The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-07-31
FRANK BLAIR AT OMAHA.
ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION AND
SPEECH.
From the 81. Joseph Gazette, july


As soon as the cheering had somewhat
subsided Gen. Blair stepped forward and
said
am here TO acknowledge the compliment
you have paid me. assure you that val
ne the compliment. am well aware that
it is not paid topme as an individual, but
rather as one IL the representatives Of tina,
cause to which you have showed yourself SO
devoted. Applause, 1t is cause, my
| fellow-ctizens, worthy Of your greatest dc.
voton. and Of your highest enthusiasm. Il
is the cause Of free government and consti.
tutienal liberty in this country, and
am satisfied, my friends and fellow citizens
from the enthusiasm and feeling manifested
here tonight and elsewhere where | have
been, that this cause is destined to a great
and glorious victory in the next election in
November, Great applause. / feel, my
| fellow.citizens, that we are destined 10
achieve great victory in behalf Of our free
| government and free constitution. tcel TO-
day, not alone rom this manifestation, but
| from oil we have seen during the past year
in the elections where the policy Of the radi.
cal party has been condemned by oyerwhel
ming maiortie5 Of the people Of the United
States, CHEERS, and notwithstanding tn s
condemnation by the people-these reckless
people who achieved power upon a totally
different issue from that which is now before
the people, have in defiance Of the popular
| will, in defiance Of the votes Of the people Of
whom they were simply the representatives,
| have urged forward these measures to a
| 80, IT, g.,,11 Ia 4
the hands Of the people Of this country, aud
wrcst from them the power forever Yes,
my fellow.citi2ens, they have by these meas.
ures put under foot all the people Of our race
| in ten Of the southern states they have
! bound million Of people } the earth with
| their bayOnets, and they ave put on the
top fthem this hideous black barbarism,
applause, and, my fellow.citizens, feeling
that they have lost the confidence of the
white race, both north and south, they pro.
pose to overcome the charges east against
them at the north, in the free states during
the last year by the minority a, the south,
whom they have made supreme over the
white race there, aud the question comes up
for your decision--tor the decision Of the
whole Of the people of this country, will you
INA lAAA HiuJbllNf VI bOFu FttA'Olio Nblli PbsIh
Of the white race, CHEERS that race my fel.
low.citizens, that glorious race Of people
whose history is the record of intellectual
progress among mankind, the only race that
have ever shown themselves capable Of es.
tablshimg and maintaining free government,
to be ruled by this inferior people? A voice,
the Blair family, SUPPOSED The Blair
family will be found on the side of the white
race. lCheers.)
The Blair family can never be deferred |
from taking that stand by any man who |
wishes to assail the fair white race Of this |
country by a mixture with the blacks. Ap- |
plause. Ny fellow.citilens, it is not my
intention to detain you by any heightened
remarks. Cries Of 60 on. knew very
well that what had to say wsuld not please
a certain set Of people, and will say
further, that did not intend to please them.
Loud cheers If any one is dispIeased
that we, the democrats, intend to restore the
government and the constitution, they may
make their DEGREES now, for tell you, after
November you will not be able TO hear one
Of them speak, Applause. But am for
giving them the largest liberty ofspeech. |
TO not intend nor desire that they should be |
gagged as they are now endeavoring to gag |
eight millions of our people in the south. | |
do not think it will be the policy Of the dem
0cratiC party, when it comes into power and |
re-estabishes the government, to prescribe |
free speech anywhere in the country. 1t
Ias always been their policy to give the
argest liberty to all men II use the most
perfect freedom of speech, for without it we
,aunot maintain our free institute ms.
But these things are exceedingly dstaste
u to our radical brethren. Throughout the
Iouth they have put the gag in the mouth of
hose people whom they have trOd under the
military heel. Men are arrested. thrown in.
% prison, and tried by military commissions,
IN defiance Of those constitutional guarantees
IF the rights OF. free speech, right of trial by
Jury. and the right to be tried before his
peers and the judicial tribunals for any al.
legged ofEense Where are those rights now?
They have been stihed, trodden down, and
yet we can find men in this country who can
stand up and defend those acts Of atrocity.
Cheers My ieIlow.cltizeus thank you
Tor your attentive ldienCe; this is Il graft
lying spectacle to any man who loves liberty
and the constitution. This enthusiasm is |
sure harbluger Of our success next Novem.
Der. CheersD And that success under
The lead Of the distinguished gentleman who
has been chosen by democratic convention
As your candidate for the presidency, is Ger
AIN to restore the constitution handed
Town to You by your fathers.
Gentlemen, again thank you. Cries of
go on."l find it impossible, my fellow
'ldzens, to make my voice reach the con
lines Of this immense crowd, and, thanking
you from my heart for the kindness which
'on have shown me to night--thanking you
IT'LL more tor the enthusiasm which YOU have
hown for that cause in which am now en-
ragged along with you--I now retire. loud
heers.)