The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-01-06


In already large amount Of evidence
showing that official business has not been
conducted on the part of certain officials
with the system, prudence, and integrity
which it ought to haus been. In the case
of the Sheriffs Office the last incumbent was
compelled by the pressure of influences
which he could not control to give way,
and resign. The results OF the investlga-
ton 30 far have been to surprise the pub
lie gensrally,-all have felt surprised, and
many have been convinced Of the existence
OF official malfeasapss which they had
Anever before suspected or at least had
never really believed did exist. The OBJ
yious result of these disclosures is to ~ ke
10 any honest and many voters OF vi! parties
deslrous of sesiDg afflrs changed, and the
county business pass into safer and hon
ester hands. The irst. aud perhaps the
most important que,tion is what ought to
be done TO effect the desired change, aud
secondly how can tits be best and most
sffsotuaiiy accomplished. la business at
fairs generally. in aly e1mm erciai house,
bank, or manufacturing estab iish u cnt, the
first thing dons would be the prompt aud
irrevosabs dischargs Of the unfaithful and
dishonest emploYe, he moment his guilt
became known and proven, No consdera-
ton of the offenders politics would save
him a moment-h, would have to 60
business would ~ )ngor be felt safe ia
his hands.
Ii it were possible to apply the same
strictness to the public service and to rid
an Office o! dishonest Official with the
same orouptness ard dispatch, no doubt
the swittuess aud certainty of punish N ent
and disgrace Wou d have "a saiutary effect.
But political partis ,,urioftunately, 90 not
deal Si,h ofh ;iaI pecatstion with the
s.ms celebrity, nor 'istt ii with the same
sharp pun;shme nt, thai mea do 10 ordin
airy business affairs Such ia the blind
snd unyieldiog for,s OF party fealty that
any dereliction, an violation OF duty, aud
even actual guilt and corruption, are more
readily oveFlookeda and con doned than the
offence of acting and voting against the
party Il is this gnhesitating ,unquestion-
Jog, obedience to party behests which
gives birth to riagG, and enables few
skilliul and determined leaders to force
upon the party asa compel the election of
meu against whom the Roral sense and
intelligence of The better class of citizens
would in: any other relation of life openly
revolt. Public affairs in this county are
just now at that point where the oonserva-
tive aud thinking class Of our citizens
would gladly see change that should be
both a rebuke to the unfaithfulness of
officials in the past and some reasonable
assurance of more honesty for the future,
L. it possible to accomplish this result ?
Inasmuch as the Republican party Of
the county has hsld its convention and has
placed its candidate in the field, it may bs
assumed that whatever is done by the
Democrats-whether they make a Gomin-
alton, as party, or psrmitiths candidacy
of an Independent, (so-styled, THE con-
test will still in tn main features be largely
partizan. The candidate of the Republi-
can party at this time-whatever may be
said in his favor personalities nevsrthe-
less ring candidate, aud clearly and
closely unidentified with the influences and
the clique who have 80 generally controls
ed the policy aud named the candidates
of t,.-t party for many years past. He
possesses in no respeet the force of char
actsr or the intellectual acumefi which
might possibly emancipate an ADLER man
from the serfdam of the ring. Ills cleo
ton would be under the circumstances an
uneouivocal triumph OF the ring element OF
his party. What then ought the converva-
i've element to do? For undeniabIy there Is
large factor, q no incousidsrabls portiout
OF the Republican party in the county
who feel that the election of Mr.. Ankrum
would be impolitic and unwiss. Can there
be and win there be brought about such
q condition Of things that this class OF
the Republicans will join with all other
classes OF their fellow citiZsns to prevent
the success Of Mr.. Aukrum. ProYerb
tally what is everybodys business is no
ones business in particular. and thus it
happens that while the of idea right, OF
integrity, of strict honesty in public as
we'll as private life, receives the strong and
irrepressible consent of the intelligent
portion of both great parties. the common
oopsent tn mite to produce such an end
is seldom obtained. The universal
restraining effect of psrty spirit is against
il, and habitual submission to parti-
zan influence 10 the end, commonly pre-
vents any efsetual break in the ranks.
Now then the inquiry at onoo arises. and
il IL the sist Of the whole matter as
political movement, does the condition OF
our county affairs appear sufficiently
alarming, and do the cxigencs OF the
present time SO inperiously demand
change, that the conservative and moral
elements in both parties are willing 20
unite and effect change. Such union 10
the only thing that can do it. The dicker
ing and trading between this faction and
that, the attempt to conciliats this party
with promise OF patronage and to terrorlze
some other party with threats of defeat,
are merely partizan tricks. and are
immeasurahIy beneath that sober, serious,