The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-09
THE cULLoM MEETING.
Rather a Slim Affair---The Outdoor
Meeting a Ludicrous Fizzle.

Rather Slim Affair---The Outdoor
Meeting Ludicrous Fizzle.
For some weeks the Republicans have
been preparing for grand and imposing
meeting here, in honor of Hon. Shelby NJ.
Cullom, their candidate for governor, and
Hon. T. J. Henderson, their candidate for
congress. They had advertised it extern
sively and expected general attendance
from Moline, Hampton, Milan and the
surrounding towns, and engaged extra
trains Of cars to bring 10 the people from
the country towns, But the meeting was
dismal affair, less than 800 torches-oniy
274 by actual count of several persons
were in the procession, and the at
tendance was not enough to overcrowd
Darts Hall, the gallery not being filed in
the back part.
Speeches we're made by Mr.. Culom and
| by Gen. Henderson. of the usual charac-
ter-mostly about war between the
states which occurred and was ended
eleven years ago! This and other subjects
long since dead and passed away, aud not
pertinent to the present day, were the
topics-and the effort seemed to be to
withdraw the attention of the people from
the waste, extravaganza, corruption, and
the incompetent and dishonest administra-
ton of public affairs during the past eight
years, and which is still prevalent where
ever the Republicans are in power. MIR.
Cullom did not find it agreeable to al!ude
to the charges against him, as set forth in
an article in this paper of the previous
day, regarding his connection with the
whisky ring, etc., etc, And the enthusl-
asm was only such as the Office holders
and paid claquers can ralse-very thin.
/ A very amusing, even ludicrous part of
the affair was the attempt to hold an out
door meeting. They had calculated 90
a big crowd-whicl didn't come-and had
engaged Capt Brearley, one of their
great guns from Washington, advertised
as special assistant attorney general OF
the United States" to address the thous,
ands expected to assemble 10 the open
4 air After great deal of pounding of
sheepskin and bio wing of brass horns,
the assistant postmaster, (Haverstickl
who appeared to be chief manager, rush
ed upon the platform iu the hall, where
were seated Messrs. Cullom, Henderson,
Brearley, and several citizens, and in-
vited Brearley to go out and address
those outside. Capt B. said he could
hardly think there were many people out
side who wished to hear speaking, for the
treason that there seemed to be still room
in the hall for moro, and as long as there
was room it would not be right to try to
call people away from Messrs. Cullom
!, and Henderson. But the assistant post
master assured him that there were many
} hundreds outside, and that he would have
: the band out there, and plenty Of torches
J to light up the meeting. Mr.. Cullom adj
vised Bearley, if that was the case,
to go, and he did go. Tae band wen. over
on Zeis's corner and the members played
, with all their might The torches were
not there. Then Harvelstick climbed up
on dry goods box and announced that
) General Brearley would address the udsl
assembly, etc., etc, and slid down FROM
he box. Capt. B. is a very tall man, over
feet. and he mounted the box and began
by saying that he was most too young ro
be general, but he would try and enter,
tain them for short time, just then
the rotten box gave way and his legs went
down through it and be fell over among
the crowd of hoodlums 10 front, creating a
great laugh Another box was procured
a1d Brearley tried it again, bat he SOON
! saw that his audience consisted only oil
the baud, and few boys who were max
ing fun of him and hurrahing for Tilden
and be cut the business short at once
but vented his just wrath on the idotie
management which enticed him to address
meeting ut doors VIXEN there were nc
people to hear, and when there was room
enough in the hall for all who desired tc
j listen to speeches. He can make a good
speech. and it was an imposition upon
him to place him in such an awkward,
yes, ludicrous position