The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-08-20
DEMOCRACY
Hon. John /. Eden, land Hon.
James W. Singleton
in Rock Island.
Their. Speeches.
4 Marked and very Favorable
impression Produced upon
the People.

county meeting, in Court square !" WHO
citv. A handsome stand, for speakers, was
eroctoA m the east side Of the Court House.
and beautifully decorated with flags aud
mottoes Among the notices we no.ceu
"Fide,ity to the Constitution" PAY the Deo'
+. c..onhocks :" "Tax the Bonds" "Sey'
and Blair !" "Eden and Van Lppsi
nS;pgle,,n for Congress- zone currency
G.. IL, i, Equality of Taxation &c DC,
soot. we're erected from the Court House 10
,Lo Douglas Tree, aud a large and enthusi'
o.tc audience was present, III which we
noticed prominent and representative men
from ait overthe county. a good many re-
pubicans we're preSent,and all unite IN prals'
| ing Mr.. Edens speech as one ofthe most able
aad satisfactory they had listened to. We
are not able to give a complete report OF 1t,
but have followed the general line Of his ar
rument and endeavored to give his exact
language asnear as possible.
Blair's fine brass band was in attendance
and enlivened the day with patriotic airs
We were glad to see so many ladies pres
emit, aad hope they will continue to exert
their powerful influence in favor Of a change
o. administration of our public affairs.
INTRODUCTION BY JUDGE DRURY.
LADIES AxDTELLow CITIZENS OF Rock Is
lt,yp CorSrY.-The Hon. John r. Eden, dem
! l;lct, Co. fy1yaruar Ot Illinois and
Hon. James w. Singleton, candidate ioI
representative of this district in congress,ar'
present with us to-day, and propose to ad
dress US. 1t is their purpose to discuss the
leading questions which divide political par
ties at this time, and not to inquire into the
dead and gone issues of the past.
The war Is over and out Of it has grown
| several momentous questions, on which are
materially dependent the unity OF the states
and happiness Of the people under a tree
Government Though for three years peace
has been declared within our borders our
Union IS unrestored and one part OF our
land is virtually divided from the other
Shall these states be restored to their proper
places and be reconstructed with all then
functions unimpared under the constitu
ton?
The question Of taxation is another i'm
portaut and vital issue whether there shall
be one sort of currency for one class and an
other sort for another; whether the poor Ia
boring class shall submit to pay taxes on the
idle and n.productive capital OF the rich
or whether the taxation shall be equalzed
the country be relieved from the burden o
debt. aud a thorough 'retrenchment be effect
ed in government expenditures.
These are the questions which are betor
rs for decision, and will be ably discusse
by the gentlemen who speak with you to-day
and for whom bespeak respe ettul attel
ton.
have the honor gentlemen TO introdnc
3 to YOU the Hon. John r. Eden, candidat
for governor of llHnois.
4 MR.. EDEN's SPEECH.
o LADIES AND GENTLEMEN This Is u
first time have had the honor Of meetin
the citizens of Rock Island in public q
embage, and am pleased at this apPea
: ance of welcome on your part in so large
attendance upon this occasion. have bee
= spending some time looking about you
| beautiful city, and am much pleased wit
the indications of thrift and prosperli
among you. have been upon the IsIanc
and was exceedingly grautied with the eV
dences | saw of the vast and important IN
provements the government is making
this point. 1t is matter in which | hay
ever felt an interest, and have expressed IN
approval Of government appropriations
e this use. The Improvements are alike cret
r table to the good judgment OF the govern
ment, and the energy and taste OF the ger
tIeman under whose supervision they Al
+ being constructed, ] have been ever tavo
able to the use of the public money IN al
preparations to this purpose, and think TN
its geographical situation, and its locatc
at a point of such commercial importanc
n will eventually make it the greatest mi
tary post Of the west.
Il / come among you, to-day, to address yC
is on topics the most vital, to the common Il
terests of all Americans, which have eve
arisen in the history of our country. Blu
before commence the discussion, | oV
you an apology. l have been for sever
weeks past addressing the people OF Il
different counties, every day, except Su
DAYS, without intermlssiOn, and so mu
continued exertion has made me qui
0. hoarse. hope, therefore, you will excr
any indistinctuess of my voice, aud ! wou
ask as a favor that you take your positio
as near the stand as possible. Notwi
" standing this difficulty, will endeavor
q give you my views on the great questio
ce now agitating the country, and would
the special attention of my republic
friends here present. for these are questi'
alike important to them. | am going to
duce matters fraught with interest to
. B. people at large, and have brought my
thorlties to substantiate whatever assertl'
'"N | may make.
ia, There has been q revolution going on
the form of our free government VIII
,nry threatens utterly to overthrow it; and it
high time that the people, in whom the |
. sovereignty exists, should awaken to the
welcome truth, and apply the renet
agency of the ballot-box to its entire
form. 1t is high time that the people she
wrest the power from the hands of servt
who are tyraunizing over them, and of
Z. Gals who have long since ceased to re
s. sent them
- Though there have been three years
II. peace, We have not even begun to rect
10. from the effects of the war. The imme
10. public debt, contracted during the war
49, ue'FsSy its expenses, still lowers like
~ ~ shadow Of frghtful nightmare over US,
10 TO- uoes not begin to grow less. The
26 Ieip's OF the government. in taxes,
Is. pesn immense the expenditures fright
ct. 2. Out the debt is still no less. The 81
,et. !. WorA OF contraction and payment has
1St 2 even been begun. We are hurdened Wi
Get qebt larger, and taxation heavier, thai
Oct. 2. T Wr by any of the great foreign power
Oct. 2. support an army during time of ne
oct. GIaVn would not compare unfavorabl
.''' = paro SnS cost, with that of any Euro
8. 80 .n'4 power. A great standing a
9. "Iea ouF Government has TO nerfactin