The New York herald., 1860-09-19
TIE WIDE AWAKE ORGANIZATION.
THEIR ORIGIN AND PROGRESS,
The Grand National Demonstration
in Prospect.
City Organizations Their Govern
ment and Drill,

Tne greatest feature or the campaign OF 1850 mas oeen
the introduction Of vast republican auxiliary, semi
military in character political in purpose, and daily IN
rseasing In strength and Influence 10 an extent IA
xxrale,ed in tho political snnals Of our country. We
reser 10 the organization known the republican Wide
Awakes who maze their nrst New York demonstration
pn the 18th inst The sleepy Gotham politicians who
discussing tnat evening" their ale the all
absorbing topics Of fusion squater s,vereguty
snI, black repubcanism and the Jones' Wood demou-
sirsiion giving perhaps, side though. ratiac.-
tion meeting at the Cooper lnstute startled out
Of al propriey by the sudden brilliant illumination
Of thoroughfares and the appearance Of large bodies
o men, bearing blazing torches marching in ne mill
Nary order towards the assigned rendezvous Of their var
s1t divisions Each man bore thin rail, surmounted
with large swinging lamp and a small American has,
bearing the Of Lincoln and Hamlin The uniform
of The privacs black enameled circular quite
s and Of good length, and glazed military fatigue cap,
with brass silver esgle 10 Gront some few companies
uniformed with blue rcd, drab and silver gray caps
ana capes and relieved the oroony Of the darker uni
crm. The captains and noncommissioned officers were
distinguished by Inverness overcoat with black
and undress mill ;ary caps In companies the
css carried red the aids coored aud the lieuien-
blue green lantern; in others the captain merely
carried painted baton The measured tread steady front
an< unoroken lines spoke OF strict attention TO drill and
the effective which the various bodies were
managed by their officers showed couclusvely tha.
sf ong military experience controlled their movements.
tbe firing OF signal gun at Union square the four
svisious composing the parade took Up their march,
nder the command Of their Marshal to the general
1ervous at the second gun they formed in line, under
the command OF Grand Marshal Gen J. II Hobart Ward
md n the third gun IN perfect order and without the
srshtcst confusion took up the line OF march down the
Rpwerv through Chatham street and up Broadway q
Union square, where they dismissed 50 little
n1tice had been given OF the intended parade that
the worthy citizens OF eur metropolis were completely
Sen by SURPRISE when the long line OF dazzling torches
and the sound Of military music awole them from their
nrsdnigh. slanhcIs. "Who these Wide Awakes 2,
s.vhere did they from the questions
svery SIDE None could belieS he vast array before
s6en lad recruited from publican ranks Of the
democratic stronghold Of the East "For what purpose
are they organizedg" again asked Some said to
syread ncendiarEm in Texas; Others, attend the naa
gwston oi Lincoln at Washington, In order 10 repel any
Bouse many ike amusing Ters we're given.
ANY explanation given by Iepu5cAn was regarded with
Assirusi and received cautiously. In order TO answer
eheet questions We rave decided 70 lay before our rea
fn account OF the origin and history OF the Vile
awake az nearly as We can gatAcr u from informaton
acyvsd from raslons Die sources.
An>ygaeAt such great Importance and results
,be coming political Hhoud not overlooked
s- bcl.tlei. as been done ~ some democratic ani
Nothing journals, bet demands careful consdcIa
slor The character and standing OF many members
a. oas community who have Joined IN this movement, |
sesy torches rrvaies ihe ranks, give weight
Ind hnporai heretofore any political order.
xcrchaps lawyers, doctors and Numbers OF all trades
pruess csught the injection, aud
-sercnoe the drin calls saily Inserted "a the secia
so.scs column Of the TtUas VIII satisfy unbe!evers u
,he widespread extent OF the organization.
rHElR oKiGIS.
