Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1886-07-09
Recollections of the Campaign of 1928.

From tie Democratic Advocate.
Nes@s Editors One of the recollections
OF that campaign is the coffin handbills |
posted over the country at public places, in |
contempt Of the hero of New Orleans, the |
Democratic candidate for the Presidency,
casting grave reflections and charges of mis-
management of the Seminole War; con-
demning him for executing the findings of
the Court Martial on deserters from bis
army. Children and ignorant people were
Mortified when they were told that jackson
killed a man every morning before break
fast, and they trembled at the sight of the
coffin handbills. Excitement ran high, jack
son clubs were formed and hickory poles
were raised, from the tops of which hoated
the stars and stripes. The fife and the drum
gave out the music that nerved the men to
action, and filled the children with zeal.
There were many personal encounters be.
tween opposing partisans, but nobody was
killed in their rough and tumble fights.
Pistols and shells were not in use in those
days; it was considered cowardly TO carry
concealed weapons. Differences were set
tied, when the climax was reached, by hard
knocks with brawny fists, and the best man,
physically, won,-the friends OF the respec.
tive parties forming ring, demanding stair
| play" These words could be heard above
the shouts and din of the battle. Sometimes
when stair play" was not given, the fight
became general, and the mass of bowling
humanity swayed to and fro in the village
street, and ended from exhaustion, or when
one of the belligerents cried enough" or
"nuff," or when there were enough of the
conservative element to part them. Intoxi-
eating drinks then, as now, had much TO do
with election troubles. In the general issue
Of the campaign the Democrats were sue
cessiul in the election of their candidate.
After which the usual quiet settled on our
village and country, aud Jackson was be.
gun to be thought of as man, and as our
next President and many were anxieusto
see him.
In the February following his election, the
quiet monotony Of our village was broken
by the announcement that on certain day
jackson would pass through on his way
to Washington to be inaugurated. Daniel
Collins and my father, Richard II. Waters,
were two of the escort that proceeded TO
Hyattstown, near the Frederick county line,
to receive from the escort of that county
General jackson and party and accompany
them as lar us Rockville, where another es-
cort received and conducted them TO Wash
ingtOn.
The Presidential party Travelled in their
private conyeyances. The village of Clarks-
burg was on the thoroughiare between
Washington and the West, dirt road,
which has not up to this day assumed the
honors of pike. All the men and boys of
the village turned out with the escort and
accompanied the party through the one
long street TO the east end, on the hill,
where stood the best tavern on the road,
kept by Mrs Scholl. They halted here for
refreshments, when the citizens were af-
forded an opportunity TO shake hands with
the General and bid him welcome, which
was done by all without respect to party.
We, the boys, stood looking on until the
men were through. 1t was my good fortune
TO be the first boy on that occasion pre-
scented to him. The gentle, quiet man, so
unlike the man of the coffin handbils, his
eyes beaming with kindness, extended his
right hand, taking mine in his, and placing
his left on my head, bestowed thas benedic
tons of the great Bishop OF the Democratic
faith, whose principles of equality, justice
and truth have endeared his memory TO US
} all, ana these principles are now the sure
foundation stones upon which rests our
constitutional liberty.
After a lapse Of fifty-seven years these
thoughts of my childhood's days are called
up by your correspondent and his relic Of
the campaign of 1910.
Respectfully, w. II. WATERS
Newport, Ky, June 2Sth, 1886.