Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-07-25
The Dsmooratic Meeting At Reading

vention, held in that city on "Wednesday,
July 18th, 1866. From the tone of the
Democratic papers, the impression had
gone forth that at least fifty thousand would
be there, but the Journal, in its account OF
the meeting says, there were not over ten
thousand persons present at the two stands,
and deducting the citizens of Reading lmen,
women and ehildren) from that number,
and less than four thousand were ln atten-
dance from outside the city limits. The
Journal further says:
There were no arrangements for a pro-
cession-no Committees to welcome ana
escort delegations to their quarters,in fact
there was no system whatever In the de-
monstration. Those who should have at
tended to the duty of extending courtesy
and hospitality to the visitors were riding
| around the city in carriages (paid out of the
party fund, with Montgomery Blair, Geo.
II. Pendleton, or some other big gun. The
rank and file were left to take care OF them
selves.
about . p. IN. the speaking commen-
ced. For this purpose two stands were
erected-one in East, and the other IN w est
Market Square. Here new difficulty was
experienced. Like the boy who hadn't
enough butter for his bread, they found it
impossible to make decent show at two
places at one and the same time. So the
speaking was by turns at each of the points
named. Hon. Hester Clymer, Dick Vaux,
of Philadelphia, and the johnson party
represented by Montgomery Blair, spoke at
the eastern stand-and the smaller fry at
the other place. Finally the crowd got so
small that both stands were abandonded
and the speaking was continued from the
piazza of the Keystone House. Here Val
landighaps bosom friend, Hon. Geo. II.
Pendleton, of Ohio, (the late Copperhead
candidate for Vice President,) addressed
a crowd of some two or three hundred
best speech of the day The main topics of
discussion were the 'nigger, ''Thad. Stew
ens," the ''Constitution" and the Black
Republicans. The ''nigger, however, was
the favorite theme, though 'Thad. Stevens,
came in for full share of attention.
."Several professional reporters from Phil
| adephia and elsewhere, who came here to
report the speeches, were refused places on
the stand-and not treated with even decent
| courtesy. Thus it was that only very brief
sketches of the speeches were given in the
Philadelphia prints. Mr.. Pendleton S speech
| was not reported at all-because the half
drunken men on the platform or piazza OF
the hotel, would not make room for the Re-
porter's table Possibly the Berks County
Managers OF the concern did not want the
speeches published the weakness
of the cause, and fearing to have Copper
head sentiments properly ventilated.
Between and p. m. the Convention
broke up, and the Copperheads left town,
| with ill-concealed yexation at the decided
| failure of the first demonstration of the
campaign, and gloomy forebodings of de-
feat in October next.
The telegram to the n Y. Tribune re-
ports Hon. Montgomery Blair. one oe the
| speakers, as saying that
1.-The only issue was whether the country
| would continue to remain In a state of dis
union in order that political party may re-
tain power or whether the old Union, as
established by our fathers, should be restor
| ed. 1t had been his misfortune to differ
with the Democratic party; but it was
composed of honest men, whom he always
honored. They had presented the spectacle
| of furnishing men and means to defend the
| Government at the same time that that
| Government was in the hands of their po-
liticai adversaries, thus proving, to some
!. extent, the intense feeling OF devotion to
the country which ever characterizes them !;
this, too, when, as the speaker knew Che
being member of the Government, that
| Government was welded in most unscrtp-
ulous and unjustifable manner. The speak
er predicted that, should the Radicals carry
the election in October, the result would be
| the establishment of two Presidents and two
| Congresses. for the Radical sectional maiori-
ty would then immediately impeach Presi-
| dents johnson and turn him out, while on
the other hand the Democratic members of
| Congress would unite with the regularly
warned his hearers that they. were on the
eve of another civil war. the battle; fields Of
| which would be in the North while the
South would remain united. He disclaimed
speaking for any sensational purpose; but
against the evil effects of tampering with
the fundamental law of the land. y
Of this speech the Tribune editorially re-
marks that this is threat of civil war,
and an appeal 70 the worst passions of the
worst men. The people of the loyal States
will not endure to be told that if the Union
candidates are elected in October the North
will be the scene of civil war, begun by the
defeated party and the South. Pennsylva-
mia is not to be terrified into electing ely
mer. These threats are the courage of
towards. "has saifsiG
Ruskinis style is sharp. He says in one
4 of his most recent essays: 10y on woven of
England are all now shrieking with one
voice-you and our clergymen together
because you hear of your Bibles being at