The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-08-28
From the DDily N. Y. World 24th.
A SPEECH BY A. S, HEWITT
A SHORT APPENDIX TO HIS RE-
PLY TO KAsSoN.
An Address to Young Democrats on
the Various Questions of the Day.

Mr.. Abram s. Hewitt, whose telling
speech in reply to Congressman kasson,
of Iowa, is still fresh in the recollection OF
the public, last evening addressed the
Young Mems Democratic Union Club, No.
6 Union square. Mr. Malcolm Campbell,
Vice President of the club, presided, aud
after short addresses by Allan Mcdonald
and John w. Browning. Mr.. Hewitt
entered the room and was accorded a
hearty welcome He was at once intro
duced to the audience. He said that he
had not come for the purposesof making
set speech. but to have a family talk. lie
had passed through a very lab0rions
session of congress and had endeavored to
do his duty to his city, his state and his
country. The man who proposes to do his
duty in the house of representatives must
set Cp for himself high standard which
no man could hope to achieve, but which
they all should establish for themselves
The responsibility resting upon member
Of congress was so great and the conflicts
in the house were SO sudden that the
member who was not ready at the right
time 70 meet them was of little use to his
country and constituents. A true repre-
sentative in congress should be independent
Of outside influences. independent in his
pecuniary circumstances, and independent
Of his constituents when he had con
viction that his action on any certain
measure is in keeping with his duty, Any
constituency that has a representative who
does his duty should support him; they
owe il to themselves to do So Mr.. Hewitt
SAID that as the rules Of the house were
adopted TO hinder legislation a new
member in his first term could not be ex-
pected TO do much. Proctor Knott had
tried for four year to get the floor before
he made his maiden speech. He
had speech ready that he
wanted to deliver on the granting Of lands
to the Northern Pacific Railroad. and be
asked the speaker to recognize him, and the
answer was that there were too many OF
the list and he could not do it. Mr., Knot
then went to Congressman Kerr, and Mr.
Kerr said he had promise Z to get judy,
Holman, who had the floor. to give Mr.
Knott twenty minutes of bis time. Judg,
Holman, after speaking fifty minutes Of
his hour, gave Mr.. Knott ten minutes, anC
asked him as personal favor TO give five
minutes of the ten minutes to another man
friend Of Judge Holman. When Knott
time came he began to deliver his tamou,
Duluth speech, in which reference wa,
made to the city that sat by the shores Of
the ''unsalted seas" At the eud of FIVE
minutes the house demanded that Mr.
Knott should continue. and be continued
Knott spoke ten minutes more and by un
auimous consent he was then permitted e
20 on without limit. Mr.. Hewitt, after
this little historical recital. said that mar
could do anything in the house if be sue
ceeded in getting unanimous consent. AnC
now, said Mr.. Hewitt, let me say RICH
here that we can elect the next president
il we get unanimous consent Applause.
The unanimous consent we need is the
united vote of the Democrats voters OF THU
city. 1faDy man standsin the way of that un
tied vote ride him down politically. (Grea
applause.) ldon't care what his name is OF
what services he may have rendered to To,
party, il in this junction Of affairs he stand
in the way of complete union of the party
crush him, politically, blot his nam,
from the roll of honor, and let him neve
be heard of again. Applause Mr.
Hewitt said 10 regard to the Bland silve
bill! that it was an infamous bill, that j
would rob everybody who had an insur
ance policy or deposit in savings banl
of 20 per cent When the bill was Il
pOIbcu, mulOIly III COURTcSS was III IaVO
OF it, the spectators and gold gamblers q
Wall street, the mining ring Of the ives
tern coast aud the soft money men la
combined TO pass it. lie (Mr. Hewitt
knew il 1t passed the house it would pas
the senare, aud be signed by the president
He aud his friends made dilatory motion
TO defeat the bill and it came up ever
day for the last two weeks Of the session
Men came to me, said MIR. Hewitt, an
said every tine you try TO defeat this b
it casts Governor Tilde2 100000 votes
lie Mr.. uewltt) said, ii i. costs Cover
nor l'llden 100000 votes he knew h
would rather lose them than that Tia
mechanics, the servant girls and labor
ing mcu should be robbed of their earl
ings. (Applause.) The speaker had rt
ceived telegram from the president c
the Working Mems Union of this city
saying thut the working men desired til
passage of this bill The working men di
not know what that bill was; some specu
lators bad advised them TO demand il
passage. He (Mr. Hewitt) was worl
ing man himself and knew what III
working-men wanted, aud when they wei
wrong he had the courage to face the
and tell them so. aud try to put them q
the right track. (Apphuse) Mr.. Hev
lit then said that the danger of this 90,
eminent arose from representatives pa,
dering to the ignorance of their consti
usnS. In regard 10 the dsbsts whic