The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-09-17
IMMENSE DEMOCRATIC MEETING AT
CEETRALIA, ILL.
Speech by the Hon, George H. PondlOton.

CEETRAlIA, Ill, Sept. lj.-This has
been a great day for southern Illinois. Fol
several days it had been widely published
that the lion. George II. Pendeton would
speak in this place, on the political issues
Of the times, and, as a result, the masses
from all sections around came here by thou
sands. 1t is said that at no previous time
has Centraha been so crowded with people
The enthusiasm, too, was something pleas
ant to see. Hard working farmers, rs most
of them are they are honest men, and are
determined that the government shall be
administered on principles of equality, such
as they practice in their own affairs.
Early in the morning, the train from Cal
70, on the Illinois Central railroad, brought
large number of extra cars, filed with
people, and little before noon the train
from the north came in,-having been de
layed more than an hour by the work of re.
ceiv!ng the extra cars at various points
along the line, as far north as MattoOn.--
The northern trains brought between 1000
and 1000 people but those who came by
the cars would hardly compare in number
with those who came by their own convey.
ances, in wagons, on horseback, and in
carriages. For over one hour one continu.
Gus stream of people passed the Centraia
hotel, 1t was reported that single deega.
ton from Jefferson county numbered 1000
and that the one from Mason county num-
bered over 500. They were all Raily deco.
rated with flags, banners, and notices, cX'
pressive OF the political beliefs and the hopes
Of the bearers and the delegations from
Salem and Kimundy were so fortunate as tc
be accompanied with bands, that dscoursed
sweet music on the way.
At II o'clock the vast crowd gathered on
the ground, little south Of the town, where
ample arrangements had been made fol-
! their accommodation, and where it is est
m ated that from $4,000 to 10000 persons
were assembled.
The appearance Of Mr.. Pendeton on the
stand was greeted with three tremendous
cheers, after the subsistence of which, Col
Hicks, of Jefferson county, called the meet
ing to order, and nomiEated the Hon. Sila'
l.. Bryan, judge Of the Centralia judicia
court, as chairman.
Judge Bryan, in a very appropriate man
ner, welcomed Mr.. Pendleton to an lllinoi!
audience, when the latter, after expressing
his thanks for the kind reception given him
said that he had been DESTROYS to know, per
sonally, those democrats who had gver
such signal evidence in the high places OF
the party of its confidence in his charactel
and opinion, and to return to them, as ht
now did, his profound and gratiied acknowI
eigmeuts. He desired to pay tribute tc
.l,, ,-:,Jan, af .ha Nm, York pODvnp
ton; he approved its platform, anc
be approved its nominees. Cheers. -
The democracy might challenge a compar
son of their nominees with those of the op
posite party, and there is no danger Of thc
former suffering in the result. The resources
of Illinois in mineral and agricultural wealth
we're exhaustess, and all that the people
wanted was peace with their sister states, II
order that their prosperity might not be en-
tirely impaired by the necessity of maintain
ing standing armies. or By the ravages o
war, They wanted to be represented in tht
great family of nations, in order that then
commerce should be under Il recognized flag
and protected by national law, while it was
upon the oceans and when it reached q for.
eigu port, it should be received on the foot
ing Of the most favored nation. All the
rest of the development Of their national re.
sources-the protection of the lives and lib
erty of their people, and the harmonizing Of
their various customs and iDstltuuous-was
best left to the people of the state. Cheers.
When the constitution was framed, this
was the only principle on which union o.
the several states was possible; but the re