Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1868-09-16
DEMOCRACY AT JEFFERSON.

posters throughout the county, and by
an earnest appeal in the papers, as day
of great rejoicing for Democrats, we turn
ed out to witness the raising of the
mammoth hickory pole" and hear the
genuine doctrine, as proclaimed By Geo
3. Smith and Judge Orton.
Early in the morning there we're indi
cations of rain, but an auspicious breeze
scattered the clouds, and by 8 o'clock old
Sol was out in all his splendor, so that
the day was one Of the finest of the sea
son. We went early and searched dill
gently for the tremendous gathering the
masses failed to come At noon it was
rumored that the "plowholders" were
busy picking hops, and probably there
would not be over three or four thousand
out. The gentlemen who managed she
wires rushed neryously from hotel to
court house, up one street and down
another, cast wistful eyes up the roads
for delegations frcm rural districts. saloon
keepers pronounced it humbug and fz-
zie and in fact the streets of Jefferson look
ed more desolate than usual. Finally a
dozen or two Of the leaders from as ma
ny different towns appeared, and a pro-
cesslon was Immediately formed, headed
| by Puerner's band, which marched down
Racine and through Main Street to the
Court House. The procession was lust
one minute, and no more, in passing
through the gate into the Court House
| square; it numbered one hundred and
ele0en persons, exclusive Of the band
gathered around the pole were as many
more who considered the procession but a
side show. Everything being N readi-
ness up went the Hickory, after which
the glee club gave US Dan Weymouths
doggerel. The band footed, and the
boys fired salute with the cannon. The
flag with It's "thirty- seven stars" and the
n ames of Seymour and Blair beautifully
emblazoned thereon, as Smith remarked.
was flung to the breeze, and then three
feeble cheers were given for the man who
hoisted the flag. At this point promi
inent German democrat said he didn't
think leaning pole looked well, (the
pole leaned somewhat to the south. !
More music by the Glee Club, and a
strain from the Band.
Geo. B. Smith was then introduced to
the audience of 800 persons, women and
children included. The disappointment
evidently reached the speaker, he com
pilmented the assemblago forts umbers
and general appearance, excused himself
by reason Of hoarseness and illness, and
after twenty minutes hard work at an
opening declared that he had come to
discuss the issues candidly, not like the
radicals to arouse their sympathies aud
excite their passions The issue was
reconstruction and taxation. He
would ut discuss 'dead Issues" the war
closed three years ago; Republicans might
have the credit CT freeing four millions
of blacks, and enslaving eight millions of
whites. Had no apology to offer for the
course of the Democratic party during
the war.
Re probably recollected that in 1862 he
made an eloquent appeal to the citizens
OF Jefferson to arm themselves and go to
the rescue Of the government and that
within two years afterward took back all
he had said, declared the war failure
aud abolition scheme. and became as zeaI
Gus IN opposing the war as if he had
been an original rebel. He had APOLOGIES
for the rebels did not sec any general
ship IN Grants crushing Lee when the
former had 100000 (?) men and the lat
ter but 10000, especially as Grant had to
sacrifice more men than Lee had, and then
call upon Sherman to do the work. The
rebels surrendered in good faith, Grant
Sherman and Blair said so. Wade
Hampton only put into the platform what
he (Smith) said at Prairie du CHEN
year ago. He said, taxation is tyranny,
and the policy of the radicals is to bur
den the people with taxes so as to crush and |
lmpoverish them, that they will be unable
to exercise the rights of citizenship. Took
a grecnbaok from his pocket and treated
his hearers to a dissertation on hard
money. Said they were in favor of paw
ing the national debt if they could. |
Would not say whether Grant was great
general or great fool; he, (Grantl never
was tanner, nor christian, did get
drunk and dance Jim Grow. Seymour
was gentleman, statesman and christian,
Blair hero, brave, patriotic and true.
Ben. Butler a beast, and stole spoons:
Sumner niger worsniper. Thus he