Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-29
INTERESTING DEBATE.

The Question as TO the Location OF the
National Capital Earnestly Di--
cussed and the Proposition In Favor
or Removal 10 Rock island sus.
tafned.
A debating society has been holding a
series of Saturday night meetings in the
school house at Milan during the fall and
winter which have been productive of
interest, instruction and pleasure, topics
pertaining TO national. political and
common interest having been taken up
discussed, digested and disposed Of
Last Saturday nights meeting was un-
usually interesting as the subject Of de.
bate was one appealing particularly to
local interest. The question was: "Re>
solved. that the national capital should
be removed from Washington west
ward" The affirmative was led BY Mr..
L. j. Medlll, Jr., Of this city. assisted by
Mr.. Jos. Fitzpatrick and Mrs. G.. S.
Thompson. of Milan, and the negative
side OF the question was represented by
Prof j. E. Gamble. of Geneseo, now
principal OF the Milan school. assisted by
MIR. W. Morehead and Miss L. Brown.
The leader in the affirmative stated
that as he understood the question. he
was allowed to locate the site for the
capital any place west Of its present To-
cation, and after having carefully con-
sidered the advantages Of the different
cities throughout the west, had decided
to locate il at Rock Island. First. be-
cause 1t was possessed of all the natural
advantages necessary for capital city.
Second. the security of its position, being
under the protection of Rock Island
arsenal, the greatest in the world. Also
its distance from the boundary lines of
the republic were such that no invading
army could ever reach il, or could it ever be
taken by surprise as was Washington in
1914, or would it ever be in imminent
danger of capture as was Washington at
the first battle OF Bull Run when the con.
federates. had they been as well schooled
IN the art OF war as they were afterward,
could have easily captured it. Third
The feet of ITS being near the geographic
cal center of the United States; also the
expectation of its being at the center of
population when the census of 1890 is
taken. The affirmative brought out
many more strong points. among which
were the following: Rock Islands posi-
ton on the Mississippi river. the great
highway from north to south; its location
at the terminus of the proposed Henne-
pin canal" which, when built, would
give a direct water course from the Miss
sissippi to New York harbor. Its cen>
trial position among a cluster of great
cities growing up around us, which will
soon become important factors in legisla>
ton; the convenience 10 congressman,
senators and the army off1ceholders as to
its central position. The immense local
advantage to be derived from its location
here and many other points. The IN
fairness OF its present location; the dam
ger of its records in case of war; its close
proximity to Wall street bsrons and great
money centers; and the healthy legisla-
ton we might expect if it was moved out
into our broad prsiries aud fertile soil.
etc.
The negatives claimed there was no
immediate reason for moving the capital,
that its location should be near the sea
coast, and that the history of any couns
try which had caused its capital TO be
removed, showed it was moved from an
inland town TO the sea coast; that as q
rule, an inland town was more easily
captured than town on the coast. They
claimed it was inconsistent 10 move it to
Rock Island; that Rock Island was not
adapted for it, Also the immense
cost OF moving it and the great loss oc-
led By leaving the buildings erect
ed; that if we moved it to Rock Island,
it would only be few years before they
would want it farther westward. The
negative also accused the affirmative of
taking advantage in locating it at Rock
Island, as such was not anticipated. At
ter the question had been closely contest
ed by both sides, the judges gave a de-
cision in favor of the affirmative.
1t was decided to locate the site OF the
capital upon the high prominence in Mr.. |
Bailey Dsvenport's pasture at the head
Of Twentieth street. commonly known as
Balls bluff