Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-06-18
Republican State Convention
BRILLIANT GATHERING F.!
Old Time Enthusiasm!
The Gallant Foraker
To Lead the Victorious Columns!
GENERAL KENNEDY
Takes Second Place.
GENERAL KENNEDY
Takes Second Place.
STRONG PLATFORM!

party gathering never assembled in
Ohio, and whatever is the outcome il
will go into history AS the most menera.
BILE conventions of the party ever con-
ing any other in numbers and enthusi
asm.
The immense wigwan built especially
for the occasion by the good Republi"
cans of Springfield was constructed and
decorated upon a liberal and lavish plan
with ample accommodations for del
egates, The officers of the convention, in
vited guests. the press, and for visitors
seating $500 people, anu affording stand.
ing room for thousand or more beside.
Although the building was constructed
of rough lumber but little show was left
of the bare boards in the interior, so pro-
fuse and plentiful were the banners
drapings, festo1ns, pictures, wreaths,
bunting, medallions, flowers, flags and
ornamental designs. The central idea
of tbs decorations, an enormous Japanese
um brella, hung at every rib with huge
Chinese lantern, was carried out harmo-
niously to every part of the house in the
character of the ornamentation, all the
decorations seeming to grow in senti
ment outwardly from this central idea
of brightness, grace and airiness pass
ing at given distance, forming the
periphery into the emblematic and patri.
otic and from thence to the useful as
well as the ornamental, such as the
handsomely designed shields. placards,
&C., designating the places set apart for
the various divisions. such as officials,
press, delegates, alternates, guests, sc.
Upon the stage the gathering was
large and lustrous one, the
central figure being Hon. William
West, leaning his chin upon his
cane, and staring 6xedly into vacancy
with his sightless eyes. Back of him
ranged in semi+circle, sat many gen.
tlemen famous in the political history
of the party and the country; old SOL
diers who have been in many gallant
charge, and now carry about upon their
bodies in red scars and angry seams the
dread sign manual of the god of battles,
and statesmen whose voices have been
puissant in the halls of Congress on the
side of the down-trodden and oppressed,
and in the cause of common hu-
manity.
Clear back to the rear of the gayly
decorated building extend the faces of
the dense throng The sunshine drifts
in through the wide spaces left for venr
tilation, and the breezes rustic the flags
and futter the thousands Of banners
oy erhead, adding light and coolness and
motion to the variegated beauty of the
scene.
And thus all things being in readiness,
at half-past ten o'clock Judge J. W..
O'Neal, chairman of the State Central
Committee, stepped forward and called
the Convention to order, and introduced
Rev. T. G. Rose, of Springfield, who Of
fered prayer, at the conclusion of which
the Chairman formally opened the Con-
vention. In doing so he said he cons
graduated the Republicans on the mag
nifcent majority given by Ohio to Blaine
and Logan last year; on the fact that
Ohio i, Republican State. and on the
record of Ohios patriotic sons who early
offered to light for the Union and who
have steadily helped to fight the battles
of progress and reform. The Republican
party was defeated in the national cam
paign. 1t was defeated by fraud in the
solid South and English money in New
York State. But the Bull Run of 1884
would become great victory in 1855.
The Republican party will not die. 1t
will not help to put in power party
which sends ex-rebels to foreign posts
and places in high offices men who pulled
down the flag of the Union, and whose
disabilities are not yet removed. The
nominations of this convention are not
to be meaningless ceremonies. The Mons
inees will be the men who are to conduct
this State for the next two years. They
should be men of high character,
ability and integrity. Though Clever
land is in the White House, the people
of this country still look to the Republi>
can party to preserve the National in
terests. The speaker closed with cons
plimentary mention of the leading can
didates, which brought out applause
from the adherents of each. He then
introduced Hon. J. d. Taylor, of Guern-
sey. as temporary Chairman, who ad
addressed the convention.
The speech abounded in sound Re-
publican doctrine, and will he an excel+
lent campaign paper. 1t lost much of its |
force, however, by being entirely too
lengthy 10 suit the occasion. Indeed a
portion of the audience became so anx-
ious to see the actual work of the con-
vention begin, that they made persists
ent effort to drown the speakers voice
and drive him from the platform. Col.
Taylor proceeded under difficulties, but
with the assistance of Chairman O'Neal,
who welded the gayel vigorously and
the threat to clear the hall in case of
further disorder. he was enabled to pro-
ceed. During his speech the Colonel in
speaking of che last General Assembly
referred to it as the body "better known