The Rock Island Argus., 1884-05-22
TELEGRAPH1C.
FRIENDS OF ARTHUR.
Meeting in New York, to Advocate
His Nomination.
Henry Ward Reeeher Says Arthur
Was the Original Civil Service
Recommendations Reply
40 MacVeagh.

NEW YORK, May %. The greatest polit
ical gathering in the recent history of New
York city was that at Cooper Union, when
many of the business men of the metropolis
assembled to endorse the administration OF
President Arthur, and to ask the Chicago
Republican convention to respect their
wishes in making a presidential nom
nation At z o'clock the great
hall began filling with people, ana
thirty minutes later thousands were unable
to gain admission, as every seat ana every
inch of standing-room was occupied before
the lights were turned up. 1t was meet ing
of business men in every sense, and especially
in the sense of promptness. When the paho
began the opening music at 7.3O not anotner
human being could crowd into the hail. At |
all four fronts of the building great multi
tude clamored for admission, disregardlng
the repeated warning of the police
On the platform were many OF the most
prominent business men in the city, among
them H O. Armour, John Jacob Astor, d.
B. Claflin, Cyrus Field, Gen Benjamin H.
Bristow, A. Tappan, Governor Morris,
| Edward PierTepont, LeGrand b. cannon,
| Jacob D. Vermilye, c. N. Bliss, c. K. Agnew,
| Russell H. Hoodley Henry Ward Beecher
was also present and was greeted with loud
| applause when he appeared.
Mr.. c. N. Bliss called the meeting to order
and made few remarks, when Judge Rus
| sell was introduced, and read series OF eight
reasons why the president should be re-nom-
mated They declare that although enter
ing upon his duties at a most critical time
and finding himself beset with difficulties,
| President Arthur in all respects has filled up
the full measure of ability to meet the de-
| maids made upon him, and has acquitted
himself with degree of credit that the ma
tion should honor The last reason and reso-
luton is as follows:
s. If asked whether he, Pres ident Arthur,
| could carry the state of New York, we
answer unhesitatingly: He can, and be
triumphantly elected To the accomplish
ment of that end we pledge our unwearled
efforts.
sng be authorized to appoint a committee OF
100 business men to attend the Republican
convention at Chicago to urge the nomination
of President Arthur.
The reasons were loudly applauded and
| adopted unanimously and then Parke God
win addressed the audience declaring his
belief that the country should not hesitate to
give Mr. Arthur triumphant lection to
the presidency.
When Henry Ward Beecher took the stand
he was again enthusiastically welcomed.
After referring to some comment on the fact
that he had changed his opinion OF MI
Arthur, and remarking that tie fact made
him a good witness for the president he
said:
Who is Chester A. Arthur He is mar
who has proved himself, under the most try
ing circumstances, one of the most able pre-
siding officers this nation ever had. Thai
| he has been subject to SO little criticism /:
d marvel. The bitterness of men whost
| names should be inveigh Qnstead OF Mac
| Veagm displayed towards Arthur is as moth
| ing compared to the invective heaped upor
Washington, and so as to jackson, Lincoln
and Grant, up to Hayes, and when Haye
took the presidency the country had beer
scorched with the fires of war; and as q
physician applies sweet oil and poultices t.
the skin of scalded men, SO the nation neeoet
a poultice, and it got it. Loud laughter.
When elected vice president Mr. Arthur hat
been an ardent New York politician, loyal Il
the party and his friends, carrying him
self perhaps beyond the line Of prudence; bu
honor man whose imprudence spring
= from the integrity and loyalty of his heart
M fApplause.l When by terrible deed of Al
|
the things he remembered merely as poll
tician of New York, and turned with CREATE
trust ana wider horizon to confront the du
ties before him And when it was necessary
that he should sacrifice bosom friend rathe
a than involve the country in old troubles an
bitterness again, be gave up his friend.
Now, as to the civil service / think IL
vestigation will show that President Arthu
was the first to institute civil service reform
He began it when he was in the custom
house and he still continues it. / do not b.
leve i'll the nonsense OF no third term.
holi if d man proves competent he should
put in for "a third or fourth, OF even fit
term If by his acts any man ever earned
denomination Mr.. Arthur deserves hl
don't say the non-slecton of nj
Arthur is going to ruin the coui
try. The country will prosper VIII
ever is president; but it is certainly the ca:
that its prosperity is assured, SO far as 1t ca
be assured by the action of any one man,
we put back into his place that man who ha
O.. to the admiration of his friends and the su
.k prise of his political antagonists, conducts
this government so well. We must be vel
O. rich Ia good and great men that we can q
ford to throw away MIR. Arthur. de can 9
h ford to return to private life better than '
can afford to do without him. ltake an intere
81 in and am an observer of public affairs, and
have the advantage that / have no party i
moral standpoint look at what will
the best for the party. Aud the remar
that | make therefore as cltizen-as
moral teacher of SAe citizen-I leave WI
YOU, saying simply this: know not how y
can do better; | know that this country dol
need to have any better president than Ch
ter A. Arthur. Long continued appaus
Hon. B. H. Bristow was greeted warm
and made all earnest answer to MacVeag
letter recently published In conclusion,
said:
If the condition of our postal service
such that it becomes necessary to transl
letters of friendly advice and admoniti
through the public press, there is grievt
cause of complaint / commend the mat
to the attention of our excellent pc
master general, who hope, will
able to correct the abuse without
employment of a large number OF iawye
eminent and otherwise, at great expense 9
with small results. My distinguished frie
who has been put to the Inconvenience
rushing into print to give me points TO
speech does not seem to have quite uDo
stood that this meeting was called by I
and independent voters who have the ha
Of thinking for themselves upon all matt
of public concern and who have no OF
end in view than public good. | NJ
decline his invitation to go into
siums or personal oefainauons
invited me to consider various reni
cences with which have no concern and
to which have not enjoyed equal means
knowledge with himself. The events
President Hayes administration fortunat
are no longer living topics, and we are
here to lift the veil of Oblivion. The so-ca
alliance with Malone in Virginia is ma
which came down to the present admins
ton from the past. 1t had its or
in the senate and is understood to have
the approval Of the preceding admins
tion, of which my valued fri
was an honorable and conspicuous mem
/ regret and shall pass over without comm
those slurs and insinuations SO unworthy t
author which Mr. MacVeagh permits him
TO make uching the circumstances un
which Gen. Arthur had imposed upon
the constitutional duty Of taking the offic
a@ president. know not what secret bill
:. ness betrayed my friend into express
which ordinarily his good taste
fine feeling would be the first to conde
II President Arthur has always