The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-08-08
MR.. DUNHAMs SPEECH.

No speech has been delivered in Rock IL
land, for long time, which produced so ia
J., vorable an impression the one made BY
Charles Durham, Esqr, in the court house
on Tuesday evening. Aud that is probably
the reason why the Union attacks it so VIC
lently aud opens its suice Of biIlingsgate and
bIackguardlsm upon its author. Certainly
the Union cannot be afraid Mr. Durham
will be elected No democrat expects that
event to take place. The counties compOs.
ing this senatorial district gave 1921 radi.
cal majority ia 1866. II cannot be, there.
fore, that the Union fears defeat for its par.
! ", in this senatorial district.
In bis personal appearance, his manners,
bis language, aud his general deportRent,
Mr.. Durham is gentleman. lie INDUCES
in no abuse Of any one. Aud be only pro.
poses, in fair, honest, and gentlemany
manner, to endeavor to show the people who
do him the honor to listen to him, that the
democratic policy is the best policy for the
interests Of the whole people-leaving them,
| of course, to act upon their own judgments
after they shall have heard him, and others.
What motive, therefore, can the Union have
to indulge in vile hiackguardism, abuse, and
iaIsehood in regard to him We can per
ceiye none, except that his speech made SO
favorable an impression upon sll who heard
It that something must be done to break its
fOrce-and falsehood and billingsgate seem
to be the only weapons left for tie Union to
use.
! The Union quotes Mr. Durham az say.
ing
"That the freedlnen's bureau had cost untold
millions, not one cent 0i which had been expended
for the benefit Of any white person"
The Union then proceeds to show, from
the commissioners report, that some money
was expended for the benefit Of white per
soas 10 the southland then triumphantly
declares that Mr.. Durham is ~ more ft
candidate for a seat in the back part of a
district school than for one in our general
assembly,
Now, the fact is that Mr.. Durham made
no such assertion as the Union publishes.
What be did say was that, while the repsb.
lcan party in congress were apPropriatiug
and spending untold millions Of the peoples
money to feed and clothe the negroes Of the
south, not dollar had been appropriated by
them TO care for the INDECENT and suffering
poor Of the north; that tho people Of Illinois
supported their own poor aud were taxed TO
feed and clothe the idle Of other states. But
the Union puts arguments and words into
Mr.. Dunham's mouth which he never used,
and then proceeds to. blackguard him for
using them.
Mr.. Durham gave figures Of expenses for
the year ending June 30, 1861 The Union
falsely charges him with giving these figures
for different year, and having uttered
falSehood ITSELF proceeded, upon its own
falsehOod, to convict NJ. Durham of error
After performing this herculean feat, il
| swings It's little nose'wlpeT IN the face OF the
public and says
Better go homo and post yourself Mr., Dun
| ham. You cant gull sensible people down here
with any such trash that you've been trying to
cram the democracy with. People can read down
| here.
The efforts OF the Rim are really laugha.
Bile, and quite suggestive Of the fact that its
editors need to learn u good many things
before they set themselves up as critics and
cenSors of intelligent men. Mr.. Durham
made no statement which is not susceptible
of the clearest proof it is because his
statements were correct, and his arguments
convincing, that the Union finds it necessary
to msrepresent what he did say in order to
break its force. The motives of that paper
are as unworthy aud discourteous as its eE
forts are ridiculous and laughable.