The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-06
A DEMOCRATIC BooM.
THE M1LAr DzMocaArzo RALLY

534
The Democratic torchlight procession on
Saturday night was large and presented
q. line appearance coming up Second
avenue headed by Biehl's band. There
were ATS torches in line from Rock Island
and had torches been ready 800 more
could have been added TO the column.
The procession was orderly and marched
to the Mercer County r. r, depot, where
. special train was in waiting to carry the
clubs to Milan. where Democratic.meet-
ing was in progress. As the train moved
out Of the depot. the blaze of light pre-
scented . finesappearance. and while the
band and drum corps played and the men
cheered theconclusion was forced upon the
Republicans that the Democrats OF Rock
Island were not defunct-that they were
up aud doing, and that Hancock had hun
dreds of warm supporters in this city. ;.
The clabs met promptly at O'clock.
the Sunnyside club turning ont strong
and the Fifth Ward being in column in
great numbers. These clubs from below,
AIS strong marched up Second Avenue TO
Market Square, where the Third Ward
club. 100 strong headed by a drum
corps Joined the column. and
then there were others fell in without
torches, and the grand procession in all
over 500 strong marched up Second Ave-
nue to the depot and took tho cars as
already stated.
Arrived at Milan, the train was met by
the Milan Hancock club. 80 strong, who
escorted the Rock Island delegation TO the
"a ain street and then Q grand procession
was had. presenting . magnifcsnt appear
ance. With 1.-THE Milan club added and
those in line without torches. there were
nearly 600 men in line. It was q regular
Democratic boom, and along the route.
many places were illuminated in honor of
the event.
A stand had been erected aud around
this the clubs circled. swelling the crowd
already present. to fully 1000. which was
addressed by eminent speakers.
Geo. NJ. Dickson presided at the meet
log aud introduced ss the first speaker.
HON. NJ. v. CANNON, OF IOWA.
who was received With perfect furore of
applause. Mr.. Cannon is a very forcible
talksr and popular with :the masses. and
always makes q good impression. On this
occasion he was brilliantly eloquent and
provoked the applause frequently. some :
times it was thrice repeated, The speak
or lost no time in prefacing but went right
ut the subject, and handled the Republican
party without gloves. He referred to the
of the Republican leaders
aud cited Senator Kirkwood. of Iowa. as
q fitting example. Io this connection he
referred 70 the matter of men OF the south
holding Office under the government, ask
ing if Longstreet and Moseby were any less
as oficsholdsrs under Republic
can rule than other southern leaders would
be under Democratic rule, and if so-why :?
Or. If ex-rebels were unfit to hold Office
under Democratic rule. why were they
not equally unsafe under Republican rule,
Ii not, then why not?
Following this argument along Mr..
Cannon completely dissipated the theory
of the Republican leaders that the south
was disloysl. Mr. Cannon at times was
brilliant and used beautiful language.
evoking rounds of applause.
He referred to the Irish Republican
question and said-'The Republican party
has suddenly conceived a wonderful affsc-
ton for the Irish. Why. my friends. this
sudden INTEREST," Why are lrishmen
better now than they have always beeuf
Win my Republican friends answer
this? win tell you why tho Rspubli
can leaders are SO anxious about the Irish
1t is because they want their votes. They
have DO more genuine respect for an
freshman now than in 1860. or 1864 or at
any time since the party was forme ed but
they know that the colored voters a. the
south are voting by thousands for the
Democratic ticket, and they mu4t Offset
this. and so they sud ieniy conceive "a
wonderful liking for the Irish. Why. my
Irish friends. you have been hooIiams,
rag aud Dob tail, ignorant. according 10
Republica teachings. That's what the
Republicans called you, my Irish friends.
and why-because you voted the Democra~
tic ticket. Now they want your votes, and
of sudden you have become wonderfully
improved. No one ought to he deceived
by their shai!og pretenses, for they are
pretenses my friends, as everybody knows
the only true friend to the laboring man,
be he Irish, German. Swedish, or Of O
matter what nationality is the Democratic
party. The Democratic party has always
been consistent in this. l, has always
been the party By and for the whole -peo-
pie and not certain class.
] remember az incident which occurred
in 1876. The Republicans got up a big
train for Cincinnati. It was luxurioursly
furnished, and palace cars was the rule.
On the train a vote was taken and showed
IS for Hayes aed Is for Tilden. The Re-
publiaans arowed oyer this and asaid to a
Democrat this ought 10 convince you thst
the wealth and intelligence is on the side of
the Republican party. At q way station
the train stopped for water. and on the
platform was an Irishman who was en-
ployed as @ porter. To him one of the