Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-03
Sound Money Hosts Move in One Mighty
Column.
THOUSANDS PRESS FORWARD TOGETHER
Republican Voters Show Their Magnificent
Strength in Omaha.
EEP STREETS kBlAzE FOR HOURS
Intense Patriotic Enthusiasm Marks the
Whole Proceeding,
oHCES MARSHAL IN ALL THEIR PRIDE
Final Parade of the Men Opposed TO
Cheap Money and Reputation
Makes Truly Wonder
ful Appearance.

The republican campaign in Douglas
county ended las, night with the most re-
markable political demonstration ever seen
in Nebraska. Never before was such a
manifestation OF public sentiment witnessed
in Omaha. Sound money enthusiasm ran
riot. 1t was echoed by the tramping feet
OF $1,000 voters marching under the banner
OF Mckinley and MGcCon. 1t cleaned in
many torches which seemed to populate the
entire center Of the city with scntilating
stars. 1t rang in the shouts OF the enthus-
iastic marchers and found response In the
wild cheers OF the thousands who lined the
Curbs and filled the windows of the build
ings. 1t rose again in the inspiring strains
Of twenty bands and filed the atmosphere
with such rampant oNuberanCe OF patriotic
sentiment as has not been known in presi-
dental campaigns since the American peo-
pie faced the issue OF freedom for the slave
Nothing could be more significant than
such a spectacle. il was not parade of
the ward workers and professional poll
tiCians Hundreds OF ErCy-haired men
marched In the ranks. who had taken no ac-
tive part in politics for years. There were
business men, bankers. lawyers. physicians
and workugmcn who had never before par
ticipated IN such demonstration. But
last night they marched for three hours
and helped to swell the parade in proper
tions that emphatiCally indicated that Doug
las county will do Its duty In the great
contest OF today
The most sanEuine aut0patiOns Of the
republican managers were FAR exceeded II
had been expected that il would be the big
Eest demonstration ever seen in Omaha.
But 1t was more than that. 1t was fully
twice as big as the biggest of previous
years and more than twice as enthusiastic.
A dozen Fourth Of July celebrations were
concentrated in one tremendous burst OF
thunderous clamor. From the early evening
until long af.er the parade was over the
noise was desfening and incessant The
cheers Of the multitude were drowned in
the hlare Of thousands Of horns. the inces-
SAINT fusillade OF the shotgun brigades and
| the music Of the bands. The city was abaze
| with red fire aud Tho sky was lit by the
! ascending rockets ana bombs And in the
! midst of ii all Candi date for the presidency
| came and went, his advent as unnoticed as
| the chirp OF a cricket beside the thunder Of
a battery OF twenty-pounders.
| CELEBRATION COMMENCES EARLY.
Although the parade was delayed in order
| that MIR. Bryan might nave the right of way
| to his hall the people began TO gather on the
! streets soon after supper They hung on
| the street cars by fingers toes and eyelashes
and for a couple of hours every downtown
car was weighted to it's capacity. Most OF
! the voters were cOngroPating at their ward
! headquarters to march IN the parade and
| their wives and daughters and sisters and
! sweethearts came down town TO stand on the
| sidewalks and cheer them as they passed
| This was in itself feature that would have
! been impossible in an ordinary campaign. In
| the crowd on the streets were thousands
! Of women who seemed to be as thoroughly
| enthused as the men who marched past
them. They cheercd until they were hoarse
and clapped their hands and waved their
! hGndkerChefs Many OF them had horns
! and they stood on their toes and blew them
as energetlcally as though the result Of the
! election depended on their individual ef-
forts. Here and there a knot Of Bryan shout
| ers had congregated with the expressed in
! tention Of interfering with the parade. But
| they changed their minds the solid line
| OF men marching from curb to curb tramped
! past them and the immense army marched
through the crowded streets without any
| material disorder The presence of a heavy
| detail OF police contributed materially TO
this result. There were a half dozen active
! bluecoats Oh every corner and the prospect
! Of night in cell was not encouraging TO
| the few hoodlums who were disposed for
| trouble.
Soon after o'clock the various organiza-
tiOns began TO form In divisions. II was
| difficult task TO mobilize such an army,
but It was finally successfully accomplished.
| Some OF the clubs were a little out of their
assigned order, but the constant eXertions
| OF the marshals brought them into better
alignment than is usually effected in a po-
litical parade. II was nearly o'clock when
| Chief Marshal Frank Z Moores gave tho
! order TO march and the head OF the process.
| sion started from Eighteenth and Douglas
| streets As il passed down Douglas street
the various divisions filed into line and for
the first time the immeusity OF the affair
became apparent. The men were massed
as thickly as possible The ranks marched
In compact order and IN many cases fifteen
| and twenty abreast. Even then the Uarade
was nearly TWO miles long. and the head
had passed back up FGiuum around the city
hall and was countermarchinE al Sixteenth
and Nicholas streets before the last division
had fallen into line on Douglas street The
parade was Just an hour in passing a given
point and more than two hours in completing
the line OF march.