Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-09-22

wanting to see that the English language
was taught lii these private schools. in
sisted upon maintaining the right of state
interference. although not a single in
stance was cited of private or parochial
school which did not give instruction in
English. In other words, under one
pretext or another. they resolutely adj
hered to the principle of state interfer>
ence, and so far as is known the gov
ernor of the state then approved of
that decision. Now, nothing has
happened since that time to change
the character of the school law. The
same men, as rule, are again running
for office throughout the state, especially
the leaders from governor down to men,
bers of the legislature. 1t would be VIC
lent to presume that tue whole crowd
should have undergone a conscientious
change Of sentiment, especially inssmuch
as not one of them has personally said
anything to indicate it. There. is. there
fore. but one conclusion in the matter,
and that is that the present plank in their
platform declaring in favor OF repeal of
the law is q mere campaign shift and a
subterfuge made by the same people who
two years ago inserted plank against
state interference with private schools,
and after the election shamefully de-
clsred that it had nc binding force and
who after the coming election will again
declare that the plank in their present
platform signifies nothing. The fact is
that this Edwards compulsory educs~
tional act is rather in harmony with the
latter day principles of the republican
party-thaL is. for the few to rule the
| many. and for those who possess Moth
ing but lofty pretension to force their
views upon more modest people.
THE PARTY OF KNowNoTHlNGIsM
There was one more matter in connec~
| ton with our state politics, the speaker
| said, to which he desired to refer, before
| closing. 1t was the resurrection of that
factor in politics known in years gone by
| as acknowledgement. 1t is party which
| under the guise of pretended patriotism
| has so ught to prescribe foreign born cit
| liens, an attempt not only at prescription,
| but at Influencing elections. 1t is a
| movement unworthy of the Nineteenth
| century. 1t rests upon too narrow q
| foundation to succeed, and is in truth
the most unpatriotic move that men OF
| this age could possibly engage in. The
| judge then spoke of the part foreign born
4 oil bad fol in ha
building and preservation of our Ameri
can institutions, the loyalty of the foreign
born citizen to his adopted country. and
holding that in the time of the nations
| peril there were no more patriotic and
| fearless upholders of the flag of freedom
| than the foreign born citizens, and the
sons of foreign born citizens. Patriot.
ism does not grow from prescription
patriotism depends upon character, upon
enlightenment, upon education. The
party of knownothingism does not incul-
cate ideas of patriotism. Its members
are not American in political principles.
| They do their work in secret, in the dark.
| They belong to the Midi9val dark ages.
| They belong to the time when neighbor
| hated his neighbor, and had no thoughts
| of patriotism, or Of freedom. or of the
higher. nobler ideas of brotherly love and
| love of country.
Judge Altgeld's speech was received
! with wild enthusiasm, the speaker being
| interrupted by frequent outbursts of sp-
plsuse. 1t was argumentative in charse-
ter, thoroughly logical. straightforward
and able.
TRUMAN PLANTZ.
Chairman Sllvis then introduced Hon
TruE an Plsntz the democratic nc minee for
congressman from the Eleventh congres
sional district. He spoke in glowing
terms of tie speech of Mr.. Altgeld and
then mentioned that his remarks would