The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-29
Tuesday. August 20, 1875.
Mercer County Correspondence.

Hamlet, August 2Sth, 1875.
To the Editors OF The Argus.
The Republican meeting announced for |
Saturday evening at this place through the
county organ, for the purpose of organic
ing a "Wheezanhaler" club, came of as
advertised, and more sckly affair in
point of nambers and lack of enthusiasm
could not we'll be organized. The weather
was delightful and the failure could not,
therefore, be attributed to the elements.
A band of martial music was present to
enliyen the occasion, but even that failed
TO draw the crowd. Two Of the candi-
dates from this county we're announced as
speakers, but they failed to put in an APP
pearauce. The failure, in every respect,
was marked aud significant
After the drum corps, under the lead
Of Tom" Lewis, had played several
stirring aud patriotic airs in front of Can
dor Brothers store, the faithful formed
in line behind the music and marched to
the hall. In the procession | counted
five musicians, with three Republican vot-
ers, aud about half dozen boys. Stand
ing about looking on at this magnificent
Republican demonstration, was quite
respectable crowd OF Democrats, attracted
by curiosity, that numbered fully three
voters to every one of the "Wheezanhaler"
kind. 1t was really pitable sight to wit
ness this once noble band of patriots max
ing every possible effort to keep up their
courage by encouraging each other with
cheering words relating to the perspective.
It was sad indeed, and my heart yearned
out toward this noble army of Office
holders aud office seekers, until | could
scarcely restrain the forbidden tear. Only
to think Of this once large army of noble
fellows, now depleted in numbers until
they can scarcely get together enough to
officer club meeting. And the blood
fairly bois in my veins when | think that
all Of this was brought about by Sammy"
Tiden aud those Reform fellows. What
business have these Tildenites going
around aud talking about retrenchment,
when ninety thousand Office holders must
have their bread and butterl Are we to
suffer this noble band, who done all the
fighting in the late war, these heroes, these
patriots, to be turned out of Office and
compelled to work for living? No sir
free Bob. | say, out Oh such base ingrati-
tude If those Democratic rebels don't
leave us alone-if they dare to interfere
with us in running the government and
dividing up the ofhccs-we will inaugurate
another war and exterminate every one
of them This government belongs to the
Republican party. George Washington
was Republican; Gen. Grant is Re.
publican, aud Belknap, and Babcock, and
Mcdonald, and Joyce, and all that noble
band are Republicans, and are we going to
submit to the dication Of these Democratic
reformers. No! neyerl
Well! finally the meeting was called t.
order and an effort made to organize o
club. BY dint OF much persuasion, thir
teen names were secured. As these thir
teen all wanted to be officers, and as there
were not enough offices to go around it wa,
thou ght best to have a postponement OIL
the meeting until later day, when it wa.
suggested that a speaker could be pro
cured, larger crowd brought together
and things might work more harmonious
~, Most OF those present were called
upon for speeches, but only one responded
and he excused himself on the grounC
that he had not come prepared to speechiiy
but would on some future occasion MAKE
them an intelligent speech-a speecl
that would astonish them and electrify thu
nation. And this ended the great lie
publican meeting. 1t was a c0mplet,
failure from beginning to end, and th
cause Of its being q failure is in the fac
that Republicanism in and about Hamle
is completely played out, The time ha
gone by when few ofhceholders can LEAF
the masses. Everybody is crying for
change. A change we will have in Noveu,
Der next.
L attended the "Greenback" meetin
last Monday evening at GiDgles' corners
The school house was comfortably file
with a quiet and undemonstrative audi5nc
who were attracted there to hear wha
these ''Greenbackers" had to say. o. /
Arthur was the only speaker, although j
f.. Harroun responded to a call for hi
name. Mr.. Arthur made a very mic
address, entirely free from partisan pol
tics, and it was listened to with much a
tentiOn. After the address an effort wa
made to organize club, but the audieuc
would not respond, and another meCtin
was announced for next Monday night.
never hear one Of these 'greenback
men make u speech but | am reminde
Of an incident that occurred in my reg
ment during the war, and which occasioDe
considerable announcement among the of
GERS at the tune. 1t was when the arm
OF the Potomac was being reorganlzed int
army corps. Gen. Stoneman was assigne
to the command of our corps, and he wa
making n ngid personal inspection {
every regiment in the command. Ou
regiment had lately been recruited VI
and the muster roll showed pretty larg
aggregate of men present for duty, Du
ing the day, detail for picket, composiu
about two-thirds of the regiment, was +,
sponded to, The remainder of the reg
ment was drawn up in parade order o
the regimental parade ground when Ger
Stoneman approached. He walked up [
the head Of the line where the colonel wa
standing, and taking from the colonel tn
muster roll, he glanced at the report, an
then he glanced along the line at the rel
iment. well Colonel" said he, ''yo
have Id big regiment" and then attt
quite pause, he addcd-''on paper.
Now, | think that our greenback adv,
Gates have big thing on paper, but whe
you come to figure it down to sometbiu
solid and tangible. it will appear about
small as it formerly appeared large Win
in the name of common sense they al
running about the country and organzi1
clubs for is more than eau fathom. The
certainly have right to do so, but viii
do they expect to accomplish
it? Not one of them, even ii
most enthusiastic has the remote,
idea OF ever carrying a single state
the union for their presidential canddat,
Old Peter Cooper is very uice Old gentl
man, now eighty six years Of aye, veT
benevolent aud al that but it is N
candid belief that both candidate an
nnrtv ,vill he dp,d aud h,,ried nra rho M,