Beautifully Carved WIDE-AWAKE Cane/Walking Stick!! NR Start Price USD 2,800.00 Current Price USD 2,800.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, August 20, 2008 End Time Monday, August 25, 2008 Location New Jersey See more about 'Beautifully Carved WIDE-AWAKE Cane/Walking Stick!! NR' Description     Beautifully Carved WIDE-AWAKE Cane/Walking Stick!! NR Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Click to View Image Album  Beautiful hand carved WIDE-AWAKE walking stick/cane dating to the late 1850's, early 1860's. This wonderful piece of folk art recently came to market from a New York State estate. It measures approx 35 3/4". As you can see from my photos, the top of the cane, has the words "*UNION AND LIBERTY*" carved into the top, underneath is a field of cross-hatching. Beneath it we find the carved "WIDE AWAKE EYE." The body of the stick has "WIDE-AWAKES" incised in wrap around panel form, on top of the same cross-hatching design. There is a wonderful snake with scales on his skin slithering up the cane. This artifact shows a great patina as well as workmanship. Unforunately, I have no additional history. HISTORY: The Wide Awakes was a para-military campaign organization affiliated with the Republican Party during the 1860 election. Similar organizations affiliated with the Democratic Party were called the "Douglas Invincibles", "Young Hickories" or "Earthquakes". Southern organizations were called the "Minute Men". In the mid-1850s, an entirely separate group called the "Wide Awakes" existed in New York City. This was a political club loosely associated with the Know Nothing movement. In 1856, the new Republican party across the North organized young men's marching clubs called "Rocky Mountain Clubs", "Wide Awakes", "Freedom Clubs", and "Bear Clubs" The term "Wide Awakes" became popular in the 1860 campaign. In Chicago on October 3, 1860, 10,000 Wide Awakes marched in a three-mile procession. The story of this rally occupied eight columns of the Chicago Tribune. In Indiana, as one historian reports, 1860 was the most colorful in the memory of the Hoosier electorate. "Speeches, day and night, torch-light processions, and all kinds of noise and confusion are the go, with all parties," commented the "independent" Indianapolis Locomotive. Congressman Julian too was impressed by the "contrivance and spectacular display" which prevailed in the current canvas. Each party took unusual pains to mobilize its followers in disciplined political clubs, but the most remarkable of these were the Lincoln "Rail Maulers" and "Wide Awakes," whose organizations extended throughout the state. Clad in gaudy uniforms the members of these quasi-military bands participated in all Republican demonstrations. The "Wide Awakes" in particular were well drilled and served as political police in escorting party speakers and in preserving order at public meetings. Party emulation made every political rally the occasion for carefully arranged parades through banner-bedecked streets, torchlight processions, elaborate floats and transparencies, blaring bands, and fireworks. In 1860, the New York Herald estimated that there were over 400,000 drilled and uniformed Wide-awakes, nationwide. Historians have not found any examples of their engaging in violent or threatening behavior outside of enlistment in the Union military. Guaranteed authentic and as stated. Please ENLARGE Pics. No Reserve. Feel free to email me at barclay7@bellatlantic.net Buyer pays S&I. Monies to be received within 7 days of close of auction otherwise sale is void. Checks, must clear, money orders & PAYPAL ship next day. Good luck & thanks for bidding. Payment       I accept the following forms of payment: PayPalMoney OrderPersonal Check     More than just a pretty picture. Try Vendio Image Hosting.  FREE scheduling, supersized images and templates. Get Vendio Sales Manager. Place a Bid!