The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-08-15
COMPANY 3
The Republican Demonstration at
IattOOH.

The Republican Demonstration at
MattOOn.
Our exchanges come to us filled with
the most glowing accounts of the great ont
pouring of the Republican masses at Mat
toon, Illinois, on Friday last. The meeting
exceeded in point of numbers, enthusiasm,
and magnifcence Of display, any similar
demonstration recorded in the political his
tory of the Prairie State.
The number in attendance was computed
at not less than 1000. Excursion trains
to the number of nearly one hundred cars
coming in crowded both inside and on top
to their utmost capacity, while thousands of
the honest yeomanry of the land came in
/ their wagons and carriages, to do honor to
the cause of freedom. Large numbers came
during the preceding night and the whole
prairie was lit up with their camp fires. I'm
mediately on the arrival of the railroad
trains, procession formed and proceeded
to the Fair Grounds where the speaking
took place. 1t was more than two hours
in passing.
At the head of the column was tri-
umphal car, most gorgeousIy decorated, con
tanning some sixty-six young ladies' repre-
senting the States and Territories. Next
came pyramid of beauty composed of
young ladies and little girls, all bearing APP
propriate badges and banners. Following
these were other cars and wagons most
grandly decorated, and filled with gaily
dressed ladies. Some were in the form of
ancient chariots, ornamented with the most
consumrate taste and skill. These were
followed in tHrn by an almost interminable
procession, composed of Wide Awakes on
foot and on horseback. Then came the
wagons representing the mechanic arts. One
huge wagon was constructed of rough oak
saplings, Just as cut from the forest, and
drawn by thrty-three yoke of oxen, and
bearing a corps of Rail Maulers, at their vo-
cation of splitting rails. Another large
wagon was fitted up as a blacksmith's shop,
with a full complement of hands, and an
old farmer with his horse to be shOd, which
work was done in fine style while the pro-
cession was moving. Other wagons fitted
up in similar style, followed with flags,
banners &c.
At the Fair Grounds, the speaking was
going on from three or four different stands
at the same time. Lovejoy, Matthews, Kel-
logg, Yates, and Hurlburt of Ills, j. G.
Underwood, and others, addressed the peo-
pie.
Loveioy as usual drew the crowd. The
people wanted to see the man who had dared
to stand up before an armed mob of pro-
slavery fanatics in the Hall of the House Of
Representatives, and hurl back into their
faces some of the bitterness with which they
had been reviling the Republicans for weeks,
compelling them to hear him, while neither
the howls of his enraged adversaries nor
their threats of personal violence could drive
him from his position. At no time was the
crowd around him less than 5000 and the
applause was frequent, enthusiastic and uni
versal; even Democrats, in spite of them
selves were compelled to applaud many of
his most pungent hits and palpable exposi-
tions. The other speeches were filled
with the doctrines of Republicanism, and
were received with the greatest enthusiasm.
At night speeches were made at various
places. An immense crowd of Wide wakes
paraded the streets in torchlight procession,
and scene of the widest enthusiasm pre-
vailed.
Altogether, the demonstration was such
as has never been equaled in the annals of
that portion of country. Even democrats
admitted that the crowd in attendance was
four times as great as that of the Democra-
| cy on the 10th of July. The Democratic
journals claimed 5000 on that occasion,
but the Opposition think 5000 would in
clude the Douglas demonstration.
All candid men admit that there were
/ present on Friday not less than 10000 peo-
I pie, and never was so large crowd so well
! behaved; not fight nor single symptom
of row or a quarrel presented itself.
This was but another manifestation of the
uprising of the people, in their determina-
ton to hurl from their position the party in
power, who having by corruption and ex-
travagance, depleted the national treasury
and prostituted the government to the vilest
ends, are now seeking to wrest from them
the heritage of freemen, and give it up to
he cursed by the blighting influence of hu-
man slavery.
Eg5~ We published our own report Of the
proceedings of the Bell Everett meeting of