Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-13
Hrrnkers Ahead.


Even that hido.bound republican and
intensely partisan paper. the Chicago
Inter- ,san, can see danger signal to
the republican party in the recent state
elections. AID for wonder is frank
enough 10 admit Il. The disaster visited
upon IT, party 10 Ohio and Iowa, 1t thinks
is OF sufficient significance to make II.
linois republicans question whether this
state is not likely TO repudiste its long
time political masters. The Inter Ocean
says
The fact that there was no national
issue involved in the election Of last
Tuesday and the unnatural and disrepu-
table alliance Of prohibition and whisky
40 far to explain the democratic gains.
They do not. however. cover the entire
ground by long distance. The nrst
cause will remove itself next year. and
the second Is so very abnormal that II
can not long survive. But give 90 them
both oil possible weight and II still re-
mains that other quite rs potent causes
must have been a. work TO explain the
result The truth is that the republican
party Is widely and seriously suffering
from an epidemic Of small politicians at
tempting % play the part Of great politi-
cal leaders II the singing rebuke OF last
Tuesday Is not needed the republicans
will lose the national house OF rep-esen>
tatives next fall, aud be seriously weak
ened 10 the senate There Ia no use 10
At blinking this fact II confronts us and
ought TO be It's own danger signal.
The most prominent landmark in the
politics In Illinois during the last
year, Ia illustration Of the danger
toward which the republican party in
this state Is drifting, was the re-
nova OF Warden Gafvin from the Joliet
penitentiary 10 make place for ex-Sen
aior Berggren. who wss beginning TO
loom up as candidate for the state
treasurership IN opposition TO ex Treas
urer Tsnner. who was even that early an
avOwed candidate for another term. Dur
ing the session Of the legislature so many
members Of that body were so often
asked by the governor when they went to
MIN for favors Have you seen Tanner"
that it became not only by.word, but a
kissing The people. whether in office
or moi do not take kindly to that sort Of
bossism. The officers. usually 10 Illinois
harmonious, are not so now, some Of
them, we may say majority Of them, re-
senting the dictation Of self constituted
boss.
IL Is necessary 10 be plain spoken In
this matter for the returns Of last Tues
day show plainly that Tannerism would
be a load too heavy for the republican
party Of Illinois 10 stagCer under in 1890
II the republicans Of this state do not
want To turn not only the state treasury
over 10 the democracy itself no very i'm
pOrtant matter, but also the legislature on
joint ballot over 90 John NJ Palmer, then
they must heed the less OF Nov. 3. 1880
That date is u red light of danger hung
10 front OF the approaching train.
The political combine in which Tanner
Is particularly active member. might be
able to force that nomination upon the
party 10 disposed 10 do so, hut IL they
have eyes that discern the signs of the
times, they will not take that dangerous
hazard II would turn the scale against
us In several close districts, senatorial
and congressional, and might put in
jeopardy the state az a whole, not only
10 1890 but even In 1892.
Illinois In 1890 means something more
than cur delegation In congress. and the
successorship 90 Senator Farwell, for that
general assembly will make the appor-
tionmcni, congressional and seuatnris',
under the censrs Oi 1891. Let that
worF 5eduue bv democratic legislature
and The gCrrymauder would probably be
such as to make this state, congressional
~ and legisIAtively, antl-rspubllcan. and
that too. perhaps, Tor the balance Of the
nineteenth century. In The face OF such
peril the Inter DEAN cannot sit idly by
while John Tanner Is already busy with
his pipclayiug, but Is compelled by lie
devotion 90 fepubicani-m a. raise the
danger signal