The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-09-05


honorable gentleman was listened to with
great attention by the assembled thousands,
and his speech was replete with salient
points in regard to that memorable epoch in
the history of this region. After singing
and music by the band, Col. f. D. Taylor
made some highly eulogistic remarks Of the
great city of La Sale, and Of the great COM
monweath of Illinois, which he styled the
Empire state of the west, and which would
be in future the Empire state of the conti-
nent lie dealt at length upon the mex
haustibe resources Of the prairie state, and
compared it now to what it was in 1914,
when he came to Illinois. There was then
only population of 1920 in this county,
which was second today. Chicago is all
there is of Cook county. Take that away
and but corporals guard would remain.
He said that when he saw man leaving this
state, with its immeasurable wealth and fer
tility of soil, he knew that man was making
mistake. No other state could compare
with it, lie referred to the great names
with which Illinois had adorned the pages
of history and his short speech was highly
applauded, During Col Taylor's speech
Emery A. Storrs, the celebrated Chicago
lawyer who was in the city on business be-
fore the Supreme Court, was noticed in the
crowd, and was called for, lie stepped up
on the platform, but some one in the audi
ence moved that he ascend the stand as the
people wanted to both see and hear him,
which he accordingly did. His was, of
course, the address of the day. Though en-
tirely unprepared and with scarcely On eff
fort on his part, he delivered brief, but
brilliant speech, supplementary to that on
Illinois, made by the previous speaker. He
began by paying high compliment to the
city of Ottawa, and said that there was
mistake, which he hoped would be rectifed
by the old settlers at their next meeting.
He perceived great many gray haired men
on the platform but no gray haired women.
They were down in the body of the audience
with their lords and masters hand satchels,
doing the chores, which work they have been
engaged in for the past so years, no doubt.
lie wanted to know why they too, were not
on the platform. 1t was all wrong, He did not
think that Illinois was great because q large
state. 1t was not great in the extent of its
territory, its rivers, hills and dells. 1t was
great because of the glory of the men who
had lived in it. 1t was great because of
such men as Douglas, Lincoln, Grant, Col.
Taylor, Hon Burton C.. Cook, and others.
Illinois was truly great state. 1t never
made promise that it did not keep, and
every promise was with 100 cents on the
dollar. 1t was among such people as are
gathered before us here to-day that the great
Democratic leader found his friends II
was with such people that Lincoln and
Grant made lasting friendships. 1t was the
character of those people who made Illinois
what she is to-day-these her common peo
pie. Illinois was the only state in the
OHioH tHit hIlcu Hel uuOtd VI SoluleIS WltH-
out draft and no regiment raised within
her borders ever turned its back on the foe.
He had Travelled around the world and in
the most remote climes Illinois was known
and honoreI. He was a partisan, but above
all, he was what every elector should be, an
American citizea. In closing the distin.
guished speaker spoke of the elective fran
chise, and stated the children should be
educated to an enlightened citizenship in
which the purity of the ballot would be
elevated and maintained.
ii. t. Gedney was then introduced and
read the original poem appended. He pre-.
faced his remarks by some witty illusions to
some of the newspaper men of this city.
Called George Blake the master of the
muses., and Thomas Crane the double y at
torney, who ground out 81 counts against
the gang on Court street for trying to smoke
Mitch's No. rs. The programme closed
with the poem, and all departed, having
spent the most delightful time ever expert
enced at any OF these reunions.