Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-10-18
FREEPORTs GREAT DAY.
est he has Witnessed and the Big
gest Ever Held In Northern Illinois.

The Palmer ID ion the treat
est he has Witnessed and the Big
gest Ever Held In Northern Illinois.
Freeport's demonstration yesterday
was by all odds the greatest in Gov.
Palmer's remarkable campaign, and the
most extensive and enthusiastic of pos
litical nature ever held in northern Illi-
nois. Forty thousand strangers, mostly
farmers, were in the Stephenson county
capitol BY 2 o'clock. and before the sun
went down ten thousand more had ar
rived. People began pouring into the
city early and their number and enthusi
asm amazed even Palmer's most ardent
supporters All trains entering the city
were packed, jammed and overtaxed and
the roads lacked coaches sufficient to car
ry the multitude from the surrounding
cities and country. Great crowds
awaited the arrival of the special train of
five coaches bearing the Iroquois club,
Governor Palmer, General Black, Frank
Lawler, Messrs. Hoffman, Welch, Kicks
and others. When Governor Palmer ap>
peared a tremendous cheer was given.
The procession was all ready, and it i'm,
mediately started with the Chicago band
and the lroqaois in the van, followed by
carriages containing the orators of the
day. The Iroquois braves were greeted
enthusiastically all along the line of
march. The procession was immense, and
was nearly two miles in length and num-
bered two thousand infantry, five hun
d:ed cavalry and over one hundred and
fifty wagons, buggies and floats. In two
large country fair hacks were slowed
twenty>three veteran politicians from
rural communities, each bearing banner,
"We voted for Harrison in 40 and we're
for Cleveland now" Another one con-
tanned Van Buren voters. The delega>
tions from Woosung, Mount Carroll and
Monroe, Wis, were notably good. The
Palmer club of GaleIa was large and
enthusiastic for the reform standard
bearer, after whom the club was named :.
A mammoth rooster was feature of the
Palmer clubs turnout. Inanimate ex'
amples of suffering from free whisky and
dear clothing were present. The Henney
Buggy company turned out five floats
with double teams. Each was covered
with tariff reform notices, two of whicf
are quoted: If tariff reform really
means low wages. every coal, iron anc
lumber baron would be for it." Civ
US free raw materials and we will pro-
tect our own labor" Plasterers, black
smiths plaring mills, weavers, ETC., wer
J well represented.
A grand barbecue took place at tn
park. A tent seating over five thousan
people had been provided fo
Gen Palmer and it was thorough
ly packed with people. Ihe amphl
theatre which accommodates thre
! thousand. wss just as full, and here Fran
LawIer and Gen. Stevenson spoke. |
t the evening there was grand torchligf
procession and Senator Bell and Cor
gresham Lawler spoke in English an
| Gen. Lieb IN German.
! Governor Palmer declares he never sa
=. such demonstration as the one yeste
day, and says no other evidence is nece'
: sary to demonstrate that the democra
e of northern Illinois are up in arms al
e on the aggressive on every line. Ere
T port never saw such demonstration, n
y excepting the great joint debate betwee
It Douglas and Lincoln in 1853. Freepo
e may be justly proud of the demonstr'
e | ton