The Irish & German & French Vote
Sperry wants The Wide Awakes to spread into swing districts – the specific towns and regions that always prove vital to winning each State. The Connecticut gubernatorial race proves the efficacy of his “excursions,” intercity joint parades, as a way to goose membership in the host town. Following Sperry’s orders, Gladwin and Lambert needed to have big “excursions” with swing towns near Albany if the Republicans were to win the state. Using the Irish Catholic network which helped usher Irish immigrants up to find factory jobs on the Erie Canal or Hudson River, Lambert pushes the Wide Awakes to where the fight is hottest. Meanwhile, Lambert starts the first of many affinity-group Wide Awake clubs, the Irish Wide Awakes of New York City. Elsewhere, there are companies of German Wide Awakes, and French Wide Awakes. Similarly, women and African-Americans use the Wide Awakes as the vehicle by which they demand representation and respect.