The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-02-14
Last NIGHTS Dispatches.
POLITICAL.
Bescher on Grant-Washburne not Cam
didate.
POLITICAL.

New York, Feb. I3.-The Lincoln
Club, one of the strongest Repu blicau
organic atoms in this city, celebrated its
ninth anniversary last evening. The
event of the evening proved to be stroug
third term speech by Henry Ward Beech
er. He spoke first of the recuperative
process which followed the war, and said
it was not in the power of any man that
ever lived to have guided this country to
prosperity In shorter period than has
elapsed since the Inauguration Of General
Grant. So remarkablesa recovery afterswar
has been not-recorded in thelnational life of
any country. We have in that short
period rapidly progressed toward mortal
ity, sound industry. and wholesome finance.
That we have come so far back again and
so far recovered ourselves is not due sim
ply to the good sense of the people them
selves, but to the essential wisdom of the
great statesman who then led US, and
whose name must necessarily have been
held In honor by any gentleman who would
unite themselves with the Lincoln Club.
It is alleged that Gen. Grant had about
HIM men not SO wise or so good as he him.
self. L only wonder that there were not
more OF them. This state of affairs was
produced by the war, By the bloating of
the whole country, and the rot and cor
ruption that had entered the whole COM
munity was such that | marvel that he,
with his integrity and strong practical
sense, was able to do as well as he did.
he was able to come out from eight years
of experimental administration without
spot on bis personal integrity, with a re-
cord in which there are no mistakes and
no stitches let down. From the time of
his inauguration the affairs of this nation
were steadily creeping back to a sound
foundation. and to speak OF that part of
his record is as great compliment as can
be paid to any man.
the prosperity of the country, Mr.. Beecher
said;
Much has been done to further this
prosperity, and we stand now on the eve of
one step further. Allow me to say, in the
first place. that il l could have my own
way | would vote for Gen. Grant to come
back. should vote for him partly be-
cause | wish to bear testimony against
heresy concerning third term. | refuse
to allow any political faction to take away
from me the right to call again to Office
that officer who has fulfilled the functions
of his Office to the satisfaction of the maj
orIty of his countrymen, because L believe
that have the right to ask that he should
try again. / don't believe In going TO the
election handicapped. If a horse has won
his race he ought not to be so overweighed
that he has no chance to run against other
competitors | should select him not
merely as testimony of my objections to
the heresy mentioned, but also as pro
test in behalf Of the right of tho people to
choose the man they want. What we
want In our government is stability and
+ 10 nf hot
our present President holds Office only
four years. and it occasions unnecessary
distur bance 10 our affairs throughout the
whole country. And yet to hape an officer
elected for life would be going to the other
extreme. The best thing, therefore, is to
re-elect the man found competent for the
office, and who com mands ths respect aud
confidence of our citizens
CHICAGO, Feb 3-The Inter Ocean
has the following double loaded editorial:
The persistent efforts of certain journals
hostile to Grant in trying to make people
believe that the Hon. E, B Washburne is
a candidate for the Presidency has become
annoying to that gentleman and he author
izas the Inter Ocean to announce that be is
not, and under no circumstances will he
be. such a candidate. He is for Grant
first. las: and all the time. He iurtht
says that the friend who wrote to th 8
paper the other day that he was a candi-
date Tor Governor of Illinois was mere
zcalous than wise