August 8

Rock Island, IL

"Ladies and Gentlemen: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to find so many people here awaiting our return to the state in which we were both born. I would feel very badly indeed, if in Illinois there should be less cordial support than in the state where we now live. It gratifies us, therefore, to meet the citizens of our former state and see them manifest interest in this election. The principles represented in the Chicago platform will be presented from the stump in every state in this union, from Maine to California. (Applause.) There is not a state which we are willing to concede to the enemy, because we believe that in a great struggle for financial independence the citizens of all the states will stand up for American institutions and American rights. (Tremendous cheering.)

A few days ago the candidate for governor of this state passed through our city on his way to the mountains to take a much needed rest. If you will give to the electoral ticket of this state as large a vote as I know you will give to your candidate for governor John P. Altgeld (loud cheering), we shall be satisfied." (Loud cheers and applause.)