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The Armory at Rock Island.
The news we publish this evening, of the passage of the Rock Island Armory bill in the senate will create much rejoicing among our people. The passage of the bill through the house, and its approval by the president we cannot doubt.
The action of Senator Browning is very strange and unaccountable. It was understood by our committee, who visited him, that he was in favor of his own town, Quincy, first, but that he was not unwilling that the armory should go to Rock Island if he could not secure it for Quincy. Yet he made every effort to change the location, not only to Quincy, but to other points, and on the final vote he voted against the bill altogether — against having any armory in the state. — It would seem from this that he had some spite against Rock Island and would rather defeat the bill than see the armory go to Rock Island. We regret to see this action of Senator Browning for we had a higher opinion of him than this action of his would warrant.
The bill has yet to pass the house, and will, of course, be opposed by the member from this district, Mr. Arnold, who, like Mr. Browning, would rather see it killed than see the armory located anywhere except in his own town — Chicago.
We presume these gentlemen have read the story of the "dog in the manger," who could not eat the hay, and would not let the ox eat it; at least we should think so from their action.
Mr. Arnold was originally in favor of Rock Island, but he changed in order ot make a local hobby to ride into congress again on, — a hobby which will be very likely to throw him before he gets through with it.
We regard the final triumph of Rock Island as certain.