The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-24

at $3.50 o'clock, but it was almost two hours after
that time when the train reached here and
meanwhile twenty thousand people stood on the
cold cobble stones aud slapped their hands
around their chests to keep warm. 1t was al
most dark when the train drew up at
the South-street depot and Mr. Blaine
alighted BY this time the people We're
thoroughly chilled but the appearance Of the
well-known features of the Maine statesman had
the effect of stimulating the sackened circulation
of the Hoosier blood, and no one present seemed
to care whether the weather was that belonging
to Greenland or dog days under the equator
There is something about Mr. Blaine--call it
magnetism if you like-that has the effect of
making those in his presence utterly obivious
to all thoughts save OF James G. Blaine, and
certainly such was the case at Lafayette this
evening.
The arrangements for the reception Of
the party had been made with great caution
and precision, and were conducted in
better order than at any other point visited
since his arrival in the State. The city had put
on its holiday dress, almost every house was
decorated lavishly with flags, bunting and pa
triotic emblems, The national colors hoated
from every flag staff, and every available foot oi
space in balconies, trellises, and even the trees
adorned with partcolored decorations
emblematc of the qualification felt by the citi-
in being afforded an opportunity to welcome
to their midst the central figure of the great Re
publican party.
Excursions had been run from every adjacent
point, and great crowds were present from
the adjoining counties literally packing the
catch glimpse of the future President of ths
Republic, and to listen to his declarations of the
principles to which he stands committed.
On alighting from the car Mr Blaine was
seated in a carriage with Senator Harrison, Gen
eral and George B. Williams and. escorted by a
procession of several thousand organized and un-
organized men, took up the march for the stand
from which he was to address the crowd ths
other members of the party following in
carriages The procession moved up
South street amidst the widest shouts
and cheers, Mr.. Blaine riding much
of the time with uncovered head. and bow
ing right and left in acknowledgment of the
honor paid him. Bands played and drums beat,
but the lusty shouts of the crowd were sufficient
to drown all other noises, and nothing but the
gled to make their music heard, gave evidence
that they were engaged in such an effort The
crowd surged about the carriage in which Mr..
Blaine was seated, but the citizens committee
and the Lincoln club, marching in double file on
either side kept them at a distance The pro-
cession proceeded up South to Ninth street,
through which il passed to Main, thence to Fourth,
thence to Columbia and Sixth streets, where a
stand had been erected on the terrace in front Of
the Lincoln Club headquarters On stepping onto
the platform Mr. Blaine looked down upon a
scene that could not but be in the deepest meas
ure gratifying. A sea of upturned faces
was beneath and on all sides of him, com
pletely filling the intersection of the streets anS
extending almost half a block in all directions,
The cheer that arose from twenty five thousand
throats deafenng, and continued several
minutes after Mr.. Blaine had been
presented When quiet had been par
tiallv restored, he spoke for ten
minutes or more, confning his remarks cxclu-
sively to brief consideration of the tariff and
the past and present condition Of affairs nt the
South. The cheering was resumed the instant
he took his seat, and was continued until he re-
entered his carriage He driven directly to
the residence of Gen. Geo b Williams. whose
guest he is while in the city and where he dined
at with Senator Harrison, Hon. Will. Cum
back, Hon. VIM. Mckinley, Walker Blaine
Adams Earl, NJ. L. Pierce, j A Lemcke, Of
Evansville; j. NJ REYNOLDS, and Mrs Williams.
Tonight grand torchlight procession
and street pageant was given. three thou
sand torches being in line. In the
,rooaesiop clubs from, nj tha town
and several adjacent counties, among their num-
ber being several lrishmen hitherto actively
identified with the Democratic party, and who
were, to all appearances, the most enthusiastic
men in line, The employees of the Lake Erie &
Western railway made a most creditable and ap
proprlate display, their club of 200 members be
ing headed by a caboose mounted on heavy
trucks, with headlights signal lanterns and ap
propriate transparencies, They were preceded
by the female brass bard Of Andrews Mr..
Blaine reviewed the procession from the
balcony of General WilIiamss resi-
dence, which was brilliantly and beautifully
illuminated, and was driven through the ranks
when the procession halted He was greeted
with the widest demonstrations of enthusiasm
all along the line At the conclusion OF the
evenings display he returned to the Williams
residence and. after receiving few calls from
prominent citizens, retired for the night. To-
morrow morning he will bid farewell to a Hoo
sier audience and will enter Illinois,
The Indiana people who have been with him
during lis journey through this State left him
tonight, and President McKeen's car, in which
the journey has beer made, will be abandoned
President Cummings, Of tho Lake Erie & West
ern, has rendered the use of his car, one of the
finest and most expensive in tho country.
to Mr.. Blaine's party for the next few days, and
the offer has been accepted.
Tonight the tow: has taken on bright yer
million and the painting process IS likely to con
tinue indefinitely. A most unusual scene oc.
rred fpNy moments aCO nj the Opera- -hOusp