Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-07-08
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National Democratic Convention.

ClouSly lux I'LL Gue PURPOSES VI d Stedb Cou-
vention, held in the heart of July, save that
there is mist in the air which may grow
into rain. The air is cool and bracing and
summer apparel does not burden the person.
Crowds began to gather in the vicinity of
the great hall in which the democratic ma
tional convention is to be held at an early
hour in the day. Doortenders and ushers
reporting for duty at s o'clock found people
then in waiting to enter and secure their
seats. Inside the auditorium, however,
there was an approach to chaos, laborers
still being engaged in giving finishing
touches, after having been employed during
all OF the preceding night They did not
desert the main platform where decorations
were being hung to within half an hour be.
fore the time announced for the opening of
the convention, when the workmen quilted
the building and the scene. The picture
presented was majestic, and truly so with
its setting of II 600 auditors. Every seat in
the vast amphitheatre appeared to be occu-
pied, the audience having its full quota of
the fair portion of humanity in holiday
attire.
1t is conceded that in picturesque effect
the arrangement and dressing of the hall
excels that of the convention of four weeks
ago. The great vista of the old hall has
been lost by the placing of the main stage
at one side and midway, instead of at one
extreme end of the hall, but the arrange.
ment brings the entire audience very much
closer to the stage proper and the delegates.
The decorations are not profuse, but strik-
ing and pleasing to the eye, the national
opt1
feature is the main platform, which is
proportion of the hall. The delegates are
seated in square Immediately fronting the
speakers platform, on the dead level Of the
convention hall. Between the delegates
and the platform are the quarters assigned
the press representatives, who have been
provided tables in rising tiers, aliordng
this working army the most complete view
imaginable of any incident likely to be pro-
voked during the sessions.
TO right and left of the delegates are the
seats for The spectators sloping upward
easily TO point thirty feet from the floor
level. The only additional word to be Of
fered in the way of description is that the
lighting of the vast hall is complete, being
thanked and crowned with great windows,
which pour their flood of light upon every
portion Of the auditorium even with dull
Ieaden sky overhead. At 11:30 a. m. the
scarlet-coated band of the First Illinois regi-
ment took position above the speakers plat
form, and burst forth with q martial air
which also proved the signal for the arrival
OF the first of the delegates, the Tennesseeans
leading the van. From that moment the
crowd streamed in without ceasng until
the noon hour, when the hall had its full
complement of people.
The break in the ranks of the New
York delegation, as indicated in these dis
patches last night is being used as very
effective weapon by the opponents of MIR.
Cleveland and there is now everything to
indicate that the present temper Of the
Southern delegates is toward Bayard
or Mcdonald and to this end those
who have been startled ut the size
and character of the Cleveland movement
are now working. Iudianans are being urged
to stand by their favorite, and not to be
tempted from their present line Of action by
vice presidential offer. Speaker Carlisle
arrived from Washington this morning, and
goes to swell the active force Of revenue
reformers now on the ground. The com.
mittee on resolutions is generally regarded
as having majority for q conservative
platform. 1t contains, however, extrem-
lists of both views, and number whose
position has not been clearly defined. In
any action of the committee there will be q
majority and minority report, and it is
now believed that the subject may have to
be fought out on the floor of the conven-
ton. Another of the things which now
appear certain to occur is fight in open
convention over the unit rule, and, notWith-
standing the claims made yesterday by the
Tammany people, the Cleveland people
declare they are ready for this contest also,
and will defeat it by handsome majority.
The approach of the hour for the assem-
bling of the convention was marked by the
arrival of delegates in large bodies and q
great crush of people at the doorways
which provoked confusion. The arrival of
the California delegation carrying banner
at their head occasioned the first outburst
of applause in the body of the audience and
the cheering was hearty. The presence of
distinguished leaders among the delegates
did not appear to be caught by the crowd,
and there was no applause to mark their
arrival. This held true until the familiar
figure of Senator Thurman, of Ohio, was
discerned, when cheer arose which swell.
ed into roar as the audience came to know
the occasion of the applaudiDg. While the
excitement was at its height California
delegate named NJ. T. Tompkins, address
ing the chairman. who was not yet in his
place, said: 1.-THE California delegation,
after travelling $500 miles, catches
its first glympse of paradise in the person of
Allan G. Thurman, of Ohio" (Cheers).
Among the U. S. Senators present, were
Hampton, Vance, Beck, Williams, MePher-
son, German, Farley, Voorhees,, Pendleton,
Jones of Florida, Ransom, Lamar, Jonas,
Call and Harris.
Soon afterward, when the band struck up
"Dixie," there was another great shout pro-
ceeding from the Southern delegations orig
inally, and as the import of the applause
was understood it was taken up by the
audience.
CONVENTION ASSEMBLED.
At 1910 p. m. Chicago time) the conven-
ton was called to order by ex Senator Bar
mum, chairman of the National Democratic
Committee. Prayer was offered by Rev. d.
C. Marquis, of the N. w. Theological semi
nary He Drayed for "a blessing IN this