Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-04
The Convention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE OPENING ScESEs.-IHE
CELEBRITIES PRESENT.

a grand political and moral spectacle. Many
Of the veterans of the party we're present,
some of whom have held, or now hold, high
official positions, while others distinguished
| themselves a. defenders Of the Union in the
recent bloody contest. Seated with them, on
terms Of political equality, we're men OF
swarthy complexion. who would now be sub
ject to purchase and sale As chattels had not
the republican party stricken off their letters
and made them free men. The press was
represented by many Of its busiest and ablest
workers, while hundreds Of ladies, dressed in
gay colors, with bright ribbons, made some
Of the galleries bloom like tulip beds. But
the most interesting portion Of this display
was the immense coneOurse Of spectators
drawn into an aggregate mass from all direc-
tons of the republic. Every mountain had
sent its rill, every valley its stream, and there
was an inundatiOn of the people. Voters
| from far distant States, having variety of
personal preferences have met to observe the
action Of their representatives, and thus to
participate indirectly in the selection of a
candidate who is to be triumphantly elected
| in November, and who is to be inaugurated
on the 4th day Of March next as President OF
these United States.
THE WEATHER
Was all that could have been desired. There
was Just enough breeze from the west to
display the flags and banners everywhere
visible, and the bright rays of the sun were
neutralized by the refreshing GOODNESS from
the lake, on the very edge of which the high
structure is situated, a portion of which has
been fitted up for the use of the conven-
ton.
CELEBRITIES OF THE CONVENTION.
There was naturally desire on the part of
many in the galleries to have the celebrities
who appeared on the platform pointed out.
Don Cameron, dressed in black, looked pale
and careworn as he came forward, attended
by Geo. Gorham, Filley, and other Grant
men. VIM. f. Chandler, on the contrary,
appeared in high spirits, and chatted with
Gov. Mccormick, Edwin Mcpherson and
Representative Frye. The stalwart form of
Gov Jewell, crowned with snowy hair; the
handsome quadrOOn cOuntenaIce of Gov.
Pinchback; the martial frame of Senator
Carpenter, and the well known features of
Senator Hamlin were in turn pointed out.
Gov. Cullom exchanged salutations with the
Chief Magistrates of several other States,
who were present. Owen G. Lovejoy was
there, son of the martyr abOlitionist,
and Robert A. Lincoln, the son
of the martyr President. There was score
Of Congressman, including many of the Ohio
delegation, Gen. Sheridan was Of course con-
spicuous, as was his young aide-de-camp,
Col. Fred Grant, who appeared to seek a
secluded spot from which he could view the
proceedings, in the result of which his family
is deeply interested. The ushers saw that
each person had his or her appropriate seat,
and a corps of one hundred uniformed tele
graph boys and pages was actively employed
in running between the platform and the
offices of the different lines of telegraph in
the vestibule.
CONKLING's DRAMATIC ENTREE.
A sensation was created by the entrance of
Senator Conkling at the head of the New
York delegation, seventy strong. He walked
slowly and proudly up the centre aisle, bear
ing the fortunes of Grant as 1Eneas bore the
venerable Achilles, and gracefully bowed his
Acknowledgements for the clapping of hands
with which he was greeted.
The ASSIGNMENT OF SEATS
For delegations seems to have been made
without favoritism. Alabama heads the
right hand aisle, and the other rows are head
ed by Arizona, the District of Columbia,
Nevada and Wisconsin. Massachusetts, has
seats about twenty feet from the edge of the
platform and in the centre aisle, surrounded
by the other states whose name commences
with NJ. New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine
and Connecticut occupy seats in the very
front of the convention.
The CONVENTION CALLED TO ORDER.
1t was after one o'clock when Senator
Cameron stepped to the desk and was greeted
with enthusiastic applause. Giving posi-
tive rap with his gavel, he introduced the
Rev. DIR. Kittredge, Presbyterian, who
wore a clerical suit of black. His invocation
of the Divine blessing on the momentous
proceedings about to begin was patriotic and
eloquent, but it was noticeable that those
politicians in most need of grace paid the
least attention to what he said. Senator
Cameron then begged the indulgence of the
convention, while he read, in tones only audi
BILE to those directly around him, plea tor
harmony and for the election Of man " no will
be respected by the whole civilized world
No one who heard the Senator's remarks
could be deceived respecting the object of his
choice. although he courteously RETAINED
from any direct expression of opinion.
SENATOR HoAR's REMARKS
and were eloQuently delivered, eliciting re.
peated bursts of applause, especially his al
fusion to Senator Hamlin and to the ambi-
tious larceny Of the democratic party in the
case of Maine.
The UTAH DELEGArEs.
When the roll call was finished little
breeze Of excitement blew over the copven-
ton. 1t seems that Secretary Keovh had
inadvertently omitted the name of Utah. The
contesting delegations from this Territory
were, it will be remembered, granted seats
subject to the decision of the convention on
their right to retain them. Mr.. Frye, who
as member Of the National committee. oc.
cupied seat on the platform, moved that
the name be placed on the roll. As soon as
he had made the motion, Mr.. keogh whisp-
cred to him that the omission was an error
but before Mr.. Frye could make this state
ment, Senator Hoar announced that unless
there was objection the name would be in
serted.
Some of the delegates, especially the
Blaine men, evidently thought the omission
was made for purpose, but no one expected
to see Senator Conkling fire up IS quickly rs
he did. Advancing into the aisle, in his most
dramatic manner .'the gentleman from New
York, !" his voice piercing every corner of the
great building, exclaimed, ''There is an OBJ
lection, Mr.. Chairman"
The Chair said he was Of opinion that the
roll adopted by the committee was a proper
roll, but he could not hold that it was not out
of order to move that Utah be called.
Mr.. Conkling very coldly, with character
issic p0liteness, remarked that he entertained