Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-08-26
Politics in Our Own STATE.

ISt. Louis RcpubHc.)
The political revolution OF last wear
promises TO be permanent and enduring
in the state of Lincoln and Grant. The
force of the issues which changed It's pol
itical character then, remains unimpsred
and will furnish the elements OF strength
to the democratic party in next years
canvass. Last years election carried
those issues long way toward settle
ment, but the republican party, on ma
tional lines, has since declared its adher-
ence to the tariff doctrine embodied in the
Mckinley bill, and in the last session of
the Illinois assembly that party rem aimed
an obstruction to the repeal of legislation
for which it was responsible and which it
continues to defend.
The situation then, go far as the cues.
tions to be involved in the next campaign
are concerned, is against the Illinois re-.
publicans In addition to that great dis
advantage, the party is hopelessly diyided
and demoralized. The line of division is
not only that OF antagonisms arising from
the distribution of the federal patronage
in the state, but even more marked is the
one which divides the psrtisans of the
FIfer administration from its opponents
Governor Fifer has not been success
full executive officer from party point of
view. 1t would be difficult, if not impos-
sible, to now recall another governor in
the history OF the state who has 80 signal
" failed to satisfy the demands of his
friends, or who. in one term, has so COM
pletely alienated fro N himself large and
influential section of his party. 1t may
be urged in this connection, and with
some degree of plausibility, that these de
msnds have grown with the enormous
growth Of state patronage under republic
can control, and that 1t is much more diff
cult now than ever before in the states
history TO meet the expectations OF those
seeking Office, whose numbers have in
creased out of proportion even with the in
crease in the number of offices to be be-
slowed. Conceding this to be true, the
fact remains, and it is the only one neces-
sary to deal with for the purposes of this
article. that his management of the ma
chine has disrupted his party in the state
HIS denomination will widen the breach
His withdrawal or defeat would be
only palliative. The auarrels arising
from the distribution of Offices at Spring
field have been carried into the politics
of nearly every county in the state and
have split the party into factions. which
will sn'agonize each other as long. as
either Fifer or Cullom. his preceptor, re,
mains factor in the case. Any SEEM
ing harmony will be only seeming The
elements of apathy and indifference are
already visible. Observers of Illinois
affairs cannot fail to note this year the
absence of the fierce partisan spirit of
aggression which once distinguished Illi-
nois republicanism. The party is pros
trste, and Ichabod is written on its
gates.
Illinois democrats, on the other hand,
are animated with courage which is
already filling the lists of candidates for
party nominations next year. The disap.
pearance of the local divisions in Chicago
on basis of settlement, most satisfactory
to all interests removes the greatest ele-
ment of doubt as to the result of the cleo,
ton in Illinois next year, and it removes
it. it Is needless to say, in way entirely
satisfactory TO the democrats.