The National tribune., 1902-02-27

The public meeting was held in the
Court House Square It was the first
large Union meeting held in Metropolis
since the boys had marched off to the war.
1t was obvious that the people, women
and men, were profoundly interested IN
the great struggle, and were anxious to
hear the war issues fully discussed. |
was the speaker of the day. / was with
old-time friends and acquaintances. Co.
A, Of my regiment (the 56th I'D, was or
ganized here and made up of Massac
County people. Many Of the wives, faith
ers, mothers, brothers and sisters of sol
ders of that company were present at
the meeting: the whole body Of the au-
dience were their friends. The speaker and
the majority of his audience were in sym
pathetic accord. There were, however, a
large number of anti-war men present.
They had heard of the previous days
had been given to that gathering, and they
were desirous Of seeing what would occur
at Metropolis.
1 was soon informed after reaching the
town that it had been authoritatively an
nounced by the Chairman of the Demo
cratic Congressional Committee Of the
District that Green B. Raum would be
read out of the Democratic party.
The speech at Metropolis involved the
discussion of all the topics dwelt upon
the day before. The address was extern
poraneous, and while discussing the same
subjects as those treated at Spout Spring,
the argument was made to suit the Occa-
sion.
| alluded to the fact that in April, 1861,
| had opened the great debate for the war
near the very spot we were then occupy
Ing, and that / now came before them
to Justify and defend every act Of Abra-
ham Lincoln's Administration in defense
Of the Republic. | passed to the political
condition of the country, and called at
tention to the threat that | was 10 be ex-
communicated and driven from the Dem
ocratic party. | insisted that this threat
was not directed against me alone, but
against every voter who had formerly af-
filiated with the Democratic party and
who was now supporting the war policy
Of the National Government
/ declared that in this hour Of the Ma
tons peril the line of cleavage between
the parties was loyalty; that the action
Of the Democratic party organization in
Illinois upon the question of war had been
such that every Union-loving citizen had
been relieved from all obligation to sup
port that party, and that it was the duty
Of men and women throughout the North
who favored the successful prosecution OF
| the war to affiliate in great Union party
and sweep the country at the next cleo
ticn.
| declared that we would not wait to
be read out of the Democratic party, but
that we would march out in a body and
! leave the remnant OF the party. the anti
war faction, to manage its affairs.
These sentiments We're heartily in,
doTsed. The majority of the people were
| indignant at the attitude of the anti-war
party, but were reluctant to cut loose
| from old party ties; but when they came
together in large body and interchanged
opinions and heard the issues discussed
public duty became stronger than old
patty ties, and they resolved to stand to
gethe: politically in support Of the Ma
| tional Government.
| These two meetings were undoubtedly
an epoch-maker in the politics of that sec
ton of the country. Democratic to the
core before thu war, these Counties LED
the way in 1864 in the election to Con
gress of Mai. A. ]. Kuykendall, a Union
man, over Hon. William j. Allen, an anti
war Democrat. Since the war southern
Illinois, particularly Massac, Pope ant
Johnson Counties, became the center Of
a great Republican stronghold.
THE SPRINGFIELD MEETING.
Soon after the meeting at Metropolis
attended the great Republican rally OF
September. 1868, Mt Springfield, Ill. Thi.
meeting was designed TO be an answer Il
the immense anti-war mass convention
held at Springfield, June II. 1t was es
timated that there were 10000 person.
present. Ten stands were occupied at tn,
same time by speakers, the principal ora
tors on the program being Gen. John a
McClernand, Gen. Richard J. Oglesby ant
Gov. Richard Yates.
The great victories of Vcksburg ant
Gettysburg had increased the confidenc,
of the people in the successful and earlI