The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-11-05


Owing to the inability of Gen. Anderson to at.
tend, a fact known early in the morning. the
crowd was much smaller than it would other.
wise have been; but home talent WAS
expected, very large number of people fillei
Cody's Hall to its utmost capacity.
| On motion, John Malone was called "a n,
chair, and A. r. Greenwood selected as secretsr,
Judge CHAMrLIN, of Ottawa, WAS first cal,s,
| to the stand He regretted the ab,ence Of Ger
Anderson, and feared he would be unable to fl
his place. He came before the meeting mt a.
. candidate for Office, bat simply as an old cit
zen. their friend and neighbor. We all feel
very deep interest in the questions now before
the people, aud should discuss them calmly and
earnestly. Our situation as a people is critical
| and dangerous, and only wise and prudent conn.
sells should prevail. We find ourselves almost
hoPeiessly burdened with taxation debaucherv
! and corruption prevail among our officials every.
where; rings rule the country, and the rich ara
driving rough shod over the poor We must
nave radical change of affairs. No people can
i've long under the prevalent system of things,
We must turn the thieves and demagogues out
OF office, and refuse to re-eleet such Of them a
are now seeking Office. We must reduce taxa.
ton. We must economic We can expect to
accomplish this under democratic rule, but can
continue 20 pledge themselves to reform, but
after violating every pledge they have made to
the people, and every year growing from bad to
worse IN their management of public affairs how
can We longer put any confidence in them !?
What have they ever done to merit the support
OF the public All their legislation has been
made to keep themselves in Office. They legis.
late Tor the banker, the wall street broker, the
,niiiiohaire, the railroad nonopolist, the New
England manufacturers Inn not for ha l.h
Ahey create banks, not TO give the people money,
out 10 heIp the capitalist. Why do they not
place the rich and the poor man on the same
footing Suppose poor man with family Of
ten children, or the guardian of ten children.
may desire to lay up something for their future
heeos' Ihey cannot realize, under any ordinary
circumstances, more than 10 per cent while the
banker gets, and | do not say it on INV own ro.
spons6ility, refer you to the Chicago tribune.
Commissioner Wells and other republican
authorities, the banker, under the peculiar fsvors
given him by our radical congress gets trsHty
per cent. on his investment Is this wise or lust
The republican party devotes the main strength
OF its energies to the encouragement OF monopo-
lies. The Pacific railroad gets the credit of the
government TO any extent and then the govern.
ment adds $4,000 per mile in cash besides, The
great manufacturers Of the eastern states are the
pats OF the republican party. They,g their
riches from congress which robs you OF what
you have obtained from the munificeuce Of God
not from legislation. The manufactures. OF
sterile Ne" England are made rich AZ your ex.
pense. Every yard of cloth you wear, every
pound Of sugar, tea, coffee nails or anything else
you need, you are complied TO get by paying a
bounty TO these men. Every article Of prime
necessity Is taxed enormously, while the luxu.
ries, which you do not want or cannot afford,
come 70 these pampered pets OF q radical congress
almost totally free.
We must remedy these fearful wrongs We
must hold our public servants TO strc, fccount.
ability III the future, and punish the wrong
doer IN every case. The recent elections in
Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania show YOU how
the people are changing. They are arousing 70
sense OF their danger. You must not be be.
hind them. We have II in our power to elect
good and true men TO all the Offices Of trust
You have nominated faithful, competent and
able men for the different positions. Hon. VIM
Reddlck : certainly one. The city OF La Sale
Is indebted 20 him more than t. any one else fer
It's presert prosperity He mas been among you
many years and has been senator before, and
served You greatly to your advantage. 1t was
Mr.. keddick who secured the Illinois Central
railroad 10 your town. \ strong movement WAS
made TO leave La Sale out OF the line Douglas
who was your friend was overborne by the oppo-
sltion, but Mr.. Reidick, after strenuous exer.
tons. succeeded in accomplishing the object,
Applause After referring in equally compli.
mental terms to q. w. Armstrong, candidate
for the legislature, who had done so much for
the canal. and to Mr.. Clark and others on the
ticket, the speaker left the stand
GEO. W. ARMSTRONG was next introduced.
lie said briefly, that by the kindness Of hi friends
he found himself before the public 4 candidate
Tor Office The position you have desired me to
MI Is one of great responsibility. The legisla-
ture In this coming session will have many re-
forms to attend to, and much important legisla-
ton will be required under the new constitution.
AS for myself, you all know me well. came
here nearly 40 years ago, aud have held Office at
different times. How well have discharged
the trust reposed in me you know. and in the
future, in the past, will, if elected, serve you
faithfully and to the best of my ability
We are now entering upon a new political era.
Times are changing and reform is needed You
must elect men to office who cannot be bought.
The speaker recited at length the many changes
OF the law needed under the new constitution, Is
we'll as the many palpable violations of law BY
the radical legislature during the past few years,
among others The per diem steal, &c. When he
was member of the legislature he had to buy
his own knives and stationery. The last legisls-
ton expended $685. for pen knives alone, and
their stationery bill amounted to sci ,OO0 All
these leaks must be stopped. Your taxes have
been increased from to 10 mills. Most of you
are content to zee the tax gatherer depart from
your doors until another year. You pay and
justly wonder why the bill is SO heavy, hope for
something better next year, but Go not look for
. remedy. 1t lies with yourselves. You must
send honest men to the legislature and to Con.
gress who will reform these evils We must
exact strict and faithful accountability in all