The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-05-31


emf sections, and the increase of agricultu-
raj and commercial Interests have created
a Conservative intelligent interest. which
will rebuke all purposes and passions
that threaten peace and harmony. L have
no doubt of the success of the Democratic
party and of the enduring triumph of its
principles, as have no doubt of the per-
manence of our constitutional in Institutions.
The country grows stronger every day.
Last year we had over 600, 600 immi-
them our prisoners of peace and they
are mainly of better class than ever came
before. They are young men of sturdy
frame, who have fled to escape conscrip-
ton; agriculturists who have brought
money to buy farms; laborers who will
transmute our desert western lands into
sources of revenue This assures our
country swift increase in its already
enormous wealth. and our comprehensive
system of intercourse in this vast country
gets power
"The aspect of business affairs has
changed much during the past fifteen years
and the interests of all sections are more
| nearly identical than ever before. House
holders in New York are interested in the
condition of Texas Cattle; and consumers
as well as shippers want to know the status
of grain crops in the Northwest. Our
tropical summers and artic winters give
much more activity to workshops and fac
tories than in European countries. have
been surprised to learn that the clothing
business is probably the largest single in
dustry in the city of New York. Our peo-s
pie buy new garments probably three times
as often as in foreign countries, The same
cause gives activity to the furniture and
stove trades-and these demands on indus
try are the reason, probably, why our cities
and towns are much more numerous in pro-
portion to population than in
any other part of the world. All
these influences foreshadow great prosper
lily in the future. There may be-there
doubtless will be drawbacks. In some
respects we have gone forward too rapidly,
and | fear we are on the eve of break IN
the prosperous advance of the last two or
three years. At the present time we are
importing much more than we are export
ing. 1t is possible that the prices of all
kinds of property have been carried to a
point at which they cannot be sustained,
and that reaction is imminent. There
10
in railway enterprise. Take it here in this
neighborhood, for instance. Here are two
roads constructed or building in meas
ure parallel 60 and competing with the
Central railroad. There is practically no
demand for them, as the Central road can
do all the business. It has cost money to
build them, it will cost more money to
equip and run them-for it is expensive
business to run a railroad and somebody
must pay for it. The expenses of all three
pay them? Naturally, those who use the
roads for transportation, and it comes out
of the pocket Of the consumer. 1t IS this |
eagerness to divide and thus increase the
cost of portation-manifest here as !
well as in other parts of the country-that |
win inspire prudent men with caution and |
enable them to prepare for any temporary |
reverse. But the laws that govern the |
growth of the country in population, and |
the increase of its business and agricultural |
will in. the end work out endur
ing prosperity.
I'm this state / do not believe that the
different factions of the republican party |
can come together again so as to work to-
gether tremendously. It is not SO much
the. question of personal leadership with
them, as these great causes to which /
have alluded. that lie deep down beneath
the surface and cannot be settled by con-
ventions and conferences. do not wish
to be understood as attacking the members
Of the republican party-who I do not
wish to blame ndividually-when I say
that the people hold and must hold them
for the evil influences at work
in the Capitol at Washington and the wide
departures that have been made from the
original plan of government I only say
hat these abuses have grown up under
heir administration of affairs and that {
hey are powerless to check them. The I
,hange must be made by the democratic
,arty, and the hour is ripe for a return to 1
powers and limitations of our social and
political institutions as set forth by the
constitution.
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