The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-18
THE CONVENTION.
The Scene at the Nomination of Gar
fieId---'rbe Widest Enthusiasnl-
The Reception.

HE CONNENllONs
fieId---,Fhe Widest Enthusiasll--.
The Reception.
From the Chicago Inter-ocean.i
When the vote of Wisconsin was an
nounced, assuring Garield's nomination,
q scene of the most indescribable confu-
sion and ungovernable excitement en-
sued. Garfield's friends rushed from
their seats with yell of triumph, caught
up one hundred fold by the galleries.
They surged around the banner of Ohio
and chCered with an ardor that seemed
to know no abatement. They humbled
themselves rs the captives of old used to
humiliate themselves ut the feet of their
captor-prince. They lifted the Ohio
banner high into the air and then
brought the banner Of every other state to
the place and swung it beneath the shield
of Ohio. 1t was Ohio over everything.
Mr.. Garfield, who had turned deathly
pale, leaned his head upon his hand, and
sat in his seat overcome with the emo
ton awakened by the stirring scene.
The gallery occupants seemed wild.
Reason was flung to the winds, and a car
nival of mad capers was surrendered to.
An aged man ON the east side took off his
coat, grasped it by the collar with 10th
hands, and laboriously waved it up and
down during the entire reign of tumult.
A delegate lifted the heavy leather
cushion from his scat and threw it with
violence into the air 30 that it fell upon
the heads of two men in another delega-
ton, who minded it not. Women were
transformed into furies, and We'd with
the men in IN insane effort at self-de-
struction. The chair gave up hope of
restoring order, and Mt n signal the band
in the north end began to play. An oc-
casional blare of the cornet reached the
south end of the building. Finally it
struck up Rally Round the Flag"
which every one joined in singing.
When verse of this was sung and an
other resounding cheer given, the enthu-
siasts began to seek their seats, exhaust
ed with the effort Mt tempest making
through which they had struggled.
Gradually the noise subsidized, half re-
vived once or twice by some insatiate
occupant of the gallery. until ut last
quiet came because there was not left
force enough to continue the demOnstra-
ton.
The moments which succeeded the
nomination of Garfield must have been
proud ones, but they were as certainly
trying ones. 1t is doubtful if any man
was ever subjected to more violent Ova-
ton than that paid him by the delegates
upon the floor, and probably no man had
smaller opportunity TO prepare himself
for it. He was helpless in their hands,
and they seemed to feel no mercy for
him. The great Ohioan stood it, how
ever, like man and soldier. His face
was very pale, but there was no trem-
bling OF indecision of movement.
Gen. Garfield came to Chicago better
known and more generally admired than
any other member of the convention,
except Senator Conkling, and from the
first moment of his arrival the popularity
which his career i'll congress has given
him has been increased by the respect
and admiration that personal contact in
spired. Garfeld's great heart, fidelity
and affectionate disposition have been
exhibited on many occasions since he
came here, and in the embarrassing cir
cumstances in which he has been placed,
no one could have conducted himself
better or with more delicate sense of
propriety. Garfield wanted to be presi-
dent, but he thrust ambition behind
him, and to every one who mentioned
the subject he said:
81 am not candidate, and l cannot
be. 1 thank you for your kindness, but
/ came here to work for another man,
and 10 act or word of mine shall stand
between him and the nomination"
Il .,,l. .nl, 10
has displayed has made him many friends.
General Garfield and General Chester
A. Arthur, the candidates for president
and vice president, held an informal re-
ception in the large double parlor at the
Grand Pacific hotel last evening. At
1870 o'clock the parlor floor of the hotel
was crowded with people to see and
shake hands with the men who are to be
the rulers of the nation. At s o'clock
the crowd had increased and extended
down the great stairways, filling the ro-
tundas and part of the street. The
gentlemen were tired, but they couldnot
refuse to show themselves, especially us
many in the crowd We're friends and del
egates who called to congratulate them
on their good fortunes before leaving the
city for home. They appeared to-
gether and took up positions
near the center tables in the
west parlor, General Garfield stand
ing to the right and General Ar
thur to the left of the table. The doors
were then thrown open, allowing the
crowd to pass from the main corridor
into the large parlor, then through the
west parlor, where the gentlemen were
standing, and then pass out through the
west corridor and down the side stair
way. When the doors were opened the
crowd pressed forward as though it
would take the place by storm, and
threatened to sweep everything and
everybody before it. AS the front rank
reached General Garfield, who perhaps
never met n charge of rebel brigade
with more trepidation than he did this,
all reached for his hand at once, and it
became apparent to those who stood
with him that if better arrangements for
receiving the crowd were not made, the
new candidate would be sent home to his
Buckeye friends in sections.
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