The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-09-22


THE SPEAKING.
The meeting organized in the Court
House SQUARE. at least 1000 to 1000 peo .
pie including many ladies being present,
besides those in the procession. and was
organized by the election of the follow"
ing ofisers:
PRESIDENT:
James NJ Buford, Rock Island.
vIcE-PREsIDENTs.
Drury-S. Mardock.
Buffalo Prairie-Wm. Kistlcr,
Bowling-Johp Forgy.
Black Hawk-Geo. Dickson.
Andalusia-J ohm Houston.
Coal Valley-Thomas Lees.
Rural-James Donaldson.
Edgington-L. d. Nudge.
Rock Islaud-Daniel DAILY.
Moline-Geo. w. Vinton.
Hampton-Albert Wells.
Port Byron-George Moore.
Cordova-W. B. Webster.
Canoe Creek-D. Nj. Martin.
Ooe-John Schall.
yuma Madison Bowles.
South Molins-A. Weckel.
South Rock Island-Scott Gardiner.
SECRETARIES:
Harry Abel, Rock Island.
George Walker. Moline,
Mr.. Buford, chairman. spoke as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN
thank you for the honor conferred.
Before introducing the statesman and
speaker of the evening. desire to make
honorable ention Of this great outpouring
of the people, this grsnd and magnificent
demonstration. yes, this unprscedeut ed
surprise, uneQuaied since the organization
of our county. The beautiful day just
passed. this glorious night. aud these
thousands of patriotic aud honest hearts
all conspire to bring about a change
from sectional strife and hate to a united,
peaceful and happy nation. And to
aid 10. this great changei l invite your
earnest attention TO the words of the Hon,
John Ell. Oberly. the Democratic candidate
for the Office of Secretary of state WHO will
now address you.
HON JOHN II. oBERLY.
As Mr.. U5erly stepped forward he was
greeted with three rousin9 cheers, ard
after bowling acknowledgment. he began
his speech By :oologizing for the IAteness
of the hour band then gent right at bis
subject. He took for his theme the natio
nal election laws, and proceeded to show
By most convincing arguments that the
national election laws were not a protec-
ton to the voter, but curse; that under
che provisions of the act voters. and legal
voters too. not illeg4! Voters as claimed by
could be arrested without
process Of any kind and ,hurled into dun
geoas. there 20 remain without trial until
the voting eeascd. that no redress Is posi-
BILE; that men SO arrested are kept locked
up until too late TO vote, aud thop IS has
been the result thus far, it being i'm posi-
bic to consict whsrs no crime has been
ommltted, they are released. Mr.. Oberly
continued the !theme. arraigning the
party in meTciless man
ner, and while not abusive, his points
were well taken. and evoked great ap
applause. He then drew comparisons and
proved by Republican testimony that the
national election Law was for thu purpose
If continuing the Republican party in
power and for that purpose only. He
hen made sosss sarcastic illusions
% the Republican professions of
,eing 10 favor of al honest
BALLOT. and showed that, instead of being
he party xhieh protected the ballot. it
vas the party which did pot protect the
,allot Mr.. Oberly in support of this
cited the Louisiana case, and
howed that over 10000 Democrats were
alsely imprisoned Just before election day
q 1876. under the national election laws,
nd thus kept from voting; that it was
enseless for the Republicans to charge
raud in Louisiana for the entire
machinery of the state government,
ided by thousands Of deputy marshals'
vere scattered ia all parts of the state,
o that if fraud was committed it must |
ave been done by the Republican party
that party which processes to SO love |
u honest ballot Passing along on this |
ubject Mr.. Oberly took up the Chicago
republican primaries and read extracts
rom. Republican papers, containing charges |
{ fraud by the Grant and anti-Grant men
gainst each other. which Mr.. Oberly said.
eing good Republican authority. ought to
Q acceptable to Republicans. It was the
est speech delivered this year. and even
republicans admit that Mr., Oberly made
Ene impression. He was eloquent. per.
aasive and convincing, and while he
ldulged no personalities yet the points
o made against the Republican party
ere regular sledge hammer blexs. deliy-
red with telling effect, Ia sarcastic man
or. and called forth outbursts of applause
/ frequent intervals. We have not space
norgh to do him justice but when We
~ that he delivered the finest speech of
,e campaign and that everybody agrees
ith as 10 that opinion, acme idea can
,rmad ;of the imnreaeion he msda. Ha