Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1860-10-04


"Among hands" great anxiety has been
excited about these "Wide Awakes," and
the N. Y. Herald devotes long article to
their history and manouvers. We extract
the following, promising that it is nothing
new here, however it may be in the East,
but still it is interesting to get together
the various items in regard to this great
body.
THEIR ORIGIN.
New England claims the birth place of
this movement, Hartford being the Con-
necticut cradle in which the infant was
nnrtnred. 1t originated in accident, like
many other events fraught with great
portent, and rapidly assumed its present
gigantic proportions. 1t happened in this
wise: On the night of the 25th of February,
1869, the city of Hartford was much NOV
ed by the advent of Hon. Cassius NJ. Clay,
the well known Republican orator, who
was to address the worthy citizens of the
vicinity. Some enthusiastic young Repnb-
lica1s of the neighborhood decided to act
as an escort to the distinguished visitor,
and in pursuance of this design borrowed
from fire company hard by some of their
firemen's torches. Being of rather fas-
tidious turn of mind, and withawl inclined
to protect their broadcloth from oily in
uovation. they procured some glazed cloth
and cut it in the form of capes to protect
their shoulders. A few glazed caps com.
Pleted the preparations, and thus equipped
they started to meet the orator. Their
novel half military appearance attracted
considerable attention. and drew forth the
plaudits of the assembled multitude, re-
warding them for their forethought. On
their return home one of their party was
attacked by a sturdy Democrat; but blow
from the original Wide Awake torch
stretched him on the ground and stopped
al further disturbances. Before dismissal
. meeting was held, aud after expressing
their Indignation at the attack, they resolv.
ed to form club of limited numbers, E.
quipped with swinging torches and black
capss and caps. to act as special escort
on occasions of public parable. and be rea
dy At all times for any like duty that
might forward the Republican cause.
In pursuance of these resolutions meet
inS Va yOuif, fllcu was uciu OIL TIC Oh Oh
March following. who resolved to form a
Wide Awake club Of fifty, under the CON-
;mani of Captain James s. Chalker.. the
gentleman who felled the pugnacious
Democrat on the first parade. A constitu-
tion was adopted, officers elected. and all
the necessary steps taken. The opposition
press of Hartford little imagining that this
was tho initiation of gigantic movement,
made themselves very merry at the expense
Of the Hartford Wide Awakes: abiding
to their uniform. they christened them
the"Mantilla Cadets. and, as some of the
trst members were young. called them the
Fifty Infants whose mammas didn't
know they were OUT" asked that q ssstick
Of candy Be presented to each one" &C..
DC. In spite Of their jibbss and ieers the
movement spread like Wild fre, and at the
next meeting. bald only three days after
their organization. they were obliged to
dispense with the rnle limiting their num-
bers, and. Immediately enrolled large
number OF new members. At their first
parade, held soon after, they counted by
hundreds, and their fame noised abroad -
In the course Of fortnight. clubs were
started IN Bridgeport, Waterbury, Nor
wich. Unionville. and ia nearly all fhe
towns throagbout the State. Men Of ali
ages and 'occupations fosterod and spcour-