The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-05


leave. Even their survivor was not in its
appropriate place, but had jumped several
inches upwards, taking refuge in the place
once occupied by departed button, lifting
in its course one side of the garment much
higher than the other, where it remained
strangely out of place, exposing his neither
clothing to full view. 1t was difficult to
discern the precise color of his pants, though
they had some resemblance to his coat.
The legs, warped and shrunk to the shape
Of his knees, had lost their original form.
An unlucky rip at the bottom of one of
them, extended above the ankle, while
the hem of the other, partly torn off, went
dragging after him as he walked, occas-
ionally hitching to some object, then sud-
denly loosening itself, darted at his heel
like an iil-natured cur in full pursuit.
Such was the appearance OF the man
who responded to the call of the Demo
Gratis. Nothing could exceed the aston
ishment of Barnard, when with dig
ni6ed bearing, the Allegany orator walk
ed forward and stepped upon the
platform. The contrast between him
and the we'll dressed, aristocratic persons
around him was striking and ludicrous
Many disdainful look, many half-con-
cealed sneer plainly indicated that not
withstsnding the popular call which sent
him there, he was not quite welcome. At
this time Barnard was unacquainted with
Grover. When he saw that he was to be
answered by person so dilapidated in
appearance he could not conceal his disgust
and springing from his seat, which he had
taken on closing his speech he said
Mr.. Chairman, when | invited dis
cussion here to-day meant all that L said
| But | supposed, if | was answered at all, it
would be by a person who has some claim
to the character and position of a gentleman.
Do my Democratic friends here propose to
impose upon me?"
During these remarks Grover, calm, self
possessed, in the consciousness Of his intel
lectual strength, stood before the audience.
| When the speaker closed stepping to the
| front of the rostrum he said:
MIR. Chairman. and gentlemen, the dis
tinguished gentleman who has addressed
you objects to me because, he says,
| (probably with much truth that am not
gentleman, Doubtless the present
condition of my wardrobe is not suited to
his taste. In this, too, perhaps, he is right.
Suppose, before coming here,
| SnOulO nave UODe Wudl IICHdi
Third, in one Of his emergencies,
threatened to do, consulted in close
circumspection with my looking glass, and
employed score or two of tailors. l feel,
sir. that there is wide difference between
the very graceful speaker to whom you
have listened, and myself, He is the re-
preventative Of an aristocratic party-or at
least that great branch OF the Wing party,
its aristocracy. He is, as you See, the
classic scholar-the pleasing speaker, the
nicely dressed, we'll bred, heightened gentle
man. one whom Chesterfield himself would
admire, and who would lose nothing when
contrasted with the Incompatible Brumell
He comes from city renowned for the
polish, grace, intelligence and wealth Of
its citizens. While l. sir, come from
Allegany, land of rocks and hills
shodowed by an unbroken forest,-a land
of leeks and maple sugar, where
the people, though poor, are
honest, intelligent, industrious, hospitable
and generous according to their means
worshipping God in the beauty OF an un
selfish heartfelt devotion, in humility anC
sincerity-where the pine, the hemlock, anC
the oak, towering in their majesty, rival, il
some sense, the splendid cathedral, with it:
long drawn aisles and fretted vaults il
which my friend here-I beg pardon fol
that undue familiarity-the distinguished
speaker, worships. [ donot pretend to b,
a gentleman in the fashionable sense of tn
word, though | have much ambition to D.
one in action. But | am proud to say, Mr.
Chairman, that | am a Democrat of tn
! Jetiersonian school, as eXpounded b.
! Silas Wright, that grand apostle of tn
l Democratic faith, against which the gate
! Of Whiggery will never prevail.
confess | am little out of my latitud
here to-day. among the weltdressed sovei
; eigns OF Livingston county. Like OthellC
: perhaps, | am rude in speech, aud like ar
= other of Shakespeare 5 characters, so rude
y attired that the distinguished gentlema
to whom you have listened objects to IN
addressing you, therefore | will thank ID
q friends for the honor they have done me
: and retire. But calls for 'Grovel
Grover Grover! Go on! Go on" went u
z in deafening intensity from all parts of til
!, audience. When silence was restored, h
continued: "Well. gentlemen, since it
{ my political faith to obey the voio
d attention for brief period. Silver an
ROlu, Ill du lultlleCGudl SeuSe, nave
c none, but such as | have, give
unto you" He then proceeded to answe
u the argument of Barnard. Without a
! tempting to relate any portion of Grover
D admirable speech, suffice it to say, it W;
:, the great Democratic speech of the can
O paign in Western New York Reple
a with emphasis, full of thought an
,, originality-it was pleasing in diction al
y brought to the comprehension of the hun
u blest intellect. He leaped uimbly fro
point to point-from common place
= something better, deeper, more emphat
d and original, always with a distinct al
characteristic meaning in the end-a haw
e like swiftness of thought-and kecnne
q of comparison founded on his perfe
knowledge of political history.
l. 1t was triumph for the Democrat
j i They came there dispirited-t they left jul
q liant and confident. 1t was hardly possib
D to determine which was most excessive.t Il
e deDression of the Wbips or the exultati(