Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-09-28
GRAND RALLY AT MARTINS
FERRY.
Torches, Banners, Voters, Tn.
bounded Enthusiasm, and
a Glorious Good Time.

The Republican Meeting at Martins
Ferry, Saturday night, was the largest
political demonstration ever held in
Pease Township and almost equalled
the Schurz Meeting in Bellaire. A
special train eff eight cars from Bellaire
containing Heatherington's Band and
the Bellaire ColOred Band, a large
Club of splendidly uniformed men,
besides the COlored Club of that place
and full delegation of outsiders
Stopping at West Wheeling the crowd
was largely augmented by the gallant
Hayes Club of that place in full uni
form and each man full of enthusiasm.
By this time the cars were comfortably
filled and on nearing Bridgeport, where
a full train load awaited it, the air was
musical with the enlivening music of
the Bands, mingled with the cheers OF
the crowd within and that in waiting.
AS many as could be accommodated
got aboard, the Club in uniform march
ing up with the Etnaville Hayes
Guards, which presented a magnificent
appearance, away we went amid the
widest huzzahs. Arriving at Martins
Ferry we couldn't see the meeting for
people, who were in hundreds in front,
rear, right and left of US, each crowd
was handsome meeting in itself. The
torch light procession 6aving formed,
in front of DIR. Weirick's, took up it's
line of march through the town headed
by that superb band and true blue boys
the HeatheringtOn's and their assOci-
ates, with the splendid drum corps of
Martins Ferry, the COlored Band, of
Bellaire, and the splendid Hayes Band
from Etnaville, interspersed through h
the Column, made the welkin ring
with strains of enlivening music an
swered by the shouts OF the noble torch
bearers in every note of which was
clearly foreshadOwed the notes of vic
tory in October and November already
quickening the very air. Arriving ut
the Speakers Stand near Commercial
Hall, we now entirely failed to see the
people for the vast meeting which fully
numbered 5000. The vast assemblage
was organized by electing Warren
Hollister, Chairman. who promptly in
troduced the Hon. Edward Mcpherson
who attempted to speak to the great
crowd, but failed to reach only a part
OF it with his voice, but delivered a
strong. argumentative, dispassionate
appeal to the reason and judgment of
his hearers. The speech abOunded
throughout with that clear, forcible
statement Of facts touching the live is.
sues OF the canvass as could not fail to
convince every fair minded man of his
duty to vote for Hayes, and unswerv-
ingly support the party that had stood
by the country in all its bitter trials of
the last 16 years. His speech was
characterized by that accuracy of state
ment, firmness of declaration and pre-
cision of assertion so peculiar to the
distinguished speaker. At the cOnclu-
sion of his speech Col. Poorman re-
sponded in a 20 minutes speech full of
that clearness of diction force of thought
and sOuHdness of logic so peculiar to
him. Both speeches marked the earn
estness and the sincerity of their auth.
ors. With rousing cheers for Hayes,
the speakers and victory the vast
crowd began slowly to melt away to-
ward the train and home. Full 6 to 8
hundred torches were in procession, as
fine body OF splendid fellows as ever
struck for the right or shouted for the
gallant Hayes. The rising sun of our
brave standard bearer shines brighter
and brighter the light of which is re-
f1ected back from the valleys betoken-
ing a glorious triumph in October and
November. Pease and Pultney send
greeting to their sisters, up and at them
for Hayes and the right Mr.. McPher-
son was handsOmly entertained at the
hOspitable home of Hiram Smith, ESQ.
We didn't hear of a single accident or
incident to mar the pleasure of the oc-
casiOn. The meeting augurs well,
"push things" all over the County, and
victory is assured.