The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-27
The Monmouth brass band is an excel

lent musical organization, which enliven-
| ed the occasion with several choice selec-
| tons.
A quartette from Macomb created con-
siderable merriment with their campaign
SONGS which were not only well rendered
but original J. L. Bailey, Otis Reach,
H. M. Shannon, and W. D. Newton COM
prised the quartette.
The ferry monopoly did not accomplish
their object, although the Daily Unisn of
Sunday was gratuitously and freely dis
tributed. The fact that not dissenting
voice was raised against Mr.. Niece, shows
that the ferry monopoly had very little
influence in the convention.
Among the newspaper men present at
the convention were Mr. Chas II. Whit
aker, and son, of the Macomb Eagle
Both gentlemen are sterling democrats as
well as pleasant gentlemen, and besides
publishing live paper. aid in other ways
to help along the cause of democracy.
PHELPS REPLIES.
| The following letter, addressed to Mr..
B. D. Buford, of this city, is in reply to
the one written by himself in which he
unjustly attacks MI Niece:
| MONMOUTH. Ills, Aug. %, 1884.
1 I IL 7
DEAR SIR:-Your letter, dated July
21st, criticising the Hon. VIM. H. Niece,
member of congress from this district,
just reached me today. but before had
finished reading it, gentleman called my
attention to its publication in The Daily
Union of Rock Island. Inasmuch as it
was published before being sent to me, |
suppose your only object was to bring Its
contents before the public
| know nothing about the matter Of
which you refer, but will send the letter
to Mr.. Niece, himself, to whom, it seems
to me, it would lave been more properly
addressed, if simply written for the pur-
poses of publication. will also hand a
Icopy of this letter to some newspaper,
that my connection with it may be
understood. leave for the east tomor>
row, which Is the day of our COMPRESSION
al convention. and may not be here
when the nomination is made. |
have no doubt, however that Mr.. Niece
will be renominated, and [ shall feel
very sorry if he fails to receive your sup
port, or the support of any democrat on
account of any local question, such as the
one to which you refer. Mr.. Niece may
have made mistakes 1t would be very
strange if q man should get through even
one term of congress without making
some, but | feel constrained TO add, that
in my opionion, you are very much mis-
taken, and not justifiable, in calling him
either a knave or fool. 1t has been my
fortune to have been acquainted with Mr.
| Niece for a good many years, and | have
always found him, not only man OF
good sense and judgment but one also OF
uprightness and integrity. There are
usually two sides to every question, and
presume if you would sit down and talk
with Mr.. Niece concerning his action il
the matter of the street railway over the
government bridge, he would be able tC
convince you that he had acted with sin
cerity and honesty of purpose, and will
good judgment, considering the informa
lion he had, at the time, upon the subject
: We are in a district which has been nu,
merically republican 1t is still claimed
to be such. do not think any democra
would be justified in becoming candi
date in opposition to Mr.. Neece in thi.
) district after the gallant fight he made il
r 1t two years ago, and after the unusually
9 good recored which he has made as
member of congress during his first term
Your letter is the first word of criticism
upon his course, that has reached me- |
should be remembered that, in doubtful
district like this, the man who accepts thu
nomination and makes the canvass, anC
who, if elected, discharges uprightly th'
duties of his Office, as | feel sure Mr.
) Niece has endcay0red to do, is the ont
, who makese sacrifices, and the people
of the district are indebted to him, quit,
as much as he to the people. We are OF
the eve of very important election
; Every indication is, that the government
so far at least as the presidency is con
tlutL W Ill DC ltSibICt 10 INT tbnlTpi q
the party of the constitution, which is thu
e part of real civil and religious freedom
f 1t is very important that the executive
, department should have the support O
the Senate and the House, that the Demo
cratic party may exhibit to the country
line of policy in harmony with its princi
pies. The people have become satisfied
tina: if the Republican party ever had {
, day of usefulness, that day has long since
passed. BY united, harmonious, and en-
ergetic action, we can easily carry Thu
Congressional district. and make its char
acter permanently Democratic. My &C
quaintance with you leads me to believe
that upon important state and nationa
question, syour views and mine are in har
mony, and l trust you will not permi
your feelings, upon the question referred
to in your letter, to jeopardise the tri
umphant success, in this district, of the
party which represents those principles
| am, sir, very hastily and truly yours
D. P PHELPS