Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-09-05
WHOLE NO. 93S.
From the indianapolis Journal ]
ireat Republic'n Demonstration
The Largest Meeting ever held
in Indiana.
$4,000 Republicans Present !

Those who may have doubted the repoi
of the vast LEGAL meetings of Republican
in this State, which we have publishes
from time to time, and charged the enor
nous numbers to the fancy of the reporter
saw a convincing proof yesterday that
what was stated was not true it might cas-
iIy have been 50. The 5000 and l0O0I
gatherings at Connersville. Richmond
Lebanon, Terre Hautc, Evansville. anC
other places, might have been put at large
figures and yet have only fairly indicated
the immense State meeting of yesterday
II was far away the largest assemblage ev
er collected in Indiana on any occasion
within our knowledge, and exceeded the
anticipations of those who were most ex
trayagent in their hopes. 1t was emphati.
eally a success, a word which might be
without much significance in cbaracteriz-
ing political meeting, if the Douglas dem
onstration of the 18th of July had not made
itworth while to escape the imputation OF
failure. To contrast it with that Demon
stration would be unjust. IL the contrast is
to be accepted any indication Of the
comparative strength OF the parties repre-
sented, for that was fiat and ridiculous
failure, and it is very certain that the party
is strong, and even hopeful. Yet the con-
trast is forced upon us by the equal impor-
tsnce accorded to each before it occurred.
the equal preparations made for each. and
the equal efforts to secure large atten-
dance. There was quite as extensive and
persistent effort made by the Douglas men
as by the Republicans, and that, till the
last moment, as great "a crowd was antiei-
pated is proved by the array Of Marshals
and the pompous announcements of process
sions made the day their orowd-stayed al
home. And more was expected of their
demonstration by the Douglas men than
the Republicans could expect. for we had no
divisions to fuse by the excitement of a
great meeting, and they desired to crush in.
ternal dissensions as well as external oppo-
sition by their display. Yet, equal as both
were in all their circumstances and induce
ments, the contrast in the result is little
short of marvellous. Estimating our crowd
by the figures of the Douglas meeting as
claimed by Democrats, there were at least a
million and half of people here. There
was not one railroad of all that center here
that did not bring down more to our meet
ing than all The roads trsu9h TO the Douglas
Meeting. This is the simple absolute truth,
and can proved by the reports of the con-
ductors. There was no time during the
whole day of the Douglas meeting when
the streets were half so crowded as they
were yesterday after the eTot1d had gone to
fhe Fair Ground TO the speaking.
There were more people in and around
the State House square yesterday afternoon
while nearly all Of them were at the Fair
Ground. than there was in the same square
while Pugh vas speaking on the 18th Of
July. Estimating the Republican crowd
by the best reports we have been able to
procure, there were over $4,000 present.
There were about 25. 900 brought by the
yesterday and the day before. and the
number that came in carriages, wagons,
and on horseback, from the adjoining
counties and from sections not reached by
railroad. was still larger as was evident
Gron the denseiy crowded streets long be-
fore any excursion trains arrived, and to
which the thousand brought by those
trains,made scarcely an addition. 1t is no
sxaggsration. but the simple fact. that
when the trains began pouring out their
loads, the country people had filled the
city so that the crowd never appeared 10
get any larger. though at least twenty
thousand we're added to it.-And when
ahe Fair Ground was full with crowds Of
1000 and 5000 round each one Of the -four
speakers stands, and even more gathered
10 the shade, round the eating stalls. and
louuging about unable TO get near enough
to hear any Of the speakers. the streets ap- !
pesred to be Just a. fall as ever. The
whoIe road from the ground TO the State
House was crowded as it is during the
4hiekest Of the State Fair attendance. and !
Washington street appeared to have ssf-
fered no depletion at all from the tremend
Gus stream Of procession. and the still
larger crowd that accompanied it. The
only difference that could be seen was In |
ne absence of wagons. and the partial
vacation Of the side streets. There must
have been 30 900 on the Fair Ground when
the speaking began, aud We have seen no
body whe thought that more than half the
crowd was there. But We desire to be
within the mark aod 10 state only what we
bsiisvs. and what every reasonable man
will allow, and in saying that there were
80 900 people here yesterday. and that IL
vas the largee. aud most orderly. and
most encouraging meeting ever held 10 the
state, we are entirely within bounds.
rRErARATIoss.
II the meeting had been failure; IL II
had been say ooiy Eve times as large as
the Douglas meeting, it would have put
the preparations made for it to shame. Oar
citizens did all that liberality and energy
could do TO provide not only suitable en-.
tertsinmsnt. but adequate decorations for
a vast crowd. Huudreds Of private houses
we're put in order 10 sceomodals oil who
might call frora abroad. aud the streets
we're dressed 10 a holiday attire surprising
.pytbisg 10 our experience. Broad stream
~rs were stretched ssross the streets at ms
many places. with appropriate Inscriptions
Flags aostsd from every hotel, aud from
hundreds Of windows; wrsstbs ofever-
greens and portraits Of our candidates en-
eireled With svsrgrssns relieved the glare
of The sun and the hot walls 10 all dmec'
tious. In the center Of washisgton street.
near the erossingof Meridian, . large pole
had been erected. from which, stretching
60 the roofs Of the houses ON each side. In
graceful curves, we're vast festoons Of ever