Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-04-14
GREAT MAN HONORED,
Celebration Of the Birthday An.
niversary of Thomas
Jefferson.
HIS LIFE AND WORKS EULoelzsD

HIS LIFE AND WORKS EUL0GlzeD.
Good Sized Audience PArticip Ates In the Oh.
sefvance Beid Under the Auspices of the
Patriots of America and Hear Addresses
by A. p. McGaifk, Z. H. Guysr and c ].
ses,le- Mayor Mednl Presidee.
The anniversary Of the birth OF
Thomas Jefferson was fittingly OBJ.
served at Turner hall last evening in
q program of speeches and music
arranged by the Patriots of America
and participated in by an audience
OF citizens which comfortably filled
the hall. The stage was deliberately
oedecked In the national colors,
while licensees of Washington, JEFF
ferson and Lincoln were located in
conspicuous places. W. Il. Bragdon
called the meeting to order and in
troduced as presiding officer Mayor
I. j. Meiill, Jr., who in announcing
the object of the meeting. said the
name OF Thomas Jefferson is a house.
hold word throughout the land. 1t
is q significant fact, il not coinci.
dence, continued the speaker, that
on the anniversary of the birth Of
one Of the fathers Of our country,
war should be declared by America
in the name OF humanity to free a
struggling people. He believed it a
good omen-right will prevail, the
arms of the United States will con.
quer her adversaries and establish
peace and freedom in the island OF
Cuba.
A. P. McGuirk, Of Davenport, was
next introduced. He paid q glowing
tribute to the life and work OF Jeffer-
son, who as the author Of TIC Declsr-
alton OF Independence, one of the
greatest and grandest declarations
that ever came from human mind,
had made himself known, honored
and revered wherever civilization
existed. jefferson believed in the
sovereign right of the people to rule.
To Jefferson We look as the man who
laid down the basic principles on
which the democratic party stands.
We demand, as Jefferson held, that
our affairs be conducted By the peo-
Ple-not by corrup: capital. Mr..
McGuirk said there was no south, no
north, no east, no west now-in q
time when the country is on the
verge of hostillities with q foreign
power; the people are of one mind;
they will act together.
Tells Of the O,der.
E. H. Guyer followed and devoted
his remarks principally to an expla.
nation Of the objects Of the Patriots
OF America. Continuing. Mr.. Guyer
said: The great man whom we
meet to honor was indeed one Of the
first patriots Of America, and were
he alive today l know he would be
found in your ranks. But be is alive
today, and more potent than any
living American in the influence O!
his examp e, his teachings and in the
memory OF his patriotism. He was
a leading actor in the theatre Of the
worlds history, at q time when
humanity was making supreme
effort to sever the bonds fastened by
many centuries rule of oppression
and privilege. OF late
years there has grown up q class Of
people in this country, drawing its
inspiration mainly from Wall street,
fattened, blinded and preiudiced by
the special favors they enjoy, who
insolently claim that they are en-
dowed with power sufficiently pc.
tent to set aside the will OF the
majority. when that will refuses to
recognize any Of the favored classes
prerogatives. The immense power
claimed by this class is too manifest
to be denied. Little good can be &C.
complished by making personal as
saults on individuals. The individ-
ual is but as a grain of sand
In the mighty desert. He stays but q
short time, and then disappears. Ii
is the principle that lives forever.
The only way, then, to correct
abuses is to educate the body polite
so that the will of the majority sbsll
make its fiat for equity and truth.
1t is the object Of the
Patriots of America to organize q
society of thoughtful men VINO NEE,
together and discuss the evils tina.
exist. and pledge themselves to en-
tighten the body polite as to these
evils and as to such remedies as the
majority OF the society approves.
To eliminate selfshness as motive
they pledge themselves no: to seek
flee or political preferment. 1t is
taught the office should seek the
man. When you have con.
WINGED the ma rity that money is
not supreme over man; that the only
natural right of property is the
property right in the frui. of ones
own labor; that any other rights OF
property other than in the fruits OF
ones own labor is founded solely on
human law, and that such right OF
property may be justly terminated
whenever it is no longer beneficial to
the majority that it shall exist-when
you have forced this logic home to
the majority Of the people then you
will be able to pull the fangs from
ontrop oh cd rrcod and pr;r;looa