The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-24
Tuesday. October "A, 1916.
REFORM MEETING IN THE GER
3 NAN SETTLEMENT AT
BUFFALO PRAIRIE.
SPEECHES By o'MARA, WINTER
AND LUNDY.
Solid Sentiment for Tilaen and Reform


Reform meeting twas held at the German
school house in Buffalo Prairie. Although
the weather had been unfavorable and
the meeting had only been announced 10
the papers that arrived on the afternoon
of the same day that the meeting was to
be held, yet the hall was we'll filed. Mr..
Elliott acted as chairman.
Mr.. p. O'Mara, Democratic candidate
for states attorney, was introduced and
made a stirring address in favor of the
Naional Reform ticket he pointed out
the abuses Of the present administration, and
the extravaganza and corruption in public
expenses. He also showed that the
corrupt wire pullers Of the Republican
part defeated Bristow at the National Re-
publican convention because they feared
him as a reformer, while they felt safe in
nominating Hayes. The Democratic
party, on the other hand, had brought out
their best man. Tiden, on the ground that
the independent element, as shown by the
proceedings Of the New York Conference,
was in favor Of a reformer who had already
given practical proof of bis willingness and
ability to carry out reform. Ii was con-
ceded that ouly Bristow and Tilden,
among all the candidates in the field,
cane up to the requirement of the times
as pointed out by the New York Con
ference of Liberals. The speaker then
proved the statement made by Republican
stump-speakers regarding the payment of
the rebel debt or rebel claims in the case
of .Iilden's election as false and absurd
because the fourteenth amendment to the
constitution forbids it. He also showed
that the payments of so-called southern
damage claims, as allowed by the RepubIi-
can congress exceeded over 81 millions,
while those allowed BY the Democratic
house of representatives amounted to only
$4,000. He wound up by admonishing
all those who are in favor of better times,
lower taxes, and pure admins
miuistration and equal protection
for all citizens, to vote for Tilden and
Hendricks.
Mr.. c. Winter, editor of the Neue
VolkS- Zeitung, then was called upon to
speak. He said that all the war issues
had been solved; that the Republican
party, with the aid of the union Demo-
Gratis, had suppressed the rebellion, and
without the aid of the union Democrats a
successful termination Of the war would
not have been possible. Since 1872 the
national Democratic party had solemnly
adopted all the results of the war as en-
bodied in the amendments to the consti-
tuition.
The Republican party, however, had,
during the last eight years, become un-
true to its own principles. The admins
tration Of our national government had
become so corrupt that it was a by.
word and a reproach throughout the whole
world; corrupt leaders, such as Simon
Cameron, Blaine, Chandler and Morton
had taken the leadership and they simply
tried to keep the party organization up in
order to keep themselves in power and tc
enrich themselves and their friends at the
expense of the people. The best leaders
of the Republican party, such as Charles
Francis Adams, Lyman Trumbull, Gen
eral Sigel, Governor Palmer, and hun
dreds more of the same sort, had left tha
party because Of the corruption OF its ad
ministration, and it was clear that, under
Hayes, the same evils would continue
that are charged upon the present admin
istration. Many Republican papers hat
openly acknowledged, before the Cincinnati
convention, that Hayes was not the mai
to carry the needed Reforms, and tina
Bristow was their choice But after tn
nominations had been made, they nov
support the very man they then declared
incompetent to meet the requirement
OF the times.
The campaign cry of the Republica
wire pullers now is that it would b
dangerous to elect Tilden because tn
rebels would come to power. By this CT
the Republicans hope to kindle the oil
sectional passions. They declared that Re
form is necessary although the ordinar
expenses of the government - asid
from the amount for inter
terest on the public debt and fo
pensions-had been doubled, and sine
Grant came into mower the number c
office holders had been increased froI
54,207 in 1869 to l02. $50 in 1876, TIL
Republican party had promised reform
its platform of 1872 but it broke il
promises BY the Credit Mobilier swindl
the people we're saddled with
bonded bebt Of sc millions of dol
ars and the first mortgage clair
of the government on the Union Pacif
Railroad to secure its bonds, given by til
government, was set aside and changed il
to a worthless second mortgage CLAIM
This had been done by Republican col
gress. This was before 1872, but sine
then the corruption had become sti
greater. By the whisky frauds, in whic
officers Of the government cJnspired wit
distlllers to defraud the government, I'll
treasury had been cheated for years OF
Of about one quarter of the revenue thi
ought to have been collected. The India
department, the mail contracts under ii
system of straw bids, and almost ever
department.was corrupted. Laws that wei
intended to prevent frauds were disr
garded or used as cover for frauds. tt
standing committees of the last house
representatives had for the first tin
during the last sixteen years done the
duty in investigating the different depar
ments of the government according to a.
of congress. The frauds perpetrated |
Boss Shepard as commissioner of Il
District of Columb ia. the acquittal of Bell
nap. the connection Of Babcock with IL
whisky ring. we're only few instances
corruption in the administration. Al
yet the Republican national conventit
praised and endorsed the present admin
tration for its purity aud honestly Th
is pill too bitter for any Republican vote
to swallow who is capable of thinking ind
pendently. This shows that no refor
can be expected by again placing the r
publican party in power, hence many K
publicans have left their old rotten o
ganizatiop.
The Democratic party, By choosing suC
men as Tilden and Charles Francis Adam
as their leaders, aud by reducing the Q:
penses Of the national government $50
000,00O, through the action OF the Den
ocratic house had shown that they meal
reform. Governor Tldeu, in New Yor
had also shown H. Before he was elect,