The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-24
CURRENT EVENTS.
Il.
Davis Defines his Position In
the Senate.
Later accounts Of the burning Of the
Opera House at Nice.
SENATE.

SENATE.
WASHINGTON. March 24.-Mr. Dawes
called up the resolution for the election oj
officers for the Senate. Mr.. Davis of LII,
said: On recent occasion, ISstated the
reasons that determined my vote on the
organization of the Senate; not expecting
to satisfy this class of politicians. who were
accustomed to party discipline, and who
/ we're unable TO appreciate free
thought apd independent action.
Fair criticism is always entitled
to respect, and o public man who shrinks
| from it. even when harsh, does not de.
serve forbearanco. An attempt has been
made to have it appear that the legislature
which elected me to the Senate contained a
Republican majority, and that the state Of
illinois in population was also largely
Republican.
Both these assumptions are unfounded
The legislature at that time stood as fol-
| lows: Republicans senate 81, House 70
Democrats senate IS, House 81. Iudepen-
dent senate 5. house 6. 1t is thus seen
that the Republican and Democrats were
almost equally divided and that few
Independents turned the scale for Presi
dent, Hayes received 279 .232-Tilden 258,-
COL and Cooper 1898 votes-Hayes
clear majority 2S98 in poll of over half a
million these figures prove how closely
balanced the two parties were in
1871. More than 80 per cent
of the votes cast for me as senator, were
from Democrats without pledges. COZ
dition or correspondence of any kind what
ever, They knew my political antecedents
and they also knew that neither an honor
which was conferred on me ner any other
distinction that could be offered would
alter any conviction had formed, Or de-
fleet me from the course of duty
as it appeared to my best
trust under these circumstances. good
faith required me to sustain the organiza-
ton of the senate as it had existed 10 last
congress No principle was invaded but
merely the control of the committees and
of officers, have voted steadily against
change.
l shall continue in that way until end is
reached being answerable only to my CON.
science and TO my constituents for my
acts.
FATAL FIRE.
NICE, March, 24.-Up to this hour SO
bodies have been recovered from the ruins
Of the Italian Opera House destroyed by
fire last night. 1t is feared that many
more lost their lives. The fire commenced
soon after the curtain had risen for the
performance of Lucia De Lammamor.
The subscribers for the orchestral stalls and
boxes of the grand tier had mostly not
arrived o majority of the victoms belong
to the working class. Shortly after the
FIRE started the gas exploded and the house
plunged into complete darkness scene of
terror and dismay ensued which
beggars description. A detachment
of sailors from the quadron in
played great gaiiantry in reseuipg people |
and combating the fire. which was SUBJ
dued toward ten o'clock. Trakosch, the |
Impressario, was slightly hurt. Signori |
Branca Donald, one of the leading artists, |
made her way from the stage to the street |
safely. One whole family of five persons, |
and another family of three persons. are
known to have perished. Relief subscrip>
tions for sufferers have been opened |
throughout Nice. The regatta has been |
and the value of prizes to |
have been contested for have been |
contributed towards the relief of the |
distressed.
ISTHMUS TROUBLES.
A letter from Panama, dated March 8.
gives the following particulars OF troubles
with the natives: On the morning of
March 4 an attack was made on one of the
engineers of the canal company, MIR. Van
der Putte. of Paraiso. The attem pt |
which contem plated both robbery aud |
murder. was made at o'clock in the !
morning by four armed men of different
nationaIities, but was happily frustrated by |
j Jamaica men who. aware OF the design. |
and sought to prevent its execution. In this |
they succeeded. but were 10 turn made |
the victims of violence, suffering wounds
and losses in the melee which ensued, |
Mr. Van der Putte was supposed to have |
money to a considerable extent in his pos
session; hence the motive. One OF the |
men was captured and brought to the |
city on the 4th instant; the others are at |
large. This is not the only case in which |
employees OF the canal company have been
seriously menacsd. A few days ago a |
large party of men went from Aspinwall |
to Empire, paying their passage on the
railway, and there surrounding the dwell
lngs of canal employees, used threats aud |
and were only restrained from
open violence by the determined attitude
of the gentlemen in charge of the section.
RUSSIAN REMEDY.
BERLIN, March "a The Russian pro-
posals for arranging international meas
ures for the exterpation of Nihiists are
favorably received here. 1t was the orig
inai intention of the Grown Prince Freder-
ick William to GO to st Petersburg with
the Prince and Princess of Wales, but be
started SIX hours in advance of thsm in
of the Gear sending tele