The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-06-01

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ty."
For the favorable notice which you have
seen proper to make of myself, please ac-
cept my thanks. Coming from political
opponent, il is peculiarly acceptable as a
recognition of some honest efforts against
our great national sin, put forth In my
youthful days.
Time, which makes all things even"
not only brings people OF all classes, at
least in the north, to recognize the SER
vices Of the abolitioRists of 80 years ago,
but it brings the old abolitionists to see,
more plainly, as they look back through
the dark years of bloody war, and the
years almost equally dark of vice and inn
morality which have followed; what diff
culties lay in the way of emancipation;
and they do not 80 much wonder that the
Wings and Democrats of that day dreaded
to encounter them.
To-day | received your supplementary
article. and am especially thankful for the
publication of the prospectus of the Lib
erty Banner. | read it with a glow of
pardonable pride, not feeling sure that
had improved much in my style of writing,
during the 80 years which have inter
vened.
1 L
fury in journalism, in that locality, has
sketches. The only wonder is, that you
could have the patience and perseverance
to wade through the mass of materials
necessary to be used. For having done
so, we all owe you debt of gratitude.
Vandeyer, Crist, DR.. Gatchell, Rey-
fnolds, Wharton, Frank Bennett, Randall,
Bracket, Fred Nichols, as well as large
number of citizens mentioned in your ar
ticles, Powers, Buford, DR.. Gregg, Judge
Brown Ia full citizen during court
weeks, j. B. Wells, Drury, Chopper,
Conway, young 10 and his father Lemuel
Andrews, Moore, the merchant, VIM. Il.
Lee, Frizzell, Bentley. Vandruff, Cham
berlin, Wilkinson. Frazer Wilson, Q. X.
Smith, Nath1 Belcher, Lucius Wells,
Lynde, Harrison Borgess., Capt. T. Cook,
James Copp, Bell, the two Kinneys lone
Of them was an abOlitiOnist) B. +. Bar
rett, Vim. T. Brashar. DR.. Hadsell, Z,
Kalbaugh, Bulley, painter, Sailor, Dan
Stephens, Hubbard Moore, j. NJ. Bellows,
(Jiml, John Thompson. the cooper, Geo.
Mixter, Atkinson, Jonah H. Case and John
W. Spencer, D. B. Sears. NJ. Stem, Miss
Hunt, afterward Mrs. Barrett, Joseph
Johnston, VIM, Bailey, Bailey Davenport,
VI. B. Osborn, I, B, Gorton, Charley
Yates, Justice Ferguson, Norris, W. T.,
and Jake" VI. s, Herrick, S. S. Guyer
Joseph Knox, John Wilson, Jacob Starr,
Isaac Negus, Fl. A. Portor, DR.. Buckley,
Biddison, all these were my acquaint-
ances, and nearly all my personal friends.
Also many not mentioned by you, Gutter.
Q. II. Case, Whitaker, Bean, Peasants.
Miss Julia johnson, Joseph Comet, Dr.
Plummer, the other Brackets, &c, &C.,
Each name brings back some recollection
of those eight years in the far distant past.
which L spent in that beautiful valley
years of struggle and of toll, aud yet of
many pleasant memories
1t would be curious illustration Of the
tendency. in our day, to congregate in
large cities, 10 ascertain how many of these
had removed to Chicago. At a glance.
recognize Bracket, Drury, Lee, Wilkin
son, Knox, Mrs Barrett, Herrick
and Porter, and no doubt there are Others
If these and those gone to other places
and to the unknown land, should be de
Quoted, fear there would not be manJ
left
In your biographies, was gratiied t.
find, traced out, the whereabouts of Frank
Bennett and other old friends whom had
lost sight Of If Frank should chance &c
see this he may know what l mean whe1
| say Bring out the Melodies" IF be
should do so, he will find, among other
beautiful lines of the Irish poet, the fol
lowing:
Let fate do her worst, there are relics of Joy,
Bright dreams Of the past, which she cannot de
strOy.
Long be my heart, with such memories filed.
And again
"As travellers oft look back at eve,
| When eastward darkly going,
| To gaze upon that light they leave
Still faint behind them glowing.
| So when the close of pleasures day
, To gloom hath near consigned us,
We turn to catch one fading ray
/ OF Joy that's lett behind u.s.
Through your paper | address thes,
E lines to those in Rock Island and vicinity
Respectfully, your friend.
G. B, WAITE.