The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-06-28

When the repuDllcan$ ara most deeply
alarmed that they usually turn out the
strongest on election day.
1t is prudent for democrats, therefore, to.
make but little account of republican dis
sensions in their plans for the failure. No
doubt the country is little tired of repub-
lican Encouragement; but the American
voter is a conservative person, who before
he stswaps" horses wants to be sure that
he is going to get aibetter horse in exchange
for his old one. We agree entirely with
MIR. Morrison, of Illinois, whose conversa-
ton Oh the democratic prospects WAS re-
ported by our Washington correspondent
in Mondays Hesut7a ITO ask the people
merely to try us instead of the republicans
is nonsense" says Mr.. Morrison eft is
only off1ce-seeking on grand scale He
is right but that is what the democrats
have been doing for sot,se' years past and
with uniform non success. s.T s,..,, -
To succeed, the democratic party must
agree on a policy, says Mr.. Morris ON. and
to agree. it must make simple and not a
complex issue 1t seems TO us that there
it great deal of practical wisdom in his
suggestions. He would have his party
agree to disagree on all questions but one,
just as he says. as the republicans former
| ly allowed a wide latitude of opinion in
| their party on every question except that
of the exclusion of slavery from the terri
tories. In short, he wants the democratic
party to take up the issue of tax reform
and canvass the country thoroughly aud
| bodily on that He believes that on this
| issue his party would lose some districts
| at first. but that it would gain more than
| it would lose in the country at large and
would carry the country with it,
He is undoubtedly right. "A thorough
| reform of the whole tax system internal
| and customs, is of the first necessity for
| the continued prosperity of the country.
1t is needed in order to re-establish our
foreign commerce as web as to place the
most important industries on a safe and
permanent footing. Tt is required in or
der to put an end to robbery Of them
of Iaboring people for the1bencfit of few
shrewd capitalist monopolists: If the dem
oeratic party should take the advice OF
this one of its leading men it would put
itself before the country for the first time
in many years in the attitude Of a party
which deserved success; and a party Which
deserves success usually gets it. 80
On the other hand, Mr.. Morrison, saga
ciously adds that II this plan is not adopt
ed even success this fall must lead only to
new discussions and to a general de
moralization sure to bring defeat in
1894. This is true. too. The democrats
have not in late years succeeded sFs a
united party. They have carried congress
sional districts in dctachinents-h here on
one platform, there on another; refusing
to unite on any general policy. The re
suit has been that when they obtained a
majority in congress there was a muddle
Of crude measures proposed; there was no
general purpose or objective, and 1t has
become byword that tile democrats only
need to come into control of the house of
representatives to go MI to pieces in two
years. Nor is this all. The democratic
leaders have in This way made the mistake
of putting themselves before the country
as eager TO attack and overturn pretty
much everything that is established. Be
ing without discipline and without a gen
eral purpose every democratic Congress-
man went to Washington ready to air some
pet hobby of his own.e Now, the peopleof \
the United States do not like change for
the sake of change: and they are eminently
right and wise in that. They want to
change sloyly--ene thing at time. If the
republicans in 1860 had announced that
they were going to patch and alter the gen
deral constitution of things the country
would have rejected them. But, they wise
" declared their purpose TO do as little as
reasonably possfble-to exclnde slavery
from the territories and no more. -
The eountryis now very widely per
s,laded that the tax and tariff system urg /
emily needs reform. IF the democrats
should determine to give their exclusive
attention tosthat question this fall and if !
they should discuss that and nothing else, |
ertinaciously and .intelligently before the
/ eople we believe that they might corneain |
with even n swcep ping majority. But, being
in, they would have to keep their promise |
to the people, else in 1884 they would go
ont again. = =. 49,. 80. =.
We confess to lively curiosity 20 see
what The democratic party will make Of
the uncommonly good opportunity which
lies before IT, IT there is craftsmanship |
and courage in the parsysit ought. to secure
the eonfidence'of the. people.e These are
ready. 10 place it in power il only they be
lieve themselves safe In trusting it, L Neso
York Herald az d
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