The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-07-18
THE BARBECUE An SALEM.

the steamer echo" LETT the Albany wharf
bearing upon its decks a goodly number OF
ladies' and gentlemen, as also tho Albany
Brass Band, bound for the Democratic Rati.
6oatioa and JOlli6cation meeting which was
announced to come of at Salem on that day.
The morning was propitiOus-0ld Sol had
arisen bright and clear, the cir was cool and
fragrant, and the boat made as good time as
was possible at the present low stage of wa
ter. At every landing the crowd was visibly
augmented, particularly at Independence ;
and when we arrived at the Salem landing
the boat had about as many passengers as
che could conveniently accommodate,
On the arrival Of the boat our party were met
by n detachment of marshals, the Aurora
Brass Band and the artillery, and we were
formed in procession and escorted to the COM
mon in front of the Court House, where we
Joined the main procession and marched
through the principal streets to Marion
Square-the place which had been previous
" prepared for the exercises of the day.
This square is composed of the most beauti-
full and inviting grove Of young cedars we
ever beheld, and under cover Of their thick
est foliage was erected the speakers stand,
deoked with evergreens and bouquets of rare
and fragrant roses. Seats had been prepar.
ed in the grounds for thousands of people,
yet long ere the last Of the procession had
fled in all the sitting room had been secured,
thus compelling at least one-third of the
multitude to stand up. The g~entlemanly
committee on arrangements had evidently
prepared for a big crowd but they did not
anticipate such a ponderous outponring of
the tfUnterrifed" - vas witnessed that day.
After the swaying mass had been as com
fortably and conveniently arranged as it was
possible for Chief Marshal Bell and his aids
to desiss, the President of the day. Hon. l..
F. Grover, in a few appropriate and pithy
remarks announced the purpose and object
of the gathering, and introduced. as the first
speaker of the occasion, Ex-senator Mes
NTH, who, proceeded to address the meeting
In his most happy style-dealing trenchant
blows on the heads of the Radicals without
stint or mercy. Judge Hayden followed in his
usual caustic manner, combining eloquence
aid logic with wit and sarcasm, and the pres.
emit State officials. ifnone else, were certainly
glad when he 'let up" for the mirror in
which he held their official acts up to the au-
dience made a mighty ugly showing for
them. The Judge was followed by Hon. Geo.
B. Helm, and no Democrat from Linn who
vas present could fail to feel gratifed at the
welcoming shout that e up from the lips
and hearts Of that vast multitude at the an
nouneemcnt of the name of the ''young lion
Of Linn :" and that be on that occasion fully
maintained his former enviable reputation
80 an orator every one who heard him will
testify. At the conclusion of Mr.. Helms
address dinner was announced, and the as.
semblage repaired to the tables near by and
partoOk Of a bountiful repast of substantial
and vell-served ~victuals. And here, perhaps,
itwoald not be amiss to give the reader some
facts by which he can form some idea of the
Vastness of the gathering. The table was
arranged so as to accommodate 1000 people,
making the calculation that two persons
would occupy every three feet of standing
room along its side and beside all this room
being occupied, the people were arranged
from three to five deep in the rear, and those
II the table would pass the provisions back
70 those who could not get to the table to
help themselves. Besides this, there were
= great number of persons who went up to
the hotels and private residences to dine
snl. Ct course, among these latter were all
those two or three thousand Republicans
whom the Salem papers mention as being
present to "swell the happy throng." They
surely didq't remain to dine with cooper,
heads'' and 0traitors I" The following is
the amount Of provisions prepared by the
committee, eli of which was devoured ex,
cspting the bread; 400 lbs, bread. 300
Ibs. beef, 1850 lbs, pork, q sheep. 2 bears,
60 dozen chickens and 1000 pies, It is per-
haps safe to say that there we're FIVE thousand
people fed at those tabIes-a larger crowd
than ever Salem Witnessed before.
After dinner the assemblage was address
ed by Hon. j, S, Smith, Col. Shiel and Hon,
John Burnett, each Of whom acquitted them
selves with marked ability and aptitude
Each speaker during the day was greeted
with thunders of applause that made the Pu-
r~itanical hills of Salem fairly groan in an
guish Of spirit, while they caused the faces
Of her gallant band of Democrats. who have
been so f~earfully in the minority for years
past, to beam in rapturous smiles of joy and
delight.
At the conclusion of the exercises on the
grounds, a body of "HOrnibusques.v sup
posed as first to be a detachment of the bloody
Ku-Klux Khan, paraded the principal streets
and made fun for the people.
At night came the torch light procession;
i~Huminations, fireworks, etc., followed by
eloquent and stirring speeches from Mcssrs.
Curl, Helm, Galway, Bonham and Shiel,
amid the most enthusiasts cheers for the
national Democratic nominees. During the
progress Of the evenings exercises some
abortive attempts were made by the o~pposi-
ton TO disturb them. but they were prompt
y "nipped in the bud'' by the ~oYerpowering
hosts Of Democracy. We were proud to see
mammoth flag which belongs to the Dem
Ocrats Of Albany, suspended across CONNER
cial street, and each star Of which was deck.
ed With sbouqust Of roses-the work of the