When the Republicans Were the Woke Party

WIDE AWAKE!

the Woke Young Men of the Republican Party

"We ought to have some good rousing meetings in this county. We should be wide awake in every town, so that when the leaves fall in November, the worn out Democracy (Democratic Party) may fall to and “sleep, the sleep that knows no ending.”

at Danbury & Litchford CT

Aug. 30,1860

Night time march of national gathering of Wide Awakes in NYC July 1860 depicted in Harper's Weekly

Wide Awake clubs formed spontaneously all over the North to support Lincoln. Composed mainly of young men, they marched at midnight carrying oil lamps to make sure people were "wide awake" about what was going on in the country and what was at stake in the coming 1860 election. Wide Awakes wore oil skin cloaks for safety since there was so much oil splashing about from their lamps as well as for the effect of so many lights reflecting off the slick capes.

Wide Awakes had many of the trappings of a military group--uniforms, ranks like the military, and disciplined marching.

In fact, some in Southern states were alarmed, viewing the Wide Awakes as a precursor to an army sent to repress them. Similar groups in the South such as the Minute Men formed but never with the numbers and organization of the Wide Awakes.

Iowa Newspaper Nov 5, 1861

Reports on NYT & Wide Awakes

DISGUSTED--the New York Times is wearied of torch-light processions. The 37,000 Union exhibition there the other night was too much. The Times calls “Wide Awake, Minute men and Little Giant parades pretty and highly respectable child's play.” It says:

“To say that grown men to array themselves in uniform, and bearing torches, to go about the streets in that undistinguishable torchlight, supplied by gas and kerosene, and obscured by smoke, is not the wisest conceivable plan of promoting a partisan cause, may seem to be unfair and splenetic, but it is certainly a truism.”

Classic Wide Awake uniform with oil skin cloaks, hats and oil lamps

(note most of the men wear beards, mustaches, and/or mutton chop sideburns. This was a recent fashion that had evolved over the 1850s. Men in the 1840s were almost always clean shaven. Lincoln himself grew a beard after his election to not appear such an unfashionable country bumpkin in Washington, DC)

Below, an old veteran of the Wide Awakes recalls its formation

April 14, 1895 The New York Times, page 28

Mr. Lincoln Called Them Wide-Awakes

A Republican Club in Hartford So Designated by Him in 1860

From the Independent

It was on a train that was two hours late that Mister Lincoln came to the Charter Oak City in the early evening of March 5, 1860. A meeting at which he was to deliver the main speech was due to open in a scanty 15 minutes. Without a thought of solace for the inner man, the hearty rail splitter stepped into one of the crazy public carriages of the Hartford of 1860 and bade the jehu to sprint for the Old City Hall, in which the meeting was to be held.

A large crowd had gathered in the building. In it was a larger infusion of young men than was usually the case in antebellum political assemblies. The President of the meeting was but 29, but he combined with natural coolness, solid qualities which are possessed by very few men who have experienced twice 29 years period. He was George G Sill, since then Lieutenant governor of Connecticut. In introducing the gaunt ex- frontiersman, Mr. Sill referred to him as, “one who has done yeoman service for the young party,” with a slight emphasis on the word “yeoman,” sufficient to remind his auditors of the democratic birth and unpretentious appearance of Tom Lincoln's son. This happy stroke, made as it was with the delicacy of a rapier rather than with the emphasis of the bludgeon, caught the fancy of the crowd. It was probably with it in mind that Mister Lincoln, in a few words preliminary to his address, after explaining the cause of his delay, styled himself a “dirty-shirt” exponent of Republicanism. His gaunt, homely figure, unpretending manner, conversational air, careless clothing, and dry humor made him at once a favorite with the audience, who felt that he was indeed a man of the people.

Mr. Lincoln's speech was meaty, logical, convincing. It dealt largely with the question of slavery.

After the meeting was over, Mr. Lincoln, escorted by Mr. Sill, entered an open carriage. Several hundred young men closed in around the vehicle, and, forming spontaneously in military ranks, accompanied the vehicle in progress to the house of Mayor Timothy M. Allwyn. They saluted their favorite with storm after storm of enthusiastic cheers. Turning to Mr. Sill, Mr. Lincoln said, humorously: “The boys are wide awake. Suppose we call them the “Wide-awakes.”

