112 street paraded in uniform, waving the American flag, and cheering the patriotic utterances of their elders. Looking from the several stands, the eye encountered a sea of faces not commonly met at great gatherings. There was an almost utter absence of levity and disorder. Every countenance said plainly that its owner had come there with an earnest purpose ; that the time for trifling had passed ; that the great crisis was at hand ; and, by the help of God and their own right arms, that they meant to meet the issue as became American freemen, worthy to preserve the liberties transmitted them by their fathers. \From the Evening Post, July 16/t.J If the great meeting of April, 1861, was more numerous and enthusiastic than that of yesterday, it was because the nation then felt the first glow of its patriotic ardor. But, with the exception of that grand outbreak, no meeting ever held in the city has surpassed the one of yesterday in grandeur and life. A sea of men and women filled the vast spaces around Union Square, so that streets, sidewalks, balconies and windows were filled, while the proceedings were marked throughout by the utmost animation. In the eloquent speeches of General Walbridge, Judge Daly, Dr. Hitchcock, Mr. Coddington, Delafield Smith, and others, there was a noble utterance of the grand pervading sentiment of the occasion. We have given elsewhere such reports of the speeches and doings as our space admits, and we design in this column merely to record impressions produced upon us by a careful observation of the masses assembled. The war impulse is apparently as vigorous and determined as it ever was ; the devotion of the people to the Union is as strong ; but this patriotic zeal is tempered by a greater thoughtfulness. A year ago we were ready to rush into battle without preparation, and despising the enemy like a troop of headlong boys, who love excitement and are reckless of consequences. But at this time, though we are no less determined to fight, we desire to do so with a distinct object and a careful estimate of the means. We have learned from experience that our enemy, being of our own blood, is no despicable opponent ; we know his desperation ; and we feel that he is only to be overcome by the most strenuous and persistent efforts. We cannot play with him any longer, and if we fight him we must fight him in grim and deadly earnest. We must not stand on trifles if we mean to put down the rebellion speedily and forever. The single result of this great assemblage has been to express the necessity of a more active and stringent prosecution of hostilities. No other opinion was uttered ; no other sentiment tolerated. A drunken fellow near Fremont's stand began to mutter something about " abolitionists," but he was instantly silenced by the cry that the war must go on at all hazards, and by every means in our power. No one tries to revive those old partisan cries who is not in the interest of secession, while loyal men and women everywhere will echo the resolve of this gigantic congregation, to urge " upon the Government the exercise of its utmost skill and vigor in the prosecution of this war, unity of design, comprehensiveness of plan, a uniform policy and a stringent use of all the means within its reach, consistent with the usages of civilized warfare." [From the Commercial Advertiser, July 16.] The gathering of the loyal people of this city at Union Square, yesterday afternoon, exceeded the expectations of the most sanguine. In numbers, character
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