The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-20
Mr.. Hesine's Speech

The Republican State Central Commit
tee held meeting in this city yesterday
to consider, among other things, when the
next State Convention should be held,
Leading Republicans from all parts of the
state were Invited, and special invitation
was given to MIR. A. Z. Hesing, of Chica-
go. 1t Is known that the newspaper with
which Mr.. heslng is identified had drop
ped the business OF organ-grinding New
ertheless, the Committee invited him T.
make speech, which he did, as viii be
seen IN the report OF the meeting
ln this speech he told the gentlemen
othce-h holders and others, there present
that he could not say when it would be ad-
Visable 10 hold Republican State COnven
uIn, because he did not know whether there
was any Republican party in existence or
not. The two greatest Republican states
men 10 Illinois, Messrs. Logan and Ogles.
by, had got cut of the Republican party
when they got off the Philadelphia plat
torm and repudiated the pledges there
made concerning "a speedy return to spe-
Gle pay ments." The action of these tw,,
SeuatUrs and Of their Republican associ
ates, constituting a two-t thirds majority OF
both branches OF Congress, would bring dis
grace upon the character of the American
Government IN the eyes of every civilized
people,
Mr.. Hesing was equally emphatic in his
declaration that there was nothing left for
the Republican party To do. Its pledges
on the financial question having been VIC
lated and disregarded, it had no principles
and no policies there was nothing left
but office and when the tune came that
a great political party had nothing
TO hold it together but office, he wanted
to leave it to the office -seekers exclusively.
and be free and independent on all sub
jects. The reader can understand how
disgusting this kind of talk appeared TO
the battalion of veteran office holders and
Office seekers who constitute the party or
ganlzation in Illinois.
But Mr.. HeSing did not let the Commit
tee escape without some further and whole |
some comments upon recent facts. In the |
same Philadelphia platform there was a
vlndication OF the personal liberty of all
citizens. How had this been treated by |
the Republican party of this State? II |
had met it by the enactment of series of |
offensive and oppressive sumptuary laws,
and Mr.. Hurd, of Evanston, in revising the
statutes, had made these sumptuary laws
more harsh than ever, and the Republican
party had both approved and paid for this
work. In conclusion, Mr.. Hesing plainly
told the Committee that if they had any
idea that Republican State ticket could
be elected this year by the ordinary major
ity of past times, such an idea was su-
premely ridiculous. The policy of the
party had destroyedit. Under the Cuise of
moral Legislation 1t was seeking TO make
this q nation Of hypocrites. Here a rea-
sonable and merciful man might have
stopped, but Mr.. Hesing went further. and |
designated, generally and specially, some
OF the leading hypocrites of the Republi- |
can party, who had been engaged in filling
their pockets unlawfuily at the public ex
pense.
The subsequent proceedings of the Com
mttees we're unimportant. The event of
the day was Mr. Hesing's speech, and ali
that was said was to the effect that the
farmers were not serious in their demand
ior reform, but would vote the Republican
ticket as usual, Mr.. Hesing speech was
not answered. 1t could not be answered
1t was a truthful representation of the CON
aluon OF the party, and each man who
heard him knew he was telling the trntb
IN every word he uttered. When he told
the Committee that the party in the State
was broken and demoralized, and that II
nad no longer a ralying- point save Office.
MS truth was plainly evidenced by the men
pno sat before hin, largely of
Iostlhasters, Assessors, Collectors, Gaug
ers, and other pensioners upon the Public
treasury. While Mr.. Hesing' truths NAV
be ignored by the Republican State Com,
HSitteee' they will not be ignored in the
state. The Farmers of Illinois, in their
ehOrts Tor emancipation, may be assured
t shae the three Congressional Districts of
operate in breaking up every mor;bnnd O ~
ganlzatlon that stands in the wav of aon,
erai reform Ut all the abuses and extor
elnns, frauds and corruptions, which have
superceded political principles, and which
now constitute the stock In trade oF ~
nep"Olican and Democratic parties. Ia