The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-21
rrear extent aroused.

.
AS a campaign, that of 1910 was one
of the most exciting in the history of
the country. From one end OF the United
States to the other the people thought
of nothing but politics, and there was no
end of public meetings and other demon
STATIONS in the interests of the can
didates. This campaign of log cabins
and hard cider seems to have absorbed
all the popular effervescence, however.
for it was not until twenty years had
passed that there was another noisy
campaign in behalf of candidates. This
was the campaign that followed the
nomination of Lincoln. in 1861.
In the South. of course, Lincoln was
not well thought of, and there were a
few sections in the East where he was
rot popular, but generally throughout the
North and West the enthusiasm for him
was great, Huge political .parades, with
log cabin and rail-splitting aceompani-
ments, were the order of the day and
night. Seldom, if ever, has more interest
been manifested by the people. But the
one great event that makes this cam
paign memorable is that it was the occas-
ion for the first appearance of the torch
bearing brigade
The torehlight parade was the result
of a bright thought on the part of a
few political youths in Hartford, Conn.
In February, 1860 Cassius NJ. Clay
visited that city, and on that occasion
the organization known as the Wide
Awakes inaugurated what has since be-
come the most popular feature of all
campaigns. It consisted of the adoption
of half-uniforms, each member of the
marching club carrying a torch, and the
effect of this innovation proved to be
exhilarating to a degree that can scarcely
be appreciated at this time.
After the first appearance of the Wide
Awakes in this way the idea spread all
over the country, and there was scarcely
a town or village of Importance where
clubs of Wide Awakes were not formed,
and these torchbeaFers were in the great
est demand at every political demon
stration.
THE WIDE AWAKES.
writer of those days has left an
account of the first parade of the Hart
ford Wide Awakes, and this gives some
idea of the manner in which the unique
feature was received. He says:
''The scene at this moment was one of
great beauty and interest. The dark
thunder cloud had passed eastward and
was lighted up occasionally by CLEANS
of lightning, forming a little background
to the scene. The streets were crowded
by shouting and excited people; thousands
of torches made the line brilliant from
one end to the other, and the march was
as steady as that of regular infantry.
"As the line advanced, cheer after
cheer arose, bands played, cannons were
fred and artificial fireworks added beauty
to the novel scene" Such was the first
torchlight parade recorded in history
The uniform of the Wide Awakes in
1860 consisted of oilcloth cape, a military
cap, and each member carried an ordin-
airy petroleum torch over his left shout
der. At first it was intended to have
the capes of muslin. but as the torches
were extremely crude affairs the burning
oil was continually dropping from them,
and this would have quickly set fire to
such fimsy material as muslin. While
the uniform of the private of the line
was simple enough, that of the officer
was more elaborate, consisting of an
inverness mantle, an overcoat with cape
of enamel cloth and glazed hat.
1t is probable that we shall never
know the name of the man in whose
brain this idea first developed, and the
fact is certainly one to be regretted, for
it would be but just reward to him if
his name could be sent laundering down
the ages in the pages of history OF
all the campaign innovations, there have
been none that have been more spectacu-
lar or sensational. Nothing that has been
responsible for SO much genuine enthus-
iasm.
Ever since the night of the first torch
light parade, therefore, they have been
marked features of the Presidential can
vass. From time to time improvements
have been made. more attractive illum-
nations have been selected or more ex-
pensive uniforms procured, but the pa
rades have been toFehlight parades for
all that, and nothing can take from
Hartford the credit of having invented |
and first produced this novelty.