National Republican., 1880-08-20
GARFIELD And ARTHUR
Republican Ratification Rally,
ENTHUSIASTIC DEMONSTRATION.
Turnout of Loyal Citizeng.
OVER TWENTY THOUSAND STRONG
Overflow Meetings on the Wings.
A GRAND BLAZE OF LIGHT.
Speeches by Hon. John Sherman, Hon.
A. A. Freeman and Others
A Sudden Rain.
Tho biggest Political Meeting Evor Held in
The District.

The preparations that havo been making &
for some time toward a grand ratification of
the nominations of Garfield aud Arthur as tho
republican candidates for the presidency and
vicc-prcsdency eliminated last night in the
most brilliant torchlight procession and the
grandcst political mass.meeting that the Dis
trict Of Columbia has ever seen. As early as
6 o'clock the crowd began to form around Now
York avenue and Fifteenth street, and min.
utcly swelcd its numbers, on the watch to see
the grand procession form and move of to the
place of meeting, the city hall. The National
Veteran club rooms, on New York avenue
near Fifteenth street, was the chief point of
attraction, and the crowd here numbered sew
eral thousands by the time the columns formed
in order. There was an immense gathering
OH the line Of the procession, Fifteenth street
being crowded with persons anxious to obtain
q good view clear down beyond the south side
of the avenue, while the avenue itself was n
living mass of humanity, packed from curb to
building in such density that locomotiou was
extremely difficult. The carriage-way of the
great Washington boulevard was so filled that
even the stroet-cars were impcdcd in travel
The houses on the Avenue were generally lit
up and tho windows opened and filled with
Spectators of the procession, thus forming a
very beautiful aud impr, ssive sight. The
procession itself formed and started at 1880
o'clock, under the marshalship of Major
George Holmes, aided by Messrs. Daniel j..
Cahill, Dennis O'Connor, G. Il. Mosby and
Perry II. Carson. The National Veteran club
headed the column, the members generally
being attired in blue suits with military hats
and sporting the handsome badge of the club.
They were preceded by 3 full band Of music
and carried over ono hundred torches. Fol-
lowing these came the "Boys in Blue" the
Government Printing! Office Garfield and
Arthur club, the Southern Republican asso
citation, tho Ohio, Pennsylvania and other
state republican associations, in full force
carrying torcblghts and Chinese lam
. terms, with several calcium lights In
wagons. The second division. consisted
of tho Garfield and Arthur Wide.Awake
club, with local republican organizations Of
tho west part Of the city and GEORGETOWN
and other clubs following. Quite a number
of associations that did not report in time came
down the Avenue later, swelling the numbers
of those in line There were several thousand
men in the procession, which stretched from
Fourteenth street to Four-and.a-half, In close
array. The procession presented brilliant
and glowing appearance. Turning the corner
of Fifteenth street and the Avenue It swept
down the broad Avenue like glitterng aud
rapidly moving snake, brilliant in parti-colors
aud resplendcnt with the glow and gleam of
Il
still larger number of Chinese lanterns lent
bcwildoring splcndor TO the scene Trauspa-
rencies cleaned with appropriate devices In
the ranks, and tho lime.white sheen of the
flashing calcium lights combined with the
Kissing radiance-splash of the roman
candles to lend such glow Of illu.
mnation to the Avenue rs that
broad street has seldom seen. Tho effect
of the procession looking down the Avenue
was brilliant in tue extreme. The fine brass
bands in the procession, with the fife and
. drum corps, served to excite the enthusiasm Of
tho crowds, already worked up to fever heat
and one continuous ovation of cheers greeted
the line all along the Avenue from the dense
crowds of spectators on the sidewalks. These
cheers were heartily responded to from tho
ranks. One OF tho most noticeable displays
OH the liue Of procession was the pyrotechnic
exhibition by The NATIONAL REPUBLICAN,
The office was very handsomely decorated
with flags streamcrs, cleaning and pRrt-
colored Chinese lanterns, and the display of
roman candles, red.lights rock cts aud other
fireworks was a brilliant and beautiful spec.
taClo.
Reaching Four-and-a.half street tho i'm.
mense column turned to the left and headed
toward the stand in front of tho
city hail. whose white walls gilt.
tered with superb effect in the dazzing
briliancy and beauty of the decorations. So
great were the numbers of the professor that
IT was long time before the different associa.
tions were placed in position. The crowd at
tho city hall was for numbers and respectable
ity the largest ever assembled there for politi-
cal purposes The vast space in front of the
contre was literally packed clear down to
tho Four-and a-half street line; and eastward
halfway down Indiana avenue TO Fourth
street, and west nearly to Fifth street, thou.
sands Of ladies aud gentlemen were crowded
30 closely that there was great difficulty in edg.
ing ones way through. Old democrats burning
with party zeal confessed there had never
been in Washington before anything like this
meeting, either iOr numbers on responsibility,
whilo the earnest enthusiasm of the crowds
showed the deop interest taken by republicans
IN the success Of the cause to which this great
gathering was legitimate and brilliant
tribute,
At the City Han.
BY dark there were lively indications about
the city hall Of what was to follow later in
the evening The space in front Of the grand
Stand began TO oil up, and at that time there
was promise Of one OF tho largest political
gatherings ever witnessed in Washington,
This promise was fully realized, The stand,
decorated with rows OF flags, slreamers, colored
lanterns and tiers of gas;iots presented an
appearance in keeping with the occasion for
which II was erected. lmmcdiaely over the
speakers stand was u star Of gaSjets with the
names Of Garfield and Arthur studded In jets
Of light around it. The head of the