Saturday, September 14, 2013

McKinley Election Victory Triggers Spontaneous Parade in Cortland


 
 
Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, November 7, 1896.

CORTLAND RATIFIES

The Election of McKinley and Hobart by a Big Parade and Fireworks.

   Cortland celebrated last evening. In the history of local jollifications there is nothing that will quite compare with it. It was a political demonstration, but not a party demonstration for Republicans and Democrats took part in it. The celebration of a Fourth of July is a small affair beside that of last night. It was a great parade of red fire, blue fire, flags, torches, horns and prancing horses.

   The crowds began collecting on Main-st. at 7 o'clock and a 8 o'clock the parade moved down Main-st. headed by about sixty horsemen followed by a carriage containing the president and vice-president-elect represented in the persons of John O. Reid and S. K. Jones. The foot parade followed and was headed by "Long Sam'' Pierce of Marathon, with his high hat, long coat and brass buttons, representing Uncle Sam. At Union-st. the parade was joined by a large delegation from DeRuyter, Cuyler, Truxton, and East Homer, who had just arrived by special train, accompanied by the Cuyler Drum corps. In the parade were the Cortland City band, the McGrawville band, the Cortland Drum corps, the Normal Drum corps and the Homer Drum corps.

   The parade was an unorganized body of enthusiastic voters. Everybody fell into line wherever there was a place. There were horns and horns, and horns of all shapes and sizes. There were horns ten or twelve feet long, and last but by no means least there were hundreds of small horns or squawkers with strong chested men at the business end. All the streets paraded over were decorated by the residents and red fire added to the brilliancy of the occasion.

   One transparency bore these words, “What's the Matter with Hanna!" and following came this, "This is What's the Matter with Hanna” followed with transparencies bearing the names of all the successful candidates. Other transparencies read: "Willie Couldn't Deliver the Democrats over to Anarchy," "It was useless trying, Willie 'Jones' Bryan," "Gold Standard, It Stood. Free Silver, No Good. Say Nothing. Saw Wood," "We Submitted the Issue to the People and Their Word is Law. W. J. Bryan," "Battle Well Fought and Gloriously Won," "Git Thar Eli,'' "We've Pickled Them in their Brine," "Thanksgiving Days, Nov. 3, Nov. 26," "McKinley's Election, God's Greatest Blessing to the Republic," "Our Benedict-ion," "The Cross that Bryan Couldn't Bear," "McKinley's Election Means Employment and Honest Dollars to Wage Earners," "Just Tell Them That You Saw Me," "The Question Was, Honesty or Dishonesty. Votes Count."

   The parade ended with a countermarch on Main-st. amid a grand display of fireworks.The street [Main Street] between the Cortland and Messenger Houses was one blaze of light. From every corner Roman candles and skyrockets were sent skyward and hundreds of pounds of red fire were burned. The celebration was a universal expression of joy at the triumph of a nation's honor in the election to the presidency of Major William McKinley of Ohio, the Napoleonic figure of the West and the prince among American statesmen.

   The parade was followed by a traction engine drawing two large carryalls filled with men and boys who with bells and horns added to the din and noise. Also during the parade the shop whistles blew for nearly an hour and were heard for miles around. Deputy Sheriff J. E. Edwards says that he was coming through Solon at the time the parade and fireworks were in progress and that the whole sky was lighted up in fine shape, making a grand spectacle. He also saw the skyrockets leaping heavenward and bursting in mid air.

   The two large horns in the parade were from the tinshops connected with W. W. Bennett's and Cramer & Hollister's hardware stores. Each had tubes so that three could blow the horns at the same time. They attracted considerable attention.

 

Paid in Gold.

   One of the results of election was practically demonstrated in Cortland to-day. As was expected, the election of McKinley has restored confidence in our monetary system and gold has again gone into circulation where, before election, by reason of uncertainty and doubt, it was "as scarce as hen’s teeth." This morning Wickwire Brothers and W. H. Newton paid off their employees in gold. The Cortland Forging company informs us that their pay day does not occur till next week when they expect to pay their employees in the yellow metal.

 

References:
Red Fire: http://chemistry.about.com/od/funfireprojects/a/redfire.htm
Mark Hanna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Hanna 

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