Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-10-22
Aauedster f,ltelltgenrer.
FRIDAY EVENING. OCT. %, 1880.
That Poor Parade.

The use Of parades to parties is to show
their numbers and animation, to en-
courage their followers and intimidate
their opponents. Therefore it is essen
tial to the party having them to take
care that they shall lie as large and en-
thusiastic as possible, for if they disap-
point public expectation they do great
harm instead Of good. NOdoubt the Re-
publican leaders in Lancaster county
appreciate this fundamental rule of po-
litical management, and did all that
they could to make their demonstrations
yesterday success: and that it was any
thing else was no fault of theirs. They
had plenty of money to expend on it
and plenty Of men to engage in it. Why
then was it failure ? We assume that
none will dispute that it was a poor show.
The number of men taking part III it
was below the average and their enthu-
siasm was very markedly small. The
delegations were few in numbers and in
considerable in size. The decorations
and banners were very ordinary. The
wagons were unsightiy. The spirit of
the moving line was somewhere down
about the freezing point.
Around the speaking stands but 4 few
hundred assembled: and the torclilight
procession in the evening was but half
the size of the previous demonstration
of the same kind by the party and was
about as quiet rs Il funeral procession.
"Why don't they cheer - exclaimed an
ardent Republican lady by our side, as
she herself hurralied for Garfield again
and again. But they would not cheer in
the line. They were not in the humor.
The Indiana tonic seemed to have lost
its effect and they were more limp and
spiritless even than when Maine had just
struck them.
These were the impressions the great
Republican demonstration made on us.
and if We observed it rightly Il signifi-
cant deduction is warranted. 1t just as
surely presages 4 Republican defeat, if
the feeling here is Il test of the general
feeling as though the handwriting was
read upon the wall. Those who admit
that, after all the elaborate preparations
which we're made to have 4 grand
Republican display, the display was
not there because the Republi'
can voters were not inspired to turn
out, or when out were not moved
to any enthusiasm for their cause, must
concede that the demonstration failed OF
its object. and has tended to discourage
- Republican hope of success by showing
lack of Republican zeal. In this contest
closely waged between the parties, it is
all-important to observe which has the
greatest spirit and which is therefore cap
able of the greatest effort. We would trem.
ble for the Democratic cause if it could
not, even in this strongly Republican
county where we are OntnumEered two
to one. secure Il larger county mass meet.
ing, anG one which would show many
times the ardor and enthusiasm which
its opponents exhibited when they were
called together. We have been wont in
presidential Years To witness in this
countya great outpourins OF its Repub-
licans in celebration of the great day OF
their campaign. The parade las always
been imposing. This time it has beeI
barely more than contemplate when
compared with its predecessors, and had
upon its opponents an exhilarating in
stead of depressing effect. 1t showed
clearly enough which was not the fight
inr cock in this inain.