Page:Lincolndouglas2184linc.djvu/251

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THE FREEPORT DEBATE
195

with Mr. Douglas; then came the hosts of citizens who tendered the honor. On the left hand and on the right, in regular order, marched but a few paces apart, perhaps a thousand men, each carrying a lighted torch. As the procession passed through these lines of torches, they closed in and became part of the parading mass.

Thus escorted the Senator was taken to the Brewster House, a large and very fine hotel opened within the last few months. Here Mr. Mitchell a prominent Democrat of this place, and a man of large influence, having been delegated thereto, made him a reception speech.

But let me hurry. There has been another reception. Lincoln arrived in town this morning and his political friends raking the earth all around have paraded their strength, having at that the benefit of all the delegations. Democrat and Abolition, that came in. Their cannon did as good service as did that for Douglas, it was likely the same piece, but they could not come the torches, nor could they make the cheers which the Black Republicans so much covet, rise above the yell of a defeated pack of "living dogs." The only flag they had among them had lost its color — it looked as though it had been of a variety trailed in the dust, as without doubt it was, when at Ottawa Lincoln on last Saturday stood and shivered at the side of Douglas as he exposed his nigger-loving propensities. Well, these folks, numbering perchance a thousand men, got them- selves into order, they walked in procession up the main street, where, of course, they were followed by the Democrats who had been com- pelled to come on the same cars. They took Lincoln to the Brewster House and then adjourned to meet the Rockford people and such others as should come by the cars from that region. These made quite a procession, they having filled some eleven cars; of course they all marched up to the house together and Lincoln was " toted " out to the balcony, when lo! these folks sent up a shout for Douglas, which showed how the wind blew in that quarter at any rate. As I write it is estimated that there are upward of ten thousand people in town, but of this I shall be able better to inform you in my next. B. B.