New-York tribune., 1900-11-04

students of Columbia University made good
display their peculiar device being to form
names and Inottoes by each carrying
large letter. which formed words across the
front or the back of the platoon
Aside from the parade itself. the streets were
no small sight. The crowds of people in the
streets were almost remarkable as the NUM-
bers CT the marchers. They came early and
stayed till it over. They stood in lines from
two to dozen deep. all along the sidewalks. on
steps on balconies. on boxes and boards, any
where that they could stand. Those who were
overwise held umbrellas. and those who were
rot did not bother about them. But there were
quite as many of them and they stood as un-
wearied as is usual on a fair day. ProoaoiE 'he
vrst majority Of then. came with the intention
of STAYING Just long enough to see what the
parade was like. and then going home ou'
,bev did not go home They kept on staying.
SPECTATORS ENTHUSIASTIC. TOO.
And indeed there was fascination aoout It,
II was impressive. has been limited more
than once before from its numbers, and those
WHO had watched it for hours wanted to
watch Cor another hour and another. just to
see how long it would last. Perhaps some peo-
Die did get weary and go away, but If they did
,heir places were instantly taken by others
and the crowd was kept up till the very end
Here and there was a little knot OF persons who
shouted for Bryan. but they had obviously got
together at special points by arrangement and
except for them the whole crowd of onlookers
- ened TO be a. enthusiastic for Mckinley and
Roosevelt as the paraders themselves. 1t was
neglectfuI the part of Tammany not TO put
I'D any consolatory notices for TIE benefit Of the
SPECTATORS for doubtless they were coerced into
looking at the parade and cheering it on just
as much as the paraders were coerced into
taking part in it--just as much. For one thing
Tammany must. by its account, give the
Republican party credlt-the most splendid and
successful power of coercion in American or any
other political history.
OF course, the best decoration for the streets
through which a procession is to pass is the
crowds which come to see but there
abundant other decorations, too They were not
varied in character. but they were bright in
effect for they consisted almost entirely Of flags.
Only in few places was mere colored bunting
displayed or any other device than flags hung
across the streets or on staffs or draped against
the walls. The buildings all along the route
were covered with these, but they do not need
much description for the very reason that they
were so simple and so effective OF the big Nc
KinIey and Roosevelt flags and banners there
was about one TO every block for the whole line
of march. They were not exactly decorations
for the procession, for they were there before,
but they harmonized with the scheme And
what with these and the many flags draped On
the buildings and the thousands of flags carried
by the men in the line there was as fine dis
play OF the National colors one could expect
TO see on a rainy day.
BIG SHOWING FOR A RAINY DAY.
No DOUBT the rain did keep a good many good
Republicans out Of the ranks Many man
who would have been well able and glad to
march on a good day had every right to spare
himself the discomfort and perhaps the positive
danger Of a long walk in the rain and the mud.
Many one no doubt, showed the better wis
dom and patriotism in staying at home and
making sure that he would be able to go out on
Tuesday rather than going out yesterday to
get what might keep him in then, and cause the
loss of his actual vote. There were apparently
not many who stayed at home from mere prefer
ence. But the numbers in the line, enormous
as they were on such a day, gave earnest of
what they would have been with favorable skies
Seeing how many there were. it cannot be an
overestimate TO say that Oh a fair day there
would have been the 10000 that the committee
counted on.
1t was intended that the end OF the procession.
which would reach the square long after dark,
should have an accompaniment Of fireworks as
II passed the stand. Even ii was. the dark
ness was coming on fast before the last in the
line had passed, at nearly o'clock. and there
was a beginning then Of the fire display in the
square. 1t went on after the parade had passed.
and the sky was made brilliant for the first time
in the day, the celebration having an end
fitting to its beginning and continuance. The
rain was utterly routed. and the fire of JOY"
as they call it in French. reigned (and rained in
its place.
Nobody who did not catch cold ought to be
sorry now that it is all over, that the rain came
Il 1t had not come there would, no doubt, have
been much bigger parade. but that would have
indicated nothing except how many men were
willing to turn out for Mckinley and Roose-
welt land that would not have been a small
thing TO be sure). BUT it was, it was shown
how many were willing to go through good
deal and how much they were willing to go