Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-07-12
Letters from Mr.. Drake
one of the PropretOrs
of the Argus.

~ N@AS 80 N@Sa
BALTIMORE, July s.
The readers Of THE ARGUs will be 10
ormed Of the result Of the memorable con
Iention that assemblies here to morrow be-
ore this letter reaches Rock Island. II /
he thousands who assembled at Cincinnati,
urprised the country with the magnitude
md rapid growth Of the Liberal movement,
much more 80 does the fifty thousand dele.
rates aud visitors, nor here, surprise every
body with the undeuiab,e fact that the Gree
lev party is not Of the leaders and poliu
clans, but Of the people. The men who
have NEE here are not 20 be mistsken-they
represent a constituency that is alive to the
dsmAndE of the hour, and there need be no
hesitation 10 anticipating the action they
will take, or names 1t is expected they will
present TO popular acceptance. The agen
oes that have been 1T work TO bring about
the Anlcip Ated result, are familiar at every
Preside, aud eoald the popular feeling be |
correctly Aseertained in Rock Island to-day, |
il would be the counterpart Of that repre-
scented by the men who are assembled here
from every part OF the Union. Never before
has q Democratic convention assembled with
the Ayowed purpose OF presenting csndi.
we're called for BY another extreme portion.
IL is one OF the surest bonds Of future union
and frAtsrual feeling. | have talked with
large number OF delegates from ell sec
tons of the country, and find them cont
dent Of the result Of the oAmpaign-nei.her
ia this confidence the rssult Of enthusiasm.
bu, the result Of careful deliberation aud
calculation. They are not men who are
liable TO be too enthusiastic, ss they know
800 well what dsfsa, is.
The convention will be made up largely
Of younger class Of men and Democrats
who are Gnxious 20 get away from the old
errors Of the party and its twelve years Of
defeat and begin an era Of new and better
things. Surely il the South stands here as
one man and asking for Greeley and saying
they cannot endure or even survive four more
years Of Grants despotism, northern
Democrats who have not felt the full weight
OF their adversely should not be obstinate
obstacles 10 the way Of peace snd Southern
dsivefAnce. Those who predicted that the
convention would command only small
attendance fad themselves greatly dissp-
pointed. So Important is it, that Grants
hirelings are here using the most desperate
means to defeat Greeley, which is sore
evidence that they consider his nomination
DISASTROUS 70 their master. They are dis.
tribuung printed matter among The delegates
containing all the bitteres. sayings against
Democrats that could DO found in the
Tribune for thirty years past. Ia addition
they are distributing circulars purporting to
come from Democrats I'D rising the eonven-
sion Of its duIy 10 the grand old party il
represents and TO preserve ils ancient
glories from the furnishing grasp OF the
enemy. Such so.ioisude is sad TO behold
coming from such disinterested mouruers.
Hundreds Of them are here bu, ell their
work will be ia vain--the mark of their
master is too plaialy seen in all their efforts
" deceive anyone.
Tomorrow the convention will assemble
IN Ford's Theatre building which has been
handsomely fitted up for the occasion.
j. 5. b.
BALTIMORE, July Q.
This convention is no, one Of the leaders
bat is the result Of allegiance 20 an over.
mastering aud irresistible popular impulse
Ii indicates an important crisis ia the
politics OF this country, for only ia such a
crisIs ere such fusions Of elements formerly
auIsgouiste possible Is IL going too far
TO say that! indicates also the triumph OF
patriotism aud patriotic considerations over
the uarroWneSs, eGclusivsness and selfish
ness Of mare party spirit2 However, this
may be, the simple fact undoubtedly invests
the present gathering in this city with an 10.
terest which would not attach to any mere
ordinary party convention,
The convention may, indeed, claim 10 be
a convention Of the people in larger and
truer sense than that in which the title is
usually Arrogated to themselves By such a.
semblages. We know that all political con
veusioas are fond Of describing themselv YES
a. representing the people, and as merely
giving expression 70 the popular will aud
choice, even when the very clever political
managers and wire pulIsrs Who control them
are iugsniOusy engaged IN attempting to
defeat ibA. will aud 70 forssIali that choice.
That the people have this time iorstsllsd
the wIre-pulers ia evident to iil-they are
moving without waiting or oven asking to be
led aad there are no politicians bold enough
10 stand in the way. This was very forcbly
illustrated during the forenoon session for
the appointment OF committees to-day,
when the mere mention OF Gresley's name
by the chairman in his opening speech,
brough, the whole convention to IT'S feet in
one prolonged and dsAfsniug cheer for G rae.
ley which was repeated again aud again,
until u seemed as though the pous W
waters Of ths ocean had broken loose.
The anti Greeley movement IS one Of the
most satisfactory fzzles of the day. II re-.
oelvss no oountsnaucs from anyone and it IA
question whether the gentlemen at the
head OF il can duplicate their own votes
They have los, VIVA. little influence they
may have had as well a. the respect OF
those disposed 10 side with them by their
lack OF seuss Ia presistlng in movement IN
the face Of such popular sentiment as is seen
all about them. Had they enacted their
little play at some other time and place they
might have received credit for honesty, but
TO do IL here 10 the presence Of the Assembl.
ed representatives OF greaI party whose
defeat they are inviting they could expect
nothing bu. reputation and silent con
tempt.
hardly know how 10 give any proper
idea Of the convention assembled
here. All political rulss and usages
seem to be ignored and set at defiance in
attempting a description. Al every hotel,
you meet Grants hirelings who tell you
they have been Democrats ell their lives,
and will never trail the proud old Demo
cratic banner in the dusi-they will vote
tor Grans FIRST. Nov and then these fellows
ran ran across some southern delegate, tell their
little story and discourse 80 swssIly of their
Democratic record, and are asked, "What
Ia III are you doing here IL Won want
drantf ltia Greeley sveryuhers. LiEa long
Democrats men whose names are copnec,sd
with the party for two aud three gsnsrs,ions
grey haired old msn, whose names sound Of
the evolutionary period, are aere worE;na
for Greeley. You have seen The aSaa,s
brsezs ratils the waters Of the lake, sD5
even as you looked, scarcely copscioo. =;
the far-of storm. have seen the wAvss ,o,I
up the beach under the force Of the bn,,;
oaus, and for the very life OF you could No,
tell whore such terrible power could CONF
from. Sush is the Greeley movement a,
, sssn ell over this city Of monuments. pa.
hhsAl history has never seen the liks-,bs
waters are uingliuR aud the current i, sa,-
nng towards the White House VIII ~.