New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-12
SPIRIT OF THE DEMONSTRATION.

SPIRIT OF THE DEMONSTRATION.
swelling crowd impatiently awaited the OPEN
ing Of the doors for a long time. The Third
ave. door was first thrown open at 7:l5 p. m,
and soon the AstOr-place entrance was unbarred
Within nine minutes every seat was filed.
and the narrow spaces Of standing room
which renamed were quickly occupied. Tho
host Of people came in with q mighty
rush, which there no withstanding, and
after that first onset there wasttle chance for later
corners. Many minutes before the time set for tho
opening of the meeting the aisles could possibly
contain no more All the open spaces front and rear
were SO full that people could scarcely move, and
one man who determined to go away was passed
over the heads of the multitude Clinging to col
umns, unsteadily balancing themselves on the backs
of seats, forced into the smallest space that man
could possibly occupy, were hundreds, bent on hear
ing the words of protest against the subyersion OF
State Legislature by the Federal soldiery On tho
platform were gathered so many that scanty rooun
was left for the speakers.
The thousands, who succeeded by dlnt OF painfni
effort in gaining place within the hail. were far OUT
numbered by the disappointed company without,
where was held voluntary meeting not foreseen
or provided for in the arrangements. OF many
classes and conditions of men were they whe were
bankers, merchants lawyers, and men
belonging to the leading professions, and
the principal interests of the city; there trades
men and men of many callings, and there was very
large representation of the working classes The
great majority of those present heartily in ac-
cord with the objects of the meeting. prompt and
very emphatic in applause and signs of approval
There was very small bnt very active element In
the gathering, which labored hard to make con-
fusion probably at the nstigation of leaders whose
direction they were wont to follow and by pushing
aud violent agitation in the aises by pretended Efforts
to keep order by shouting. by Kisses and Interrupt
tons in the speeches. and in other ways tried TO
counteract the effect Of the demonstration This
small fraction of the great whole aided in it's
intentions by the deplorable inadequacy of the po
lice arrangements. The policemen were not very
iudicously disposed, and were few in number, until
they were reinforced by the reserve force OF the
precinct. under Capt. Siebert.
But the little leaven of ruffiansm inseparable
from great gatherings of the people, was fairly kept
in check and heartily rebuked by the moderation
and good sense Of the great part of those present
Patience and enthusiasm well, most of the hearers
showed; cramped and comfortless in posltion-lDany
of them-pressed aud tumbled by the involuntary
swayng of the dense crowd they listened with nn-
wearled approval to the addresses made gave
lively appreciation Of strong argument and fervent
appeal and were undated in zeal to the end. Evil
IDENTIFY they were in earnest about this matter OK
louisiana
The interest which was felt by those who were
too late to get within was shown by the fact that
after the iron gates before the entrance had been
closed and several patromen had been placed at
each the eager outside did not abandon their
desire to reach the interior and whenever gate
was opened for persons de parting there was
urgent effort made by many to press in. The most
heated enthusiasm of o sharp political campaign,
when at its hight. could not call out more striking
evidences of determined feeling.
Before the speaking began several of the best
known gentlemen who were to take part in the pro-
ceedngs were recognized they came forward on
the platform, and were cheered and applauded in
the most animated way. Mayor Wickham was well
coined with q great outburst of enthusiasm. Tha
Hon. VIM. NJ Eyarts was the next to receive .
hearty demonstration of popular enthusiasm, while
q glimpse of William Cullen Bryant, few minutes
afterward, caused q renewal of the cheering aud
clapping of hands A few minutes after O'CLOCK
there having been little delay for the
arrival Of some of the speakers-August Belmont
stepped to the little desk at the front of the plat
form. in order to open the meeting On account OK
the multitude of those standing and the struggles
of those at the back Of the ball to better their
places, and the inevitable hustle Of o great multi
tude, there were not few in the more distans
spaces of the hall who did not know that the meet
ing had begun, and Mr.. Belmonts few words were
much impaired in their effect BY the confusion he
said:
REMARKS or AUGUST BELMONT
FErIow-CrrIzESs: Fourteen years aso' our pre'nie"
in the Southern States raised instruction our
na9 which threatened the Destruction VI ouh
Government The people Of this metropohs' asfeTstd
inc al, marty ties in massmeetng assembled, pro-
claimed IN yo,,c which found an echo IN every patr-
ot,c heart tbroughouG the Uaon The Union must and
hau ne preseryed tApplausel But there's, to every
man Of American citizenship. one thing which Ia desrer
,n,n country doarer than union, dearer than Ire
,,.slt and that 10 civil liberty. fAppause.l This
most precious gift. for which. In every cline
and throughout all Ages. good aoa noble
men have shed their blood now threatened
IN our land by the very to whom generous people
courded 10 for keeping ana now again the cit
zen. Of Nav York with the same unanimlty Of feeling.
a ,,h The ssme fosgetfuness Of party 10 the for
.., hour Of our country's danger. proclaim TO thelR
throughout the United states that civil
liberty must aud shall be preserved tAppisuse We
have together tonight TO make solemn pro,sss
citizens OF the Empire state against the acts Of the