The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-04-29
From the Peoria Democrat, April "a.
the Chicago Journal and Hon. W. W. o'Brien


In Yesterdays issue of the Democrat, we
referred at length TO the cold blooded and
atrocious calumny contained in the Chicago
Journal of the 2lst inst, upon the chsrac-
ter of the gentleman whose name heads
this article. We showed then that each of
the charges made by the Journal against
the character of Mr. O'Brien was false and
must have been malicious. This, of course,
was unnecessary where Mr.. O'Brien is per
sonally known, hut for the benefit of those
who are not personally acquainted with him,
and who might be imposed on, or deceived
concerned the truthfulness and character of
the charges thus made, we today reproduce
the article of the Journal, and charge that
it is vile compound of cowardly and mali
cious falsehoods-that the writer of these
foul ISLANDERS knew them TO be false, when
he penned them, or might have known, had
he taken the least pains to find out. Hear
him:
The truth is in regard to this O'Br;en, that he
is such a vile demagogue that it i. next to impos-
sible to speak in his praise, even as party
necessity, and his nomination WAS al egregious
blunder. His and brogue indicated that
he would be very popular with the Irish, but
such is not the case. On the contrary, in his
own home he is specially unpopular with his
own countrymen, and with good reason. When
he first from the dung hill of stable bog to
the dignity of police court shyster, they were
proud of him and sent him to the state senate
There he made himself odious to his fellow sena-
tors by his incessant stream OF talk and his un-
blushing readiness TO sell out to the lobby. He
went home to Peoria SO thoroughly detested by
the better portion of his party that he found ii
impossible to get farther political favors. Re
solved TO retrieve his reputation he became re-
| hgious spostste. Leaving the Catholic church
he Joined the Presbyterian church and became a
bright and shining light, his voice being often
heard urging sinners to repent and join the
church. This of conduct aliena,ed him
| entirely and forever from his former friends,
without making him any permanent friends
among the professionals, for his piety was short
| lived. 1: was not long before his vices became
| so notorious that the church was obliged TO ex-
| communicate him. Branded as base hypocrits
| in religion, an interruptions demagogue in poll
| ties, and q mere shyster in the law, O'Brien il
| the most unfortunate nominee on the copperhead
| ticket. worse more unpopular man could
| not have been placed in nomination.
How has Mr.. O'Brien proved himself &c
be ''vile demagogue?" Is it because he
has preferred his conscience to place, and
| his love of country TO a participation in bel
plumber? Is it because he has always stood
up like true, faithful, honest, fearless man
and advocated the principles which he be
ieved to be right, when to do so was not
only Improbable. but with large class an
objectionable crime?
| Is it because he has stood by the demo
cratic party and advocated its principle,
through good and evil report and devoted
| the best efforts of his mind and body to the
| defence OF a cause which he believed to be
right, but which for long years has furnished
no other compensation than the conscious
| ness of being so? Is it because he has beer
| always true, always faithful to his convic.
tons of right and duty. that he is a "vile
demagogue ?" Had he deserted his princi
pies, deserted his party, sold his country
and abandoned his own selfrespect and
manhood, as did his opponent, "Logan,
| then in the estimation of the Journal he
would be '1oyal," and not ga vile dema.
| gogue."
But Mr.. O'Brien "is not popular in hi
| own home or with his own countrymen.
Let US see. In the years 1888, Peoria
went republican. In 1860 Mr.. O'Brien wa.
nominated by the democracy for city attor
ney, and was elected by between three ant
four hundred majority. In 1861, he was re
nominated by reclamation and elected by
Still larger majority. In 1862, and while b,
was acting as city attorney of Peoria, he wa,
nominated by reclamation by the democra
cy OF his district for the state legislature
against his protest, and elected by larg,
majority, being the only democrat ever elect
ed to the legislature from this district ant
county. In 1864 he was unanimously chos
en- as delegate to-the national convention
and on the 18th inst, at the state conyen
ton, received the unanimous vote of ever,
county in the 9Th congressional district fo
| delegate to the democratic national conven
ton. This is the O'Brien. who is so unpop
ular amongst his own countrymen and q
| his own home We make the assertion
without fear of contradiction, that there i
not an Irishman in the great northwest q
popular with all classes Of his countryme,
as w. w. O'Brien. Nor is there man il
Illinois to-day who can draw as large al