Year: 1876




would not believe I'll hs had Night
brought them comfort and renewed their hopea
IL was the turn for their claims. and thsy came
sharply and with an emphasis that was wonderfully
convincing In front OF the HxRALD Building an enor-
crowd gathered and cleaned the as fast as
was posted Ii was democratic In It's tendency and
so all the prospects OF the democracy grew brighter
LOUISIANA which II was said had gone republican,
was new claimed tor she democrats South Carolina
followed, and the nroads ON the republicans indi-
Gated By Of the bulletins posted through the city
reached, even their stronghold. ohio All
this news. Of course although some Of
was open to question. brought back
the triumphant temper OF the democracy. Their re-
newcd confidence made .tse felt as the hotels and In
all public places It was conspicuous Tho procedure
OF the day was In kind II exact degree reversal
Of the previous days procedure. II opened In
than doubs for tho democrats ss Wednesday had for
the republicans, and closed for them renewed
surances Of success They accepted their prospects
like men who did not care 70 be any longer tossed
the turbulent sdcs and Of uncertainty and
their opponents made the best OF the III change Ia
their condition


IN FRONT OF THE HRRALD BUILDING.


The quiet which fell upon the city the small hours
Of Thursday morning was Of short duration. The
fever OF doubt in the pulse OF the people, the
blood was distem percd with anxiety and Il was TOO
repose From all quarters Of the city the
unengagea throng hurried down. 20 Printing House
square early hour, but the vast majority Of u
took up position In front Of the HERALD buetina
II wanted Information which was not biasscd by par
tisan animosty, and u was distrustuI OF the false
prophets who had played with hopes and fears .
IN subservcnce to party demands To the
temperate people who wanted to arrive
at the truth, these antagonistc oracies
were as unintehgibe a. the missionaries "Tom-A All
Alons's,n whom little 10. OF "Bleak House, could
understand, because "they all mostly scd as tho
pother wuns prayed wrong" II readily per
ceptbe that the excitement OF yesterday morninsex.
ceeded that the preceding day both In concentration
and subtlety. II had nos wide an area on which 10
waste ITSELF There were, apparently, fewer doubtful
States to be heard from the issue had grown mar
rover, the chances had diminished and the tension OF
popular feeling had become moro rigorous Governor
Tden needed OF the outstanding States to
his election, and the democrats down
to hear the glad tidngs, serious but
not daunted The reaction which had
set in In favor OF the republicans gave
them now spirit, Tidlngs Of success had poured In
upon them RAPIDLY, and they had now acquired the
tubilant temper which usually follows depression.
Still there camorous assurance OF success Al





meated the and repressed all tendency toward
exubcrant enthusiasm. Tho morning hours waneq
and the assemblage every moment increased by
accessions TO Its ranks BY It extended from the
HERALD Building the Asor House and TO the south
side OF ST. Paurs church. To gain Its flank that
side IL was frequently necessary 10 pass around through
Nassau and Fulton streets Al times too, the great
traffic of Broadway completely stopped or par
TALLY mpcded


The long linz OF velicles extended down to Bowling
Green, and the eye could reach through upper
Broadway. now motonlcss, now vany struggling to
free itself from the ENHANCEMENT ana then when the
great barrier Of people gave way pressing with
complement Of the city's vast treasures.


1T WAS 4 MAGNIFICENT SIGHT


to the great avenue trade paptatng and pulsat
Ing with all that maurcd vigor which had grown ou.
OF hundred years OF nationhood, and the sovereign
people grouped in a mass waiting for the an.
nolncement which should declare the name Of the
honored citizen who had been chosen its chief repre-
sentative and administrator. Here, indeed, de-
crcpt country enervated by luxury Its young life had
not been struck with the taint OF decay 1t was not,
In truth, a case in which


Ships were drifting with the dead


To shores where ali wss dumb.


The ships that came to its shores bore mortuary
cargoes. And to give better effect to tho splendid
the shone brightly out Of sky that the
depth and warmth OF its blue stil held rem,nis-
cence OF summer The murk and gloom OF election
day had passed. the sombre skies looked down on
the doubts and certainties the possibilities and proba-
bes Of Wednesday had OF their gray livery and the
aspect Of the city the vicinity of the HERALD bud-
ing bright and picturesque. As the morning
usually brings sobriety OF temper and . reserve
which the day dsspates the dcmcanor OF the people,
Notwithstanding the great issues which touched them,
II
rein to the anxietes which disturbed them the
thusiasm which was TO and voice when the hour was
ripe At present they chiefly concerned in the
OF Florida, for all the other States had wrongly
or rightly been enlisted either one eide or the
other. aud here was the Edipus which might solve
riddle OF more hidden meaning and bearing weighticr
results than that OF the sphinx Time wore on, the
dispatches came and the claims of both parties werc
urged with magnificent persistence. The reiteration
OF the republicans untirng II took every form
by which conviction could bo urged home. II
curt and elaborate. plain and ornate,
general and precise. II struck AZ the sensi-
bilities Of the democrats IN every way In
which they might possibly be punctured And they
were punctured, too. The uttcranccs Of crowd
heated by excitement are Of almost much value in
determining temper as its absolute actions tho
persistent claim Of Florida for democrats called
forth Of these. Suggestions OF republican vic
tory in spite OF overwhelming popular voto crcpt
into the discussions of the disconnected aud the Elec
tora College and the system Of Indirect voting ON the
Presidential election not just then In much favor
Tho temper Of the assembiage warmed M its numbers
Increased and the passing hours brought no re-
lief from anxiety.


But not till night fell that its enthusiasm was
thoroughly aroused The democrats waited latest,
and the crowds whose abors ovor swelled their
ranks TO immense proportions Those mad earned by
their toll right 10 the dissipation OF political exotic
u.ent and they were determined to exercise t They
were prepared TO quail deeply, and they in good
time for paatabe draughL Calcium lights hau been
placed In position at the Asor House, and the HERALD
bulletin boards shone white In tho intense glare The
streams OF light passed the heads Of the crowd
throwing some into shade, Illuminating part of the
and producing effects beyond all theatrical con-
trivance Up the despacles as they arrixed ther