Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-11-02
FIFTY-SIX YEARS AGO.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE ROARING
CAMPAIGN OF 1882.
Hickory Jackson"-A French View En-
ables Us to See Ourselves as Others Saw
Us-Old Time Democratic Procession
A Funny but Effective Speech.

ables Us to See Ourselves as Others sav
Us-Old Time Democratic Procession
A Funny but Effective Speech.
NJ. Chevelier, q French gentleman travel
ing In the United States In 1889, gives al
amusing account of the Jackson professions
They were SO frequent that the traveller was
led to suppose them one Of the institutions OF
the country "Besides the camp meetings.
he says, 1.-THE political professions are the
only things in this country which bear any
resemblance to festivals. The party dinners,
with their speeches and deluge of toasts, are
frigid, if not repulsive; and l have never
seen more miserable affair than the dinner
given by the opposition-that is to say
by the middle class-at Powelton. II
the neighborhood of Philadelphia. But
stopped involuntarily at the sight of tn
gigantic hickory poles which made thef
solemn entry on eight wheels, for the purpos'
of being planted by the Democracy on the
eve of the election remember one of thet
poles, with its top still crowned with greer
foliage, which came on to the sound of fife
and drums, and was preceded by ranks
Democrats, bearing no other badge than
twig of the sacred tree in their hats.
was drawn by eight horses, decorated wit
ribbons and notices. Astride on the tire
itself were a dozen Jackson men of the frs
water, waving flags with an air of anticipate
triumph, and shouting, 'Hurrah for jackson
"But this entry of the hickory was but.
by matter compared with the procession
witnessed in New York. 1t was nearly.
mile long. The Democrats marched in goo
order, to the glare of torches; the banner
were more numerous than had ever seen
any religious festival all were in tran
parency on account of the darkness. q
some were inscribed the names of the Denr
cratic societies or sections; Democratic youu
men Of the Ninth or Eleventh ward. OtheJ
bore imprecations against the Bank Of tb
United States. Nick Biddle and Old Mic
here figured largely. Then came portraits
Gen. jackson afoot and on horseback. Their
was one in the uniform of a general, and al
other in the person Of the Tennessee farme
with the famous hickory cane in his hant
Those of Washington and jefferson, su-
rounded with Democratic notices, wee
mingled with emblems in all tastes and of 81
colors. Among these figured an eagle, ut
a painting, but real, live eagle, tied by tie
legs, surrounded by wreath Of leaves, aid
hoisted upon a pole, after the manner Of te
Roman standards. The imperial bird ws
carried by stout sailor, more pleased TIM
ever was sergeant permitted to hold one,f
the strings of the canopy in a religious cee-
mony. From further than the eye cord
reach came marching on the Democrats
was struck with the resemblance of their or
to the train that escorts the viaticum 4
Mexico or Puebla. The American STANDARD
bearers were as grave as the Mexican indians
who bore the sacred tapers. The Democratic
procession also, like the religious procession
had its halting places; it stopped before ht
houses of the jackson men to fill the air WITH
cheers, and halted at the doors Of the leadri
Of the opposition to give three, six or nnt
groans. If these scenes were to find a palmer
they would be admired at distance, not Isl
than the triumphs and sacrifcial pornp
which the ancients have left us delineated il
marble and brass, for they are not mG,
grotesques after the manner of Rembrandt
they belong to history, they partake Of tn
grand; they are the episodes of a wcndrol
epic which will bequeath lasting memor
to posterity, that Of the coming Of demo,
racy."
Those who can remember the excitemer
of 1882 will not consider the following froi
an old publication altogether misplaced her
1t Is, moreover, an illustration Of "unive1
sal SUFFRAGE"
During Gen. Jackson's second presidents
campaign there Aourished at the Quarantir
ground, Staten Island, an honest old fellow
q baker by trade, and stanch Democre
withal. One evening a political meetin
, was held at q small tavern which then stoo
on the shore road q short distance east Of Il
, present pavilion at New Brighton. Our GOO
, friend and several other residents at II
Quarantine attended the meeting. Anon
them was old Dr. H., who was q noted wal
and 1t occurred to him that if a speech coul
be got out of the old baker it would be e,
ceedingly amusing. Accordingly he calle
on him for an address
NO, no." said the baker, 81 can NAL
bread, but can't make speeches"
The suggestion, however, had excited Il
audience, and the old man was at lengt
compelled to make the effort So, rising
his seat, he said;
, Fellow Citizens-It Is we'll known to &c
, all that when John Quincy Adams was pre-
, ident the emperor Of Brazil seized several ,
/ our ships and wouldn't let 'em come hom
, So President Adams wrote him a letter-au
a very purity letter it was, too-for 70 Civ
him his due, be knew how to write If
didn't know anything else. So the emper1
he got the letter. and, after he had read |
he asked who this Adams was, and his bea
I men told him he was president Of the Unite
States. We'll, WE'LL said the emperor, I
v wants me to send them ships home, but
r won't do it, for it is quite plain TO me that
: man who can write So beautiful don
Q know anything about fighting; SO the shil
must stay where they are Well" continus
the baker, Hby and by Ginral Jackson got
:. be president, and he wrote letter to the u
!. peror, and it was something like this:
}. "You, emperor, send them ships hon
: right away. ANDREW JACKSON.
swell, the emperor got that letter too, al
!. after he had read it he laughed and sal
= This is mighty queer letter. Who Is Il
= Jacksoni Pears to me I've heard Of him
J. FORE Wen tell you,' said his head ma
). who he is He is the-New Orleans Jackso
}. 'Whatr said the emperor, the New Orlea
,. jackson; that's quite another matter. If Il
& man don't write SO beautiful be knows how
< fight, SO send them ships home right ava
+ And it was DONE"
). This was regarded as a very effective poll
D. cal speech, and was received with thumb
Z Of applause.
D. New jersey Figures
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