Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-09-12
5000 TORCHES AFLAME.
Washington the Scene of a RoasIng
Democratic Campaign Rally.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-THE torchlight
procession in connection with the Demo
cratic ratification meeting tonight was
the longest and finest ever seen here. II
was over mile long and looked very
well on Pennsylvania avenue. Many OF
the transparency legends were very happy.
That which created the most amusement
read: 'Dodged, by Gosh.'
The Democracy of the District of Co.
lumbia ratified the nomination of Cleye-
land and Hendricks by a grand'open air
demonstration tonight, and a street pa
rade of the local Democratic organiza-
tions and Democratic clubs from the
country. A meeting was held on the
plaza in front of the city hall. Speeches
from men promlnentin Democratic ranks,
and the adoption of resolutions express
i've of the loyalty of the Democrats of the
district to the standard bearers of the
party constituted important features of
the ratification. Electric lights, grand
display of fireworks, music, flags and
the booming of cannon were other ac-
compartments.
The procession was headed by the Jack
son Democratic Association, the Oldest
Democratic organization in the District.
and following came four divisions com
CARNATIONS from Virginia and MARYLAND,
1t is estimated that 5000 torches were in
line. Transparencies abounded bearing
significant Inscriptions. AS the line
turned into Pennsylvania avenue and
Fifteenth street, thousands OF rockets.
bombs and Roman candles were set
off, and at intervals cannon drawn
by horses doomed heavily.
The sidewalks along the line of march
were packed with moving mass of h1-
manity, and the colored population of the
District turned out in force to view the
procession. Pennsylvania avenue during
the progress of the procession presented a
scene of rare magniicence.
AMoYING SEA OF FIRE.
Powerful electric lights enclosed in re-
Electors at the Capitol and Treasury and
scores of smaller electric lights along the
line of march poured floods of light upon
the sea of fire of thousands of torches.
The meeting proper was held di-
rectlY in front of the City Hall, and
the large plaza was packed with dense
gathering numbering many thousands.
They were addressed from three stands
simultaneously. The principal stand,
erected on the portico of the City Hall'and
just behind the Lincoln statue, was mag
niticently decorated with national emb-
lens, portraits of the candidates and the
flags of all nations being prominently dis
played. Electric lights, Chinese lanterns
and gas made the scene as brilliant as
day. On the principal stand were the
leaders of the District Democracy
and eminent Democrats from abroad.
Among these were several men,
bers of Congress-. A large concOurse
of people filed all the space on the City
Hall pOrtico and the steps in the rear of
this stand. A feature of this gathering
was that in the man body of the specta-
tors was a large proportion of ladies.
The principal speakers here were Senator
Jones, of Florida; Hon. Bradley T. John
son, of Maryland; Representatives
Murphy, of Iowa; Ellis, of Louisiana, and
Post, of Pennsylvania. The overflow
meetings were addressed by Eppa Hun
ton, Gen. Rosecrans, Col. NJ. D. Ball, of
Alexandria, and State Senator E. E.
Meredith, of Virginia.