A torchlight parade of “WideAwakes” for Abraham Lincoln in New York City, 1860. Originally published in Harper’s magazine (National Museum of American History)
As the 1930 political season got started, Illinois State Journal editor/columnist J. Emil Smith noted, with some regret, that Springfield probably wouldn’t see a classic torchlight parade, the kind he remembered from his youth.
Here’s an excerpt from Smith’s “Making Conversation” column, published Sept. 14, 1930:
If there are parades it is safe to be that they will not be of the old-fashioned variety, when marchers were eager to carry lard or kerosene oil torches, wear bright colored caps and oil cloth capes and pick their way over rough cedar block streets.
No matter how staunch a Republican one might be or how deeply dyed-in-the-wool Democratic one is, it is nlikely that at present a corporal’s guard could be mustered to march through the streets, with torches, behind a band and a homemade drum corps beating a rat-a-tat-tat.
The old fashioned political rallies make good bedtime stories for the grandchildren, but they are not coming back.
Farmers from near and far in Sangamon county came in on horse back years ago to participate in the political demonstrations. A parade without a hundred or more mounted men was hardly considered a success. There were white horses and black horses, sorrels and browns, spotted ponies and claybanks, horses just unhitched from the plow. The clatter of hoofs and the whoopies of the riders contributed to the enthusiasm of the rallies.
Political enthusiasts thought nothing of mounting their steeds and riding for hours through muddy roads to be in Springfield in time to be in the procession.
Between this city and Riverton was an especially muddy stretch of road. One of the stories told in connection with it was this:
A group of the riders coming from the east part of the county saw a man’s hat in a mud puddle. One of them leaned over in his saddle and reached down for the hat. To his surprise under the hat was a man’s head.
“Can I help you get out?” the rider asked.
“No,” gulped the man in the mud. “I am on horseback and I’ll wade through in time for the parade.” …
A feature of Republican political rallies was the marching club known as the Portuguese Marines. In those days many of this nationality lived in Springfield and they were ardent Republicans.
The leader of the Marines, Manuel DeFrates, spent much time in drilling his men for the rallies. His command to improve the efficiency of the marchers was:
“Forward de march; crossa de torch, now swinga around and come back lika gate.”
The kids were quick to take up the command and whenever the Marines came down the street they would shout:
“Three cheers for President Manuel DeFrates. Forward the march; crossa de torch, swinga around like a gate and come back.”
Those were the days when political rallies were real rallies and when arguments and fist fights were common occurrences.
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