Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-07-06
THE GREAT FOURTH.
A Quiet but Enjoyable Day in
Rock Island.
The celebrations Around About us
Caught Many OF our People, Vet
There was Much Pa
triOtism at Home.

1t was quiet, though no less enjoyable
and patriotic Fourth of July in Rock
Island.
As heretofore announced there was no
formal observance in Rock Island, and
hence people bent on participating in a
public celebration went out of town.
The neighboring demonstrations caught
thousands of people from this, city not
withstanding that many spent the day
quietly ct home. Many went to Bur-
lington on Capt. Lamonts excursion on
the Libbie Conger, many also to Geneseo.
others to Cable, Cordovs. Barstow, while
Milan end Black Hawks tower drew
large proportions of the local populace.
AT MILAN
Milan in particular did herself proud.
The streets were thronged with people at
an early hour, and promptly at 10
o'clock the line of march was formed
headed by Frank Harris, mounted, who
acted as marshal of the day and proceed
ed to the grounds on Big Island where
the celebration was held. The exercises
were opened with music by the Union
band of Moline, which was followed by
vocal music. MY Country It's of Thee"
which was followed by prayer by Rev. NJ.
NJ. McCreight followed by patriotic airs
by the band. Then Rev. j. h.
Keer stepped to the front and in few
appropriate remarks reminded those
present of the Importance of the
event that those present had assem-
bled to celebrate, and after speaking a
few words in behalf of his efforts for
Hennepin he introduced the speaker of
the day. Hon. Jerry Hennepin Murphy,
| Of Davenport, whose appearance at the
| front of the platform brought forth hearty
cheers. Mr.. Murphy began by congratu-
lating the people upon the success of the
Hennepin canal PROJECT, saying that for
| "a years it had been his ambition to see
| the day when work would be commenced
upon il, end now, after all these years.
said Mr.. Murphy, thank God we are on
top" He then spoke of the observance
of this day all over the land, when the
| rich and the poor, the high and low as
sembled to celebrate the birthday of this
mighty nation" after which he spoke of
the corruption now existing in politics,
aud is this connection he mentioned how
hard it was for an individual to change
his views saying it required more courage
to give up what was wrong than to main
tain what was right. He then spoke of
the vanity OF man and of the efforts that
many had made to gain fame, many sac
rifcing home, health and fortune in their
vain efforts to secure it. In this connec-
ton he spoke of himself as being sus-
ceptible to this influence perhaps asany>
one. He said that hope was the last
seed that withered in the human breast
and that as its beginning had been his
cherished hope for years, it was now his
earnest desire to live until the completion
of the canal.
He followed this with review of the
benefits that the whole country would
drive from his construction in the course
| of which he mentioned that it cost nearly
as much 10 transport bushel of wheat
from the Mississippi river to Chicago, a
distance of nearly 200 miles, as it did to
carry it from Chicago to Liverpool, dis
lance of 1000 miles. Mr. Murphy then
spoke of the delay in the work, and said
| that for himself be cared not by what
route the canal wss built, that we should
| all be for ''long haul, strong haul,
and haul all together" he then dis
| cussed the natural and civil liberties of
man and the rights of citizens of this
country as guaranteed by our consttu-
| tons extracts from which he quoted fre-
quently, and devoted considerable time
to an explanation of them, after which
he touched lightly on the question of
capital VS.. labor, and closed with fitting
| tribute to the father of our country
Washington. 1t was an able discourse,
and was well received by the large au-
dience present.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Murphy's
speech there was music by the Glee club
and band, and after giving three hearty
cheers for the Hennepin. the crowd dis,
persed for dinner.
In The afternoon R. W. Olmsted de-
livered splendid address, full of good
thought and patriotism, in which he
traced the rise and advancement of the
| American citizen, which naturally in>
volved running sketch of the history of
the republic and its various epochs. its
social conditions, etc, and in which ne
termed the present age, the era of MAJ
terIsl wealth or the industrial age. He
10 80 ba