The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-06-18
SEYMOUR'S SENSE.
He regards the Republican
Party on it's last legs.
What the Albany Fight
liz doug for the Party.
CHICAGO Times

mour was interviewed to-day on the politi-
cal situation. He begged to be excused
from saying much about the chances OF
personal merits of the. several senatorial
candidates at Albany. Because" he OBJ
served, Senator Conkling is my brother
in-law, you know, and it would not be in
good taste for me to enter upon an extend
ed discussion of that subject He looks
upon the Albany contest as affording evi-
dence of the disintegration of the republi-
can party. II see in it, he said, "a con-
fiict between elements whose struggles
foretell the early dismemberment of the
party. Recent exposures of corrupt prac-
tices at Albany prove what the people have
long suspected, and I would not be sur
prised to hear of still further and more
damaging disclosures before the investiga-
tion is concluded. have known
SENATOR SESSIONS
a long time, and Mr.. Bradley, his accuser,
slightly. The senator is known as a man
of very peculiar methods and practices,
and I have never heard Mr.. Brad1eys in
tegrity questioned by those who know him
personally. Mr.. Depew, in whose interest
money is said to have been used, is clever
mana very clever man. indeed,-but not
such a one, / fancy, as the people of the
seate would like to have represent them in
sented the New York Central railroad in
Albany every winter for years. He has
been there TO protect the interests of the
road and is very familiar with
| LEGISLATIVE PECULIARITIEs,
and the methods in vogue for influencing
| legislation. A man holding such posi-
| ton must have-well, an extremely flexible
conscience. The Republicans are tearing
| themselves to pieces, and, as you may
imagine; we Democrats do not feel like
| interfering. The result of the wrangle that
is now going on will in my opinion, be
| the redemption of the state from the con
troll of the Republicans. New York is
naturally Democratic; it is traditionaly
Democratic. It's greatest and most dis
tinguished men have been Democrats, and
the best part of its history is that part
which was made while it was under Dem
ocra5ic rule Last fall The state was taken
from the Democrats for false pretences
THE TARIFF ISSUE.
was raised to frighten short-sighted men,
and the Democratic party was consider
ably divided. Prospects are brighter
now"
The venerable ex-governor was quite free
in his expression of opinion about Presi-
dent Garfield. He thinks that the presi-
1
have very little faith in men who quit
preaching for politics. he said, ''and Gen.
Garfield is no exception to the rule. He
has carried with him much that is imprac
ticable. 1t was a great mistake for him to
have left the senate. There he would have
made better impression than he can hope
to as president. He is n man of very fair
general information and education, and a
ready and forcible talker; yet he is
VERY YIELDING MAN.
by nature, and since he entered upon the |
discharge of his duties as president that |
side of his character has been turned to |
the public oftenest. 1t is best for man in
public life to be himself at all times, and
not try to be like somebody else. Some
men are firm and self-willed and accustom-
ed TO having their own way. Gen. Jack |
son was that kind of man. Garfield is
entirely different. He is weak and anx-
ious to please everybody; and when he sets
out to be second Gen. jackson, the eff |
fort is unnatural, and must end in failure |
It was natural for Jackson to command |
obedience; it is not so with Garfield. More
men have been ruined trying to be like
Gen. jackson than from all other causes
combined Since Gen Garfield has been
prominent in public life, and more especi
ally of late years, his constant and unceas
ing prayer has been that he
NIGHT BE LED INTO TEMPTATION
He is the first man I ever knew who was
praying all the time that he might be
tempted. Every speech he has made is
full of that prayer He is oppressed with
a great fear of centralization; yet he invites
the growth and development of the idea by
his every act. After the war there was
strong reaction against state rights; never
fInla ,,-l,%o Io,N aIay,4 Ofi
the general government, and it is in the
recognition and preservation of these
rights that the safety of the people lies.
While recognizing the danger of an in
crease of centralized power, Gen. Garfield
has been and is doing all in his power to
centralize the governing power in Wash
ington city. One of these days the people
will take the Republican statesmen who
are struggling to obliterate
STATE RIGHTS
at their word To-day one half of
the population of the United States
is embraced within the boundaries
of nine states. These nine states have
eighteen Representatives in the Senate, or
less than one-fourth of the whole. New
England, with population of four mil
hons has twelve Senator'S and New York
state, with population of five millions
of peoples only two Senators. The great
states of Illinois and Ohio, with a popula-
ton as large as New England, have one
third the Representatives. Some time the
people will become so infatuated with the
idea that the Republican leaders are
preaching but not practicing that they
will take their heads to change existing
forms and have uniform representation
in the Senate. Then where will Maine
and the other states be? They viii be
swallowed up. This is just what the Re
publicans are inviting, if they could see it
THE CONSTITUTION
protects the states; but the constitution has
been changed, and it may undergo addi
tional modification when the people want
it. The Senate is the controlling body,
and the Senate, influenced largely by the
New England Representatives, has put a
heavy burden on the west, and, for that
matter upon the whole country, by sub
sidizing monopolies and giving them
growth. The great producing regions
may become tired of this and make