The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-04
GREAT REFORM MEETING
IN mOLInEl
1000 Torches in Line !!
SPLENDID PROCESSION, FIRE
WORKS. ETC.
Out Door Speeches by Charles
Durham and Eric Johnson.
sWEDE SPEECH IN TIMM's HALL
From our Moline Correspondent.

few DAYS notice it was the most enthus
iastic and largely attended meeting of the
season and clearly demonstrates that the
peorle of Moline are fully alive to the is
sues of reform and are anxious fof a
change and better and more economical
administration of the government.
Att O'Clock the ilden Legion of Moline
began to assemble at their headquarters
ana long before the time set for commeec
ing the march, Co. A. at Timm Hal!
was 10 line headed by the Freja band and
in uniform. In the meantime Hampton
came pouring in with $50 voters and full
martial band and the enthusiasm of the
crowd knew no limit. 1t was one con
tinuous cheer and perfect iurore of en-
thusiasm. The Hampton boys we're as
signed place 10 the line and the march
commenced tor Freja Hall, where Capt.
Peter johnson with Co. B. of the Tilden
Legion was in readiness with l29 men and
hundreds unable to get torches The
widest enthusiasm prevailed as the COM
panies met. and continued undated for the
entire march.
The combined forces then marched up
Henry street to Lynde and thence to
Wells AID countermarched to the Rock
the arrival of the visitors from Rock ISL
and and Davenport. Soon II cars loaded
down with Tilden Guards arrived and then
there was such burst of enthusiasm as
sent terror to the Republicans within hear
ing. As the various delegations alIghted
and formed into line the cheering increased
and when the column, fully 1000 strong.
commenced the march to Main street the
crowd was wild with enthusiasm Headed
by Major Bufords company of old soldiers
from Rock Island the immense procession
moved on it's way and met at every corner
with cheers and shouts. The Moline LIE
gion followed, with the Freia baud discours
ing inspiring music, while Davenport
headed by the Natiooal Guard band fol-
lowed. Fireworks, colored lights. etc..
we're used at intervals along the line of
march and when the grand procession
reached the stand the triumph was com
plate.
The companies filed around the speak
ers' stand and amid loud cheering for
TiIden, Hendricks. Durham and Reform
the procession halted.
| Eugene Lewis, Esq, was called to the
chair and in few brief remarks intro
duced Hon. Eric johnson, of Galva, who
made a short speech 10 English reviewing
briefly the history of the Republican party
aud stating some solid truths. He claimed
that the country needed a change; that
corruption was SO prevalent in the ranks of
! the administration as to render 1t unsafe
to longer trust II; that the leaders of the
old Republican party we're in the ranks OF
the Democracy to day; whereas these
who, when Sumner, Trumbull, Adams
ard others were the shining lights of the
cid party, these men, these thieves and
corruptionists, men who. had the robbed
the government OF milhons-Morton, Rel
KNAPP, Babcock, Chandler, Blaine, and 9th
ers were the leaders of the Republican
to-day. The speaker continued u scath-
ingly review the present administration
and closed his relDarks with high tribute
to Hon. Chas. Durham and withdrew
amid wild cheering.
The Hon. Chas. Durham was next 10
PRODUCED and as he stepped forward was
greeted with loud applause. His speech
was one of the most mastery efforts ever
delivered in Moline, and showed him
to be fully posted on all the issues of the
day. He handled the Republican party
without gloves, and clearly demonstrated
] that there was necessity for a change
He then went into the financial issues o.
aud proved by undoubted authority thai
the present administration was responsible,
) for the present hard times; that had it no.
been for the vacillating course of Re
, publican senate, the credit of the govern
inent would have besn better abroad, oul
industries would have tbrived at home
and general prosperity have followed
The Democratic party was the party t
save the county from impending ruin
Tilden was great reformer and in his
opinion the triumph of the Democratic
party would mean better times, economy
in the government and general prosperity
!, Immense cheering) Mr.. Durham con
tinued to handle in an able argumentativ,
, manner all the issues of the day, and closed
> his remarks by making personal explain
r alton. He had been charged by the Chi
cage Tribune with being a member of tn,
Sons of Liberty" he wanted it under
stood distinctly that he had been; said h,
, attended one meeting only, and, that a;
far as he knew there was not breath O
5 disloyalty, not word of disunionism il
E any manner shape or form uttered b,
I that order. The Sons of Liberty. continued
: Mr.. Durham, as far as be had an,
knowledge of them, were just as loyal a
the Union League. or the Grand Army o
the Republic, After few further re
marks he closed his speech.
O Then came tremendous cheers for Til
! den, Hendricks and Durham.
SwEDE MEETING IN IIMMS HALL.
, 10 the meantime a meeting of Swede
had been organized at Timm hall an,
the place filled to listen to an address il
t the Swedish language by Hon. Fri
: johnson. The speech was enthusiasticall
;. received aud many converts were mad
to the cause of Tllden aud Reform. TIL
., speaker was interrupted at one time b
u a political parasite, named Rasmussen
d who called johnson liar. He was i'm
A mediately hustled out and none too 500
either. Mr. johnson took advantage {
y the affair and made some telling hits. Ii
was frequently Interrupted with applaus
and after speaking for one hour and fort
n minutes closed his remarks with hg
tribute to Tllden as a reformer, and
ie strong appeal to vote for change. A
&c the conclusion three rousing cheers wei
ID given for the speaker and for Filden, HeDC
,e ricks, Durham aud reform.
lei The delegations from Rock Island an
- Davenport fell 10 and marched to the d,
pot escorted by the National Guard ban
and cheering all the way. The trai
:, whisted long aud continually aud when
10 moved off with its army OF Retormers II
D. air was fillel with the widest shouts f,
the whole ticket
es Altogether the affair was grand SUI
le cess and eclipsed anything OF its kind ev
IS held 10 Moline. The utmost good ord
he prevailed and when the meeting ende
vs. even Republicans were compelled to adm