The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-11-04
GRAND RIDGE.
A Grand NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 'spiny--
'thusasm 'smensc--- Dam IetiIde Iran.

A Grand Meeting---Tremen(doWs spihy--
'thusasm 'smensc--- Dam IetiIden-- 'Kah.
Probably the most tremendous meeting the
Whazeites have held in this county during the
campaign was the meeting on Tuesday evening
last at Grand Ridge. Everything about and
connected with it was tremendous. The speak
er especially was immensc-Bily Cullen; and
| the enthusiasm he excited was immcnse-a5so.
i Ilutely immensest. We do not see why Bill ne.
elected to mention this meeting in his paper,
the Pee We, this week, but he's such II modest
IIaudaton and to do otherwise would " give the
party away" as it were. But we are, fortunate.
y, not afflicted with Il modesty so severe and
will give Billy his dues.
We can't imagine how the children got out
there from Ottawa, considering the party is so
poor here; but quite number Of them, attract
ed by the promise Of Il free lunch after the meet
ing, did go. After swoopiDg down on the limo
cent and unsuspecting town, war dance, ac-
cording to the regulations there in force, was
held, and the speaking began, Mr, B. Cullen do.
ing the spouting.
There are, doubtless worse speakers than Bill
Cullen, but they have not been sent to Illinois
as yet. When he mounted the stand there was
a general cry of Good Lord, deliver US" and
an instantaneous stampede OF all save very
few old fellows too weak to walk. TO these Cul-
len cXpounded Taft's law and Grants gospel of
peace for an hour or more, and wound up with
the usual "war TO the knife" Going down to-
receive the congratulations Of his audience he
fnup6 than al ika labor u
ers, disclosing where the long and continuous
applause which had pleased him SO much had
come from.
Meantime the crowd had been getting up an
independent meeting of their own in the near
ncghborhood. This happened to be at rancho
where the proprietors sold cider" aerated CT
der" la centennial Judging from the amount
of wind generated" cider" the cup that not
only cheers but frequently inebriates, especially
If "aerated" with republican "rot-gut" The
" speech" @ of Bill had made the heroes from
Ottawas bloody Seventh tired and thirsty too,
and hard cider was above par The gushing bar
maid urged them to make themselves at home
and with much ogng and coquettng poured
" cider into these youths without limit. They
grew gay and festive, jubilant, patriotic, enthus-
iastic. Some one called for speech; speech"
Speech" order" "cider," roared the crowd.
Finally Mr.. Hidepeeler was hauled to the front.
Then some one suggested prayers! and brought
out bible and read chapter or so in a drunken
scream amid cheers and groans, and while this
was going on the speaker was bracng up" for
his efforts, by kissing the landlords wife and
having jolly time generally, Mr.. Hidepeeler
then mounted the rostrum and taking his text
from the bible in front of him, said:
"Genelum anladies-l meangenelum and Ia.
ly, (cheers): uncustomd syam to bubble speakn,
I'm mushbliged touall Qoud appause)- IN
cider Im radl, gcnelum-prow title, (cheers)
iamoletln. Wcer all radls-prow title-anwe
ngohom,ilmornin', n-damoletn, Loud
,hcers) Genum, 'iscountrys (hc) beastly crupt,
wcmusayc ref.f-f- (hic) form-re- (hic) form!
cheers. Voice: "Ah, shut up, you'll give (hic)
The party awayw Cries Of put him out'D |
wonssup- damolecullen-I doncare. (cheers.)
Anwccr lgoodiers-damoletn, genlum-an
I-doefcel quiwell' and he sat down amid loud
cheers. Then some one suggested that they 90
after that lunch promised them, and all made a
rush for the place where Bill had been speaking,
who, when he heard them coming, made dive
or the platform and began banging around and
the wind ON the the conduct of the
war" while they came in. This sort Of thing was
lot over agreeable TO the "minuIe men" who
lad come for free lunch "and not wind, so they
opened out in n broadsde of yells for grub" {
hat drowned poor Sandy out entirely The
committee then told them that they could
lave no lunch-they had changed their minds. {
\ yell of rage, disgust and wrath then went up
rom those 81 youths, who proceeded thereupon
o smash things, and they dill smash things
The meeting finally wound up with the yell:
Gimme free lunch or gimme fifteen cents" and )
break for the cder-sellcr," and from A. NJ. to
T. NJ. Wednesday, they came struggling home, =,
md all were too much demorazed to attend the
meeting on Wednesday night.