The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1895-06-20
UNCONTROLLED THEM WIDE AwAKEs
A Republican Club In Hartford So Desig-
mated by Him In 1860.

In0 CnafI6f YAK City IN the early
evening of March ), 1860 A meet
ing at which he was to deliver the
main speech was due to open in a
scanty 15 minutes. Without
thought of solace for the inner man
the hardy railsplitter stepped into
one of the crazy public carriages"
of the Hartford of 1860 and babe the
jehu to sprint for the old city hall,
in which the meeting was to be held.
A large crowd had collected in the
building. In it was larger infusion
of young men than was usually the
case in antebellum political assem-
blies. The president of the meeting
was but 90, but he combined with
natural GOODNESS solid qualities
which are possessed by few men
who have the experience of twice 20
years. He was George G. Sill, since
then lieutenant governor of Connect
icut In introducing the gaunt ex-
frontiersman Mr.. Sill referred to
him as "one who has done yeoman
service for the young party" with
slight emphasis on the word "yeo-
man" sufficient to remind his audit
ors of the democratic birth and I'M
pretentious appearance of Tom Lin
coins son. This happy stroke, made
as it was with the delicacy of the
rapier rather than with the empha-
sis of the bludgeon, caught the fan
cy of the crowd. 1t was probably
with it in mind that Mr. Lincoln in
a few words preliminary to his adj
dress, after explaining the cause of
his delay, styled himself dirty
shirt" exponent of Republicanism.
His gaunt, homely figure, unpretend-
ing manner, conversational air, care
less clothing and dry hrllaaor made
him at once a fayorite With the au-
dience, who felt that he was indeed
a man of the people
Mr.. Lincoln's speech was meaty,
logical, convincing. It&ealt largely
with the question of slavery.
After the meeting was over Mr..
Lincoln, escorted by Mr.. Sill, enter
ed an open carriage. Several hun
dred young men closed in around
the vehicle, and forming sponta-
neously in military rankssaccompa-
MED the vehicle in progress to the
house of Mayor Timothy M. Allyn.
They saluted their favorite with
storm after storm of enthusiastic
cheers.
Turning to Mr.. Sill, Mr.. Lincoln
said humorously: The boys are wide
awake. Suppose we call them the
Wide AZyakes.
His suggestion WEES followed. A
few days after "a marching Republic
an club was formed, and its origina-
tors gawe it simply the name 1.-The
! Wide Awakes,' - Other marching
clubs followed fast and thick in its
wake. To each one as it was chris
tened was given the name wide
Awake" and from StoningtOn to
Salisbury Connecticut was fairly
speckled with wide Awake clubs.
AT Mayor Allyn's fine old colonial
mansion a bakers dozen sat down to
dime. Champagne was served at the
meal, but Mr. Lincoln, with one of
his humorous smiles, politely de
clined to indulge.
The following morning was raw
and gusty, but bad atmospheric CON
ditions had no effect on Lincoln, who
early in the forenoon took a stroll
through the city. On his return he
stepped into the bookstore of Brown
& Gross, ,o@ the corner of Main and
Asylum streets. The little estab-
liShment was one of the Oldest as
we'll as one of the best in New Eng
land outside of Boston. In it Mr..
J Lincoln met for the first time his
future secretary of the navy. The
two spent two hours exchanging po-
litieal and economic views. This in
terview may fairly be said to have
led to the offer of the navy portfolio
some eight or nine months later to
Mr.. Welles. Testimony to this effect
was given shortly after his Inaugural
ton by President Lincoln. indie
pendent.