The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-09
The Big Republican Rally.

Last Friday was fine day and the
much advertised republican rally was a
success. Nearly all of the business
houses and many private residences
were decorated, and some of the dis
plays were meritOriOus. The iron bridge
across Mud creek was transformed into
a triumphal archway, and number of
large flags were suspended across the
principal streets and rose and fell to the
breeze i'll graceful folds. Everything
seemed suspicious and the management
was almost.
At the Fair Grounds, where the day
| meeting was held, speakers stand
had been elected and decorated. Itwas
occupied by the speakers, prominent
local politicians, the Abilene glee club,
brass band and cOlOred glee club of
Salina. The Presbyterian, Methodist,
Episcopal. Catholic and Lutheran So
cieties had lunch stands on the grounds
and drove a profitable trade. At an
early hour the country people began to
arrive, and the delegates from Noble,
Center and Banner were SO nearly even
in numbers that prize flag was award
ed to each. In the afternoon special
trains from Manhattan, Clay Center,
Salina and Minneapolis, aggregating 20
cars. arrived. The 20 cars included
three baggage cars, but they were all
full, and we do not OvereStimate in put
ting the number of those present who
lived outside of the county at 100 peO-
pie. A fair estimate of town and cOun-
ty people would put the total number
participating in the rally at 1000 peO-
pie. Hon. John A. Anderson, Hon.
Thos. Ryan, Capt. }. b. johnson and
Hon. j. r. HallOwell addressed the
people at the fair grounds. But the
people were more intent upon having
a good time than in listening to the
speeches and not more than one i'll
three listened to the speakers.
In the evening the torch light pro-
cessiOn was seven blocks long and num-
bered 464 torches. The Dispatch, Sa-
lima, Chapman, Solomon City, Plow-
mans and Abilene bands and several
drum corps were in the procession. Two
large pyramidial wagons, filled with
young girls in white, were striking
feature of the parade. The fambeau
clubs of Manhattan and Salina gave ri
val pyrotechnic displays on Second
street between Spruce and Cedar, and
they were magnificent. The Manhat-
tan display was the better of the two,
but both were excellent, surprising
anything of the kind ever before seen
in Abilene. At the conclusion of the
displays the doors of the Opera House
were thrown open and there was rush
and jam for seats. The Opera House
was packed. The cOlOred glee club and
the Abilene glee club furnished cam
paign music and were generously ap-
plauded. The audience was addressed
by Col. John A. Martin and Ex-GOv.
Geo. T. Anthony. Mr.. Martin read his
speech from manuscript in lifeless,
monOtonOus tone. He possesses neith-
er intellectual nor Individual force.
His speech was very weak In delivery
and thought and made no favorable i'm
preston. He was followed by Ex-Gov.
Anthony in a ringing but very partizan
speech. An overflow meeting held in
the court room was addressed by Hon.
Albert Griffin, Gen. John II. Rice and
Hon. Geo. s. Green.
The rally was big success so far as
numbers went, but we are of the honest
opinion that the effect was not good
from a republican standpoint. The
city, however, did itself proud. TIE
crowd was the largest ever seen here,
the visitors received hospitabIe treat
ment and no doubt were favOrably inn
pressed with Abilene. The merchants
enjoyed big trade, the people enjoyed
themselves and the political complexion
is about the same as before.