The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-13
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
His Appearance at the Jefferson
County Agricultural Fair.
GREAT THRoNG OF PEOPLE FROM
The SURROUNDING CouN-
..,. Try.
No Allusions of a Political
Character made.
THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY AND
IT'S RESOURCES AND DIES
TINY.
Improvement of the Mississippi River
Educational Interests,
Improvement of the Mississippi River
Educational Interests,
MR.. DAVIS AND HIS VISIT.
cnnninI 10 IL q Ina..n Dnna.LIinoL.

De SoTO, Mo-, Sept, 9.-The Hon.
Jefferson Davis was introduced to one of
the largest audience, which ever assembled
in Jefferson county, at De Soto to-day.
He was presented to thelaudiences by Col,
j. w. Fletcher firm Republican and ex-
officer of the Union army. During his
stay in the village he was the guest of Col
Rankin, another staunch Republican, and
in the vast assemblage drawn together to
hear him speak were men representing
every shade of political sentiment, and
people of every rank and condition in life.
Mr.. Davis spoke alike to men who had led
opposing armies on the field of strife
armies wearing the blue and the gray, and
soldiers who followed them where the con-
words Of the speaker not one syllable to
arouse unpleasant recollections. And
among the vast audience there, not word
was said calculated to disturb the harmony
Of feeling which seemed to prevail. On
the part of those who had once adhered to
the cause Of which Mr.. Davis was the
representative head there was no attempt
to lionize him, and on the part of those
who had most sternly and bravely opposed
that cause there was no effort spared to
AOuNSA Quay dbOuS LIOul DICdohul' 4lls
Davis was received, not as the representa-
tive of any political idea now obsolete, but
as a gentleman of distinguished character,
large experience, and varied information,
who had thoroughly studied the tendency
OF commercial activity, and the significance
of agricultural and other material develop
ments, and the relations which these sus-
sustain to the progress in civilization of the
VaOOIn of fbic Mr. DoUi,
at DE Soto simply as any other private
citizen might have been. The people
so regarded his visit, and so they treated
sive demonstration. A man distinguished
for political learning, large experience in
public life, and an intimate acquaintance
with the resources, agricultural, mineral,
and commercial, of the great Mississippi
valley-a man, on these accounts, capable
constructing as to the defects of present
systems and methods, and suggesting ad
vantageous measures leading to future pro-
gress, they recognize him to be, and SO
they willingly listened to his counsels and
paid to him that respect which is due to
one of so distinguished abilities. This is
all. The day came. Mr., Davis delivered
his speech, and no one felt the least bit
offended. On the contrary, men who mad
held high rank in the armes of the Union,
expressed themselves as more than pleased
with the sentiments they heard. Mr..
Davis mission is emphatically not politi-
cal one.
MR.. DAvIs's INTRODUCTION.
Col. j. w. Fletcher introduced Mr..
Davis to the assemblage and in doing SC
said:
You are well aware that the agricultural and me.
chanicai association of Jefferson county, knowing
the ability of the Hon j, 1, rson Davis TO make the
annual address have invited him and he has re.
sponded 10 the invitation. Knowing Of the ability
Mr.. Davis possesses as farmer and man Of gen.
eral information we consider that he has honored
us byconsentins to deliver the address. Ladies and
gentleman, have the honor of introducing TO you
Mr.. Davis. app ause)
THE ADDRESS OF MIR. DAVIS.
Mr. President and Directors, Ladies and
Gentlemen:
thank you for the welcome which
have received at your hands, aud | congrat
uatc you upon those evidences of prosper
ltY which are everywhere around me-
Your state is not stranger to me for it is
like :
The schoolboy spot we ne'cr forget,
Though there forgot
| we'll remember your country when il
had not such teeming population as il
has now. l knew the wild hills about the
head waters of the Meramec when very
few were living there-when the popula
ton was what would be called rude-hun
ters and miners with here and there lit
tie scrap of cultivation; but within the
homes, within the rude tenements they
inhabited, with the latch-string always or
the outer side, there was heart and hospi
tally within. Well do l remember the