Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-19
GEST'S GREAT GUN.
He Fires it at Moline, but Nobody
is Hurt.
The Republican C0ngressman's Real
Effort Of the Campaign Not Attended
by the Most Desired Results Last
Nights speech.

Effort Of the Campaign Not Attended
by the Most Desired ResuIts---Last
Nights speech.
Mr.. Gest made his greatest. and posi-
bly, his last political effort of this cam.
paign at Moline last evening, and no en-.
deavor was spared by the party managers
in the county to make the event an i'm
pressive and lasting one. With the as
sistance of small detachment from each
of the marching clubs of Rock Island, the
Moline clubs managed to turn out about
$50 men with torches and headed by the
Light Guard band, marched the enthusi-
astic torch bearers about the town for an
hour previous to the calling of the meet
ing to order, in hopes of drumming up an
audience, and so weary and foot sore
were the faithful trampers when they
were finally halted, that the majority of
them blew out their lights and made
breaks for home. For this a reprimand
was necessary from the platform on Mar
ket square, where the meeting was held.
1t was demanded that there be more light
upon the scene and that the torch bear.
ers be stationed in the form of a semi-
circle about the outskirts of the crowd to
illuminate it, Thus the edict went forth,
and while it was rather tough upon the
torch-bearers, it had to be obeyed, but
one by one the torches disappeared during
the speech of the evening until at the end
of his remarks, the ambitious congressman
found himself developed almost in utter
darkness, dim light only being afforded
by row of lanterns above his head.
After Mr.. Gest had been introduced by
Assessor c. c. Waters, he went at his
task without delay and hustled it
through without particular incident. He
halted at the outset long enough to apol,
ogize for his scarcity of hirsute adorn-
ment, and to request the privilege of keep
ing his hat on as guard against con-
tracing cold. This was quite hit and
it took very nicely The meeting, he
said, reminded him of the days of 1850,
not only because he had not seen any
| such enthusiasm in the county before
since that time, but because he could see
a reason for it. Ia go there was great
principle before the people and he did
not deem it necessary to remind his
hearers of what that principle was, bu,
now there is another great principle al
stake. 1t is not the same question now
1t is another contest, not perhaps of such
deep significance, but one that will even
tuate in the degradation of this country
if successful. The question is, the
speaker asserted, whether the people shall
maintain high up the standard of civil
cation they now enjoy. 1t is commonly
called a question of protection to Ameri
can industries, homes and people; o
free trade, or giving of favors to the OLE
world. What is the meaning of pro
tection2" the speaker asked, and straigh
way he proceeded to give the same de
tinitiOn he did at the Franklin squar
meeting here Saturday night 1t is no
wholly in q sense of fear that the republi
can party seeks protection. I'VE seeI
protection against the insignificant thing
when they come in great swarms.' Fl
spoke of the insignifcance of chine
bugs and grasshoppers singly, but tn
power and destructive effects when ap
pearing in great masses. I'VE seek pro
lection against the chinch bugs, gras:
hOppers and the lice of the old world
What is the civilization of America, {
compared with the civilization of the oil
worldly We don't want any Cinnamon
this county, Tariff, Mr. Gest attemp
ed TO explain, is simply tax, (and tn,
far he spoke knowingly a tax on in
ported goods. Then he said the dem
cratic party had lodged and straddlt
the question and Topped about it all the
years. In 1856 the democratic party hs
said. the time has now come to declare
favor of progressive free trade. tt
same is reiterated by that party now.
1860 it favored tariff for revenue, al
in 1876 it denounced protection. He HI
read the presidents message (and strani
to say, too he had found nothing in
about fsvoring protection. The preside
had said protection only protects Il
manufacture at does not simply pr
tect the manufacturer" said Mr.. Ge
! "you know better than that" And tn
he tried to prove something about dem
cratic doctrines being not the right thin
by citing Sam Randsll's views, and spea
ing of him as a democrat.
HltnDul tdflhp tut Spthhel hssci tt
that England would food this count
with her goods and stop every manufs
tury. The papers of England are jul
liant over the Mills bill. We could
expect favors of a foreign governmel
Mr.. Gest said. Governments are uttel
without grace or kindness toward each o.
er. That's the way the American peoI
propose to be. Reduction of the tai
: means reduction in the cost of living, pt
haps for awhile but it will afterward rea
but then it will be too late; the mills q
factories will have disappeared and
machines rusted and sold for old ire
Tie democratic party is the party of f
trade, the party for the old world and
the new. for English people and not
Americans.
After carrying out this train of thong
for some time, with here and there bl
at the democratic party, the speaker
wv 1.-THE common people" some taffy
then dismissed the tariff question by
ferring to matters of local interest,
: he termed them, but in reality
words in praise and explanation of
- W. H. Gest's public service. He spoke
y the survey for the Moline hart
which will be made; the SIS.