The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-22

The Great American Republican Meeting
In the First Ward Last Evening-RalPh
versus sammons-somethingL Like Row
Tho American Flag In Danger, but Mt
Last Triumphant.
Whether the musical mania and Ole Bull have
anything to do with it or not, we really can't say,
but it is fact that all the popular movements in
this city are getting velier every day. There is
brlskness-an excitement-a brilliancy-a spark
ling efiervescence-a buoyancy OF feehng-exhi-
bited even in such heretofore dull affairs as ward
meetings, which are positively most enhvening and
amusing. The meeting at the Atlantic Gardens,
last evening" for instance, was as agreeable, lively,
and picturesque performance, as any sketcher OF
the varying scenes of metropolis could have
desired. Imagine long, narrow room, imme-
diatey on the street, with the American flag at
the door, and the American flag gracefully sus-
pended across the further end-a very paraytc
platform extending across--three very large gas
burners, emitting a thick stream of smoke and
hame-and a very dense mass of human beings of
most various appearance, all spoung, yelling, hiss
ing, grooming, threatening, jostllng each other
and you have probably faint idea of the scene
which was presented to the casual spectator, who
paused for moment and looked in as he passed
along But we will try to be little more def
nite:-
Att O'Clock Mr.. Curtis was called to the chair,
and took it without much opposition A commit
tee then appointed to retire and prepare resolu
tons, and it was proposed that De LIE Rec should
sing one of his popular songs in the meantime, His
appearance on the platform the signal for the
contending elements to begin their war. Mr.
Ralph, with a strong body of supporters on the
ground, and his party would not hear even DE lie
Rec, although Mr.. Ralph begged that they would.
De lie Rec was finally obliged to retire, and then
Mr.. Sammons stepped forward, when the contu-
sion became tremendous.
"No dictation"-"no foreigners "gentlemen, insist
First nonresident dictation
and such ordinations were occasionally heard amid
the din Of five six hundred voices, making all magi
nable noises in the shape of groans Kisses, yels and
vain did he beseech and beg for hearing Opposite to
him stood Mr. Ralph, equally energetic in dumb show,
although certainly too much for Sammons in strength Of
lungs for occasionally word of his speech audible
Then the two orators it, vehement fierce, mpe
uny ielding-thc funniest rua discussion
listened to out Of Blingsgate.
In the meantime the crowd was evidently becoming
more and more excited. They were determined not to
let the rival orators have the whole floor to themselves
Interesting little discussions were commenced in every
Of the and general row was about to
when Mr. Joseph Blunt advanced to the front of the plat
FORM and having signed his intention of addressing the
meeting, obtained silence He spoke in plain and sensi
BILE and polished manner for few minutes reminding his
hearers OF Importance OF the cause begging them not
Ralph not to persist.
After Mr. Blunt retired Mr. Ralph got possession of the
PLATFORM not without hard struggle. He had not much
time however elicate himself his position for re
mendous rush made-smash went the rickettyspat-
orm-down went Ralph, Summons, Curtis, kershaw, De
La Rec Whitney, and dozen Others and general melee,
in which hats coats wigs and suffered considerably
teld to himself by inspection of the fountain in
the Bowling Green He did not choose however to do
and hosted the shoulders of eight
from the Custom House. he was carried back into the
room, right up to the platform which had been miracu-
lousy restored to its former position Back to the door
were the gallant barge.men driven-back to the platform
thew returnedback again were hey forced to the street
and thus Mr. Ralph was kept seesawng backwards and
forwards until at last smash went the rcketty fabric
againdown went the old stove at the end Of the
down went the American flag and portrait Of Washing
ton-out went the gas lghtsand smash, crash smash,
the half of the crowd into the garden overurnng and
ery destroying several articles ofdomestc crockey and
frightening the senses out of venerable niger who had
been amusing himself by looking at the white folks
through the tattered window screen
How the warfare went during the absence of the
ght-he relative bearing of the combatans-the loss on
either sde-we cannot tell But when the gas again u.
minated the scene, appeared that Mr. Ralph had been
decidedly repulsed.
Ellis voice was heard no more
Amid the martial throng."
The barge-men had vanished-Curts, Summons Whitney
and De La Rec stood the platformthe American flag
waved as gracefully as crowd filled the room but
all quiet that could distinctly hear the pleasant
music of the waters of the fountain she street. Mr.
Curtis was now regularly installed as chairman and the
Whltney, Sammons maze thelr
regular speeches. and Mr. Powers regular Apo
los sang irregular songand after nine cheers the meet
ing dispersed,
Il is difficult say which party succeeded Thefriends
OF Ralph and those OF Curtis appeared to be in the early
cessons of force from other wards made the latter prepon
derate and thus effected Ralphs expulsion We have
doubt however that all the personal petty differences
which occasoned this Of confusion will be amicaby
adjusted and the First Ward like all the others present
united unbrokcn front in the great coming contest be.
tween corruption fraud Incidence and neficency the
hand and patriotism integrity and active energetic
good government on the other.
Mr.. Everett's Lectures on the French Re-