The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-04
THE MEETING OUTSIDE.

The scene outside the building was an exceedingly
brilliant and exciting one There were four stands,
tasteiully decorated with bunting and flags one in
the middle Of Aston place, just of Fourth avenue,
the second immediately facing the Institute en-
trance the third Third avenue, to the east of
the second, and the fourth at the junction of Stuy
vesant street and Third avenue. Long before the
hour fixed for the "opening of the bal' by the
speakers there was an immense and intensely en-
thusiastc crowd on hand who amused themselves
while waiting for the orators of the evening by
cheering for Greeley and grooming for Grant and the
military rng.'
Each stand was gayly bedeckcd with Chinese Ian
terms strung artistcally from each upright Of the
platform In fact, the square was lii up from one
end to the other with innumerabe lanterns pend
ent from lines attached to every stand and thrown
the street to the pillars Of the institute.
Several calcium lights placed in position In the near
light that made the surgng crowds appear tenfold
greater in number than they really were, added
immensely to the general brilliancy OF the scene.
TWO bands OF music were stationed, one on
the portico Of the Institute and the other on
the Astor place stand, and did their musical ut
most at intervals during the evening to keep
the assembled patriots In good humor AS the
evening wore on and the hour drew nigh for the
beginning of the speech making the crowds had
grown to extraordinary proportions, ana when at
eight O'Clock the first rocket was fred locomotion
from one side OF the square to the other became
matter of absolute impossibty.
The high stoop of the Union facing the main
stand was literally black with spectators, who re-
manned patiently packed as close as safety to
When the fireworks display was begun the
crowds must have numbered fully ten thousand
persons. Indeed, the fireworks seemed to have
wonderful effect upon the cross streets, which
poured forth its hundreds to swell the grand throng
every minute after the display began.
There was a prOfusion OF fireworks OF all kinds.
Rockets were shot of necessarily during the entire
evening; explosive bombs made the air resound
with echoes that even the cheers of the enthusiasts
fic pnf lpr
the meeting the chief piece OF fireworks was set Off
amid general hurrah. 1t consisted OF q tableau
$50 called, with portraits of Horace Greeley and b.
Gratz Brown, with the motto ''The Peoples
Choice"
There was no great shouting on the part Of any
regular clubs The only "organization' that APP
pcared in body was the Greeley Club Of the Sec
ond Assembly district, who were adorned with
white rubber hats and cloaks and headed by
band, and the Fourth ward General M. I. Mcmahon
Club.
OF the Institute was generally looked upon as the
"Irish stand,n as all the speakers were Irish and
the crowd that surrounded 1t was nearly all
ate by long e'@ odas the most ue' Enthusiastic
portion of the entire gathering in the square.
The Astor place stand was taken possession
OF by set OF gentlemen who, during their
speeches, plumed themselves with the fact that
they were, and all, old line republicans, what
ever that may mean; and it is probably more for
Assembly District Greeley Club men, nearly all
democrats, hung their banner on the front OF the
The stand to the east OF the Irish stand had been
reserved for the German element and the German
either Seeanse he was speakers o
out of the many for the occasion were OF
an inferior quality or that the neghboring
lager beer saloons had greater attractions
for those Of the crowd who understood German
than the oratorizing of the men on the platform.
There was but mcagrc attendance of hearers at
the stano near Stuyvesant street. although several
good speeches were delivered In the vicinity during
the entire evening.
stand He spoke but a few minutes, and alluded to
Mr.. Greeley as a man whom the Irish ought to
support. He said he knew him intimately, and had
in in his possession collection OF letters from the
Philosopher full OF wisdom, and which, were they
only once published would open the eyes
had greater man for candidate than they even
suspected
He spoke as an lrishman who had suffered for
his love for Ireland, and taking this announced
fact as his text he launched into fearful TRADE
against the administration. He was particularly
severe upon Grant for the way he has knucked down
to the British government, and then went on to
show how Horace Greeley had ever been the
sore distress he was always found foremost among
the men who advocated her cause and
Mnp Den ana to aat evar
from thraldom. He claimed that no freshman should
ever think OF opposing Mr.. Greeley. 1t was non
sense to talk about his having once upon time
nonnced democrats and the principles OF the demo-
cratic party during the war. The issues OF the
present were not the issues OF the years OF the war;
and as matters now stood the honest democrats
and the honest republicans stood on the same
ground.
Mr.. Meany was followed by THOMAS FRANCIS
BURKE, who spoke for over an hour. nc
reviewed the acts OF the administration ana
denounced IL In bitter terms he aliuueu
to the foreign policy OF the government, anu ae-
clared that no freshman who really loved his native
country, could vote hoDoraby for Grant. Mr.:
Burke became exceedingly prosy I'D tne enu, anu
was followed by Mr.. Duggan ana several otners,
who advocated the endorsement OF Mr.. Greeley by
the democracy In the most unmstaKaole terms ,..
and others spoke at the Astor place stand, and
Colonel Willis and others at the Stuytesant stand.
The meeting broke up about ten O'Clock very quietly
and NTH M dol ton OF enthusiasm.