P. 336 THE RETURN OF PEACE
A REUNITED PEOPLE—ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT—
POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES—CONSTITUTION OF 1870—
ELECTIONS OF THE SEVENTIES—RAILROAD STRIKE OF 1870—
THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES —THE WORLD’S FAIR—FROM ALTGELD TO DENEEN.
A REUNITED PEOPLE
Notwithstanding the bitter feeling which existed in Southern Illinois between the loyal union men and those who sympathized with secession, it was soon forgotten and all bent their energies toward building up the waste places. Churches took on renewed life, the congregations grew, preaching was more regular, financial burdens were lightened and in many ways there were signs of real brotherly love. In many instances new churches were built, old ones repaired and painted, cemeteries were cleaned of briars and sprouts, tombstones were straightened, the yard fenced, and the graves of soldiers of the Revolution, War of 1812, the Black Hawk war, the Mexican war, and the Civil war marked. The beautiful Decoration Day service became a common possession and each vied with others in deeds of kindness to the war widow and her orphan children.ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT
The close of the war brought economic advancement. While the wages of the soldiers were small and much of their money was spent in the army in a reckless way, yet there were many who saved a portion of their hard earned salary. Again prices of nearly all farm products were high and money was plentiful. Many homes that were neglected while the “boys” or husbands were in the army, were repaired, recovered, P 337 repainted, and many comforts placed therein. “New ground” was cleared, farms enlarged, barns erected, and farm machinery purchased. The cradle was the chief and really the only means of harvesting the wheat prior to 1860. By 1870 the old fashioned drop reaper was in use. Improved plows, threshers, hay rakes, corn planters, and other improved farm machinery came into general use. Roads and bridges received attention, new roads were opened, and railroads brought the markets near to the farmers’ door. People waked up to the fact that nearly all Southern Illinois is underlaid with a fine quality of bituminous coal, mines were opened everywhere. In a few places coke ovens were constructed, some of which are yet turning out limited quantities of that useful form of fuel. Rock quarries, and claybeds were operated here and there. Oil and gas were discovered. The wonderful adaptation of Southern Illinois to the growing of all kinds of fruits was discovered. Great apple orchards were planted in Clay, Wayne, Marion, Richland and other counties, strawberries were raised and marketed; blackberries, raspberries, peaches, rhubarb, asparagus, sweet potatoes, and all forms of garden vegetables were grown in great abundance and found a ready market in Chicago and St. Louis. To meet the demand of the shippers, railroads were built through most of the counties. Not least of the activities of the new generation was the marketing of enormous quantities of all grades of lumber and timber from this end of the state. Sawmills were located in nearly every neighborhood, and especially did the cities along the Ohio, particularly Metropolis, Mound City, and Cairo foster great lumber and timber interests. In the later years of the war as well as for a decade or so following the war, the negroes were migrating to Southern Illinois. They settled chiefly along the Ohio. The counties of Alexander, Pulaski, Massac and Gallatin contained a great many negroes. It should be remembered that the old system of indenturing servants had brought in a large number of negroes, many of whom never did return to the old home in the south. Schools improved wonderfully in the years following the Civil war. Many of the teachers were young men who had had experience in war, and this was of great interest to the students and often a source of real profit to the young people. Better school houses were built. There were scores of school houses during the war which were made of logs and contained only home made furniture. Frame buildings replaced these old log houses and “boughten” furniture was substituted for that made at home by the school patron. This awakening reached all the various phases of the people’s life, and served greatly to divert the people’s minds from the late. “unpleasantness.”POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES
There remains to be recited the changes in political matters which, if anything, were more marked than any of the foregoing phases. By the apportionment of 1850, Illinois was entitled to nine congressmen. By that of 1860, the state had fourteen representatives. In 1861 there were five Democrats and four Republicans in congress from P 338 Illinois.|
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New State House, Springfield |
CONSTITUTION OF 1870
