The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-04-05
THE IRRrrREss1BLE CONFLICT.

Henry Watterson is in Washington, evil
IDENTIFY watching the movements of the
pretended leaders of the democratic party
in the matter of the tariff. In long dis
patch to the Courier Jourddl he indicates
the rocks on which the old wing party
stranded and pertinently asks: rs protec
ton to be the rock on which the democra-
cy is doomed to split? The democratic
party, except in the persons of imbeciles
hardly worth mentioning, is not upon the
fence. 1t is a free trade party, or it is
nothing 1t is party of reform, or it is
nothing But, when we come to the bu 81
ness of directly applying its energies and
its resources to real affairs, we find fatal
absence of courageous and pointed leader
ship and the most whimsical spirit of vac
illation in the little great men, who repre-
sent it here in the national capital. And
yet. even lere, there are men of sufficient
Imagination, will and force to conceive the
situation and put 1t to account"
Speaking of Bayard Mr.. Watterson says:
Ten years back he seemed to me 10 be
cut out, the one man marked, quoted and
signed, for the reclamation of the party
from the auagmire of false teaching, in
which passion, ignorance and the fatality
of bad luck had plunged it. He had cour-
age, training and opportunity. He was
yonng and attractive. He possessed
abundantly, the egotism of leadership. He
seemed to have inherited from his fore
fathers the easy.graee of eminent station,
and he did inherit from them the genial
and honorable and aspiring qualities of a
thoroughly first-rate manhood. But no
sooner did he get the Presidential bee in his
bonnet than he began to lose the quick
and nervous susceptibility, which joined
to tact and forecast, composed the states
mans Intellectual repertory, and to become
an eager and fretful candidate, exacting
and distrustful of his friends. impatient of
counsel, expecting impossibilities, miscal-
culating possibilities, and altogether out
of accord with the spirit, temper and
movement of public opinion.
In 1876 Mr., Tilden was the logical ex-
preston of the prevailing want. No pow
er on earth could have hindered his nomi- |
nation at St Louis. Yet Mr.. Bsyard was
thrust into the ST. Louis con- /
vention, as if he had chance, and because |
he was not nominated he was borne off on |
a stretcher, sore and hurt. At Cincinnati, |
in 1880, he came forward with a better
show. Undoubtedly. he should have been |
the nominee. He would probably have re- |
ceived no more votes than General Han
cock, perhaps fewer. But he would have
kept the party better in hand, and left it
less debauched He was not nominated
because the Cincinnati convention giving
Itself over to personalities instead of ideas,
was looking for candidate against whom
OF II In
Hancock. Mr. Bayard has, in his way, en-
,ountered defeat in two democratic con
when he should have appeared
n but one, and is thus veteran, the con-
temporary of bloemless claimants, when
lie ought to be the rose and expectancy of
he young manhood of the time. Alack,
he cayi He is at this moment a leader of
he antiquated hosts of slavery and pro-
ection, Mr.. Morrelrs best man upon the
arif commission bin, cunningly devised
cheme of the oligarchs to procure delay
md stop the march of reform.
OF the result of the future conflict be-
ween Free Trade and Protection Mr.
Fatterson is hopeful and grows eloquent
The position of the former is graphically
described.
The conflict between Free Trade and
"a tariff for revenue only" and
protective tariff is irrepressible The
ERIN revenue reform, is convertible, and
nay be worn and perhaps will be worn, as
mask by the apostles of the new slavery,
Which has replaced the old It is, there
ore, like the old Wing quiddities, equivo-
al and misleading. The advocates of
thorough revision, planting themselves
quarely upon the proposition that taxes
hall be levied exclusively for revenue and
hat no more revenue shall be collected
han is required to support the govern
1ent and carry the debt, mean 10 go for
yard, not backward, and to abate not a
OF or little of their demand for justice.
hey refuse all concessions. They reject
II side issues. They repudiate pretenders
nd middle men, who think they can strad-
lie the fence. They are going in to win
n 1884. But if they DON'T then in 1888.
here can be no cooked up platform and
o compromise candidate. They make
he issue fair and square, and early enough
D give reealcitrants chance to get back,
'aitors a chance to get out, and towards a
nance to get a place without exposure.
he black flag is up. No quarter will be
sked and no quarter will be given. The
ifference. where it is honest. is one of
onviction; where it is not, so much the
orse for it. Even Mr.. Blaine sees it, and
trimming his sails to catch the breezes of
rec Trade which are blowing fresh cur
,nts of life and thought from thousand
olleges, academies, and schools
Alas for Mr.. Bayard. He does not seem
know that there is a land beyond the
lleghenies and the Blue Ridge. He has
ot felt the power of the. Great Northwest
Or got the inspiration of the Great South. p
rave, accomplished and young, he weds
lie deathly bride of protection. and shall 5
ass into the enchanted hall of shadows, to
Ike his place by the marble effigies of
ives, Badger, Graham, Everett and Bell,
Tennessee.