Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-08-18
WrNrERAao wiNDnAes.

Rockford Special to Chicago Tribune.
II was a strange thing to do-a bold
strike to make; but, for all that, 1t Is
but the outgNwth of the love our peo-
pie have for sansatiOn-somethiDg
startling. Looking at him as a kind
Of side show, or even main tent, for
the Fair, and one likely TO draw, ii. z.
Kimball extended the invitation to
jeff to come; JEFF cordially thanked
the Secretary and the Board, and ae-
cepted; and the Board, no doubt
imagining an infant gold mine had
been found, eargerlY rushed INTO
print and informed the world that
jeff Davis was coming right out here
to Rockford" But soon a wet cloth
was thrown upon their golden scheme
as it was Just about to blaze up and
astonish the world. The soldiers of
Winnebago county objected; the news
papers Of Winnebago county and Chi
cago either ridiculed the brilliant
idea" or boldly denounced 1t as an out
rage; the manufacturers of Wlnnebago
county met together and refused to
take part in the fair; the farmers openly
declared their intention Of "boltlng
the Fair; the mothers of Winnebago
county, who had sons at Andersonvllle,
refused assistance IN the ladies depart.
ment; young ladies, whose fathers and
brothers fell while fighting JEFF. Davis
and his myrmidons, refused to take
part in it; and, withal, the citizens at
large considered it both unbecoming
and indiscreet TO bring into their midst
a man who, ten years ago, would have
been shot down for the highest treason.
Special to the Chicago Times. /
Prominent among the leaders In this
opposition to the coming of Mr.. Davis
is the Rev. Benjamin FOltz, Rev. Mead
Holmes. the latter of whom has given
expression to much righteous indlg-
nation" and the postmaster Of this
city, who is terribly outspoken In his
indignation. Not having the military
record of any Of these gentlemen at
hand, / am unable to state how long
they were In the service help,
ing to put JEFF down. For the
time being, even the Beecher scandal
and the water works injunction aretO' =
gotten, and everybody discussing pro
and con. the coming of Jef Davis.
Public opinion is abort evenly divided
on the propriety of his coming; one
class insist it is an outrage and an IN
suit on the loyal citizens Of WinnebagO
county to have invited him, while the
others as vigorously declare it an IN
suit to protest against his coming in
the manner it has been done, and that
Winnebago county, having been true
and loyal county during the war, and
overwhelmingly republican, cannot
afford to stultify its former good record
by denying to any man who may be IN
vited by a society of its citizens to come
within its borders the right to be heard,
especially when he does not come upon
a political but purely social mission.
And so they have 1t, hammer and
tongs," Davis and anti-Davis, and
Kimball and anti Kimball for extend
ing the invitation. What yhe upshot
Of the matter will be ''no man can tell. !"
There is oCe thing sure, however, Rock
ford and Winnebago county and its
agricultural society are just now get
ting about the largest amount of free
advertising through the public prints
AL over the country thaC any city or
society has ever had.