Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-08-15

The GREAT REPUBLICAN GATHERING AT
SRINGFIELD, lLLINOIs-CLosING SCENES
The account of the returned eXcursiOnists full
ly sustain the reports which have reached us
by telegraph of the magnificent success of the
great republican demonstration at Springfield.
Everything confirms the belief that the meet.
ing at Springfield was the largest rally of the
people that ever took place in the United
States. We are assured by many and some
of these good judges of such gatherings, that
the crowd at Springfield throws far in the
shade the gathering i'll this city on either of
the occasions of the United States fair, in the
fall of 1859, and the more recent national con-
Vention. That the monster procession was al
most interminable, and wore out the patience
of the dense crowds in waiting, through which
it passed with difficulty, the streets at some
points being well nigh blocked up with specta-
tors, who did not join the pageant.
AT the time OF the day when the interest
conferred at the great fair grounds, just outside
the city, and the procession cooled its vast
length up into densely packed mass of hui
mainly and horSema,ity about the three sepa-
rate speakers stands, we have it from several
sources of unimpeached credibility that the
gathering exceeded that at any one time upon
the United States fair grounds here. And all
this while Springfield seemed apparently as
full MS ever. The streets were fairly chOked
and the wheels OF business clogged with the
food tide, a very freshet of republicanism.
The telegraph office operators, machines and
all, were removed to the cupola OF the State
House Many Of the store keepers actually
closed their doors to keep out a crowd eager
and too much under pressure to do shopping
The grand spectacle of the day was reserved
for the evening, when four thousand wide
awakes, by actual count, in a procession of
four deep, passed by the house of Lincoln
The ranks were one yard apart, or one thou
sand yards, making hreeffths Of a mile of bril-
liant torchlight, the CLEAN of the torches and
illuminated devices lighting up on either hand
the eager faces of solid wall of spectators
throughout the entire line of march. 70 real
ize the effect of such cheering as Springfield
heard on Wednesdays perfect Niagara of
cheers, from tens of thousands of threats at
once-one mu have been there. 1t cannot
be imagined. Everybody comes back hoarse
And when evening passed, and to the exciting
scenes Of the day period of rest succeeded,
| how was it to be spent by the thousands on
| thousands of actually houseess guests.
Fortunately, mild summer night Joins no
very serious terrors to Il lodging al fiesco
| Hundreds of farm wagons had their sleeping
occupants, the steeds tethercd to the wheels.
| The long lines Of cars at the depots were filled,
and when the seats could hold no more men
| hlu GOWN IN me alSleS. Tired humanity
shrunk from perpendicuarity in every imagi-
nable and unimaginable covert. They en-
camped under trees, invaded hay ricks. and
barns and carriage houses, stoops, portcos, and
vestibues Of buildings, public and private.
They infested the State House until it swarm
ed like an ant hill. Of course the reader will
understand this was not until after the hsospit-
able residences of the Springfield people were
full, so full that not a square yard of carpet or
| floor was without tenant, not until after the
hotels had filled their beds and cots, and entry
ways, and floors, and tables, and, we he'd al
most written, actually built breast work of
wearied out humanity high about their estab-
lishments, with every loop-hole closed against
fresh applicants. Such night as that was.
few will forget who witnessed it.
And when morning rose, and with it Spring.
field and its slumbering host, to breakfast.
short commons" were very numerous, we re
very numerous indeed. Our informant. who
is Clean Cassie" of infinite capacity, SAYS he
got one sandwich about nine o'clock, sand.
witch with only faded smell of ham. That
eating this and finding no more to eat. he
actually confesses he found himself castnp
longing eyes on fat baby discovered through
a window He adds the explanation that the
baby held a large slice of corn bread, which
saves our friend from II gathering suspicion
of cannibalistic tendency, And so has passed
the rally at the home of Honest Old Abe. the
largest rally, probably, of this or any other
OF the campaigns OF American politics.