Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-11-24
FEELS BADLY.


of November, the republican press OF this
congressional district have endeavored TO
explain and analyze the reasons for the
dire defeat that befeIl their party on that
occasion. At first these editors were 30
astonished and chsgrined ut the unex-
pected calamity that no solution Of the
problem was attempted. They simply
looked at the figures in dazed sort OF
way, and sawed wood" Gradually.
however. the enormity Of the disaster
dawned upon them. and the necessity of
giving some explanation became sp-
parent. The task was q dissgreeab'e one
and devoid of single consoling feature.
Hardly precinct in the entire district
hut what showed democratic gain.
Democratic townships registered larger
msiorities. and republican townships
maintained their loyalty at q great sscri-
flee. II Ell al
Under the circumstances aud the ma
terial to work on. the ARGUS must admit
that its republican contemporaries have
extracted about all the consolation posi-
BILE. But In doing so their conclusions
are lacking emendslion and are rather
abstruse.
The latest contribution TO this explain
atory literature Is that furnished by the
republican candidate for congress him
self. The Union of yesterday. deviating
from its Flooding and stereotyped way.
publishes long interview, and the re-
postorial pump was applied to no less =
persouage than Congressman Gesf. In
discussing the supposed causes which
led TO his defeat, he very considerably
and with becoming modesty. attributes
his downfall to the same conditions that
operated against republican congressman
gcnerally--the Mckinley bill. or rather
the misconception the people entertain
Z OF that measure. And to the commercial
drummers Mr.. Gest lays the burden of
responsibility for deceiving the del
people. He says
These men penetrate to every little
hamlet aid railroad crossing 10 the
& country, and their mission Is TO sell as
many goods as possible. and they are not
over scrupulous as to what they say In
order to secure orders. The long DELAY
IN the senate before the tariff bill was
passed and the changes made or pro-
posed. left the public mind in state OF
uncertainty, which they took advantage
Of"
MIR. Gest should retaliate on these
naughty men by introducing q measure
restricting them from talking politics in
the presence OF their customers, here.
after.
A little farther along In the int rview
MIR. Gest pays his compliments to that
large class Of independent voters who
refused to bllndly follow party dIctatiou
and voted for Mr.. Gable. He class es
them as disgruntled Office. seekers and
bribe-takers. On the expenditure of
money BY the opposition. Mr.. Gest laws
the greatest stress rs contributing TO his
defeat. Ignoring the fact that the repub-
lican congressional committee have upon
each OF the three occasions be has been
candidate. poured large corruption
fund into this and other close districts.
He also forgets the contributions made
by the manufacturers and other wealthy
republicans In his behalf. to saw nothing
OF the assessment he ordered levied on
every postmaster. postal. clerk and other
federal employees. He relieves himself
as follows:
Money was used lavishly In our
seven counties to get out every demo-
cratic vote. Money was used to debauch
men who were willing to be debaucbed.
Money was used TO purchase the influence
OF republicans supposed to be able to
sway their fellows. and worse than all.
money was used to make the very poll
workers OF the republican party untrus
to their trust by tamperinp with the
tickets In their charge. Only a few.
am glad to think, betrayed their party
thus basely, but those few should be held
up the scorn and contempt of all men.
Then again. money was used to wage a
campaign OF defamation which tram
scended all bounds OF partisan license.
The most outrageous falsehoods. reflect
ing upon nv personal and professional
integrity, were told and told again, and
printing presses were kept busy day and
night turning out papers that the
calpmnies might find their way into the
house of every voter"
The campaign of defamation" and
outrageous falsehood" ia largely a mat
ter Of imagination on the part of MIR.
aest. As far as the ARGUS is concerned.
1t least, II furnished proof for all the
statements made concerning him. Mr..
Ssst, however, should be the last person
20 complain, even If he was misrepresent.
"a and abused, as he claims he was. At
he beginning and during the entire cam.
oaign his organ and his managers courted
Any vituperation that could be hesped
Upon them by their despicable and I'M.
sentlemanly conduct. The Union threw
Is columns open to anonymous scribblers
VINO neither spared the dead or extended
common courtesy to the living. And
heir lying maliciousnsss was not direct.
ID wholly against the democratic caudi.
late, those active in Mr.. Cables behalf
eing selected as targets for the writer's
ioeiious shafts. In view of these facts
: comes in poor grace for Mr.. Gest to at
smpt to pose as martyr The remain.
ger OF the Unton's interview with MIR.
Test is devoted to what he will endeavor
do 10 the remaining short time allotted
o him In congress. What he will &C
ompiish can beat be observed when the |
ifty'hrst congress- adicurns, although It
hoped that Mr.. Gests two terms in
onRress will not be wholly destitute of |
lerit.
some republicans are talking M A. 7
freeter, OF Mercer county. for IIni,aa