The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-17
Some of the Remarks That Were
Made and Letters of Regret
Read from TiIden and
;iOthers.

general letters Of regret from members OF
both houses of congress. The number of |
eminent men present, however, was consid-
cred sufficient to forecast the next platform
Of the party.
The arrangements for the banquet were OF
the most complete description. The tables
were laid in the main dining-room of tho
hotel and were profusely decorated with nu-
meroHs huge table stands of rare flowers,
brilliant in color and fragrant in perfume.
The company marched into the banquet
hall a little before $50 p. M, Pounds
orchestra playing march meanwhile, and
entered at once upon the feast. On
the raised platform across the north end of
the banquet hall were seated the distin
guished guests of the club and a number Of
the most honored members. There were Sem
ator George II. Pendleton, Ohio, Ex-Governor
j. Sterling Morton, Nebraska; the Hon. NJ. N.
Ham, member Os the national Democratic
committee from Iowa; p. H. Kelly, member
Of the national Democratic committee from
Minnesota; Judge Bayliss w. Hanna, Craw
for3svilic, Ind. c. W. O'Brien, mayor Of st.
Paul; Judge David TuIpie, indianapolis; Col.
W {. T. Breckenridge, of Kentucky; Con
gresham James II. Murphy, of Iowa; Gen. j.
c. Black, Danville, His; Hon J. c. GrcS.
Dry. of Wisconsin; Mayor Carter II. Harri-
son, 5. Corning judd, George c. Walker,
Judge Lyman Trumbull, Maj, Gen. Scho.
field, J. W. Doane, Melville ". Fuller, Judge
Lambert Tree, A. F. Seeberger, Judge 7.
Lyle Dickey, F. H. Winston, and ". c
Goudy. Also seated on the platform
were Esrkine n Phelps, the prs
dent of the club, and the Rev. Dr. Clin-
ton Locke The balance Of the 300 or more
who were present were members Of the club
or resident guests. The menu cards were Of
the most elegant and elaborate description,
and bore besides the choice compilation
Of edibles the toast numbers and
official roster Of the club. the whole
in the highest style of the printers
art and the stati3ner's handicraft
The specch-making of course was that in
which the chief interest of the evening CEN
tered The company was very enthusiastic
one and applauded heartily the sentiments
which were uttered. When the letter of Mr.
Tilden was read, and indeed at every men
ton of his name or allusion to him, the ap-
| plause was vocjferous beyond description
Many jumped from their seats and waved
their arms fiaunted their handkerchiefs, and
cbeered appreciation. 1t was about 9:5G
O'Clock when the speaking began.
| z W. Phelps, president of the club, made
a short welcome address, and was followed
by Judge j. r. Doolittle, who took Governor
Hubbard's place and spoke to the toast "The
! Coming Campaign" Col. W. C. ?. BrecE-
inridge, of Kentucky, made an eloquent ad-
dress in response to the sentiment THE In
| divisrble Union of 1ndestructible States.
| The two speeches which attracted most at
| IHFe-
| dleton's remarks on civil service reform and
Hon j. Sterling Morton on reduction of tax
alton. Mr. Pendleton compared the spois
system and the merit system Of ofappointnent
to political ottice and declared: "The Demo
cratic party is pledged to this reform-to all
reform 1t will gain no victories by failing
to pass specific laws or to enforce them when
passed. 1t will gain no recruits by loud pro-
| fessions, hich may afterward be violated or
forgotten, if it fail Whenever and wherever 1t
may have power, in the house OK representa-
tives i'll the senate to testify By its acts to
the faith it processes 1t may not have power
to succeed, but to the extent of its ability 1t
must show its sincerity We dare yield no
vantage ground already won. We dare take
no step backward. We must 60 forward, on
ward believe, upward, or we shall asSurediy
| find that the people are in the lead of US, and
will consign laggards and towards to az
ignominious and deserved fate"
Mr.. Morton, discussing revenue reform
said: By the Morrison bill, which would re-
duce these taxes 20 per cent, the Democratic
party declares itself unalterably and deter
Ininedly in favor of the reduction Of taxation
to all the citizens of all the states in the
Union. For one, am not afraid to make
this ISSUE because believe sincerely that it
is an issue of truth and right and justice
against falsehood and wrong and injustice
Neither the Republican party nor
any other political organization can
long maintain itself before an intelli-
gent, reasoning people by tie advocacy
of unequal and unjust taxation. The great
est good to the greatest number has become
proverb among Americans, and yet all pro
tective tariff legislation has been born of a
desire to legislate for the few and against
the many. The people ask now, in the name
of equality and Justice, that all the iegisla
ton which has been enacted by protection
lists for the benefit of u few manufacturers,
and against the interest Of the millions of
consumers be reduced; first, gradually per-
haps but that finally they he utterly abol-
ished.
A number of those invited could not at
tend and sent letters of regret Hon. Samuel
j. Tlden in regretting his inability to attend
and respond to the sentiment, "The Federal
| Constitution" pleads for a stricter construc-
tion of the constitution and claims that the
Democracy is the party best fitted
to properly construe it, and that
under Republican administration the
| +oJ
tional safe guard, and that mot only have
the best traditions of the patriots who won
Independence and established freedom lost
their authority, but our cherished political
system is slowly losing its hold upon life un-
der the fungus grOwths of false constructions
and corrupt practices" Mr.. Tilden con
cludes: u have such faith in the be-
nignant Providence which presided
over the destiny of our country in every
great trial hitherto, that do not despair
of our ultimate deliverance Though | can
no longer aspire to be one of the leaders in
this great work, bid those upon whom this
august mission may fall, God speed"
Senator T. F. Bayard, of Delaware, in his
regrets, says: "The welfare of the country
and the prosperity of all classes and occupa-
tions demand speedy loosening of the re-
strictions upon production and trade caused
by the present tariff laws, which are pal
pabls congesting every branch of manu-,
facture, prohibiting exchanges of other ma
tious, convulsing our home markets with al
ternate excitement and depression and COM
pelling the laboring classes to obtain their
daily bread not by readiness to work
steadily, but by dependence upon the condi'
ton of our home market alone, and
its capacity, fitfully and not regularly,
to afford them employment This is the con-
ditions of things, and the attitude of the