His suggestion was followed. A few days later, a marching Republican club was formed, and its originators gave to it simply the name “The Wide Awakes.” Other marching clubs followed fast and thick in its wake. To each one, as it was christened, was given the name “Wide-awake;” and from Stonington to Salisbury, Connecticut was fairly speckled with “Wide-awake clubs.”

A Wide Awake member in typical marching order

Wide Awake Parade July 26, 1860

The Mountaineer (Tennessee)

TORCH LIGHT PROCESSION. —The Black Republicans greeted the return of Messrs. Covode, Burlingame, Grow, Blair, and Morris, on the 26th at Philadelphia, by an immense torch-light procession, with music., and a grand entertainment was given them by Henry G. Carry. The meeting at the square was so large that there was speaking from four stands. There was great enthusiasm when the speakers introduced the names of the Chicago nominee. Resolutions were offered condemning, in the strongest terms, the Administration and its veto policy, and pledging support to the Pacific Railroad, Internal Improvements, the Republican policy, and the Chicago and Harrisburg nominations. After the adjournment, the procession stopped in front of the Continental Hotel, and Burlingame and Covode were called out.

A meeting of the Friends of Sam Houston is called for in Schenectady, July 16th to nominate an electoral ticket in New York and designate a candidate for President.

A Catechism for the Wide Awakes

Are They Not Traitors in Disguise?

From the Charleston, S.C. Mercury September 20, 1860

Now let us ask these “wide awakes” a few questions and ascertain what will be their replies in case they dare to make any in truth. If, gentlemen, your organization has not been of a surreptitious character, how was it possible for you to enroll 400,000 names on your black lists, unknown to the great public at large? If your doings and designs are open, manly, honorable and independent, why do you meet in secret places, or have an unpublished understanding about the manners and means by which your designs are to be carried out? Why is it that you have regular military drills-- for such they are-- in a semi military uniform? Why did you select the dead hour of midnight as the time for your turn out in the streets, when your globe lamps of metal could throw a shadow over your faces and make them unrecognizable at a distance of a few yards? By what custom or precedent are you authorized as a mere political party to form a politico-military organization, when every man has a right to go to the ballot box of his own free will and accord, and deposit his vote, without the escort of a military guard? Where is the necessity or shadow of reason for the formation of such politico material organization to secure the right of voting for your men, when that right already exists, and no similar organization has ever existed in our fair country at any former time? Are your objects not of an intermeddling, mischievous character? Is it not an understanding among you and especially your leading active spirits, that you are to assemble at a moment’s warning, in order to aid by force in the operations of the Underground Railroad, and the rescue of Fugitive Slaves from the hands of legal authorities? Is it not an understanding amongst your 400,000 officials, rank and file, that in the event of the introduction of Slavery into anyone or more of the Territories of the United States, you are to send from amongst yourselves armed forces, in order to take the negroes back by force, and convey them to Canada? And finally, are you not a revival, under a new and mysterious name, with new, or additional and more mischievous aims, of the old Know-Nothings, or Dark Lantern political party, which never assumed a military form or character; and would not the name Night Owls, as they are night birds of mischief and prey, be more applicable to your organization and aims?

By CAROLINA IN GOTHAM

New York Sept. 20, 1860

A typical Wide Awake oil lamp--note it swings to stay level and avoid spilling oil

Wide Awakes At Danbury & Litchford CT

August 30, 1860

At Danbury-- ever wide awake, since the days of the Revolution, in regard to all good words and good works--a large and enthusiastic Wide Awake Club has been formed, which numbers among its members the most active and promising young men of the place, and which is doing yeoman service for our party and principles. On Wednesday evening last, this club turned out in full force with uniforms, torches, banners and music. After parading the principal streets, they halted in front of the Wooster House, and with a large concourse of other citizens, listened to short addresses from Ex-Gov. Dutton of New Haven, N.L. White of Danbury, Amos S. Treat of Bridgeport, and Henry S. Sanford of New Milford. The greatest enthusiasm and good feeling prevailed, and without doubt Danbury will give a good account of herself in November.

We ought to have some good rousing meetings in this county. We should be wide awake in every town, so that when the leaves fall in November, the worn out Democracy may fall to and “sleep, the sleep that knows no ending.”

Twelve More Pictures Below