The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-10-09
THE DEMOCRACY
A LARGE, ENTHUSIASTIC, AND PER-
FECTLY HARMONIOUS CONVENTION
Gives the Voters of La Sale County An
lnvincible Ticket.

Gives the Voters OF La Sale County An
Invincible Ticket.
The democratic party of La Sale county
never had convention so large and earnest,
nor one composed of better men, either in.
dividually or collectively; and, above all,
not one more harmonious than that of Wed
nesday last. The republicans had looked
forward with geeful anticipation to the dis.
ruption Of this convention as the result of
the intense personal rivalry Of the many
candidates for some of the offices, and es.
pecially that of sheriff. The republican,
and particularly the so-called "independent'
newspapers of this county had been teeming
for months with evil prophecies concerning
this convention, and yet, never was evil expec.
tation, founded on malicious hopes, so sud
denly and completely thwarted The con-
vention, while the scene Of int ,nse interest
and anxiety, was marked by perfect harmo.
ny, good fellowship and gentlemanly deport-
ment throughout, and every delegate and
candidate, no matter how disappointed, went
home determined to support the ticket.
CALLED TO ORDER.
The town was full Of delegates at an early
hour, and canyassing among them by the
several candidates was iAdustriousy pur-
sued At ? o'clock Turner Hall was crowded
to its utmost seating capacity with delegates
and spectators, the latter in the gallery, and
about half of them republicans who came
with mouths watering "for a taste of a row, "
and which, even despite their fOndest wishes,
did not materialize.
Owing to the illness of Mr.. j. Nj. WEIGH,
of La Sale, the chairman of the county cen
trail committee, and at his request, j. II.
Eckels, Esq, secretary of the same commit
tee, called the convention to order in an
appropriate and Enthusiastically eloquent
speech. lie said, in effect, that 1.-The dele
gates were met here to engage in no personal
strife, no chickering's, no heart burnings, but
to act with the preconcerted purpose of
presenting to the voters of this county a
ticket which will insure the success Of the
democratic party in November. We are not
here to crafty personal friendships for any
individual, but to effect higher purpose
the achievement of a victory for our princi-
pies. You owe it to yourselves, to the peo-
pie, no matter whom the nominees may be;
whether you were opposed to them or not
to make the best possible ticket
and then support it. (Applause.) You
must not allow it to be said by your foes,
after election, that your ticket was defeated
because you did not support it, because you
were inharmonious. You must stand firmly
by your ticket, no matter where the candi-
dates come from. You must be men and
democrats, and you must feel that your
party is the party Of your country. When
a certain distinguished senator catered the
halls of congress, after long absence, he
exclaimed, 81 an here to stay Let this
be the democratic watchwOrd in this county:
awe are here to stay" (Applause.)
Mr.. Eckels then read the call of the con-
vention.
O. C. Thompson, of Rutland, moved that
SENATOR JAMES W. DUNCAN
be made temporary chairman. and he was
chosen amid loud applause, which rose to
cheers when he was escorted to the platform
by Messrs. Thompson, of Rutland, and Fla
herty, of Adams.
On taking his place before the audience
he made very fine speech First thanking
the convention for the distinguished honor
conferred upon him. he then asked the CO.
operation of the delegates and audience
generally in making his task easy in pre-
siding and keeping order and harmony in
the assembly. Referring to the CLOVIS Of
sunshine and the delicious purity of the air.
the beauty of the city and its surroundings,
the tranquility and peaceful happiness Of
nature-of all surroundings, he augured
that nature smiles approvingly upon our
purposes and bids us initiate her in the
pescefulness and harmony of our labors.
(Applause.) The results Of our almost hope
less struggles against q constantly trium,
plant foe in times past is within easy range
Of our memories. Our final and signal tri-
umph, the result of unity Of action, should
be model for our endeavors now, for by
only the same success as we then won shall
we be successful now and in future. We
have come together for no mere private ends
nor personal gains, but for the common good
and we must lay aside evil forebodings and
demonstrate that we can do the magnani-
nous and generous; to forget self and to
fight for principle. Our republican foe, not
daring to face us on the field, have sought to
lie in wait for us, trusting to gain some ad-
vantage by our errors, if we commit any
But their tactics, which admit their weak
ness, have inspired us to work, They have
made congressional nomination, and God