Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-10-05
The Democracy not Badly Frightened

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In pursuance of posters in city and coun-
| ty, and advertisements in the Morning
Journal the Great Radical Show, for which
Gen. Ben. Butler, of Massachusetts,, whom
somebody has sarcastically called the
''Hero of New Orleans" had been specially
engaged as the prominent actor or clown,
came off at Columbus on Thursday, the 4th
| inst. .. ... .
Preparations had been made for having
on this occasion, a monster demonstration.
Three bands of music, one Of which came
from Cleveland, were specially engaged
A large banner was offered to the township
that should send in the largest delegation.
From the flaming bills posted up in town
and country, one would have been led to
suppose that there was to be in Columbus
on the day of Ben. Buffers visit, a politlcal
meeting that would eclipse all that had
ever before been held in the city.
But the appointed day came, and with 1t
came the looming man." yet the people
failed to come. The day was pleasant
one. The morning sun rose bright and
clear. 1t could not have been the dread Of
rain or of storm that kept the people
away. In the forenoon, and until Buffers
arrival at IL o'clock, there was no percep-
tible change from the ordinary appearance
of the city, except that along High street,
there were rather more flags displayed
from "loyal radical buildings than usual.
But the streets and sidewalks were no more
crowded than on ordinary market days.
THE RECEPTION AND PROCESSION.
At about 10 o'clock, the sound of cannon,
which, however, did not seem very start
ling, announced that Gen. Butler had ar
rived at the depot. Some sort of process
sion, headed by the Cleveland band, came
down High street, escorting Ben. Butler,
his wife,. daughter and private Secretary,
who accompany him on his tour. 1t was
small aud insignificant affair, made up in
the main of Shoddy Radicals from the
city, in their own or hired carriages, and
passing along a clear and unobstructed
street, with sidewalks and street crossings
about as free as usual for passing pedestri-
ans.
Along the procession passed, quite like
a f1nernl train, almost in dead silence, with
&" solemn tread and slow" A few SUPER
loyal ladies waved handkerchiefs from win
dows, but not a cheer was to be heard, for
there was nobody to shout or respond.
A grand marshal had been appointed
and other arrangements made for grand
monster procession of delegations from
the townships. But this procession, when
fully formed, and passing along High
street, consisted of 95 vehicles and 81 per-
sons on horseback, by actual count. But
the occupants of the vehicles were nearly
all women, girls and boys too young to
have vote. Some wagons contained only
one person; some, none but boys and girls,
and others were filled with ladies alone.
1t was remarked to us that the RAIDS. in the
had filled their wagons by borrow
ing their neighbor's boys and girls. Some
negroes, too, had been borrowed both for
carriage and horseback show-one shiny
black fellow in wagon carrying flag.
THE MEETING ON THE TERRACE.
Passing around to the east front of the |
State House at about twelve o'clock, we
found a stand erected OH the outer edge OF |
The terrace, about which crowd was |
meeting having already, be-
gun. The assemblage was by no means
arge, considering the exertions that had |
been made to drum up big crowd. 1t
was spread over quite space, but so thin |
hat it could be easily penetrated in any |
direction. 1t was composed like the main |
chiefly Of women and children.
The voters were STEW and far between"
with the immense, thronged aud
iensely packed mass of our voting popu-
alton that, at the same point, not long |
ince, greeted President johnson, the But
er demonstration was mere trihe--a de-
,ided fizzle.
1t worth noting that negroes, male and
emale, intermingled with the whites,
ormed a large component part of the as
emblage that met to hear Gen. Butler.
And generally speaking, they seemed to be
he most gratified and pleased auditors the
General and the other speakers had. The
Meeting passed of with but few and feeble
OF enthusiasm. There was
n fact no general cheering, and nothing
Ike the shouts of appreciation and delight
hat rose up while President johnson was
making his late speech on that same ter
ace. Compared with that meeting, this
vas tame, lifeless and inslpid. .l sfI
FRAGMENT OF THE TAG TAIL COMMITTEE.
When we arrived at the east terrace,
Ir. Stokes, of Tennessee, was speaking.-
Ie had stopped here, with Senator Fowler,
{ the same State, who, some time since,
,ade speech at the west front Of the State
louise. These two gentlemen are part of
hat famous or infamous band Of so-called
Loyalists," who were sent out