The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-06-26

war Of the rebellion. You who have Known me
longest, who knew me ut the time OF the break
ing out Of the war know that ranked myself,
and indicated the position which assumed, AS r
War Democrat. Loud applause. You all know
that gave of my substance and my labor TO pro
mote the prosecution OF the war and to put down
that rebellion Gen. Hancock was but an Illus
iration OF what You may call a fighting Demo
crat Our Republican friends say that they put
down that rebellion: they point to the record oi
that war and say "see what we have done; we
saved the Union; we put down the rebellion; we
indicated the constitution" | ask you, my
friends, whether you he Democrat or Republican,
look about you and see where the soldiers came
from--frOm yoursown neighborhood and your
own precinct, who fought in that rebellion, VINO
flied up the ranks OF the army. IL is true the
Republicans had all the offices; the Republicans
had all the patronage Of the governments; the
Republicans had all the pecuniary benefits when
could result from it, but the Democrats walked
up and they shed their blood and bestowed their
substance without any hope OF reward, without
the expectation of office, but merely for the pur-
pose Of indicating their government ana its
constitution cloud applausel ana YET those on
the other side say "see what we have done; look
at the glorious record OF the republican party
as if theirs was the only blood shed in vlndica-
ton OF the government; rs If theirs was the on
~ money spent to sustain the government IN us
irving hour. And Gen. Hancock went into the
war and fought bravely and glorlousIy ana Vln-
dictated the character Of a Democrat ana an
American citizen and shall take unspcakaDle
pleasure in casting u vote for him should my NE
be so long spared as until November next
Great cheers.
1t is not an appropriate occasion when should
refer to the candidates the other side. This
is a meeting as understand it, called to express
our views and sentiments in reference to our own
candidates; therefore, you will not expect me TO
travel over the record on the other side.
! wish to say one word Of our state ticket, be-
cause have had no opportunity of expressing
my sentiments to my neighbors hitherto on that
subject No better ticket could have been nom.
mated than was nominated at Springfield. /
have Il right to speak of the head OF that ticket
Judge Trumbull. | sat upon the supreme
Bench with him during all the time he occupied
his seat. was intimate with HIM necessarily
daily in conference with him, and if there be any
place on earth where the true inwardness OF a
man is brought out and to full view of his assoc-
ates it is in the conference room | had an OPP
portunity of knowing what the man was; was
enabled to appreciate his integrity and talent
and tell YOU, gentlemen, that you may look the
world over and you will find no more worthy
candidate than Lyman Trumbu, who has been
proposed for the Office of governor OF Inc slate
of Illinois Loud cheers. I will not detain
you by speaking of other canddates-l merely
came here for the purpose Of vouching 10 you
the satisfaction which feel at the nominations
which have been presented both state AMI M
tiona for the support and sutlrages OF lhc Dem
ocratc party | told you that am not Dem0c'at
enough to vote for one of them If believed him
unworthy; turn me out Of the par II YOU
please have never asked for an oi''c. Al! The
interest | feel is in good goyernncu', beyond
that have no interest. cannot help hut say,
however that such does not seem to be me case
altogether on the part of Republicans. When
ever there is candidate mentioned on the Demo
cratic aide, it is said he is for an otce-for loaves
and fishes. Well, if am not mistaken, 1t is ~
years since the Republicans have enjoyed all
the offices within the gift of the pcoplc-eXecu
tive offices at least Well, believe, if have
not forgotten the law, that 20 years prescription
gives title TO land, and they think 20 years enjoy
ment of the party offices gives them an everlast
ing title to them, and whoever Undertakes TO de-
prive them of them commits felonious out
rage it is robbing them of their own rights;
that is the way they fel-it is a part OF poor,
weak human nature. II you had had colt in
your land for 20 years and brought itup, and 1t
had lived there all that time, you would have telt
that it belonged TO you by this time; and so 1t is
with the offices. They feel that they have had
them for 20 years and that it is robbery to take
them from them. merely mention this, not TO
censure my friends on the other side AT all but
il is mere phase of human nature. Probably
If the Democrats had held the offices for 20 years
they would have hated to give them up; that,
too, is a part of human nature. Still it is the
right of the American people when they choose
TO change their government, whether 1t be after
TO- 30, or 40 years. it is their privilege to do 1t;
40 man has title to any Office in this country,
especially by prescription because he has held 1t
good while.
to my mind when was reading the proceedings
OF the Chicago convention, when Mr.. flanagan
of Texas, got up and said: "Who says we
don't come here for office; that is what we all
came for; we came in the hope of getting office"
Now, would vote for that man, If would vote
for ANYBODY of that stripe, because he is an hon
est man,-he tells the truth. If | had been IN
the Chicago convention there would have been
four instead of three who refused when asked to
vote for the nominee of the convention, whether
it be Grant, Blaine, Sam Patch, or the devil-they
said il was possible that they could make nom
ination so mean that they would not vote for IT,
and Mr. Conkling moved that they be expelled
from the convention because they would not
pledge themselves to vote for the nominee, who
ever he might be. Ii had been there there
would have been four instead of three in that cat
egory.
Gentlemen, have detained you longer than
intended / came before you 10 merely state my
appreciation of the nominees, both state and ma.
tional and which we will have to vote for. Loud
applause.
After Mr.. Cation took his seat, Capt Cogswell
Cast Iron Bill"-was called out. He SAID he
was a greenbackor and had expected to vote for
Weaver, but the nomination took him by storm
and he would have to vote for Gen. Hancock.
Owing to the impeachment in his speech, hOwev-
er, he must be excused from attempting to talk
to them.
j. r. Shaver, Esq, was next called for. He
said he was no speaker and could not undertake
70 entertain them in that way. He could say,
however, that he greatly pleased not only
with the nominations just made at Cincinnati,
but also with our state nominations. He was es-
pecialy pleased with Judge Trumbull for Gov
ernor, as he knew him to be earnest friend of
our ship canal enlargement and the improve
ment of the great western water ways, while
Culloms interests we're on the side Of the rail
roads He spoke of the importance to the west
of its great water channels Of transportation,