The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-06-28
Great Republican Observation-Disclosures
Hundred Freemen in Council.

"1Suoy iaSe VIII ionS O0 iSln Ia
bered by the Republicans ofDowagiac,
and surrounding country. 1t was the
day fixed upon by the Republican Club
of this village, for the dedication of the
Wigwam recently erected for the use
ofthe party during this campaign. On
Wednesday beautiful pole $50 feet
high was raised on the Public Square
from which floated the American flag,
and on Thursday morning one nearly
100 feet Ugh was raised Immediately
in front of the Wigwam, bearing the
flag of our Country and streamer
with the names of Lincoln and Ham
lin thereon. Long before the hour adj
vertised for the meeting TO commence
the Wigwam was densely packed with
ladies and conference.-the ladies occu-
pying each end of the building, and
the men the west side, and standing
in front of the Speakers stand, until
every available spot inside the building
was crowded, while outside, wagons
were drawn up, under the windows
which were soon filled as, indeed, was
every spot where the people stood the
least chance of hearing.
The meeting was opened with appro-
pirate music by the Dowagiac Mar
tial Band, and a soul-stirring song by
the Glee Club, after which, prayer was
offered by Rev. S. FL. D. Vaun. Mr..
G. G. Jones, President of the Club,
then, in few well timed and appropri-
ate remarks, introduced to the meeting
Hon. AUSTIN BLAIR, our candidate for
Governor, who made one of his most
eloquent and effective speeches.. He
referred briefly to the antecedents, his
tory and character Of our noble and
true-hearted candidate for President,
and paid him a glowing tribute for his
many glorious qualities of head and
heart. He also reviewed at some length
the disgraceful cource of the Admins
tration,-its prodigious and corrupt use
of the public money to carry out its in
famous me asnres its prostitution of its
patronage for every knavish purpose,
especially to extend slavery and its
general depravity. Being warm
friend of Gov. Seward, he went to
Chicago with the confident expectation
that that eminent statesman would re-
ceive the nomination for President, and
when his hopes were disappointed, he
confessed that he was one of the s'chief
mourners" upon the occasion. But he
had seen Honest Old Abe, and that had
not only reconciled him to his nomina-
ton, but he satisfied him with it. He
had found him more than all his friends
had represented him, and had become
satisfied that he was not only as honest
a man as ever breathed, but man Of
of superior talents, of enlarged and
statesmanlike views, and eminently
qualified, in every respect, for the po-
sition for which he has been nominated.
He referred briefly but effectively to
the use of symbols now so common
among the people. The American
people, he said, were noted for their
propensity to illustrate their ideas and
feelings by the use of some simple, USE
full and substantial thing to symbolic
their views, feelings and principles.
But in no department of action does it
appear so prominently or effectively as
in our politics. Everybody understands
the usefulness and power of this spe-
cies of political argument. To be sure
party must needs have principles for
its foundation, and these should be
stated with fullness and clearness
that will defy double dealing and shut
fling. But when thus established,
what more simple or beautiful method
can be found of giving them a brief
and comprehensive expression, than by
choosing some illustration drawn from
nature or from the life of the chosen
standard bearers of the party. Gen.
Harrison and his party adopted the
symbols Of the log cabin and hard cid
err. The cabins and the cider were
adopted to show the people that Gen.
Harrison was plain, substantial man,
who lived primitively, and ate and
drank the products of his own hands
and farms, and they represented frugal
ity industry and solidity in the Admin
istration of the Government. The de-
vice was good; the people received
and adopted it and made it honorable,
and gave it place in the history of the
country.
So now, in this day, the Republican
masses of the country are Selling upon
like things to illustrate the character of
fh N no.1.lokoo o,,1 <Io of