The Portland daily press., 1888-07-07
Raising Campaign flags in $40.

10 the Editor of the Press
Members of political parties nowadays
who take part in raising flags in honor of
their favorite candidates, do not enter into
the work with the same spirit and zeal that
animated the members Of the old Wing party
In 1910, when they honored William Henry
Harrison with the nomination of candidate
for the Presidency.
The writer recalls to mind the many ex-
citing events connected with planting the
Wing liberty POLE" as it was called by the
youngsters in those days-residing in the
small village referred to by the writer in the
PRESS few days ago. In that village near
~ every Whig voter engaged personally in
the work. The son and grandsons of Gen.
and later Governor Of Massachusetts and
Collector of Boston, were foremost in the
movement, aided by grandsons Of Col. John
Allen, who did valuable service iu the Tara
tine Indian war. A gang of men with an
lance from the village. The straightest,
taliest and best pine tree was cut down,
stripped and finished up, ready for transpor-
tation to the most central and elevated
grounds in the village, where 1t was smoothly
finished and fitted with appliances for raising
the flag, transparencies and other appropri-
ate decorations. At such times political ex-
element was at high pitch, ana the parties
strongly arrayed one against the other On
the particular occasion referred to in this
narrative the Loco Foco party polled as
large a vote in the village as at any time
previous to or since the November election,
but what they lacked in numbers at home
to execute their infamous plans was aided by
a strong reinforcement of this kind from the
neighb0ring town.
The Wings worked diligently early and
late and several days digging and making
ready to raise the liberty pole on the
.'old hill" an ancient landmark in the vii.
lage in front of the. house of one
who had been postmaster since the
year 1900, commissioned by Postmaster Gen.
eral Hubarsham under President Washing
ton. While the expectant Wings were TAX
ing their quiet midnight repvse their oppo-
nents were busily swinging the axe, cutting
down and demolishing the standard of the
stars and stripes, and when the morning sun
broke upon the hill 1t revealed the ''cussed-
ness" Of the loyal Democrats ~ as the Locos
styled themselves.
The disappointment and evaporation of
the Wings can be well imagined but they
were not to be turned from their purpose by
any such contemplate set of fellows, who
had hand in the cut down. There was
little time for talk. 1t was "work boys and
ordered the men and teams into the forest.
When another tree equally as good as the
first was felled and brought to the front.
men women and children entered into the
work with determination and will The
traders contributed literally of spikes and
large nails, which were driven, thick as
spatter, into the pole from the surface of the
ground, where 1t was deeply set, far above
the climbing pins. and when the work was
finished, the people assembled and pro-
nounced 1t very good. 1t was a jubilee
night when the benfres lit up the hill and
music filled the air. The American flag,
bearing at its head the names of HARRI-
SON and TYLER. foated proudly over
the river. Suspended from an arm was the
log cabin and barrel Of hard cider.
Both old and young united in singing the
campaign songs which are now being repro
duced in these days of our HARRISON and
MORTON.
Some months after the election and success
of the Wing party an attempt was made in
the night time to bring down the liberty pole
by setting fires around it, but the perpetrat
ors were detected before the work was ac-
complished, and to this day, righteous in
dignation follows their children down to
third generation, c. II. 4.