The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-08-14
POLITICAL.
iMPROMPTU.
Spirited Democratic Rally and Rousing
Speeches.
)utragcS

During the day on Wednesday it became
known that several eminent democratic law
yers from Peoria were in the city, including
the Hon Lawrence Harmon, the democratic
candidate for attorney general on the state
ticket, as well as the Hon. w. w. 'Bricn, OF
Chicago all brought here in connection with
an important haJeas corpus case to be argued
before Judge Stipp, and that they would be
detained until next day. The opportunity was
TOO good to be lost and the managers of our
Democratic Club at once put themselves in
communication with them and got their CON
sent to attend a Democratic Rally IN the eve
ming and make speeches. 1t was late IN the
afternoon before the arrangement was com
pleted; but posters were got out, boys started
through the streets with plaCards, and in the
evening Bach's Band was engaged to draw a
crowd to the court house square by its attract
I've music. In this way, by 8 O'Clock, a suf-
fclent audience was assembled to ill the south
half Of the square, and it is needless to add
that the audience not only remained unbroken
to the end Of the last speech, but was chock
full" of enthusiasm. Each speaker was in
uoduccd IN turn by L. W. Brewer, Esq, Char
man of the County Central Committee, in a
few appropriate remarks. The first speaker
was
Hon. ". W. O'BRIEN, OF CHICAGO.
He sad he was suffering with an infirmIty
OF the eyes and as his physician forbade all
,,;, lt-t ,ll- H., .,nt
other time he would give the democrats of OF
tawa a good, long talk. He took pleasure
however, IN congratulatng the democrats on
the bright prospect before them. After 20
years exclusion from power, four years by
fraud, we are to be led by the Cincinnati noml-
nees out Of Egypt into the land of milk and
honey 1t is in the political rs in the physi-
cal world. Last year was noted for great earth
quakes and physical upheavas and commo-
tons. Next fall would show us great polti-
cal earthquake.-IIe understood an emssary
had recently been here of the so.called IRISH
Republican Club" of Chicago. There was no
such club in existence A few office holders
and office seekerS-not over half dozen in
number-caled themselves such, but as Il club
they were fraud and after November not one
of them would be left.
The next speaker introduced was the
Hon LAWRENCE HARMON.
He commenced by saying 1t was the demo
cratic idea that governments were Instituted
rs an agency Of the people, to act tor their
benefit IN affairs of general conccrnment but
in state, county, city and school district affairs
to leave the power as largely as possible di-
rectly IN the hands of the people. The repub-
licans have been IN power 20 years. How
have they come up to this idea? Their con.
,An I, tn OF nVth IA
of those in Office and to neglect the interests of
the people What had they done since 1873
to relieve the business distress OF the country!
Nothing-untll providence gave us success
sion of good crops and brought relief, and now
the republicans have the impudence to claim
the credit! They say they are in consequence
sure to elect their ticket. -Four years ago the
crops we're bad, business poor and the people
dissatisfied, so they were nearly defeated; but
now the Almighty had brought good times
and the party would get the credit! 1t was in
government as in business affairs. If men
want any work done well they employ the best
skill. When, four years ago, the democrats
got possession of the lower house OF congress,
they found the estimates of the republican de
partment officers laid before them on the old
republican scale OF expenditure. The demo-
Gratis cut down $50 900 900 year. In the last two
wears, with a democratic senate and house, the
democrats have cut down the expenditures
$40 100000 year. In four years they have
therefore saved $l4O,OOOOOO to the people that
n republican congress would have wasted. Yet
John Sherman admits that the appropriations
have been abundant for an efficient admins
tration of the government and for the pros
perity which this economy has brought he has
the cheek to CLAIM credit for the republican,
party! If the democrats can institute such
savings and reforms clogged by republican
executive what can't they do with democrat
&c president, Then If the people want this re-
form to conunue-if they want the work of
government done by the best sklll-they must
elect the noblest and best man that ever drew
a sword IN defense of liberty-the hero of Get
tysburg-Winfield Scott Hancock. He Is not
mere military man-one who, like De I'ro-
BRAND and Ruger would use the military to
crush the civil power-but a true statesman,
| as his noble letters to Gov. Pease and Gen.
Sherman proved. Had the wisdom shown in
the latter been acted upon by congress, the
democrats never would have been cheated by
| the electoral commission fraud. Man in au-
dience: They'll never fool Hancock that
way."l NV friend, your heads level; they
certainly won't And now serve notice on the
republican party, that after we have elected
i Hancock next November, we intend to inaug-
lura,e him. The greatest fraud ever committed
lagainst popular rights will not be repeated.
| What crime 1t was! 100000 voters robbed
of their elective franchise, and Garfield was
one of the chief conspirators!
| The next speaker introduced was the
| Hon. n. f. WoRTHINeToN, OF PEORIA.
He said it always did HIM good to meet