The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-05-29
NEW AND "OlD" REPUBLICAN CHIEFS


Our esteemed contemporary. the Tri
6une, processes to be satisfied with the
prospects of the Republican party. II
said yesterday:
Having nothing to hide, it can nom
nate new men, or men who have oeeI
long identified with its history, as circum
stances may dictate. It will not bG
foolish enough to pretend that in every
particular every administration, including
that of President Arthur, has met its
highest aspirations, and yet it will have
no occasion or desire to disavow or disowu
that administration, as a whole or any
other; on the contrary, it can claim pub
lie thanks and honor fer the general
conduct of the government under the
present administration
Who are these new men" in the re-
publican party that can be nominated?
Who are the ''old" leaders ''long identi-
fed with its history of whom the Tff-
6une speaks?
Has the republican party not been
lately engaged in physically, mentally OF
morally assassinating nearly every one of
its former chleftains? Is there single
former presidential candidate or leader
long identified with its history" left
alive?
Take the presidential candidates at the
Chicago convention. Is there one of
them still seriously considered?
Blaine, Grant, WashbuTne, Window.
and Sherman were the five principal
contestants at Chicago Where are they
now?
Grant, the great silent man, now
dabhles in stocks as the silent partners of
brokers in Wall street.
Blaine. the formerly popular ''plumed
knight" is out of the senate, out of the
cabinet, out of his former element, retired |
to private life, absorbed in building a |
railroad and writing book.
Window is out of the treasury out of |
the senate, out of his former state and |
out of all presidential possibility trying |
TO make living in Wall street by forming |
another stock exchange.
Sherman. though in the senate and a
man of ability, has lost his prestage and
prominence. He is no longer in the pub
lie mind.
Garfield is dead-murdered by a repub
lican spoils politician.
And where are the republican candi-
dates for the presidency in 1876-where
are they?
Morton is dead
BristOw-whO even remembers that
Bristow once was the great reform"
candidate for the presidency with serious
prospects OF success? Bristow-weT,
Bristow is pretty completely out of pol
itics.
Conkling the ablest and most daring
leader of them ALL has retired to practice
law.
Hayes, who carried off the prize and
served through his fraudulent term, has
sunk into the obscurity to which he is so
fitted
Who, then, is there left of the ''old"
republican leaders?
Edmunds seems to be the last of the
the only one of the old chiefs
Who still has political life and is available
But the Tribune speaks of ''new mem
The republican party can nominate. Who ]
are the new men who have taken the I
places of the old chiefs2
Is 1T perhaps the great and disting uish
I'd Senator Miller, of wood pulp fame7
Dr. is it the great and distinguished Sena
or Lapham, of this state? He is a new /
nan, indeed. as successor to Conkling. J
Or Is 1t that extraordinary medlocrity.
Aeifer? Or is ex Secretary Robson, the :
eader of the last republican house? Or 1
i'd possibly the Tribune mean Senator Y
Tabor. of Colorado, the latest of the |
new republican stars, senators and '
eaders? Il i Is t
The decay of the republican party is c
perfectly manifest and is owing to natural /
adses. Political parties depend upon
eaders and issues. All the issues that
ave enabled the republican party to re-
main In power for the past twenty three =
'ears are practically settled The Union
s restored. The war is over and almost /;
orgotten Slavery is abolished. Recon
truction is "Reminiscences. The green
Jack is as good as gold For over nine +
cen years profound peace has now
eigned throughout the land. Instead Of ,
political, physical or financial disorders !
We have. a stronger. better and more /;
'owerful Union than ever before. =
Upon what issue, then, and under what
eader can the republican party have the i
udacity to ask for continuance of that
Iationai power which it has already held
or over twenty three years-almost in /
Larlabiy against the clearly known will of S
he real majority-held, first, through the &
var; next, Though the Acknowledgement
u part of the Union; next, through open
ND shameless fraud, and last. through
bribery and intimidation of :
voters. G