The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-14
DEMOCRACY'S DISCIPLE.
second Animal Banquet OF the Rock
Island County jefferson Club.
JEFFERsoNIAN ANNIVERSARY

1t is not in the least to be wondered at
that club founded for the purpose Of
perpeluating the memory VI one so patri-
otto in every teaching of his own, and
one whose principles underlie the bless
Jugs Of the greatest government upon the
globe, as those Of Thomas Jefferson do,
should prosper as the society bearing his
name in Rock Island county has, The
second annual banquet OF this club was
held ut Turner hall hast evening, and
the goodly number present, together
with the enthusiasm manifested, at>
tested well the organizations growth
both il, interest and numbers. The
almost impossible condition OF country
roads, however. served to keep many
from the interior of the county away,
and the threatening weather early in the
evening detained expected guests from
Davenport from being present.
1t was $50 o'clock when
TOAST MASTER RETICkER
announced that the banquet would begin
and in opening the joyous affair he said
GENTLEMEN AND FRIENDS OF THE JET
FERsoN CLUB. We have assembled here
tonight for the purpose of paying nom
age TO one whom We have always
been taught to respect and to honor; one
who was in his every public acI the very
essence of the doctrines upon whrh the
democratic party was founded. aud under
which il has existed and does, and will
continue to exist aud prosper. | refer to
Thomas Jefferson, born April 18Th, 1743.
member If the Continental congress in
1775 and chosen by that body to draft the
Constitution, adopted in 1875, the liber>
ties and blessings of which We now enjoy.
Gentlemen, | perceive that there is sone-
thing else on your minds just at this
moment and though it is second, of
course, to this great subject will yield
Tor the present to the dctations of an in
ner man, and we will now proceed to
supper.
Ii was luscious spread. surprising if
bultuths III tiCshhNt, NuiiCNo anu oouuti-
fulness the supper which Mr.. Herkert,
who prepared 1t, had furnished on the
occasion of the previous banquet last
fall. After all had eaten until they could
eat no more Toast Master Reticker an
nounced the first toast; it was the
SAGE OF MONTICELLO,
to which NJ NJ. Corbett, Esq, responded:
A sage is one possessed of wisdom, using
it to guide and influence others for good.
Every country has had the honor of at
least one. When Socrates gave birth TO
the trnism that "the proper study of
mankind, was man, people wondered
pondered and admired him for uttering
such noble precept His name and
fame because of it were, and are, in
scribed upon the hearts of the people.
and places him among those who did and
now do seek TO ameliOrate the condition OF
mankind Scion endeavored to promote
the happiness of his people by destroying
tyranny, and giving them laws die
tated by conscience. nature and God; so
his name and wisdom are by universal
consent accorded place upon the pages
of history Of immortal sages.
When the liberty of Greece was endsn-
gered by Macrdonion invasion, Demos
themes, by his inspired philipics, aroused
his people to deeds of valOr and herOism
in defence of home, property, and liberty;
hence he is by right classed among the
Sages, using genious and wisdom to bene-
mt the human race. Our own country
has given birth to Thomas Jefferson--the
sage of Monticello. Born in the historic
state of Virginia, he became the inhu,
entail and guiding of the immortal states
men of his period. The declaration of
independence which he drafted is the
political bible for freemen. Inspiration
from God is said to have induced it. His
doctrine that natures laws and natures
God, entitled the cOlonists to separate
and equal station among the powers of
earth exhibits his genius and should
command for him the admiration of our
race. When he sent forth the axiom
that equal and exact justice should be
done to all, irrespective of nativity, poll
tics. or creed, the peershIp of ancient and
modern sages became his. The sage of
Monticello believed that the people s
voice was that of God, hence he laborod
to give them our present form of govern
ment, superlalively superior to any other
in the history OF man. Thomas jefferson
died as he lived-respected, loved, re-
gretted-and IS now and will be en-
shrined in the hearts of freemen.
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
This toast was most ably responded to
by j. 7. Kenworthy, Esq, who said
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN
Who can remain in his seat when called
upon TO respond to toast of this char
acter? A toast involving the very head
and front Of all that is great in office un
der our form of government. He is moi
worthy the name of an American citizen,
much less TO be the recipient of the honors
and priviles es thereof, whose patriotism
is at such a low ebb as to remain silent
however poor his abilities may be, when
called upon to toast "The President OF
the United States of America APP,
plause The subject is so great, SO
grand, so overpowering and involves so
much that | hardly know where to begin
or where to end. In all ages of the
worlds history, every pecple-ever ma
ton, from the sunny chimes of the east to
the stern and frozen north-from the
Assayrians, the Greeks and the Romans
to the nations of continental Europe
from the darkness and ignorance of Asis
IN tho Ghinpae emnire from all thaoa