Woodford County, Illinois - Chapter 14, 1910

Chapter 14

POLITICALLY the county has usually been democratic, the vote at the first presidential election after the county organization, being Polk, democratic, 322, Clay, whig, 159. There have been occasional lapses from faithful adherence to the democratic party, but the presidential candidates on that ticket had a plurality in the county ivp to 1896, since which time the tide on. presidential years has been in favor of the republicans. Prior to that year an occasional republican candidate for county office would be elected, but since then the offices have been almost equally divided between the two leading parties. At the present time the honors are quite equally distributed.

Altho the elections were for many years one-sided affairs, they were not robbed of their intense interest, Torchlight processions, bands of music, floats, banners, and fireworks were the characteristics of the campaigns for many years. Each side sought to make the greater display, and have the longer procession. There was the old fashioned barbecue, attended by thousands of enthusiastic party adherents.

One of the most striking of these was that in which Lincoln and Douglas held their famous debate. Slavery was the vital issue of that day, and the people saw in it the all absorbing question. Woodford county was deeply interested in the solution of the problem. There were men of the Abolition type, who would not hesitate in using every means possible for the uprooting of slavery, and who were especially strong in their opposition to the fugitive slave law.

With men of this stamp in the county and with others of opposite views, it is not surprising that the appearance of Lincoln and Douglas in their famous campaign, should awaken an intense interest, that found vent in great enthusiasm for the respective senatorial candidates. The issues were closely drawn. Lincoln opposed the further extension of slavery, while Douglas advocated the allowing each state to decide for itself its attitude on slavery. The candidates for senators made a thoro canvass of the state, and they visited one point in Woodford county, Metamora. It was not one of the seven places at which joint debates were held, but the candidates appeared within about a week of each otber. Douglas appeared there September 30th, 1858. The date on which these addresses took place is in doubt. The fninmittee having charge of the preparation of the bron>:e tablet erected in the park at Metamora at the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the debate, fixed the date of the Douglas address as October 2nd, 1858, while that of Lincoln's address was October 9th; 1858, just one week later. These dates each fell on Saturday. Other evidences seem to point to Thursday, September 30th, as the date of the appearance of the Little Giant, while Lincoln spoke the following Thursday, October 7th.

Thousands of people gathered to hear the Douglas address. The speaker was met at Washington and was escorted to Metamora. The delegation was met by the Woodford County Men's Democratic club three miles out of town, and delegations from Eureka, Minonk, Spring Bay and other places were in the procession. Minonk had eight four horse teams in line. There were banners bearing such signs as the following: "Popular Sovereignty;" "Let the People

Political Views

Rule ; " "No Nigger Equality. ' ' The meeting was held in the grove half a mile out of town. There was boundless enthusiasm when Col. Roberts made the address of welcome.

Mr. Lincoln was hailed by a crowd about equal in size to that which greeted Douglas. He was better known to the people of the county than his opponent because he had practiced here so much and was a general favorite. He was not so polished in his manner of address as his antagonist, but there was a clear, forcible logic about his speeches that carried his hearers with him in his argument. The day was characterized by much the same display that was witnessed when Douglas was there. One of the features of the procession was the gaily dressed riders representing the states of the union. Banners, bearing various inscriptions were borne in the procession. One of these excited a storm of opposition from the Douglas party, and threats were made against it. The banner represented Douglas pulling a boat load of slaves across the Ohio into Illinois.

Lincoln's speech was characteristic of the campaign. At heart he was opposed to slavery, and used all of his eloquence to arouse the people to oppose its extension.

The fiftieth anniversary of this great debate was celebrated in 1908. The exercises in this county were held in connection with the Old Settlers' picnic, August 27, 1908. A great concourse of people gathered, of which number a few were present at the original Lincoln and Douglas meetings, and took part in the celebration. A bronze tablet bearing the following inscription was erected : outside the city, but was placed in the park. Underneath the tablet was placed a box containing coins, papers and other objects that would be of interest in the future.

Another campaign that was of unusual interest was that for the election of county officers in 1865. The excitement was intense, and the entire republican ticket composed as follows, was elected: Superintendent, John Buckingham; surveyor, E. W. Dickinson; county clerk, George Kinnear; treasurer, Joseph M. MeCulloeh ; county judge, William S. Magarity.

The custom prevailed for many years of holding great political meetings attended by crowds drawn from miles around. One of the great rallies held in the county was the Logan meeting at ElPaso, October 6, 1872. It was attended by thousands of people. Logan was very popular, especially with the soldier class, who loved him for his courage. A special train brought a great crowd from Bloomington, and there was tremendous enthusiasm. More than a thousand came from that city alone, and one of the features of the parade was the full company of colored men from the Evergreen city.

Another great rally was that held at Eureka in the campaign of 1888, when John M. Palmer and Andrew Jackson Bell, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor on the democratic ticket, were present and made addresses both afternoon and evening. There was an immense crowd, a long procession and banners of all sorts.

The next campaign there was a great demonstration at Minonk at which Gov. Joseph W. Fifer was the principal speaker. There was the usual throng of excited party adherents, and the great torchlight procession. The Eureka umbrella brigade headed by Stumpf 's Military Band was the most attractive delegation in the parade.

Another campaign that had novel features was that in which Benjamin H. Harrison was a candidate for president on the republican ticket against Grover Cleveland on the democratic. It derived its novelty from the fact that Mr. Harrison was a grandson of AVilliam Henry Harrison, of Tippecanoe fame, who was elected to the presidency in 1840. Features of the campaign of 1810 were introduced into that of 1888. The log cabin, with the barrel of eider by the door, and the raccoon chained to the cabin, were features of the processions. The democrats retaliated with various banners, among which was that with the motto : "Grand-pa's hat won't fit Bennie."

In recent years the campaign of pomp and display has given way to one of newspaper discussion, the so-called campaign of education. Time alone will tell the results. It is no longer necessary to ride for miles to hear a discussion of affairs of the day. The daily newspapers and magazines, give a complete resume of the entire subject, far more comprehensive than can be gained from a single address.

There have been other questions aside from the usual political issues that have from time to time drawn the attention of the voters of the county. In 1855 a prohibitory proposition was presented to the county, and those interested in local option will notice that1 the county at that early day stood two to one against the prohibition idea, the vote being 390 for to 66S against it.

Another proposition frequently submitted was that of permitting stock to run at large. After several votes had been taken the proposition to keep stock off the roads car* ried in 1872 by a vote of 1,128, for keeping up stock, to; 929 against it.

The annexed tables give the vote of Woodford on presidential candidates since the organization of the county, and also the list of county officers since it was formed.