The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-06
THE MILAN MEETING.
A Large Turnout and Excellent Speak.
ing Makes the Milan Meeting
Huge Success.

ruly during the day on Saturday, and for
the week previous, he gave us good
weather Saturday evening, apparently to
help along the cause of democracy, which
was to have blow out at Milan. The
country roads had been rendered impass-
able, however, by reason of the heavy and
continuous rams, so that the attendance
| from the rural districts was very much
smaller than it otherwise would have
been.
Over two hundred members of the Sum
nyside club, headed by their fine martial
band, and about half as many of the JEFF
ferson club, accompanied by the Deere
cornet band, of Moline, boarded the Milan
street cars about 7:30 p. M. Arriving at
Milan they found cavalry company of
about forty from Rural, in charge of
Frank Wilson, and one hundred footmen
in line waiting to receive them. The Rock
Islanders left the cars on the bridge, and
marched into town, presenting a fine
sight to the spectators who were eagerly
awaiting their appearance. The process
sion was greeted with tremendous cheers
as it passed along the densely crowded
streets. The brightly illuminated houses
and flaring torches aided by the silvery
rays from the fair orb of night made the
| scene one of enchantment and beauty.
and II more enthusiastic crowd was never
assembled. Cheers after cheers rent the
air and the names of Cleveland and Hen
bricks echoed and reechoed throughout
the town.
Congressman Niece and few friend,
were entertained at Col. Dickson's pleas,
ant residence before the speaking took
place After the procession had proudly
marched through the different streets, thu
men formed around the stand, and listened
to the first speech of the evening, which
was delivered by Mr. f. w. Hurst, thu
candidate for states attorney
| Mr., Hurst spoke for about twenty min
utes, and made one of the best spceche
he has made this campaign. He showed
many flaws in the republican platform
and proved the republican party to be
true friend of monopolies The tariff
question Was handled in an intelligent
manner, and the entire speech was fraugh
with telling arguments which no republi
can could successfully refute. Mr. Hurs
was warmly applauded at the close of hi
address, and rs Congressman Niece step
ped to the front three
HEARTY CHEERS WE'RE GIVEN
He came to Milan to visit the peopl
and talk to them if he could. He never
until this year, had attempted to talk t
an acre of people at once. He did no
want to mislead any one by false state
ments, but wished to talk to them as hon
est men. The rogues are not all in on
party, but there are bad men in ever
party. All men, irrespective of party
want good government. He believed il
progressive party, and at any time whel
demoraizing influences were discovered
they should be throttled at once. One O
the largest steals by the republican part
was the giving away of the public land
TO soulless corporations. They were ais
now forming syndicates which were COB
bling all the best land, and thus robbins
the actual settlers. He showed that tn
land of Ireland was mostly owned b
English lords, who were now schemin
to get possession of American lands. A
an example he cited recent case in Mex
leo, where the designing land Spectator
had induced the officers to advertise tn
sale of the Hot Springs reservation at on
time. The lands sought to be purchases
contained the only water for miles around
and by getting the land the syndicat
would render the adjoining land worth
less he appealed to congress, however
and the object of the land sharks wa
frustrated at the last moment. The me-
interested in the steal are the very me
who are now most active +
secure the election of Blaine
and some of the most prominent men il
the country. Although the republican
convention in Chicago had inserted
plank in their platform to recover III
public lands, the republican senate faile
to confirm the action of the democrati
house in retaining the public lands. l
they were sincere, they would have grasp
ed the opportunity of benefiting the PEG
pie.
The republican treasurer of the Unite
States had said to him that there wa
more money being collected from the PEG
pie than was necessary to carry on tn
affairs of the government. Mr.. Neec
regarded the present high war taxes as a
actual robbery of the peoples money
The democrats of the house had don
everything in their power to pass a b
reducing taxation, but the republican
had succeeded in defeating the measure
The republicans had actually lodged tn
question. He (Neece) might make man
mistakes, but his constituents would neve
catch him lodging, (applause) He pro
ceeded to show conclusively that th
present tariff protected the strong an
robbed the weak. The interests of th
manufacturer were carefully fostered
but the laborer, the mechanic an,
farmer suffers in consequence Th
republican cry of protecting the laborel
was all humbug, The lumber men i
Michigan, for instance, were protecte
r