The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-10-05

boys understand perfectly well that it was
simply mistake, and we know that our
people felt worse about their absence than
'hey could because they were not every
moment employed.
The Rock Island brass band; a brass
band from Davenport, the martial bands Of
the White Boys in Blue aud the Hampton
martial band we're prominent in the pro.
cession. There may have been other bands
but We do not remember them,
After making the circuit Of the town, they
assembled in Market Square, filing the
square with one dense mass OF torches
After the bands ceased playing, the people
called for Col Coon.
Maj. ii. c. Connolly then stepped out upon
the balcony in front Of Young America, and
congratulated tho White Boys in Blue upon
the brilliant display they were making with
their flaming torches and appropriate ban
ners. The unbounded enthusiasm which
had characterized the demonstrations
throughout the day as well as during the
evening exhibited an interest in the political
issues Of the hour which he had never seen
surpassed. The speaker said his appear
ance was simply for the purpose Of announc.
ing to the White Boys in Blue, the presense
Of gallant son of our sister state, Wiscon.
sin, who, in the hour Of our eOuntry's peril,
unsheathed his sword and assisted in organ.
izing phaanx in its defense. He alluded
to Col Coon late Of the Second Wisconsin
Infantry. Out ola thousand defenders Of
the old flag who went forth armed and
equipped to battle that their country might
live, but twenty.eght had survived the con.
fict and returned to the endearments Of
home and its sweet associations. Col. Coon
was one of that band of twenty'eight
patriots. He stood with his associates like
wall of fire, and thus assisted TO preserve
the homes and fresides of our people. He
had fought for bis country, which had been
preserved up to this hour, and doubtless was
ready to fight for its defense once more,
should its foes, no matter from what quarter,
again seek to destroy it. The speaker trust.
ed that the day, however, was far distant
when the war cry would again ring through
our land. Upon the masses of the people
rested the responsibility of selecting rulers
who would maintain the rights of the whole
country unimpaired. He hoped and believed
there was patriotism enough in the ranks of
all parties to preserve our country from
domestic as well as foreign foes. After
again coDgratulating the White Boys in
Blue upon their successful display, he intro
duced Col Coon to the Immense crowd.
Col. Coon was welcomed with three rous.
ing cheers, and when quiet was restored he
made an exceedingly handsome, thrilling
and eloquent speech, which was roundly aP.
plauded throughout.
After COL Coon retired the vast crowd
shouted "OBrien" in tones which admitted
of no failure to appear Mr.O'Brien stepped
out and bowed his thanks, INDUCED in few
happy remarks and begged to be excused
from long speaking in the night air, as he
wanted to keep his voice and health to the
end of the campaign.
When the thunders of applauses for o..
Brien had died away there was a universal
call for the editor of this paper-so universe
and decided that he considers it one Of the
proudest compliments of his life. He spoke
few minutes only, was comphmented by
most hearty applause at every period, and
a round of applause at the close followed
by three more for Gen. Singleton.
Mr.. Norris, OF this city, and Capt. Dittoe,
Of Davenport were then successfully called
out and received in the same way.
Then came loud cheers for Eden and the
state ticket, cheers for Gen. Singleton again,
and for O'Brien again; three for Seymour
and Blair, and then calls for Osborn, and
for Drury. Judge Drury was not present,
and Mr.. Osborn was too hoarse and too i'll
to venture to speak to so large a crowd.
1t did seem as though they were deter.
mined to stay all night and compel some
body to talk till morning. Senator Cones,
j. W. Stewart and Geo. II. Parker, Of Da-
venport, were present and invited to address
the people, but declined on account Of the
latensss of the hour. No one else appearing
on the platform Capt. Blackburn gave the
order to march, and gradually the companies
moved of and were dismissed.
Many houses were illuminated on the line
of march, and the scene was one long to be
remembered by the democracy of this couG-
ty. Happy in the thought that they had
been blessed by charming day and even.
ing; blessed by the orderly assembling OF
the largest number Of people ever seen to.
gether in this county blessed by one OF the
most powerful, eloquent and irresistible
speeches ever heard in the county blessed
by the attendance and approving smiles OF
many hundreds of noble, beautiful women
and the laughing JOY of hundreds of girls
and boys blessed with the most magnificent
and successful professions, day and night,
ever known here, no accident or quarrel
disturbing the harmony of professions or
meeting blessed with the hope of a return to
the principles of the constitution by the cleo
ton of Seymour and Blair, they dispersed to
their homes in the most quiet and orderly
manner Soon the heavy tramp OF horses
and the rattle of the big farm wagons over
the McAdamized roads was PLAIN to be
heard, and the people were on their way to
l.... 49, ,rilh homes of relief for their