The constitution of 1870 contains a bill of rights of twenty sections, provides for minority representation, and requires the legislature to provide “a thorough and efficient system of free schools, whereby all children of this state may receive a good common school education.” ‘All corporate bodies, as cities, towns, school districts, etc., are prohibited from paying money from the public treasury in aid of any church or sectarian purpose, or to any school controlled by any church. The document was adopted by the convention May 13, 1870; ratified by the people at a special election July 2, 187G, and went into force August 8, 1870. The constitution recognizes God as the Giver of all good gifts. The preamble reads as follows: “We, the people of the state of Illinois, grateful to Almighty God for the civil, political, and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for blessings upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired to succeeding generations—in order to form a more perfect government, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this constitution for the state of Illinois. One important provision in the constitution of 1870. is that which provides for minority representation. The constitution created fifty-one senatorial districts in the state. From each senatorial district there came one state senator and three representatives. The plan by which we may have minority representation is to give each elector three votes for representative, and only one for senator. The voter may cast his three votes for any one of the several candidates running for the lower house. Or he may vote one and one-half votes for any two candidates. Or he may cast one vote for each of three candidates. Or he may cast two votes for one candidate and one vote for a second candidate. This is so called because the plan allows the voter to accumulate his votes upon any one candidate. If there are sixteen thousand voters in a district, six thousand Democrats and ten thousand Republicans, the Republicans will nominate two candidates for the lower house. Each voter casts one and one-half votes for each candidate. This gives each fifteen thousand votes by this accumulative plan. The Democrats nominate one candidate and each voter casts three votes for this candidate, thus giving him eighteen thousand votes. Before either party can elect all three representatives in any district that party must have one voter more than three-fourths of all the voters. An unnumbered section of the constitution of 1870, is as follows: No contract, obligation or liability whatever, of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, to pay any money into the state treasury, nor any lien of the state upon, or right to tax property of said company in accordance with the provisions of the charter of said company, approved February 10, in the year of our Lord 1851, shall ever be released, suspended, modified, altered, remitted, or in any manner diminished or impaired by legislative or other authority; and all moneys derived from P 340 said company after the payment of the state debt, shall be appropriated and set apart for the payment of the ordinary expenses of the state government, and for no other purpose whatever.” This clause is full of significance now in view of the claims of the state administration relative to the back taxes due the state from the Illinois Central Railroad Company. The constitution prohibits municipalities from subscribing for any stock in any railroad or private corporation; limits the rate of taxation and amount of indebtedness that may be incurred; prohibits special legislation; declares elevators and warehouses public utilities and provides for their inspection; enjoins upon the legislature the maintenance of an efficient public school system; prohibits any appropriation of money for any sectarian purposes whatever; appellate courts are authorized; and salaries of state officers are fixed by legislative action. The campaign in the summer and fail of 1870, was spirited. Logan was returned to congress as a representative-at-large, while the Republicans elected the treasurer and superintendent of public instruction. The delegation in congress stood: Republicans, 9; Democrats, 5, In the legislative session of 1871, John A. Logan was elected United States Senator to fill the vacancy caused by the expiration of Senator Yates’ term. Gen. John L. Beveridge was chosen to fill out Logan’s term as congressman-at-large.ELECTIONS OF THE SEVENTIES
In the state. and national elections of 1872 there was a very large falling off in the Republican vote. In Illinois the Liberal Republican and the Democratic party fused and named Gustavus Koerner of Belleville for governor. The Republicans nominated Gen. Richard J. Oglesby for governor. The Republican tickets were successful. Governor Oglesby was elected to the United States senate and Lieut. Gov. John L: Beveridge finished out the governor’s term. In 1874 Thomas S. Ridgeway, of Shawneetown, was elected state treasurer on the Republican ticket. The campaign of 1876 was a notable one. Shelby M. Cullom was the Republican candidate for governor, while the Democratic leader was Lewis Steward, who was also the nominee for governor of the Independent Greenback-Reformers. Cullom was elected by the small margin of seven thousand.RAILROAD STRIKE OF 1877
