The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-02-24
The 1ailg Ara,ts,
MEETING OF LIBERALS AT spRrNerrEIn
Correspondence of the Chicago Tribune.
SPRINGFIELD. Ill. Eeh % 1879

Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, Feb. 20, 1879
A meeting Of Liberals was held at the
Office of Ex-Governor Palmer this evening
Governor Palmer was called to the chair
Dr.. Thomas P. Rogers chosen Secretary
and Colonel III. Leb, Assistant Secretary
Governor Palmer explained the caII ~
the meeting He referred to the meeting
OF the evening before, and said it was for
the purpose of getting thorough under
standing between the different members of
the opposition
Mr. Armstrong thought there ought to
be, sometime during the session Of the
Legislature, some meeting of this kind
He, for one, would stand by the principles
OF the Cincinnati platform did not
care under what name.
Mr.. Haynes, of Lake county, said he
thought the name of the party was estab-
hshed. The world had called it Liberal
The next thing, and the most important.
was the principles. The carpet-b bag debt
the railroad and other monopolies, should
form important questions in this new party
DIR. Collins, of Kankakee, moved the
appointment of a committee to draft an
address to the people of Illinois. in the
name of the Liberals, in the shape of an
indictment Of the party in the power.
Senator Gundlach moved an amend
ment, to have Liberal State convention
called as soon as possible
Mr.. Durham, of Henry county, life.
long Democrat, and one of the prominent
leaders Of the opposition in the House
remarked that there was great deal in
the name. He thought it was very Sc
rious question, inasmuch as the masses of
either political parties had great attach
ment TO old party names. He admitted
that the name of Democratic party was
obnoxious to many who were ready to ioin
any new organization opposed to the pres
ent party in power but who would hest
tate TO sail under the Democratic name
Senator Gundlach made some LENGTHY
remarks in support of his amendment for
the calling of a State convention. He
thought the organization throughout the
State could only be perfected by such a
course
Governor Palmer said he looked upon
the result of the last election in two WAYS
Sometimes he thought he should be angry
at the Democrats for not all voting for the
Liberal ticket; sometimes he was aston
lshed to see that so many voted as did
He said that a party which did not con
tain, as one Of its principles, opposition to
monopolies, had no value for him Tpon
the remarks of some gentleman that the
Republican party may adopt the same
principle, he said that such move would
be looked upon with distrust by the people
The money of these very monopolies had
elevated Grant and, as an illustration, he
would state that, during the last campaign.
every railroad leading out of Springfield
gave free passes to all who desired to at
tend Grant meetings in the country.
DR. Rogers, of Mclean, had, for forty
years, voted nothing but a Democratic
ticket, with the exception Of Greeley. He
thought now that we must 60 forward upon
the old Jetfersonian principles Those
were; municipal self government Il
strictly revenue tariff taxation in accord
ance with the amount of protection Of prop
erty required; and the opposition to rail
road and other monopOlies He had seen
the state of things now prevailing coming
for ten years past but, as long as the
farmers got IS cents bushel for corn. and
: to cents for pork, they would not even
condescend to listen to arguments. But
now they would listen. The farmers
wanted him to go for the railroads; but,
when he would ask them for cheaper iron
cheaper nails, cheaper cloth, cheaper
spades-in fact, everything that was man
ufactured cheaper-they would say, oh.
no, we can't do that But he hoped that
the time had come when they would agree
to that, too
General Frank Sherman, of Chicago
was ready to join any organization which
would oppose the present party in power
under whatever name He had always
been Democrat, but he had come to the
conclusion that that party had passed it.
usefulness: Success could never be &C.
eompished under the Democratic name
and he was therefore in favor of new
party under the name Of Liberal.