The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-10
DIR. Antisell's speech.

felloU Citizens and Felloto Countrynaen
1t is scarcely necessary for me TO say how
h0norsd feel in being placed here to preside
oyer 50 large a meeting of Irishmen, who,
called upon Suddenly to express their opin.
ions on important matters of the day, have SC
nobly and fully responded and l am also
proud that it Is in the District. of Coum bis
that Irishmen have first convened, In num-
bars such these around me, to brand the
sudaeious parleying of the radical party, with
any portion of our fellow countrymen, in the
terms most fitting tor the offer of such an
unholy alliance. Applause.
This is an Irish meeting without doubt
Even Major Haggerty himself would hardly
think it otherwise. 1t is not such a meetn Q
as was held the other day, when Major Hag-
gerty himself could not see al Irisbman, and
| hope, as it 1t the first which has not il will
bs bnt one of many whick will speak in
trumpet tones the warning voice to all Irish.
men everywhere through the country, that no
alliahee-not even for intermediate purposes
Gan ever be made between US and that
party-our, and always our enemy. APP
plause. party with many faces, former
~ Native American and Know-Nothing,
then the John Brown and the Irreprsssible
Conflict party, and, lastly, the great obstruc-
ton TO the permanent peace of this country.
You know that the radical party in CON
gress have been working with great effect to
create dissention between lrishmen and the
administration on account of the action of
the government on the frontier. Every in
telfgent man knows that President johnson
aud the administration had plain duty to
perform, which was to prevent breach of
the neutrality lave, applause, and in Car
rylng out this obvious duty il was done in 90
humane q spirit that not one Irishman suf
fered in life or limb in consequences. APP
plause.
If this radical party in congress, now the
sudden champions of the Irish on the from
tier, thought the neutrality law should not
be enforced, why did they not repeal it?-
Applause. They were the legislators;they
were in congress-; they were unanimous; why
did they not repeal the law? And then. and
them and only then. could they Justly charge
the administration with betraying Irishmen
But it did not suit that party TO do thia; they
never really meant 10 give aid to Irishmen;
they never wished the neutrality laws re-
peglsd; they never want to break with Eng
land for they are the English party in this
country. Applause. They simply wanted
The Irishmen to break with the administration
and 90 over to them, and help to keep their
wicked words and works in active operation
for at least another congressional term
I Voices-"Nsveri neverl"
You know that party-a party who, q few
years back, in New England, refused to al.
low Irshuen to bear arms-proscribed their
holding any state Offices. These are the men,
this is the party, who now comes to us and
from the halls of congress say: Andrew
johnson has deceived you. Fall off from
from him; come to US. 1t is true. we have
been your bitter opponents in former years,
your open enemies always but come to us
now. We have but one arm open to receive
you; the.other is filed with the banner of
bigotry, and what is not SO i'll I'D ia occupied
by the burly form of the negro, applause, |
tor whom we intend higher and better thing
tnan we ever did tor you. Come to US:
need assistance to support our party; com
ana make up noble triad of oppressive rad
icais In Irish democracy and full blown ne
gro equality" Applause. Are you going
to listen to that voice? Cries of 'iNo. noI,1
Certainly not. You are, trust, upon this
evening, in voice 80 loud and long confirm
ed as to be heard upon the 18th of August.
and to be reverberated TO the coming cleo.
tions, about to start that strain of democratic
harmony which, taken up by Irishmen every
where on the way, will constitute portion
of the noble hymn OF fraternity to be ohantsd
with thunders of acclamations In Philadel-
phia-a strain proclaiming over the length
and breadth of the United States that as
freshmen and citizens we will never lend our
influence Tor the oppression of one portion of
this nation by the other-that we will ally
ourselves only to that party W hich acts but
for the general good Of the whole country.
ana therfere that we supporttAndrew John.
son in his efforts to restore his once great
country.to its former unity and to increased