The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-09-17
HON. GEO. 4 PEN DEEFON A T AKRON.
a Monster Meetingt'
DSgraGGful Conduct Of Radical Roughs.


The Democratic meeting at Akron
on Saturday is said to have been the
largest and most enthusiastic political
gathering ever held on the Reserve.
Many of the Democracy of Portage
county were in attendance, and we
have heard, various estimates made
upon the number insattendance, some
placing it as high as $4,000. Speeches
were made by Hon. GEO. H. PENDLE-
TON, Judge CoMsTock, of New York,
Hon. j. F. MCKINNEY, of Miami co.,
which were attentiyely listened to by
the immense crowd in attendance.
The Radical roughs and scalawags
got up one of the most disgraceful
riots on the occasion that has ever oc-
CURED at a political meeting in the
State. We have the following brief
description of the disgraceful affair in
the special correspondence of the Plain
Dealer, of the 18th; but the eye-wit-
nesses of the scene tell us the half is
not told:
1t was evident, early in the day, that
there was an organized movement on
foot to create a disturbance. A band
of scalawags and roughs, white and
black, dressed in the .wide-awake !"
uniform, lined the street, and attempt
ed to pull down the flags and bushes
In the wagons as they passed along.
insulting the wemen by. the vilest and
most obscene language. This was in
tended to be kept up, but the crowd
OF Democrats became so great that
the cowardly hounds sIunE to their
kennels until most of the people had
gone to the Fair Grounds, when they
again returned, and taking advantage
OF the wagons returning from the
speaking, the most outrageous pro-
ceedings took place-fiags' were pulled
from the horses and from the wagons.
and the women insulted in the gross
est manner. ] do not say that the
leading Republicans of Akron had
to do with getting up this
but LIDO say, that thew
did not give that assistance to- the
Mayor and police force which thew
should have given, and which, if rem
dered, would have relieved the city
from the deep and damning disgrace
OF attempting to prevent the farmers
OF the surrounding .country-the men
who support the business interests of
their town-Who take the products of
their farms there toJsell, and purchase
what they need from their stores
from quietly meeting to- hear the DO
litical issues of the day. discussed.
The Radical press and politicians
attempt to excuse the infamous con-
luct of their ".trtendsp in this affair
by claiming that it was occasioned by
he carrying in the procession of two
rebel" flags, one of which united
he names of the Democratic candi-
lates with JEFF. Davis. To palliate
he damaging effect of this brutal out
age, they have telegraphed this lying
xcuse all over the country. We have
onversed with more than score of
ur citizens who attended the meeting.
nd who saw the aflray from the very
eginning, and they say that no such
ag was carried in the procession, and
one bearing the name of jeff. Davis.
kept one inscribed, Horace Greeley
nd jeff. Davis, the Twin Relics" and
nat the affair, SO far as the Radical
uffians were concerned, was premed-
ated and wholly without palIiation
excuse, and that the respectable Ii
epublicans of Akron were ashamed 7
the conduct of their friends" and /,
nhesitatingly condemned it; but the 1
Layor, General Bierce, had not suffi- {
ent police force at his command to ,
1ell the riot, and it was not until the ,
lsults and indignities had been I
capped so thick that longer endurance s
'ased to be virtue, that the sturdy /
emocracy piled into the miserable a
allaWags, and made them tfhunt Q
cir holes" in double-quicko time. d
his is the way i'll which the Radical c
ughs testify to the sincerity of their q
aver for peace. y. t..'f'-9is ~ G
9. 10