The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-17

administrations it has been brought about, is
clearly shown by the voters in congress anu
the declarations of their party press; and it
must be seen that they are 50 enthralled by
the oligarchy of protection of the favored
few at the cost of the many that hope of
reform or relief can be expected only from
the ascendency of the Democratic party.
The evils of maladministration are every
where apparent, are confessed III many and
proven i'll nearly every department Of the
executive branch
"Of what material the Republican conven-
ton to assemble in your great city IS to be
composed, and by which its action will be
chiefly dominated, may be learned by an ex-
animation of the Louisiana delegation,
headed by an individual under indictment
for bribery, accompanied by band of mer-
cenaries and political camp followers. I'm
der such conditions, how idle 10 hope for
civil-service reform or tariff reform or re
form Of any kind or nature from a party of
such antecedents and such prese Mt compost
ton
The Hon S. s. Cox, of New York, re-
viewed the growth of Chicago'a manufactur-
ing interests, which he says has been phe-
nomenal, and suggests what th2y might have
been under a free-trade system, by citing the
meat industry, which he says is frowned on
by the present laws, but in the face of them
has grown to excellence, because the raw
material was near and cheap
Roswell p Flower, of New York, was in
vitel to respond to the sentiment, "Centrali-
zlton Destructive of Liberty In his re
grets he says: Il shall lose an opportunity
of doing honor, to the best Of my ability, to
a toast than which | need hardly say as a
Democrat none is nearer my heart or more
exr rressive of the principles of which our
party is the exponent"
"I am very sorI'y," writes David A. Wells,
of Connecticut, that the state Of my health
makes it imprulent TO journey to Chicago or
render the service you request of responding
70 the tariff question: for | would gladly
embrace every opportunity to demonstrate
% the Democratic party that it could not ask
Tor any platform more promising and certain
IF success in the approaching presidential
! election than fair record and an honest in
tent Of opposition to the continuance of a
/ national policy Of taxation and commercial
! restriction which has swept our flag and our
commerce from the ocean, restricted the
/ development Of Our industries, impaired the
/ opportunities of cur labor, reduced the WAGES
of.our laboreT$, and greatly increased the
! cost Of living for our whole people"
/ The Hon. john ". Daniels, of Virginia,
regrotting that he coull hot come to respond
! to the sentiment "Protection of Americas.
/ Citiz=ns Abroad as at Home, says: "The
! $, n:i,nant is one that would del ght to re-
/ snond to- touching as it does all the chords Of
/ patriotic sympathy which stretch from the
bosom Of the American citizen 10 his fellow
/ wherever he may he, and holding before the
/ eye the insignia and shield OF common nation
atty"
Senator 2. b. Vance, Of North Carolina,
writes a characteristic letter Of regret that he
cannot attend the banquet, in which he d.
describes the situation 10y saying:
The Democratic party is passing through
an important crisis just now; it is prepar
ing 10 determine whether it is a party
Of principle or of expadiency whether
it will try to do right or simply Try
"to get in" If it is only distinguished
from its adversarics by the fact that it i:
"out," let us say so like honest men But il
we really profess certain great beliefs il
| reference to the constitutional policy of the
| government, which are supposed to embrace
the highest wisdom Of the founders of ouI
liberties, in heavens name let us set them
forth and stand by them, regardless Of
whether we are "in" or "out.