The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-10-21
LOCAL POLITICS.
congress.


LOCAL POLITICS.
Our local precinct statesmen have appar-
emily taken to the rural districts, and city
politics during tle past week have been un-
usually dull.
On Saturday evening the republicans had
OUT their infant torchbearers, in honor of Gen.
t. N Bates, of Springfield, who made speech
10 moderate audience at Turner Hall.-Mr-
B., by an ingenious manipulation and perver'
sion OF figures, something after the manner
ia which the gambler handles the "little ]ok.-
er" under the three cups undertook to show
that the last congress, although they had cut
down appropriations $30,OOO0OO, had really
saved no money. And this surprising demon
straton was supplemented by the astonish-
ing statement that the object CT the democrats
in cutting down appropriations was to have
all the more money next year to pay rebel
claims with.
Mr. Bates can pass
On Tuesday evening the democratic torch
beares to the number Of about 200, accom-
panied by drum and fife and couple of brass
JULIUS, uluICucu ONCI W toOulll olthWu W at
tend democratic meeting in the public
square of that suburb. The meeting was well
attended, and able speeches were made by Z.
J. Wall, democratic candidate tor states at
torney and by L. W. Brewer and j. F. Thomp-
son, Esqrs. We have space tor but a very
briet reference to what the speakers said. One
strong point made by Mr.. Wall, (who proved
to be an Unexpectedly able and attractive
speaker,) was in reference to the republican
hulabaloo about rebel claims. He said there
might be danger of these claims being allow
ed to an alarming extent, but the danger arose
wholly from that of having a republican
president and majority IN congress- 1t was
republican congress that had been bought up
by the great Pacific railroad and Credit Mo-
bilIer swindles that had been bought up by
Wall street to pass the infamous act of 1869
to pay the $50 bonds IN specie, and had pass
ed the swindllng act Of 1878 demonetIzng sill
yer. Such congress could doubtless be also
bribed to pass a horde of fraudulent southern
war claims, bought up by your Boss Shop
herds, Babcocks, Murphys, Leets and Stock
lngs at five cents on the dollar. The only
safeguard against such swindle was to elect
an honest man like Tllden president backed
by an honest democratic congress.
Mr. Brewers strong point was directed to
the Germans, and referred to naturalization.
The republicans, he said, pretended to be the
friends of the Germans, yet in 1869 they had
made treaty with the North German Con-
federation, Denmark, Sweden, &c, by which
any German naturalized citizen of the U. S.,
returning to his native country and remain
ing there over two years. lost his citizenship,
no matter whether detained unwilllngly by
sickness or other misfortune. But it was not
so with natives of other foreign countries. The
IrishmaD, Englishman, Scotchman, French
man, &c. naturalzed in this country and re-
turning to his native land, can remain there
as long as he pleases and don't lose his citl-
zenship here. Why this distinction? The
explanation was simple. The former treaty
had been made by republicans and dictated
by their narrow prejudice against foreigners;
while the latter had been made by democratic
administrations.
Mr.. Thompson referred to the stereotyped
lie that all the soldiers Of the late war were
republicans. He said, while looking on the
$4,000 veterans IN the recent democratic pro-
cession at indianapolis, it seemed to him that
a bolt ought to descend from heaven and
strike the utterer of that infamous falsehood!
The meeting closed with rousing cheers for
the speakers, Tilden, Hendricks and Reform.
On Thursday evening Turner Hall was
again opened for republican speech by
Hon. Frank Corwin. Our reporter being.
around the place until after soclock, butse
ing so exceedingly thin an attendance, Ohe
evening being rainy,) supposed there would
be no speaking, and came away We learn,
however, that Mr.. Corwin did recite his little
speech to empty benches, and the meeting
will doubtless be blazoned in the Pee Wee as
a magnificent republican demonstration
Col. W. L. Gibson, democratic candidate
for recorder Oh this county, having visited
La Sale recently, the Democrat speaks of him
&c fpllowS.