Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1872-06-12
THE PHILADELPHIA CONVENTION.
Interesting Incidents of Its Proceeding
Its work n Certain Assurance Of VIC
tory-The Spirit and Character Of It's
Delegates.


Editorial Correspondencel
The telegraph and press have furnished
you before this with details of the pro-
ceedings of the National Republican Con-
vention. I shall not, therefore, attempt to
narrate its deliberations, but attempt only
to give you some impressions of its lead
ing features. And first in Importance we
say word about the
CHARACTER OF THE CONVENTION.
The Democratic press did the Repub.
lican party good service in proclaiming
that this great assembly would be an Of
fice-holders' Convention" The opposition
Senators in Congress likewise rendered it
good service in their bitter personal and
malicious war on General Grant. These
two causes served to bring out from almost
every State the oldest and truest friends
of Republican principles. In very many
States those old, fire-tried abolitionists and
early friends of the party came out, and
by their presence and earnest enthusiasm
gave pointed and singing answer to the
claims of TIE Greeleys and Summers that
those who stood at the cradle of the party
were not of it now. Foremost in the
ranks of these men were Gerritt Smith, of
New York, Henry :. Lane, of Indiana, and
Hon. VIM. y. Howard, Of Michigan.
Their white heads, earnest counsels and
deep feeling gave the strongest assurance
that in this coming campaign the old tried
leaders of the party would give to its work
some of that old spirit and enthusiasm
that made its earlier struggles memorable.
/ have only named a few of these men.
The large number of old and influential
men in the Convention was remarkable
These men came out from their retirement
-, Il, tl,af lN,,;J Nf
ton were still its strong timbers.
Another element of the Convention that
excited general comment was the large
number of influential business men like
Dodge, Clafiin, Orion and hosts of others
that participated in its counsels. The old
political hacks were left at home. The
earnest friends of the party, those whose
national interests are at stake in this can
vass came out to give to the cause their adj
| vice and sympathy. So noticeable were
these two elements of the Convention that
| it provoked from the Democratic Age of
this city the highest compliment as to the
| intelligence and high position of the dele
gates. 1t was evidently body representa-
tive of those solid, earnest, patriotic men
| who compose the party, who carried the
| country through the war and who mean
now to insure to it for another fonr years
an honest and tried Administration. |
would like to comment at great length up
| to me by far the most gratifying and en-
couraging fact developed by its meeting.
| 1t was an assurance not only of UictOrY but
| that the detection of Il few leaders, did not
in any perceptible degree lessen the conf
| dence or impair the efficiency of our great
! party. AS to
IT'S ENTHUSIASM AND NUMBERS
! can only say that old conventionists
assure me it was the largest and most in
/ dino s.1 IL.
| political convention. l have this from
Democratic newspaper men who have at
| tended every convention since 1860. AS
| there was no uncertainty about the Presi-
| dental nomination and as General Grants
| history is so familiar to every voter, it was
rather expected that there would be less
| enthusiasm than usual. But the mean
abuse heaped upon the President and the
| insinuations that the proceedings were
''cut and dried" by office holders, aroused
| such indignation among the delegates and
! attendants that more than usual feeling
and earnestness was manifested. The
| demonstrations were sincere and positive,
| and only showed that unmertcd abuse
drives the friends of the President closer to
him. Every mention of his name from
| the beginning of the convention was the
signal for some new demonstration and at
times scenes were enacted that defy de-
scription.
lie HuUlDeTS anu eilliluSlaStn OF COllNCn-
tons are not always indications of the
real significance of their work, but in this
case they are noted, because to a large de-
gree the work Of the assemblage was de-
creed by the voice of the State Conventions.
1t is noted again because there was no
money or effort made to secure anything
OF the kind. There were no delegates in
attendance with fare and hotel bills paid
as at Cincinnati. There lDds no Uhisky;
there was no buncombe; no outside pres
sure; nothing of the clap-trap of conven-
tions. 1t was a body of earnest men who
did their business in straightforward
way.
| SCENES or THE CONVENTION.
The first scene that demands notice was
the Academy of Music itself, as decorated
inside and outside. The building is on
Broad street, which is about twice the
width of your Market Square. The build.
ing is the largest in the city, and one OF
the largest in the country. In front, IL
was covered with flags and banners
Across Broad street were suspended inn
mense flags, banners and paintings
While the Convention assembled or adj
liOurned, and most of the time during IT.
session, this wide thOroughfare was crowd.
ed. Inside the building, the scene wa
too grand for me 10 describe. The Acad.