News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-07-05
THE Log CABIN CAMPAIGN.
"reminiscences ola Remarkable Con
test Nearly HaIfa Century Ago.
From the Louisville Courier.l

tcSI Nearly haH q century ago.
From the Louisville Courier.
More than forty years have come and
gone since the log cabin, hard cider and
coon skin campaign of 1910.
This was a remarkable event in the
history of our country. Gen. Harrison
was elected over Mr.. Van Buren, almost
by acclamation, having carried nineteen
States out of twenty-five.
Hon. Bailey Peyton of Tennessee
called to see Gen. Harrison at North
Bend after he was nominated at Harris
burg, Pa. Peyton went to Cincinnati
and made q speech. In this speech he
said he had been to see the Wing nom,
inee; that he was the man they wanted.
He said he lived in q log cabin, with the
latch string never pulled in, q barrel of
hard cider 10 treat his friends, and coon
skins nailed over the cracks in the walls
to keep the wind away.
Old Joe Harrison mo kin to the Gen.
eraD owned the Six-mile House. below
Cincinnati, where the United States flag
had foated for forty years. This was the
great resort for fast horses, tight men,
and lovely women. Joe saw a point and
at once built the first log cabin. This
was the first; in a few weeks there were
hundreds built all over the country.
On May 18th Wings met at the Gait
House to make arrangements to build a
log cabin. In q short time plenty of
funds were raisel for the purpose.
Col. John o. Cochran. Chief Marshal:
George D. Prentice of the Journal,
Birney Marshall of the Gazette, Assist
ant Marshals; George l.. Robards and
James Mcdonald, architects and build
ers. William O'Hara's band was in at
tendance. 1t consisted of drums and
flies, four horns and two bass, 200 boys
with as many axes. Each appointed
himself a committee of one. With
twenty teams we left the city, proceeded
down Jefferson street, then south to
Broadway, into Bullitt's woods. We
cut twenty trees. With OK and horse
teams to haul them, the line of march
was one mile long. We brought the
whole tree and cut it up at the place
where Rulers Hotel now stands. This
was me of the %jollicst days of the "Falls
City" There were all sorts of people
there, from the highest to the lowest,
and all seemed to take a hand in the log
cabin. 1t seemed to me that hard cider
was quite strong for many of the boys
fell at the first fire, and by the wayside,
but there was no quarreling.
Birney Marshall and Hiram Ray led
the van each with a long pole, driving
old Meek's OK team /; Bill O'Hara, with
his band of fife and drum would like
to see such a band to-day. The dust
was two inches deep, and when the van
nearer the city you would have
thought it was Birnam woods moving on
Macbeth's castle, as every Wing carried
n large bush. At the setting sun our
cabin was finished, and in the presence
Of 5000 people Gov. Poindexter and
Charles NJ. Thurston made the first log
cabin speeches. Prof. Candy and his
ylee club, with the song of "Tippecanoe
and Tyler too" set all the people wild.
[ thought Goodby Matte las Old
called Van Buren,. 1 said
Hear is not at the Hermitage, old hero.
The air become full of the sounds of the
different glee songs, composed by Prof.
The woods resounded with
of birds and the voices of the
women and children. Those glee songs
more power over the mind than the
song of to-day has in the
churches. There was something in this
Presidential campaign of 1910 that was
'emarkable-the good feeling one party
lad for the other; there being but few
nomicides, if any; it certainly was owing
10 the glee songs. But once was enough
make a President in that way. In
1874 the same claptrap was tried, but it
was stale, fiat, and improbable. Mr..
Clay was defeated by Polk.
The Cincinnati Mail Line steamboat
yave out that she would leave our wharf
IN July 4, 1910, then on the 9Th leave
at II o'clock, and lay over at
North Bend four hours to let the pas
see Gen. Harrison and his log
cabin. Men, women, and children made
he trip. About 400 yards from the
landing was the old fashioned two story
house with some old outhouses
attached, but all clean and neat. The
was there, as well as Mrs. Har-
his son Scott and several members
If the family. The General felt hattered
It so large n c%oncourse of people calling
IN him at one time. Here was an in
irm old man living on borrowed time,
but q walking shadow low,
neck, and emaciated, bloodshot eyes,
nd looking rew and excited. The
question of his friends and acquaint-
noes was Has he vitality enough to
i've through this excitable campaign?
The General took care to stay at home
Until the election was over, and see but
iew visitors, Gen. Harrison was a pure
minded man; he was the governor and
commander of the Northwest. He GER
was not a great man, but he had
greatness thrust upon him-the Presid-
ency of the United States, almost by one
voice. Vixen he was nominated for the
Presidency he was Clerk of Hamilton
Court. The good man had not
strength enough to bear his honors, but
bore up until after he was in~augurated,
and five weeks later he yielded up his
spirit and appeared before q higher
tribunal.