The Portland daily press., 1879-10-25
Blaine in New York.
The Republican Meeting at Cooper In
Stute.

IN. Y. Times.
Long before o'clock last evening streams oil
well-dressed people were pouring into every
entrance leading into the great hall OF the
Cooper Union. AT $50, while the doors still
remained closed the building was surrounded
bya waiting throng that blocked the way of pas
sers-by. Inside the hall, at 7.30 o'clock, not
only was every seat taken, but every inch ol
standing-room was occupied by tightly
wedged mass of eager humanity. Where the
aisles were, solid parallelograms OF standing
men radiated backward in all directions amid
the broad expanse of heads which paved the
space covered by the chairs. Around the walls
was q frame six feet deep, and every exit ex-
tending out into the street was blocked by per-
sons unable to move an inch nearer the
sound of the speakers voice. 1t was one of
the largest meetings ever held in Cooper Un-
lou. A larger one would have been physically
impossible. 1t was by long odds the most re-
spectacle, most intelligent and best assem-
blage that ever gathered there. Every face
had a character, and each bespoke absorbing
interest in the proceedings. Many ladies
graced the front rows of seats with their pres
ence. The enthusiasm was intense and sus-
tanned, and when the Chairman abruptly de-
clared the meeting closed the disappointment
of the vast gathering, which had remained un-
diminished in numbers to the end, was appar-
ent. Among the gentlemen on the platform
were Senator Blaine, candidate for Lieuten-
ant Governor Hoskins, ex-senator Fenton,
Samuel B. Ruggles, Thurlow Weed, the Hon.
Levi ?. Morton, Collector Merritt, Surveyor
Graham, Portmaster James, the Hon. Ellis H.
Roberts Gen. Arthur, Gen. Porter, Gen.
.lIcCook, Prof. Dwight, Prof Clarke, Llther
Il. Marsh, Cyrus W. Field, the Hon. Edwards
Pierrepont, Judge Cowing, Col. Otis. Elliot
c. Cowdin, the Hon. Demas Strong, and
Judge Morgan.
AS the hour set for opening approached, the
audience manifested its eagerness by frequent
stamping of feet. Then glimpse OF Senator
Blaine was caught, slowly pushing his way
through the throng behind the pillars in the
rear of the platform. An immense shout lmme-
diately went up, which was continued without
lull or cessation until the Senator had taken a
seat. Then stentoran voice that rang above
the roar, called for three cheers for Senator
Blaine. The response was electrical. The en-
tire assemblage leaped to its feet, and hats and
handkerchefs were waved all over the house
while the rafters seemed to shake with the
volley discharged from 10000 throats. Mr..
Blaine partly rose and bowed his acknowledge
ments. This was the signal for a wilder and
more prolonged outbreak. Cheers, shouts,
whistles, and clapping Of hands and stamping
of feet made a deafening din for several min
utes. When a lull came, cries of blaine!
Blaine." were heard and the entire audience
took up the call. The Senator violently shook
his head and tried vainly to hide behind his
neighbor. There were shouts of "Blaine, our
next President" and one of Blaine of Ohio"
which threw the assemblage into commissions
of laughter.
A diversion was created by the appearance
of Gen. Arthur, to whom the plaudits of the
audience were at once transferred. A moment
later the form of Secretary Evarts was deserted
struggling through the throng. Again the as
semblage rose to its feet, and again hats, canes,
and handkerchiefs were frantically waved,
while cheer succeeded cheer until the gather
ing took ON the appearance of vast assem-
blage of lunatics Mr.. Evarts, having sue
ceeded in disentangGng himself from the
crowd behind the pillars, smiled his thankS
and then went about the platform, shaking
hands with Senator Blaine, ex-Gov. Fenton,
and various other persons who had arrived be-
fore him. Every movement he made was
seized upon as the excuse for fresh outburst
of applause. Three cheers were given for Mr..
Evarts, and three more for Thurlow Weed
who arrived at that moment. When the veter-
an arose to bow in response, the audience fair
ly howled with delight.
Gen. Arthur was obliged to pause few mo-
ments for silence as he stepped forward to
open the meeting. In a clear voice he nomin-
ated the Hon. Levi p. Morton as chairman,
and called for the ayes. A laundering aye
rang through the hail. When the nays were
asked for, the silence was startling by con-
trast. Mr.. Morton was loudly cheered when
he began his address, and was warmly ap-
pIauded throughout. As the speaker OF the
evening arose and approached the lecture stand
the previous scenes of wild enthusiasm were
repeated. 1t was several minutes before lie
could begin Mr.. Evarts's voice seemed weak
er than usual and to one seated near him it
hAIt f1,aE f1,av
could hear him at ALL At times there were
cries of ''louder'', which strengthened this inn
preston, but the speaker was cOmplimented
by the closest attentionto the end, and no one
quit the hall during his remarks. He spoke
an hour and forty-one minutes. AS he tnrned
and sat down, the feelings of the throng
once more found vent in uproarious cheers,
amid which uprose shouts of 'Blaine! BlaiDe!'
Mr.. Morton stood up and having obtained ST.
lence, announced that the meeting on Monday
evening next would be addressed by Secretary
Sherman, (applause) and that a week later
by Senator Blaine.
This was the signal for q more enthusiastic
outburst From every part OF the hall came
the shouts of Blaine! Blainel" The Chairman
stood hesitaiitatingly moment, and then, see
ing that the audience would be satisfied with
nothing less, turned and spoke q few words to
the Senator from Maine, who had meantime
been sitting apparently unmoved by the clam
or. At this the shouting redoubled, and as
MI. Dlalne arose tno entlfe dSSeiHDldSe dIOSe,
too, and once more waved hats and canes and
handkerchiefs in a mad climax of enthusiasm.
When they had shouted themselves hoarse he
made his brief remarks. As he turned alb
ruptly about cries arose for "Fenton" and
"Hoskins." but neither of those gentlemen
made any sign. Mr.. Morton rose, looked at the
audience moment, and then going up to Mr..
Fenton spoke to him, but the latter shook his
head. Mr.. Morton stepped brskly forward
and held up his hand. The aasemblage, think
ing he was about to introduce the eX-Goyer-
nor, was silent. In a loud voice he said, This
meeting now stands adjourned. A loud
shout of disappointment went up all over tho
hall, and hundreds sprang upon the platform
to shake hands with the speakers and congrat-
ulate them upon the success of their efforts.
1t was fully fifteen minutes before the levee