The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-09-14

The monster ratification meeting of the
nomination by the Democratic National
Convenif>S of George Is. Mcclellan and
Ge'rge II. Nepdlcton for the two highest
off ;es within the gift of the American
people, which was held in this city last
evening under the auspices of the Invin-
chile Club of Chicago, but in which all
Democratic organizations in the city were
invited to participate, was the grandest
political demonstration ever witnessed
west of the city of New York. The
countless thousands in the city COM
menced assembling at the Court House
| square about sunset, amid the laundering
of cannon, the ringing of bells, and the
glad music of the several fine bands sta
| toned at different places The crowds on
veral different occasions during the week
WIRE pronounced by every one the largest
a'semblaees in the history of Chic go,
en- different railroads had each taken thou
sands towards their homes, the crowd last
evening was almost as large as had assem-
bled on any two nights previously. The
whole north half of the public square was
denscly packed at any early hour, and all
the streets in that vicinity blockaded by
the enthusiastic thousands who swarmed
every avenue. The procession which was
formed and paraded several of the princi-
pal streets, taken in connection with the
display of fireworks, formed the most i'm
posing scene ever witnessed by the citi-
zens. When the procession reached the
square the pyrotecenic display became
really grand, rockets scream through
the air and, mounting among the clouds,
descended in variesatcd showers of gilt
tering sparks many colored lights blazed,
balls of fire were flying in every direction.
and the whole square, and the streets for
blocks away, were Illuminated, while the
shouts of the people, through which the
peals of music swelied up and died away,
fllel the ear.
But The grand brilliancy and sublime
beauty Of the scene, the flashing of ro-
man candles, the blaze of rockets, the
myriad sparks of fire, the many colored
lights, the thousands of lanterns and
torches, the music, and the roar of can
non, sink into nothingness when compared
with the presence of over one hundred
thousand people, and the mighty enthu
siasm which swelled up through the
streets like the waues of the ocean. 1t
was not the display of pyrotecenics, or
the sounds that filled the air, but the |
presence of this mighty throng which was
and made the demonstration |
a great one The assembling of one hun
dred thousand frecmen in our streets last |
night was no meaningless affair. It /
meant that the billions of ruin rapidly |
eDgulfng the destinies of the country |
must be stayed. It meant that the days |
of a recreant an1 despotic administration
are numbered, and that upon the 4th day |
Of March, next, its iniquitous reign must
end. 1t meant that the liberties of the
country can be trampled upon and tam
pered with no longer. 1t meant that the
American people are thoroughly aroused,
and that henceforth the constitution must
be respected. It meant that after four
years of bloody, relentless, cruel war, car
ried on with reckless extravaganza of
of blood and money, the time has come
when the olive branch should suppiant
The sword. It meant that here in the
B. Mcclellan had the fewest friends, he,
today, possesses the popular heart; that
her good and true patriots will vie with
hose of the East in jealous service of
he country and the man and party des-
lined to retrieve it from ruin. 1t meant
hat the people are in earnest in this mat
er, and resolved upon victory over their
,nemies.
Among the thousands congregated in
he city the men of the Northwest were
argely in the majority, and, whatever
doubts good democrats may have had be-
ore concerning the ability of Gen. Nc
Jlellen to command the enthusiasm of
he masses in this portion of the country,
he demonstration last evening must have