The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-08-16
Last Nights Dispatches.
Democratic Rally at evansville

OeuoCTat1c AaAiy at 6Va0SVtlke.
| EVANSVILLE Aug. l4.-The Demo-
cratic campaign was formally opened to.
night with speeches by Senator Mcdonald,
Senator Jones of Florida and Congressman
Townshend of Illinois. Evans hall, the
largest public hall in the state, was filed.
The main speech of the evening was by
Senator Mcdonald. who began speaking
at 10 o'clock and ended at half past IL.
the opening speeches being by Senator
Jones and Congressman Towushend.
Senator Mcdonald reviewed the record of
the two parties. He said that at the close
of the war the Republican party was the
dominant party. controlling every North
state. By 1875 things had SO much chang.
ed that they came in with their president
by the slenderest majority possible and
and that obtained through fraud. And
now the party seeks to perpetuate its
control by claiming credit for the improved
condition of financial affairs. What act.
said he, did the Republicans do that they
should claim this honor2 In 1875 the cur
rency was contracted sixty million dollars.
Did that bring about the improved condi-
ton of affairs? The Democratic party
stopped this contraction of the currency,
and this and not any act of the Republican
party brought back prosperous times.
This work. he said. was assisted by the
energies and economy of the people. At
the time of the severest depression we
| found that we were Duying more from
| foreign countries than we were selling, and
the balance for the years between 1860 and
1866 was about twenty millions, A nation
is like an individual in matters OF economy.
The man who is careful to live within his
means and at the same time lay by little
more for rainy weather is sure to come
11h zG IL
SO with the United States In
1875 the tide turned in our favor. Since
then we have maintained our advantage,
and last year the balance was largely in
our favor. 1t was asserted that the res
monetization~ of silver would drive gold
out of the country. Instead of that $780,
900 600 of gold has been added. The
Republicans refer to this as John Shers
mans trump, and that the Republican
party through him is entitled to our thanks.
But the facts are that the people are
indebted to their own energies and such
LEGISLATION as the Democrats were able to
give them il ~~
He charged the Republican party with
seeking to create discord between sections
They are preaching the doctrine of hate
and while crying out against solid
South, are seeking with all their energies
IL
people are wrong in uniting politically. |
what excuse have the Republicans of the |
North for seeking TO do the thing?
The South simply solid against |
the Republican party. because i'll
regards that party as unfit
longer to rule. With that spirit we
Democrats Of the North agree. We are
all solid against the Republican, party. and
expect to continue to be SO during the |
rest of the days
He referred to levies BY the republicans
in power upon the employees of the govern
ment for currupt campaign services, |
charging that the levies made were out |
rageous and a great hardship upon those |
compelled TO submit. The money was
being used 10 close aud doubtful districts |
and corruptly, but the Republican party |
is versed in corrupt practice, The whole |
system of elections, supervisors aud re-
turning boards. SO fair on its face, was
an outrageous use of power for partisan |
purposes, and il is IN consequence of this |
that the party has remained so long in |
power. Under this system it matters not
how the people 75te, the result declared |
has always BEEN the same. Seeing the |
abuse of power conferred by the federal |
law of 1870, for the election of congress:
men. the Democratic party sought its re- 7
peal. but the president vetoed their action. |
Referring to the election of 1876 and the
uncertainty and troubles which followed, |
he said President Grant appointed repre- |
sentative men to so to disputed Southern |
States TO see that no fraud was practiced |
in the count, When these men arrived !
there they found that they had been pre- |
Blaine, Hale. etc. He referred particu-
larly to the Louisiana returning board |
which he denounced as grossly partisan
body bent upon counting Hayes in, not
withstanding the heavy majority against
him. Garfeld's chief responsibility in
this great wrong was in sitting in the
electoral commission and cond oning the
fraud, and he did it SO willingly that the
party nominated him in Chicago in recog
milton of this service, Comparing Garfield
and Hancock. he said the latter was q
statesman as well as soldier. and COM
manded his admiration. Hancock, he
said, went to Louisiana when all was
doubt, confusion and disorder, and gave
the people peace. He referred in warm
terms to the statesmanship displayed in
order No. 40.
The senator referred at length on the
subject of Importation of colored visitors
to Indiana and other border states for the
purpose or c0eaLleg tue Will OF the people.
but the better elements of the population
would not tolerate such an outrage and
Repubicau managers would discover their
mistake when that Indignation was able to |
express itself at The polls, He was glad
Indiana was an October state. and expec-
ted he Demoorats TO viz then with the |
state ticket aud .ncreaec the majority in
n vAuber.
Senators Mcdonald end Jones also |
spoke TO large audience at Mt. Vernon.
Ind. to day.
CASUALTIES. |