Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-02-21
SATURD AZ, FEBRUARY 81, 1891.
An Anonxmous Yilifier.


Skulking behind the patriotic non de
plume Of the "Oid Guard" writer to
the Union yesterday morning makes
scurrilous attack upon Gen. John NJ
Palmer, and slsn6ers the 1O1 gentlemen
who are displaying true loyalty in their
support of him for United States senator.
After charging Gen. Palmer with being
disloyal to the flag. during the rebellion
and also of being a tyrannical govern or,
"Old Guard" RACES as follows: The 1Ol
patriots and heroes, Vinton the hero
and patriot. v. Bill Payne and Crawford
We venture the assertion that 70 of the
1O1 were either copperhesds during the
war. the sons of copperheads, or saloon
keepers
No wonder the writer of the above
chose to remain anonymous. Such utter
ances could only emana'e from self-
confessed coward and libeler. Any re
putatle man would be ashamed to stand
sponsor for such contemplate and I'M
truthful statement. II THE ARGUS cared
to ascertain the individuality of "Old
Guard" it could do so without much
trouble, but the falsity and vepality of
his mouthings suggest at least that the
first word of his signature shou d be
changed to black. That coguomen would
harmonize better with his opinions, and
would undoubtedly more correctly re-
fleet the natural instincts of the
writer. Besides it would remove the
obloquy now cast On a respectable
and valorous contingent who served
faithfully in the army, while the
Union correspondent evidently be-
longs to that chivalrous crowd who were
generally found well to the rear when
any danger threatened, and whose fight.
ing has been confined to the years inter
yening since the close of the war
The criticism upon Gen. Palmers 10y
atty is on par with the attack upon the
character of the democratic assembly men.
No baser charge was even made. There
is no blemish on the soldier record of
Gen. Palmer. 1t stands out bright and
conspicuous, supplemented by term as
chief executive, an honorable career as
distinguished citizen of the state of
Illinois and one upon whose life-work no
aspersion can he cast.
But this vain glorious patriot and war
hero, prefers Sireeter to Palmer May
we ask what is Sire eter's war record? His
tory establishes the fact that Jonu n.
Palmer was at the front battling for his
country, and if "Old Guard" wants the
senatorial contest settled upon the basis
of events happening over % years ago.
we invite him to produce Streeter's claims
for recognition. It would be interesting
reading just about this time.
Up to and including his term as COVER
nor Of the state, which high Office Gen.
Palmer held throu. h the courtesy of the
republican party, he was regarded by all
republicans as the embodiment of
loyalty, courage and patriotism
But in 1872 GIN. Palmer experl
enced change of heart, polite sly. and
ever since that time his valorous deeds
on the battlefield have grown less and
less vivid in the minds of rad ical parti
sans, until now such nondescripts as
"Old Guard" charge him with Sinking
his duty as a soldier and commander.
With the same distorted and malicious
Interpretation all democrats are termed
"rebels" and pperheads." or, as ''Old
Guard further designates, ''sons of cop.
perheads. He says that at least ''75 of the
101 democrats are either copperheads,
sons of copperheads or ssIoonkeepers -
As the listed vocation of the different
members shows only one saloonkeeper
in the general assembly. it is fair to as-
sumo that the remaining "a are COP Err
heads and sons of copperheads, according
to the sadly warped views of odd
Guard" provided, of course, that the SOL
Itary ssloonkeeper is a democrat. We
have grave doubts, however, whether the
iauo VI CoPpeIuedus Is as nlSn hs THAI OF
the saloOnkeepers, which is shown to be
to 204. All together "Old Guards de-
'ductions are unsupported by facts. and
place him in the light of an cratic, mis-
guided and malevolent individual, i,
whose Uranium sense and e9uability
find no Judgement
WHERE oh Wheret are the democratic