Scv England claims The nirthplace OF this movcmcat,
BAxrd borg The Corne;icut crahe VII ch the infant
n1r.ured i originated IN accdeot, Ike many an
rthe- raught with great prcnt, AMI rapidly as
stunned rs present lgsnts proportons l happeo.t 10
mr. night % the 25th u February 1869 the
Gay of Hartford much moved by the advcnt u the
Hm. C1sius n. Gay, the well known republican
sv..or, who was 70 aires @ .,s wor,ay , cma
seyof leans Ct ibe peirhoorhood decided 10 act ~
70 the distinguished viser, and IN pnrsaaocs
e Ma design borrowed from tire company hard oy
of tnelr hremenAs torcnes Seng of rather fas
doas Of mlod aud xi,hai Inclined 10 protect their
eroadci0ih from oily Innovation, they prccuref some
gAss cloth and cut Il the form OF csPes " protect
inen shoulders lew glazed csp5 conpletcd TIE pre-
pRrat,ors. thus equipped they started 70 meet tbs
eralor rter novel bali military appearance attracted
csuerabe Acntun an drew forth the plautiu of tho
.sts nbsd mg,itaie re~ardpg them Tor their fore
Ioosehi On their return home OF the party at
BY sturdy democrat bat abloS from the orig
Ge AsaSe torch stretched him on the ground ant
s.opced al turther disturbance Before dismissal
ma he'd and after expressing their indignation a.
s.ack they resolved 70 form club Of limited num-
eers equipped with swinging torches aud black cspes
and care, 70 act special escort occaslous
81 rsabc rara9e and be ready at all times for any Ike
iaiv that m ghi forward republican In pur
s.po. OF these resolutions meeting Of young
ned ID OF March following, who resolved 10 form
s.E,de AWAKE clue of any under the command q
Css<An James = ghaIker, gentleman who feled
p0s democrat the nrsi parade constitution
adopted officers elected, and all the necessary seps
saken he opposition prcss of Hartford little magin
ng this the initiation % ggantic movement,
Aae themselves very at tho expense q the Hart
fcrd vide A~akes aladng W their uniorm they chris
nn-d them the "ssntla Cades, aud, some Of ~
s-ss members were young men, called them toe "tfty
Infants whose mamas didn't know they were OUT
sascd thai sics of candy be presented 70 each one,'
&C. &C "a Epite q their jibcs and )eers the move.
sn sse.d IKE ,1ss a., raa sr - ne ,bcr as os
rnaon, they obliged 10 dispense with
the ruIe limiting their numbers and I'm neistely enrolled
. number of members Al their nrst parade, held
-oon ster they counted by hundreds, AMI their FAM
rossd abroad In the eoarsc of iertaeht clubs were
started in Bridgeport, Waterbury Norwch, Unionvic,
ani nearly al the towns throughput tue State Men
a arcs occupations fostered and encouraged the
c~ranzatsp On the 9Th Of March, at the dedication OF
: eanp In Hartford over iwo thousand Wide Awakes
assembled paradng the streets IN tor .hsht array and
swins 20 the immense number Of torches making most
brilliant and imposing appearance. The republicans q
Hartford overwhelmed with letters fro all parts Of
Re Union, asking for information touching their rules
ner og organ xston dris. c. was At last fo1nt
necessary 70 inaugurate system by which these
esters could be answered, and notice was asserted Ia
psdn ns secretary OF the Hartford wide Awakes would
give lsn desired Information. In the course OF few
weeks that gentleman had received and died 500
eDmmuncstiobs We ell give few ~ a specimen-
M republican. Of hi. city orssaIs wis
esr a. ,picrusloa shls We saieipsie rre1i srasxs
su Jour ksaern hone may rest assured that we are
ready for 4
cxrsn Rsrrrs lows. June rs iSs).
rciee In No Chcsro Fr,ss uns Tis hs r~siy
n Republicans
sanpons HArfcfd Wide Awskes We ciuh
of eighty s-a would Lac form After your
be tuform4ion ani down
burcuk hiy Vide Awake republicans 10 The stats.
JANEtvILtr. Wa, June -. lsGn
VIII you have he kndne~ send circulars and sgrh
mar have p.fsiang v VIDE Awake clubs We
o. thee essential Tor TIE ctning
pasn n tbs rlss. ana ne~d .usrclls The
= pruxr-z.ing With gfext iaroaGs he
mus The VIDE Awake movement -ss inaugara,ei,
rapidly extesdinK fs acatons from Maiue 10 Ms
scuri. A all the aier gsnixaions based upoa
The Hartford one insert the preamble AMI cons.iiu
t,on of the Hartford Wide Awaxcs planaory OF the
opicct and manner Of ne general formation.
We he unaersenea yg-ng v as CITY az Harsf,rf
d~~rpus securing enteacy sad pe-petrty
rr1rriples of iNe rrrubucsn p.fy and ~ e~n n ean
tr