The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-25
An Admirable Address


On Monday evening, OF last week, there
was great jubilee meeting to rejoice over
the October elections, in Opera Hall,
Princeton, Bureau county, this state, pre-
sided over by Hon. John II. Bryant. who
opened the meeting with the following ad-
mirable speech:
FELLOW CITIZENS: Of my Re-
publican friends. and hope have still
some who belong to that party, will, per-
haps, be surprised to see me on this plat
form tonight, and will ask why |, who
lave been Republican of Republicans,
who was present at the birth of that party
and stood by il in its infancy and growth,
20 influence and power, have at last aban-
doned it, and stand to. night with its ene-
mics.
On taking this chair it may be proper
that | should give some reasons for assum-
ing such position: 10 presiding at this
meeting, do not understand me as tying
myself to the Democratic party, nor as
binding myself TO vote for its candidates
right or wrong. as | fear some do, or
against my convictions as to their compe-
tency, when compared with those on other
tickets. Technically, | am an Independ-
eut. Anti-monopoly Greenback man and
to act consistently on these questions /
should vote for Peter Cooper.
do now, and for good while have be-
lieved that the best good of the great
mass Of the people would be promoted by
the governments issuing all our paper
money directly from the United States
treasury. / believe that the retiring and
destruction of the greenbacks and forced
ia ha cd
policy OF the Republican party. will be fol
lowed by disastrous revulsions in our e
nances; will do great wrong to the debtor
class, and will needlessly Cypress every
man and woman who earu their bread by
the sweat of their brow, On this question
1 certainly am not Republican Neither
am | a Republican to endorse Grant anC
the insamies Of his administration, as tn,
Republican party in its conventions ha
uniformly done. Neither am | Repuli
cau to follow the lead of the corrupt incl
who manage the present campaign, and wh'
will manage Mr.. Hayes if they can cleo
him; the men who drove Sumner, Trum
bull, Greeley and the best men of the par
ty out Of it because they would not endors
its rascalities.
So far.as the Democratic party is com
mitted to a forced resumption OF speci
payments | am not a Democrat. But
am a Democrat tor reirenchment and re
form, for honest government, for peace anC
harmony between all sections Of the union
and for the protection of all in their per
sonal liberty and rights. To vote for Mr.
Cooper will avail nothing. He canno
obtain single electoral vote.
There being choice between Mr.. Til
u. It,. 81
two great parties Of the country, aud on
OF whom will be elected. | Feel that, as al
American citizen. am in duty bound t
make that choice, and my choice between
these two gentlemen Is Samuel j. Til
den. For, taking everything into account
more particularly the charac ers of th,
two men. their public acts, aud looking a
those who are likely to surround them
and influence more or less their adDini-
tration OF the government, | cannot bu
think that the choice is vastly in favor 0
Mr.. Tilden. But / do not support MI
Iilden because he is ID, mocrat supper
him as a ulaD. | shall not vote for hit
because he has been nominated by tn
Democratic, or any other party, but be
cause | have faith in his integrity an
ability, in the courage, sagacity, and dc
termination he has shown in fighting an
bringing 20 justice, rogues in public ofhc
and employment believe that that dc
termination will follow him into tn; presi
dental hair, and that his Administrative
will be illustrious, as one of refuIm, II
trenchment and honesty, tightening tn
burdens of taxation and bringing in a
era of economy aud consequent prosperity
But some say, because Mr.. Tilden is
New York city Politician he cansot b
trusted. But he has bee1 trusted, and b
his acts has proved that he is worthy {
being trusted. Single handed and alon
he broke up the Tammany ring. compose
mainly OF influential men of bis own party
and sent Tweed and his gang to prise
aud disgrace. For this reason the peopl
Of New York elected him governor by
majority 81 mrrc than fifty Thousand vote
over the uos' popular and unexception;
Republican 10 the state, who bad all III
Demoera;ic thiev's and sheir friends
help him
AS governor. Mr.. Tilden has broken U
and rooted out the canal ring, which, f
years, had been stealing from the people
the state more than twn million dollars
year. In addition to this, he has iu,r
duced economy and efficiency into 9
branches of the state government. aud h,
reduced the state taxes nearly one half.
These things are earnests of what v
may expect Of Mr.. Tilden, when he
transferred as he soon will be, to the chi
executive Office Of the nation, for the ne
pie are about 10 say TO him, Thou he