The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-07-02
RAT|FY|NG THE Ticket.
Great Republican Demonstration
at the National Capital.
SENATOR SHERMANS STRONG SPEECH
Graceful Tribute to the PIumed Knight and {
of Republican Supremacy Addresses.

WASHINGTON. June 19.-The first
ratification of the action of the Chi
cago Convention by the Republicans
of the District of Columbia took
place tonight with the accompani-
ments of a large and enthusiastic
audience, electric lights, fireworks,
a display sof flags and bunting, a
fine band of music and the speeches
of some of the best oratorical talent
of Congress.
The meeting was held in front OF
the City Hall, which faces on a
square having an area of three or
four acres, and this large space was
filed with an audience of several
thousand. Three large platforms
were erected on the City Hall piazza,
and from there the speakers address
ed the assemblage.
Judge Shellabarger, of Ohio, pre-
sided at the principal platform, on
which some of the most prominent
Republicans in official life had sat.
OPENING THE MEETING.
General Hawley called the meet
ing to order, after which Judge
Shellabarger opened it in speech
in which he referred to the nomina-
ting conventions as the uncontrived
contrivances that have grown up
outside of the laws and of the Con-
stitution. The nominee of the Re-
publican party be described as the
fittest person, all things considered,
that could have been selected. He
was, perhaps, the best known man
in the country, and was the purest
and most exalted man in the Re-
public. [Cheers.] Mr.. Blaine was
not "a good man." in the sense of
Mr.. Surface and Mr.. Pecksniff, and
the men who go to a convention and
then refuse to abide by it. Mr..
Blaine was not good man in the
sense that those men were good" +"
There were but one or two such
"good men in a million. Fortu-
nately such men did not propagate
their species. If the people were
largely made up of such men the
institutions of the country would
break up in II "chaos of archangels. I"
[Cheers and laughterl' He eulogiz-
ed John A. Logan for his patriotism
and bravery.
Hon. A. M. Clapp here placed in
nomination a list of vice-presidents
of the meeting, who were elected by
a rousirg "yea" by the meeting.
Judge William Lawrence, Of Ohio,
read a series of resolutions endorsing
and ratifying the Republican nomi-
nations .or President and Vice Pres
ident, and setting forth reasons why
Blaine and Logan should be sup
ported and electeu by those who had
at heart the best interests of the
country. The resolutions were
adopted with cheers.
SENATOR sHERMAN's SPEECH.
Judge Shellabarger introduced
Hon. John Sherman as the first
speaker of the meeting. Mr.. Sher-
man said:
1t is one of the curious customs of
American politics that when any,
body is notified for Office his compe
titors are the first to be called upon
to vouch for the wisdom of the
choice. Perhaps that is the reason
WHY am called upon now. Though
l did not consider myself much of a
candidate, l am ready to accept, ap-
prove and ratify the action of the
Chicago Convention.
l will support the nomination
[cheers] of Blaine and Logan as
heartily as l have done those OF
Fremont and Lincoln and Grant and
Hayes and Garfield. [Applause.
And this / would do, fellow-citizens,
even if they were less worthy than /
know them to be of the distinguish
ed honor proposed for them. /
would do it for my own honor. /
have no patience with any man
who, for himself or any other per-
son, would take his chances fer
success in a political convention,
and when disappointed would seek
to thwart the action of the conven-
ton. Political conventions are in
dispensable in republican govern
ment, for it is only by such agencies
that opposing theories can be
brought to the popular judgment.
These can only be presented by
candidates chosen as standard bear
ers of a flag, or of a cause, or a posi-
ton.
WHAT TIE TICKET REPRESENTS.
That Blaine and Logan haye been
fairly nominated by the free choice