The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1866-06-21
oman--candles lighted up the heavens


"A correspondent who was present
describes the hall and the opening of
the meeting as follows:
7 The capacious hall was beautifully
decorated with national emblems and
portraits of the heroes, whose valor
has Illuminated the history of the last
five years, and handed down their
names In immortal association with
that of the cou,atry which they periled
their lives to save. Above and back
of the stage was placed the fine mas
ter medallion of the lamented Lin
coin, scuIptured by Reed, the boy
artist of Cincinnati On either side
of this dropped the heavy folds of the
twin colOrs of one of our gallant regi-
ments, the blue banner and the stripes
and stars. Portraits IF Washington
and Clay hung on the rigslt au6 left,
Whlle epergreens, the symbols o ms
mortal ty twiaed tbeir graeaiiai
sz4ees
maFlal 0f the Sc ssnfs of tlle nasE aa
afapea ana soenea aIgE tie .aatlCn-
Al standard and on the wings hung
portraits Of 6rant, Sherman, Hooker,
Sneridan, Rosecrans and Which. In
front of the table used by the speaker,
and hiding it from the audience, was
plaeeda large engraving of Carpenter s
celebrated picture of the first yadingH
of the emancipation proclamation. It
was an object of deep interest to all
eyes, forming a most appropriate fore
ground to the great center of attrac-
tion. Upon either side Of the hall
hung the crossed colors of other In
diana regiments, their stains and tat
ters more eloquent of liberty and
Union than the tongues of men or
angels while the chandeliers aud
window castings were hung heavy with
the aromatic branches of the spruce,
the cedar, and the fir. The brilliant
gas lights seemed to rejoice in illumi-
mating and rejecting the harmonious
splendors of the scene, and every
ornament and symbol seemed more
touchingly beautiful and appropriate,
placed as they were to commemorate
the preservation of the unity and free
dom of the nation after nearly FIVE
years of bloody civil war a a,s R4eo
On the stage were clustered per-
feet galaxy Of the hero soldiers of Ina
diana, including Gems Chapmen, Fosa
ter, Spooner, Coburn, Macauley, Knef-
Ter, McGinnis,a Ferrel, Blake, Coils.
Dobbs, Schiater, Trusler, Wilson. De-
wees, Hines, Robinson and others
BY s o 'clockieyeryi inch ofroom was
occupied by the. vast crowd, and as
Govs Morton made his appearance on
the stage, he was greeted with loudest
Z Gen. tassfpman, pres;iiid1ssaiF s;ii1 mt Of the
Union Club, called the meeting to or
der, and after Hail Columbia had been
played by the band, prayer was offered
by Rev. DR.. Holiday tlssulld lla D
-gez SPEECH OF GOV. MORTON. ~
Coy. Morton then took his place
at the table, being obliged, on account
of his lameness, to sit in chair The
Governor said. a1allggs 1ssfa eiss.lss 1=ssgo
IF | were to consult my own health
and the advice os my physician I
should not be here tonight, but /
feel a desire to promote the interests
of the cause which is to be won or
lost at the ensuing election, and /
have been solicited by the friends of
that cause to address the people upon
the issues of the day, and shall there
fore endeayor to speak tonight upon
the interests involved In the campaign
before u.s. Us bttcf 2fl Eii# .aiH ai ~
Since / came here tonight my mind
has been busy with the recollections
of the past FIVE years. This is the
first time that / have been upon the
stage since the close of the war, and
my mind recalls the occasion during
the rebellion when I appeared before
you to urge the recruiting Of yolun
teers and exhort our citizens to stand
by the Government. The war is over,
and the victory has been won, and we
shall decide at the coming election
whether the fruits of victory shall be
preserved or lost. b 6asaa ~ 27i
SPIRIT OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
1t is beyond doubt that the spirit
of the Democratic party is not
changed or improved since the termi-
nation of the war, but, on the contra
ry, it seems to have been greatly en-
bittered by defeat, In the field and at
the ballot-box. It's sympathy with
those who were lately in arms against
the Government is more boldly avow-
ed than ever, and it becomes argumen-
tative and enthusiastic in behalf of
the right of secession and the right
eousness Of rebellion. The true
spirit of Democracy in Indiana has
recently received remarkable illus
| tration that should command the sol
emn consideration of the people.
| Some four or FIVE weeks since. a
Convention was held In the City of
Louisville, composed, in large part, of
men who. had been engaged in the
rebel armies. These men assembled
in convention, ,eproclaimed themselves
members of the National Democratic
party, and declared their unfaltering
devotion to the time -honored sprinci-
| nlas a They vindicatad the rirhteons-