fall into the hands of the greenbackers than
the democrots with mental reserv ton
in favor of electing republican through the
aid of their "greenback friends" In regard
to the truth of this statement there is no
dispute. The aid that the republican
party extended to the regulations in Vir-
ginia for the purpose of defeating debt
paying democrats there, is a sure earnest
that the republicans in the house will
unite with the greenback members for the
purpose of defeating honest money dem
ocrats. The reported statement that dem
ocratic senators had agreed on the election
of Anthony for president pro TEN. of the
senate grew out of the overheated magma
ton of some republican associated press
reporter; it was by no means the sentiment of
the democratic party; but as to the organi-
cation of the house, democrats everywhere
feel that they would prefer to let the green
hackers and republicans divide it between
them Bayard was elected by democratic
votes alone, no coalition had to be made
to form that majority; but to choose
democratic speaker of the house the green
back votes would have to be sought for
and that would necessltate a bargain and
sale totally foreign to the habits and
desires of the democratic party. When
the election of speaker comes up democrats
will put in nomination democratic can
gathering in the greenback votes will be
left to the republicans, # they desire to
obtain their aid they are perfectly welcome
to do 50 and the democrats will cheerfully
allow them to choose their candidate at the
expense OF all their party principles.
The republican party is IN a position
where it sees defeat ut every side staring
it in the face, and the efforts it is now
making to extricate itself are great 1t
has compromised with reputation in Vir-
ginia and Minnesota; sacrificed whatever
little it had Of honor and decency; cast
all It's professions of civil service reform to |
the four winds, adapted any course and
followed any leader wherever it thought |
some temporary advantage might be oh |
tanned; left principle and sincerity entirely |
n the back ground, and considered the
party first and the country afterwards. I
The republican party is now spending all
Of its time in mere apology for its exist
,nce, and has nothing in the way of prin-
;iple or behavior to urge as a reason. IL
hat party would only use its administra-
i've power for the good of the country in
tead of the party; If it would punish par
y thieves instead of protecting them; if
{ would make promises because it intend
ID to perform them instead of for the pur-
,ose of capturing votes; if it would be
onest and truthful instead of false and
trustworthy; if it would place patriot
I'M above party success instead of politi-
al advantage above the country's good,
would have some reasons to ask for pop
lar support. As it is, it is doomed.