National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-08-27
RED FIRE AND BUNCOMBE.
The Democratic Demonstration at the
City Hall.
A Brilliant Display of Fireworks - What
Wade Hampton wrote-The speeches
and Incidents of the Meeting.

The ratification meeting for which tho dem.
ocrats Of the District have been Preparing for
many weeks was held last night. As
there were ominous clouds In the
sky rs evening approached, the question
If postpOuiug the demonstration was at one
time seriously considered, hut the managers
decided to take the risk Tho storm did not
burst. The display along the line OF the pro-
ccsSion aud at the city hall was very brilliant.
The absence of distinguished party leaders who
had been invited to speak was noticeable. No
remarkable uttcrances were made on the
stand, the orators cOntoutiug themselves with
the applause evoked by wel.Touudod and high
sounding sentences and gliitoring buncombe.
THE PROCESSION.
Tho gathering Of the clans" commenced
carly in the evening, hut for some unaccount-
able reason the procession, which wasarnnged
to start at 730, did not move for shout fifty.
five minutes after. Ifmuch noise, largo num-
bcrs. an iuccssnut glitter Of fireworks Sud
hundreds Of torchlghts he considered success,
then tho democratic procession must be nro.
uounced successful. The head of tho column
turned tho Avenue at CorcOran building at
$50 exactly, amid a burst of rockets aud
roman candles and gittoriug glare Of vuri-
ously.colured strontium lights. At S5j the
rear Of the procession dcilcd from Fifteenth
street down the great central thoroughia fare of
the town. The scene down the Avenue 1ur-
lUE lNo nNlCu was DElllldnt UOu beautiful
Roman candles were prOfusely shot of by
those in line; rcd and green aud blue aud
opal lights flashed up from piles of
Stroutium and barytum on the pave.
| ment; the glittering track Of the rocket cut
the dark night air with the sinuosty of
| fiery serpent; the torches blazed adowu the
| long vista like waving forest of flashing aud
| glittcriug flame, aud the calcium lights ir.
| Hdi0tcd the entire scene with the uuoalthly
| splendor Of their limc.white sheen. The
effect Of the brilliant parti.COlorcd flames upon
| the full-loaved trees down the Avenue was
| exceedingly beautiful and picturesque. Over
| all hung the smoky fumes from the burning
| chemicals, giving u soltcucd brightness TO the
night air that commended the admiration of
the spectators A very large crowd lined both
sides Of the Avenue to witness the display.
| and republicans united with democrats in
| commenting Tie energy aud libcIality of OK.
| pCuditure on the part Of the central demo.
| cratic executive committee, which resulted in
| 80 brilliant an exhibition Of pyrotcchnics aud
| pitch. The procession rs regards numbers was a
| very respectable one, but the number Of boys
in its ranks was exceedingly large, computed
both by democratic republican loollers.ou rs
being from one.third to ouo.hllf Of the entire
| crowd. The mounted men from Virginia were
quite feature Of the crowd, but when it be-
came known they were a detachment OF the
black horse cavalry" Of Virginia, thoughts
| VI uIutI AoUbN , ltlNlS ana OF kuH lhlt OF
Baker, of Winthrop aud of other martyrs on
the other side of the Potomac stirred M strong
feelings in loyal breasts Their presence made
men recall the time when the black horse
attempted, years ago, 10 invade Wash.
ngton and wave the stars and bars
over the streets Of the nations capital
They failed in their Efforts then, but
achieved greater success last night at
the same effort. The presence OF
these distinguished insignia Of red.hRndcd re.
beliom greatly detracted from the interest
which the procession, viewed as a gi;tering
parti-colored spectacle, would have un.
doubtcdly commanded. There were TOO many
one'lcgged, one'aImod, MANNED veterans
among the spectators to relish such An unwise
and reckless exhibition of defaut treason As
u Fourth Of July pyrotechuical show, the dem
onstration would have been admired aud en-
ioyed, but the blatant evidence Of unrepeutan
treason thus boldly Haunted in the faces o.
loyal men and women brought back too
wildly recolectiOns Of the CORY and CHASTITY
scenes of the war to the hearts Of those mer
and women who gUzed upon the scene, anC
whose bosoms even yet throb with painful
sense Of the agony inflicted upon them by the
Il lsOn of twenty years ago, defiant now
rs then aud altogether unmindful o
the lesson taught them then. While sucl
scenes are not only tolerated but encouraged
BY the democracy so long will the blood,
shirt continue TO wave. By actual count
taken at the corner Of Seventh street. ther
were 1,lG0 torches and l55 lanterns in tn
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