The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-10-23
CULLONI AT QUINCY.

The following is the speech Of Governor
Cullom at the river convention at Quincy;
GENTLEMEN or THE CoyvENTIoY-To
those of you who are citizens Of other COM
monweallhs It gives me pleasure as the
representative of the hospitable people Of
| Illinois 10 extend o cordial welcome TO our
state. The latch strings Of the doors Of
Illinois are always out, and the coming
guests are never met with other than kindly
greetings. Around our board may be seen
faces of men from every state in the union
and every nation Of the earth. The people
of Illinois are particular anxious TO cultivate
friendly relations with the people Of the
states that lie upon the banks Of the great
river that flows hence TO the guilt. We are
anxious to make the business friendship Of
the present ripen into political and social
friendship that shall put aside
the memories of the past, and
unite US all in paramount love Of the
republic, giving absolute assurance that the
waters of the river we have me,
together here 10 talk about, viii
in the future always Aow TO the sea unyexei
by the noises of fra;ricidal strife, or even by
the stormy passions Of sectional coaroyer-
sizes.
Conventions of this kind cannot, It is
well understood, give vitality to their de-
examinations by enacting them i2to laws.
They can do nothing but create discussion,
and by moral influences wisely directed
combine in concerted movement the people
represented in their membership, and thus
mould public opinion TO their wishes. In
this way they can accomplish great results,
for public opinion is at last the lever by
which the world is moved. Il is the mas
Ter OF monarchs, and in a republic where
is voice may have utterance II is all power
ful. Ii gives meaning TO constitutions, and
construes LAWS. It sets sQuadrons in the
field. Il can unlock the purse OF the ma
ton in response TO demands such as you
propose to make, or close it against the
most powerful social interests.
The Mississippi river needs rs kind
Offices and you are here to solicit It's
friendship in behalf of that mighty stream.
Lately an exclamation Of alarm has been
heard in England America is crowlins
not only the English artisan, but also the
English farmer from his place. The pro.
duets ofthe fields of the Mississippi valley
transported over railroads and ocean, thous.
ands Of miles, are demanded in England.
and laid down in that market at prices that
alarm the land owners in that kingdom
They have begun to say that competition
with America is impossible, and their states.
men in vain are attempting to encourage
them and dispel their forebodings. "Thc
taxation in America is so high, the rates of
wages are SO high, that it is impossible &C.
cording to some of the best American au
thorities," said Lord Beaconsfield lately
"that the United States can long continu,
to compete with Canada" ! have no con
fdence in the infalibility of the American
authority upon which Lord Beaconsfelc
} based his assertion, and have little doub
: that we shall continue to get TO the markets
OF the world with cheaper grain than Cana
da can raise and ship. Our farmers hay,
no great reason to complain of high taxa
ton, and the higher wages paid in tn,
United States, are more than counterbal
anced by the rigorS Of the climate Of Can
ada, We have, as one of Lord Beacous
helds countrymen has said mud and sui
y enough in the Mississippi valley to rails,
c grain enough for the world, and if we ar,