The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-19
AN INCIDENT OF 1860.
Unexpected Effect of "a Boys Cheer for
Lincoln.

New York Times.
A small party, gathered in a coy nook
in one of the clubs in this city upon re-
cent rainy evening, had exhausted the top
les of the day and drifted into reminiscent
chat and story telling. One of them with
the predatory remark that the incident he
would relate might prove interesting as il
Illustrative of the popular temper at the
time and place. proceeded as follows:
Although John Bell, the Constitutional
Union candidate for the presidency in 1860,
was one of my fathers cronies and l knew
the old gentleman well and liked him very
much, l was for Abraham Lincoln. | was
ten years old that year, and so cannot
truthfully say that | was influenced by the
rather that Lincoln was in the air at my
home, and | breathed him in.
IF seem to lay stress upon this now
unimportant fact, it is because had [ not
been for the railsplitter there would not
have been so much excitement as there was
one Saturday night on the public square in
Nashville. 1t was the night of the greatest
Bell and Everett demonstration of the cam
paign: there were said to be 10000 men in
the parade, and the enthusiasm was UNI
bounded. Tennessee was one of the three
States that voted for Bell, you may re-
member.
II stole off from my home in the coun-
try early that evening and wandered about
the city, looking at the decorations and
watching the preparations for the march.
line of parade had begun to move that /
found myself on the public square And in
the cheering crowds, most of whom were
Tor john Bell, out some or whom shouted
for John G. Breckenridge, | was Il very
lonely little Lincoln man. There was here
and there devoted adherent of Lincoln,
but stern of face and silent of tongue, for
the open advocacy of the Republican can
didate there at that time not con-
ducive to longevity.
1T did not strike me as 1 stood there
that / was much of a worker for my man.
l did not then know that there was no
Lincoln electoral ticket in the State and
that no possible good could be wrought for
him by adding to the general din. So when
finally some one uttered a feeble cry for
Stephen A. Douglas ! could not stand the
pressure any longer. My man should not
be the only one unrecognized that night l
had a good pair of lungs and my 'Hurrah
for Abraham Lincoln was easily, heard;
When / shouted out that defiance lodged
back from the curb and was quickly hidden
in the crowd, for to tell the truth, / did
not know what might come Of it.
The effect of my cry was all ] could
have wished had l been bent on mischief
instead of merely working off steam. The
made rush for the sidewalk in search of
the author of that SeditiOuS sentiment.
Their EXPLANATIONS of rage were not fit to
be repeated to gentle ears. For ten or
fifteen minutes there a scene of the
greatest excitement and confusion as the
men in uniform pushed their way through
the crowds, even elbowing women rudely.
Their search was vain, and at last the
line of march was taken up again, in defer
ence 10 the impatient queries and demands
of the thousands behind, who did not I'M
derstand the cause of delay.
When order had been restored for some
minutes a man whom | had noticed near
me- and who had alarmed me by following
me through the crowd, slipped into my hand
two silver half-dollar pieces and whispered
in my ear Say that again" l told him that
it would not be prudent to do so just then,
but that ] would venture on a repetition
later on And this | did, without waiting
to see more of the result than an instant
halt of those in line, who rushed in search
of the 'Amalgamationist.' / set out for
home, jngling my silver pieces and both
sleeves stuffed with silent laughter"