Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-10-10
DEM0CRACY'S DAY.
Closing Features of Yesterda vs.
Demonstration.
Speeches by General Palmer and c. -.
barrow Big Time at Moline---A
Torch-Iight Procession of From
1880 10 5000 People.

1880 10 5000 People.
The browning feature of yesterdays
,reat demonstration in Rock Island in
honor of Gen. Palmer, was the speech
making in Union Square. which was at
entively listened to by an audience of
,hree thousand people. The great meet
pg was called to order promptly at the
close of the procession at o'clock by
Mayor Blanding. The Prentiss glee club
Of Sciota. McDonough county. was called
forth and rendered in highly pleasing
an original campaign parody "a
Kings Highway and in response to a
tremendous expression of delight on the
part of the audience, sang another equally |
amusing selection. Roll on Demo-
Gratis" Mayor Banding then ln>
troduced the soldier statesman, Gen.
John NJ. Palmer, as one of the
nations foremost men, man fit to be
president and surely competent for the
office of governor an office indeed which
he had once filled with marked ability
and acceptability.
GEN. PALMER.
Cheers went up from three thousand
throats as Gen. Palmer stepped forward
The governor opened his speech by say
ing that this was the forty-seventh
county in Illinois In which he had spoken
since his nomination for governor. II
was his desire that as many Of the voters
of the state should hear his views on the
questions of moment in the state as pos
sible. 1t was his opinion that the people
should know and have opportunity to
know who they were voting for, and to
hear the opinions OF the candidates from
their own lips. The governor spoke in
a clear, firm voice; his utterances being
distinctly audible IN all parts of the vast
sssemblage Issues, he said had changed
considerably since twenty years ago,
when he last spoke to the voters of this
county in the interest of another political
| party. His political and personal friends
he believed knew him, let them be those
who had fought with him in military life
| or had been associated with him in civil
| public life He realized the fact that he
was speaking now to a new generation
| He had met men in Rock Island, though
whom he had not seen before in q
quarter of century. Some of them
had been his comrades in war
but had grown gray and wrinkled,
and many while once supporting
him. had no different political views now
from those he espoused. The genera
briefly reviewed his own public career
declaring that it was his desire that it
record be known. The political ques
tions that demanded attention and settle
ment at the close of the war were take
up, accompanied by statement of tn
governors position on them at that time
They were first the Acknowledgement o
the negro race, and he had always hel
that the solution of this great Questio
lay only in extending to it the right g
suffrage. Another great question the
was the payment of the national debt
He said then, God has blessed you 70
your valor, let US meet the obligations {
your achievements" We wanted taxatio
directed to everything if possible. "
wanted, in short, to give the las: man al
the last dollar for the salvation of Il
union. We were all united IN that. v
taxed everything and the result has pro
en- the wisdom of the American peOpl
In that because we realized that large
the sacrifice was, we were abundant
rewarded. What was the resu
Slavery was abolished and liber
and equality established forever, sece
sion overthrow and the union
states made perpetual. The union "
not only saved but liberty and law We
saved. The authority of the free CT
stitutIon was restored Yes. we WI
abundsntly rewarded" The govern
now came to the third question which
said was absorbing the public mind
that time-the reduction of national {
penses. When the war was over
) favored a reduction in taxes so willin!
borne in times of necessity. Il know
said he that twenty years ago whe
was candidate for governor, | said
of good courage. We have done t
much, let us do more. Let us give p
lection to the negro by giving him
ballot l said further, pay your det
be honest. This debt was contracted
the noblest and grandest of purposes.
hour. Stand up to your duty and I
honor of our deiverance will come. A
it has come. We were first rewarded
our gIllsntry and then for our integri
for the honesty with which we paid
debts But while these nstio
p, debts were being paid, expense after
v pense was reduced, and it was agreed
all parties that no more money should
taken from the pockets of the people Il
was absolutely necessary at such time
meet public necessities. All were uni
on that. All agreed that cutting dc
expenses was cutting down taxes.
the country has not heen wise in getl
back to the point we all hoped to res
A shout of appreciation went up wher
," predicted the day when war taxes wo
be reduced. Has the government k
that promise? The question now
. whether that promise has been kept
is something yet to be done before !
l redeemed. The governor then said Il
u is now Sl00,000,000 to Sl50,000,
surplus In the national treasury.
law that brought it there is still in
force in the government. The prof.
+ was made that the laws responsible
/ such condition of things would be n
= flied. and that promise has not been k
This surplus has been accum
ted by unnecessary taxation W
II is q useless burden nnon the nef