The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-09-06
LET US HAVE PEACE.
Card from Mr. Kimball, Secretary Of
the Winnebago County Agrieul.
tural society--His Motives in
Inviting JEFF Davis.

ROCKFORD, Ill, Aug. 25.-My attention
has been directed to the recent articles in
the National Republican printed at Wash
ington, and to several articles Illuminating
from the Chicago Inter- Ocean, not emf
nently calculated to inspire a union senti-
ment at the south, or hold northern Re-
publicans to a firm allegiance to their
party at the north. In these articles my
loyalty TO this free and glorious country
has been questioned, and ] am represent
ed AS having made myself notorious
during the war by my extreme Democratic
sympathies," and as "dyedin. the-wool
Democrat. 1t has become the preroga-
tive of assailant- newspapers, when it would
crush man or defeat an unpopular action,
though prompted by noble impulses and
entrenched in principle, to misstate facts
and misguide the public sentiment by
glaring falsehoods or ingenious 6ctions.
In the excitement OF the present contro.
versy growing out of the action of our So
clety In Its invitation to the ex-president
OF the Confederacy, experience a proud
satisfaction in putting myself right before
the people OF the country. IhGue asever
uoted Democratic ticket IN Dsy life. l
cast my first vote for Van Buren, on the
free soil issue, and afterward gave my
sympathies and support to John G. FIRE.
mont John p. Hale, Abraham Lincoln,
standing steadfast by the great principles
OF liberty and inalienable rights embodied
in their respective platforms, When,after
fifty years of bitter controversy and angry
debate, the contest between the emancipa-
ton and slavery parties eliminated in the
first shot fired at Sumpter, my entire
sympathies and corporations were thor
oughly enlisted i'll the support of the
northern cause. l never expressed an ut
terance nor wrote communication that
gave the shadow of an endorsement to the
specious doctrines of secession. During
that long and tsmpestuous night of re-
bellion / sought the privilege Of making
my noblest sacrifices to sustain our gallant
armies in the field; and my profoundest
sorrow was awakened when temporary
disaster trailed our countrys banner in the
dust.
II was the inherant nobility of those
free-soil principles that / eearly adopted
guaranteeing to every citizen of our country
liberty and equality before the law-brOad
in themselves as our national domain, and
yet conservative as the forces of nature, -
that inspired in me magnanimity to reach
out from one member of this great indus
trial brotherhood of the northwest hand
of fellowship to the entire south in the per-
son of its former eminent representative
am reminded each day by the volum-
inous circulars and correspondence of the
central committees that cover my desk,
that our glorious centennial is near at hand.
In these documents, the patriotic expecta-
ton is expressed, that united country,
with every dissension healed, and a spirit
of general amnesty everywhere prevailing
"a free and united north and south--shal
lay as offerings on the holy affairs of our
liberties the achievements Of our material
progress.
Winnebago county, the foremost to in.
ner, the throne of true loyalty, behind
which the great principle of the constitu
ton lie strongest entrenched, to prepare
ton, and to demonstrate on a grandel
scale the reunion sentiment so happily in
augurated by the festivities at Bunker
Hill, open the doors of christian amnest,
and hospitality to the ex-president of tn,
fallen Confedracy.
have glorious precedent and example
for our consideration and courtesy in tn
unbounded hospitality with which the citi
Gems of Texas invited and received thei
former political enemy, Horace Greeley, t
deliver the annual address at the fair O
the state agricultural association, in 1871
upon the invitation of the board of direC
tors. There were no indignation meetings
no bitter remonstrance from the soldiers il
gray, to heap insult on the old philosophe
and revive in him memories that would b
painful to bear. Yet, for long years h
waged bitter contest with the policy an
institutions Of the south, and the files Q
the Tribune contain the fiercest invective
leveled against her institutions and politi
cal leaders.
Horace Greeley had become to the sout
distasteful antagonist and Representative
of northern abolitionism and usurpatior
and his visit there made greater demand
upon their magDanimity and christian fol
bearance than the visit of the venerabl
ex-president would have made upon tn
clemency ofthe high. minded and victoIiou
north. Magnanimity becomes the con
queror revenge is the instinct of COW
ardice. Did the Grand Army Of the Re
public, at its last annual convention, invit
ing all ex-Confederate officers, leaders, an
soldiers, signify by their chiyalrous &C
tons that they endorsed the good work Q
reconciliation, or was this complimentar
honor hollow truce and a sham2 TIL
perpetuity of sectional strife and bitter
ness is paralysis upon the credit and in
dustries which constitute the vital force
of nation.
1t is one Of the highest prerogatives q
peace to restore amnesty to the vanquishe
and speedily as possible to reinstate ther
in fellowship and lend an assisting hand {
repair the devastations that war has made
This is especially true in circumstance
of internecine strife, where the valor
equal on both sides, and superiority @
numbers and resources only reap the lau
rels of victory. 1t is eminently proper fo
our industrial associations throughout tn
land to hold out the olive branch to all cit
liens of the Republic, and fulfil their higl
mission as conservators Of the nationa
unity and the national industry. Into wha
better hands could the swords Of our BRAY
soldiers be committed to have them forge,
into implements Of husbandry to reap th
golden harvest-f fields OF free and unrestrict
ed labor?
The south and north need only to know
each other better to ensure clearer under
standing, and bind their policies and des
TIMES in stronger ties of utilization and in
dustrial brotherhood. Thorough and IN
restricted intercourse among the entir
people of both sections, restoring the con
tidence and cementing the friendship b,
keeping out of sight all reminders of tn
late conflict, and an inviolable guarantee O
free speech and free transit to all Twin
beneath one flag without prescription O
danOar of insulf mill ,ooo.a:Io IN J:u.