The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-26
DAILY ARGUS.
ID oAHYoArH, H., nprFon
Monday Evening. ........Feb. 20.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S SPEECH AT
THE GREAT CONSERVATIVE
RALLY In WASH
NGTONs
HE DENOUNCEs THE RADICALS As
TRAITORS.
HE WILL STAND BY THE CoNSTlTU-
TON AND The UNION.
ne WILL PUT DOWN NORTHERN
TRAITORS As WELL As
SOUTHERN TRAIT
ORS.
HE WILL STAND BY THE CONSTlTO-
TON AND The UNION.
Mr.. r. Fendall, in Introducing TIT

Mr. r. Fsndall, in introducing the
president, said:
Fellow CITIZENS: am one of the CON-
mitsee which, on behalf of the people of the
District of Columbia, has just waited on the
president of the Uoited States to present to
him the resolutions adopted by the meeting
held to-day. The com aittee requested tho
president to present himself to you to give
expression to his sentiments, and he has &C.
cordingly come out to do 80.
The president, as he appeared, was receiv-
ed with enthusiastic and long continued APP
plause. When it had subsidized he spoke as
follows:
Speech of the President.
FELLOW CITIZENS, for | presume have
right to address you as such, come to
tender to you my sincere thanks for the APP
probation expressed by your committee In
their personal addresses, and in the resolu-
tons submitted by them as having been
adopted by the meeting which has been held
in this city to day.
These resolutions, as understand them,
are com plimentary to the policy which has
been adopted by the Standardization, and
has been steadily pursued since it came into
power. l am free to say to you on this &C.
casion that it is extremely gratifying to me
to know that so large portion OF my fellow
citizens approve and indorse the policy which
has been adopted, and which it is my intsn-
ton shall be carried out. Great applause.
That policy is one which is intended to re-
store all the states to their original relations
with the federal government OF the United
States, Renewed applause. This seems
to be day peculiarly appropriate fer such a
manifestation it is the day that gave birth
to that man who, more perhaps than any 9TH
er, founded this government; 1t Is the day
that gave birth to the father of our country ;
it is the day that gave birth to him
who presided over that body which formed
the constitution under which ali the states
entered into this glorious csntederacy. Such
day is peculiarly appropriate for the in
dorsenent of a policy whose object is the res
toration of the Union of the States as it was
designed by the father of his country. APP
plause Washington, whose name this city
bears 10 embalmed in the hearts of ell who
love free government. Washington, in the
language of his eulogist, was FIRST In war,
first in peace, and first IN the hearts OF his
countrymen.' No people can claim him no
nation can appropriate him. His reputation
is commensurate with the civilized world.
and his name is the common property of all
those who love free government. To-day
who have been devoting their efforts to the
completion of the monument which is being
erected to his name. l was proud to meet
them. and, SO far as | could, to give them my
influence and countenance IN aid of the work
they have undertaken. That monument
which is being erected to him who, | may
say, founded the government, is almost with
In the throw of a stone of the spot from which
/ address you. Let it be completed Ap.
plause. Let those various blocks which the
states, and individuals, and associations, and
corporations have put in that monument, as
pledges of their love for this Union, be pre-.
served; and let the result be accomplish ed.
In this connection let me refer to the block
from my own state-God bless her (applauss)
which has struggled for the preservation
of this Union, in the field and in the councils
OF the nation, and which Ia now struggling to
renew her relations with this government,
that were interrupted by fearful rebellion.
She Is now struggling to renew thuse rela
tons, and to take her stand where she had
ever stood since 1896, until this rebellion
broke out. Great applause. Let me repeat
the sentiment that that state has inscribed
upon the stone which she has deposited in
that monument of freedom which is being
raised In commemoration OF Washington. -
She is struggling to get back into the Union.
and to stand by the sentiment there inscribed,
and she 10 willing to sustain it. VIVA. is il ?
1t ls the sentiment which was enunciated by
her distinguished con, the immortal, the il
lustrious jackson "The Federal Union /,
must be preserved" (Great applause.) II
1t were possible for that old man, whose stat.
ne 10 now before me, and whose portrait j.
beside me in the executive mansion. and
whose sentiment is thus preserved in tina,
monument In your vicinity, to be called forth
from the grave; or if it were possible TO com.
municate with the spirit of the illustrious
dead and make him understand the progress
OF faction and of rebellion and treason, he
would turn over in his coffin, and he would
rise, and shaking of the habiliments of the
tomb, would again stand erect, and extend
forth his long arm and finger and reiterate
that sentiment once expressed by him on {
memorable occasion 1.-The Federal Union
1t must be preserved" (Great applause J.
We have witnessed what has transpired sine,
his day, in 1888. When treason and treach
cry and in6delity to the government and th
constitution of the United States stalked forti
IN the land, it WAS his power and influences
that crushed the serpent in it's incIpiency.-
1t was then stopped. but only for time
Tne same spirit of disafection continued
There were men disaffected to the government
both In the north and in the south. Their
was, IN portion of the Union, peculiar in
ssltutlon OF which some complained. and T.
which others were attached. One portion o
our countrymen in the south advocated tina
1nstltrtlon, while another portion in the nortl
opposed 1t. The result was the formation Of
extreme parties-one especially in the south
which reached point at which it was pro
posed to dissolve the Union of the States, fol