The “Wide-Awakes” constituted a new and powerful agency in
the machinery of American politics. They were companies of
active voters in uniform of cap and cape with a lamp on a
staff, organized and drilled with officers, who by display
in the streets increased their numbers and intensified the
prevailing enthusiasm. The organization was general throughout
the Northern States, and constituted the working element of
the Republican party. It has been sometimes remarked that its
military discipline was an unconscious preparation for the
sterner duties at hand.
The companies were not disbanded immediately after the
election, and at several places where Mr. Sumner lectured
he received from them the compliment of a visit after the
lecture. This was the case at Concord on the evening succeeding
the Presidential election, when the Wide-Awakes of the town
appeared before the house of Ralph Waldo Emerson, the admired
author, where Mr. Sumner was staying, and their Captain, Hon.
John S. Keyes, made the following address.
“HONORED SIR,--In behalf of the Republican Wide-Awakes of
Concord, and of numerous other Republicans, part of that
gallant army whose victory was yesterday achieved, I have
the honor to tender to you our respectful greeting on this
occasion of your first visit, after many years of pain and
suffering endured in the cause of Republicanism, to the
old battle-ground of Concord. We could not permit it to
pass without at least offering to you a warm and earnest
welcome, especially on the day following that glorious
victory whose brightness no cloud obscures, and whose
lustre is owing more, perhaps, to your earnest efforts
in the cause of Freedom than to any other man. Permit
me, Sir, in the name of these Wide-Awakes, to say to you
that we trust with renewed health upon this soil you may
bear forward the glorious cause of Freedom upon which our
country has just entered.”
Mr. Sumner, standing on the steps of the house, replied as
follows.