The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1868-05-29
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.
GRANT AND COLFAI NOMINATED.
A SOUND PLATFORM.
Enthusiasm of the People.

IA COtHpdHy viii iOTtH OF IiItS OtuCi
Kansans we attended the Republican
National Convention held at Chicago, |
last week. Of course our space wilIi
not admit detailed account of the pro-
ceedings. We can only give few i'm
pressions. The first noticeable thing,
was that Chicago did not make anything
like suitable preparations for the vast
crowd of people assembled there. The
| convention was held in the celebrated
Crosby Opera House, which could only
accommodate five or six thousand peO-
| pie, whereas there were not less than
fifty thousand who went there to see
the convention, and should have been
afforded facilities for doing so. The
people of Chicago ought to have erected
u wigwam to accommodate the vast
crowd. The general expression was
that everything was done on an exceed
ingly stingy scale. The hotel accom-
modations were insufficient, and the
bills were double the usual rates. In
fact everything was conducted as
though all Chicago cared for was to
make money out of the people there
assembled.
We venture the assertion that no
better convention, in point of brains,
morals, and loyalty, ever assembled on
this continent, than this one. Its cCun-
sells were guided by some of the best
minds in the country, and its proceed
ings were characterized by wisdom,
courage unanimity and soberness. Its
sessions were opened both days with
prayer, a new feature i'll political con-
ventions. This exercise was led OH the
first day by Bishop Simpson, i'll one OF
the most eloquent and touching appeals
we have ever listened TO, closing with
the Lords Prayer, which was participa-
ted in by large number of the people
The scene was awc-inspiring. and led
the minds of the delegates up TO the
Ruler of all earthly Affairs, and made
them feel the responsibility they were
under TO their Creator and their fellow
men in transacting tic business of The
people OF Free Government.
Of course it was a foregone conclu
sion that Grant would be the nominee
for President. This was settled OIL
, months ago, but the enthusiasm at CIV
: cry mention of his name was not re
,, strained in the least thereby. The fact
is there is no man in America to-day
: that possesses the undying affections o
the people to so great a degree as Gen
eral Grant, and none in whom they have
more confidence. When he was nom
a mated the scene in the Opera Houst
was grand beyond description. The
vast audience rose, and cheer on chez
assembled to the dome of the building
almost sufficient in volume to raise til,
roof. The cheering and the waving o
flags, hats and handkerchiefs, lasted TO
several minutes. In the hight of thu
excitement pictures of the noble Gen
eral were unveiled at the rear and side
of the hall, which had the effect to pro
l long the joyous outpOuring of cheers
The band played ''IIail to the Chief,
} and after the excitement had somewha
' abatcd struck up that soul-stirring all
Il Orally Round the Flag" The entir
e audience joined in on the chorus, ant
u made the walls of the massive buildin:
e fairly trcmble with patriotic fervor.
There was long and hard fight Of
= the Vice Presidency, among the differ
ent delegations. This, in fact, was tn
, only question that excited much con
:. test. Up to the hour of the nomina
!, ton, the Hon. 3. +. Wade, of Ohio
was regarded as having the best chances
and ran ahead of all competitors unit
the fourth ballot was taken. On tn
- fifth ballot Colfax sprang up and lei
- Wade slightly i'll the rear. Before tn
President, Governor Hawley, of Con
necticut, could announce the result O
the ballot the states commenced t.
change their votcs from other candidate
j, to Mr.. COlfax. This went on until final
ly General Sicklcs, of New York
= moved that the nomination of Mr.. Col
fax be declared unanimous, which wa
seconded by the Ohio delegation, tn
only State remaining to '.fall into line,
and the motion went through like will
fire. The enthusiasm was equally grea
as that over the nomination of Grant
1t was taken up and re-echocd by tn
immense crowds in the streets of Chi
cago. In the evening great mas
meetings were held in Court Hous
Square and in front of fhe Sherman
, House, which were addressed by dis
tinguishcd men from all parts Of tia
country.
= In this convention every State, in
= Guiding the South, and every Territor.
(. were represented, except Utah and New
q Mexico. Colorado, which only remain
p out on account of the Presidents veto
. was allowed to cast its full vote. Eael
Territory was allowed two votes. Il
= consequence of the strong probabilit,
o. that nearly il not quite all the Southern
: States will be members of the Cniol
before the election takes place, the,
v were admitted to full representation il
q the convention. And let us remarI
o here that no members of the conven
n ton expressed deeper anxiety for TIN
Il success of the Republican party. o.
: were more radical in their views thar
n those Southern delegates, especially thu
n reconstructed portion of them.
s We have been asked by many wha
c the convention thought of the failur,
Il of impeachment. We can assure al
|, that the members of the convention
e and ali the outsiders in attendance, fel