The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-09-08
ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.
Coal VALLEY INVADED BY DEMOCRATIC
HOSTS ON SATURDAY

Coal VALLEY, Sept. S.-According to
announcement the democracy of Coal
Valley assembled Saturday afternoon at
one O'Clock to raise apole and flag. There
was quite number of the friends of the
good old cause present, helping along the
work, besides several liberal minded re-
publicans, the more bigoted portion wit
Messing the proceedings from afar.
The men went to work with will, and
by three o'clock the pole, fine hickory,
pointed heavenward, while beautiful
flag futtered in the breeze, attached to
which were the names of Cleveland and
Hendricks.
Before the pole and flag raising was
completed, Messrs. E. W. Hurst, George
W. Henry and NJ. N. Corbett arrived and
were heartily received. The committee
of arrangements at once took them in tow
and made them acquainted with the citi>
zens generally, irrespective of party.
Towards evening large crowd assem-
bled to hear the speaking. 1t was the in
| tention to have an out door meeting and
seats had been prepared and torches
lighted on the depot platform, but the
storm interfered and it was found neces-
sary to adjourn to Moeller's hall. This
move curtailed the dimensions of the
crowd considerably, as the hall was not
nearly large enough to accommodate all
who wished to gain admission. There
were a great many republicans present,
and also a number of ladies.
| The meeting was called to order by the
president of the Cleveland and Hendricks
club, Mr.. John Barton, who introduced
his son, MIR. L. E. Barton, as the first
speaker of the evening. He made short
address, dwelling upon the origin of the
government, and drawing a parallel be-
tween John Adams and Thomas Jetfer.
son, showing that the latter laid down the
principle that all just rights eminate
from the people, and that the democracy
are yet the only disciples of Jefferson,
while Adams claimed that the
rights of the people came from
the wealthy and educated, and
that the power should should be central>
lied in the general government. The re-
publican party today are the true follows
ers of Adams.
He was followed by E. W. Hurst, can
didate for states attorney. He made a
very fine effort, and had the strictest at
tention during the delivery ofhis address.
He was moderate on Blaine and his
friends, but backed up all his charges
with the strictest of proof. He dwelt at
some length on Blaines record, showing
up the Mulligan letters; how he begged to
see the letter in Mr.. MS possession,
pledging his honor that he would return
them and never tell it, only made an ex-
PLANTATION before congress by reading such
letters as were not damaging to him. That
Mr.. B. had always favored the giving
away of the public lands to enormous
corporations, and had always refused tC
help to restore the lapsed land grants tC
the government He had never shown
himself friend to the lrishman; when he
had chance to help McSwecney. he
turned a deaf ear to him. He showed
Cleveland's record as mayor of Buffalo
he saved the city from being robbed OF
$S00,0 by his honest administration
.. He read letter from President White, OF
Cornell college, supporter of Blaine
, showing what he thought of his goo(
record, and concluded with stirring piles
In the interest of lab or, and showed how
8 work had been depressed and wages 81
low under republican rule, adding it was
, time for the laboring men to come out fol
. Cleveland and Hendricks, where thu
rights of toiling men will be respected
and not only that of capitalists.
Mr.. NJ. NJ. Corbett was then intro
D duced. He made the longest speech o
: the evening, and was attentively listened
to and interrupted very frequently will
applause. He was sweeping on Blaine
past acts; he did not intimate. but gave
him some severe thrusts. He referred t(
: the age of the party that was as old a.
the government. Referred to the fraud
of 1875, showing it with good effect; tn,
/ enormous IMMIGRANTS, how the people had
been cheated out of the public domain
e how the republican senate failed to pass nj
e Neece's bill restoring 100000 acres Of
lapsed land grants to the government
! that Blaine had always worked for mo
nOpolies, and had never been for the
people. He put himself on record agains
, the Thurman bill, whice was a saving Il
e the government of 5000, 000;he referre,
to the whisky frauds, Star route swindles
showed that he reduced the wages of mi
ners in his West Virginia coal mines by
: hiring negroes. Austrians and Italians 4
r the same time asking him to vote for hin
as their friend.
The meeting closed with three rousins
cheers for Cleveland and Hendricks, ant
the state and county tickets.