The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-05-29
From the ST. Louis Republican, May 70.
OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
Great Democratic Meeting.
ELOQUENT VIsDICiTI0N OF DEMO
CRATIC PRINCIPLES.
SPEECH OF HON, w. w. O'BRIEN,
OF ILLINOIS.
Immense ASsemblage.

assembled IN front of the court house. to
hearsthe Hon. w. w. FUBrisn, of Illinois,
who is running for congress against Mr.
Logan, of the same state.
There was raised platform at the east
front of the court house, decorated with flags
and colored lamps land a band of music, which
was in attendance, performed select pieces.
The meeting was an animated and striking
success, and the most unboundad enthusiasm
prevailed. 1854 rTStSTaas@
The meeting was called 10 order by Mr..
Wells, who, after a few Introductory remarks
by Col. Colman, introduced Mr.. o Brien.
S. Speech of Mr. oaErien.
The Hon. W. w. o. Brien, who was re-
ceived with great cheering, spoke as fol
FEhLow CrTTzENs-I feel grateful for this
kind and enthusiastic demonstration, but
am not so vain to assume or to ascribe any
enthusiasm OF this kind to any merit of
mine 1t is the cause. and not the man : it
is the mighty theme and nol the humble
advocate that has brought forth this enthus-
iasm and this concourse of people tonight.
{ 4 voice: sit is yoarself") No, sir. My
friends, you recognize me here as you do the
other gentlemen who are co.workers in the
great cause of restoring to the people Of this
country their lost liberties, their lost rights,
and restoring to the people of this country
peace, happiness and prosperity. You rec
ogniZe i'll US, soldiers who have enlisted with
yoa in one common party to fight IN this
conflict, in the defence of that beautiful fao'
ric of liberty reared by your torefathers,
cemented by their blood, and transferred TO
as 81 priceless inheritance. (Cheers.l Our
radical friends have been very lavish in their
prophecies that the democracy had been
dead and buried. Not dead) Bat if they
were here tonight they would have an OPP
portunity of knowing ut least that if their
prophecy was true, If the democratic party
ever was dead, 1t has come to life again.
/ tCheers.l If II ever was buried the day of
reserectlon has arrived. renewed cheers. J
Why, the woods are filled with democrats,
the prairies are filled with them, and | am
proud to see that this great redeemed, re-
generated and democratic city of 81. Louis
that it too is filled with them. A Voice
What do you call it?-Redeemed p Yes F.;
| call it redeemed (yeu are right y and let
me say, BY the grace of God and the peace
!
the American people, on the fourth day OF
next March the White House and the
| natioal capitol will be filled with democrats.
| And that viii be glorious day for this
country, and will be a day when we can look
upon the honored ensign the republic as
the representation of liberty and Justice, and
will be day also when this flag shall be
/ held from one end of this bright land TO the
other, in every state of this { nion as repre-
senting liberty and justice and the rights of
equal and independent states.
IL s,sir ,mg friends, we have met hereto night
for purpose. We are not here for the purpose
of ratifying the proceedings Of the late me-
nagerie at Chicago, Roars of laughter and
cheers but we are here to ratIfy and rejoice
over one of the grandest epochs that ever
was recorded in the annals of time-lt is the
approaching dissolution of radicaiisfn and
| the triumph of the national democracy
| tCheers.1 Why, my friends, they are already
/ dead! Bave you heard anybody in St, Louis
cheer for the nominees? mo, and cheers.
| Aud you never will! CHEERS and laughter
Why, I may tell you that II one half of wha
| the radical leaders have charged and proved
/ upon each other is true, they not only oughr
to die, but they ought to be placed where
/ the stencil VIII never reach the civilized PEG
| pie ofthis country. (Cheers.) They ought
to be placed within the precincts of q pla CT
where they will expiate during the remain
der Of their days the crimes they have charg
ed and proven so successfully upon each 9th
err. Why, during the last two years they
have been abusing their own President-ths
| man who was elected by their own votes -
they have charged him with being a traitor
a murderer, drunkard, thief and robber; anc
4 hn I'm nd hnr oil AL
| upon them, and they are sent TO perdition
| (Laughter.)
! want it understood, that SO far as Andy
johnson has been light the democracy is il
favor of standing by him, but his record il
Tennessee, his murder of an innocent wo
man in Washington--thoset things can never
be washed out. So long as he stands up fol
the constitution, law and liberty, so long n,
be stands up to beat back the tide of radi
calism and in defence of the peoples rights
it is our duty to stand by him. But thinl
both parties succeeded, to q great extent, il
proving everything they charged upon eacl
other. Now when | say this of Mr.. johnson
allude to what he said in Tennessee wher
man spoke in favor of the constitution
"Knock him down" That was Treason
against right, treason against law. 1t wa
treason against the right of every American
citizen. and now what is the result He il
represented as thief. Every pimp and ev
cry detective in the land are put upon hi
track, hunting up every word he has said
every act he has done, everything, in fact
that was possible to blacken him in the eye
of the people for the purpose of impeachinl
; him. Whilst articles of impeachment agains
him were voted down, the third time thel
preferred charges against him, and for tn,
last three months they have made o laugh
ing-stock of themselves to the whole civilizes
world in their efforts to destroy law and lib
erty in their land. And as the result, nov
that the trial is over and Andy johnson i
unconvicted, an attempt is made to throw
out of their party its own brains, men VIII,
would not vote against their conscience
Yes, sir, they are talking against Trumbull
of Illinois Fessenden, of Main,
and against Mr.. Henderson, of Missouri
They call them traitors, and say these mel
who took an oath and swore 10. obey thelaw
were 'bribed and sold out to Andy johnson
In the halls of congress one Of the mos
prominent members of the radical party
leader, if you please--and no less q. person
than Spoons Butler Cheers turned rount
to Bingham, one of the late Managers of Inn
parchment, and one of the high priests o
radicalism, and said, Yeu are murderer
does Bingham deny it? No. He turn.
round and says, ''Yo on are thief; you wen
i to the army a noor m an and Won caYy,e ha I'll