The great railroad strike of July, 1877, brought vexing problems to the new governor. Capital and labor were at swords’ points, men were restless everywhere, and acts of violence were reported from many quarters. The situation became serious at many points, and troops were ordered out. At East St. Louis cars of grain, flour, live stock, and merchandise were congested in the railroad yards and the railroads were powerless to move their trains. “The Second and Third brigades had been ordered to East St. Louis, where the mob, estimated at 10,000, was terrorizing the citizens and setting the civil authorities at defiance. So wise and judicious had been the arrangements that by July 31, the trouble was at an end.” P 341 The campaign of 1880 was not a vigorous one. The Democrats named Trumbull for governor and the Republicans nominated Cullom. Prominent Southern Illinois Republicans who took part in the campaign were: Gen. Green B. Raum, Thos. S. Ridgeway, Gen. John A. Logan, Gen. C. W. Pavey, Thos. B. Needles, James McCartney. Among the Democrats from Southern Illinois were: Samuel S. Marshall, Wm. A. J. Sparks, Wm. R. Morrison, John R. Thomas, R. W. Townshend.THE EIGHTIES AND NINETIES
In 1882 Hon. Henry Raab, Democrat, of Belleville, was elected state superintendent of public instruction, over Hon. Chas. T. Stratton, of Mt. Vernon. Among the prominent ‘Egyptians” who were coming into the public eye were: David B. Gillham, Madison county; Henry Seiter, St. Clair, Wm. S. Morris, Pope, and Daniel Hogan, Pulaski; David T. Linegar, Alexander; Milo Erwin, Williamson; Seth Crews and G. F. Varnell of Jefferson; J. B. Messic, St. Clair, and R. W. McCartney, Massac. Gen. Richard Oglesby was elected governor in 1884 over Carter H. Harrison. In 1886 John R. Tanner of Clay county was elected state treasurer. Serious labor troubles occurred in different parts of the state in the summer of 1886. At East St. Louis the railroad employees struck and the militia was needed to restore order. Four men were killed and several wounded before the end of the matter. The governor was severely criticized for not taking hold of the matter sooner, but he defended himself on the ground that St. Clair had enough good citizens to suppress the disorders and the burden was upon the sheriff for not calling the posse-comitatus. Governor Joseph W. Fifer served from January, 1889, to January. 1893. Gen. C. W. Pavey of Mt. Vernon was state auditor for the same period. New men from Southern Illinois in the political field were: James R. Campbell, Hamilton county; Joseph W. Rickert, Monroe; David W. Karraker, Union; James M. Fowler, Marion, and Robt. B. Stinson, Union. John P. Altgeld of Chicago was elected governor over Governor Fifer in 1892. During Governor Altgeld ‘s term there was much advance in various lines. He was a great friend of education and two normal schools, one at DeKalb and one at Chesterton were established. The lieutenant governor under Mr. Altgeld was Joseph B. Gill of Jackson county.THE WORLD’S FAIR
The Chicago InterState Exposition, an organization of the city of Chicago, first suggested the holding of a World’s fair, in Chicago to celebrate the discovery of America, The enterprise met with favor throughout the country. Senator Cullom succeeded in getting a bill through congress locating the fair in Chicago, and also an appropriation of a large sum for an exhibit. A corporation was formed in Chicago with a capital of $10,000,O00. It was soon seen that the fair could not be successfully held in 1892, and the date was changed to 1893. This was a great exposition. Nearly P 342|
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VIEW OF KASKASKIA FROM FORT GAGE TAKEN ABOUT 1892 |
DISSOLUTION OF OLD KASKASRIA
For several years prior to 1891, the Mississippi river had been cutting across the peninsula and finally reached the Kaskaskia. It then began to encroach upon the town. The north and east parts of the village began to disappear in the river. The cemetery would soon be engulfed. The legislature of the year 1891 appropriated $10,000 for the purpose of securing a new burying ground and for moving the bodies to the new site. About three thousand bodies were removed in 1892-3, the new site lying near to old Fort Gage on the east side of the river. A large monument was erected in the new cemetery bearing this inscription: “Those who sleep here were first buried at Kaskaskia, and afterwards removed to this cemetery. They were the early pioneers of the great Mississippi valley. They planted free institutions in a wilderness, and were the founders of a great commonwealth. In memory of their sacrifices, Illinois gratefully erects this monument, 1892.” P 343 Little is now left of the once proud center of fashion and power. As one walks in and out among a few old cabins still remaining, and through a portion of the old grave yard, he is carried back over a period of one hundred and fifty years to the thriving, bustling capital of the ‘‘Illinois Country, ‘‘to Kaskaskia, the largest city west of the Alleghany mountains.FROM ALTGELD TO DENEEN
Governor Altgeld was succeeded by John R. Tanner. Mr. Tanner was a real Egyptian. His home was Louisville, Clay county. He had been actively engaged in politics for several years prior to his election|
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MONUMENT ERECTED BY THE STATE IN HONOR OF THE EARLY PIONEERS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY |
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