The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-26

fectlVe, or the brlllancy OF illumination aud
picturesque colorings been so splendid. Every
face can be seen without effort, and an audi
once Of less than ten thousand appears TO be
almost a countless multitude. A magnificent
sweep OF the great gallery alone, which seats
nearly three thousand persons, is picture
which impresses even those familiar with
great audiences, and the whole scene bathed
in flood of electric light, shed by
TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED ISCANDEscEHr
LAMPS,
thrills even the most sluggish heart The au-
ditorium is go feet long, and 100 feet wide,
with two side balconies, and great gallery,
the seats in which rise tier onItier, at an angle
OF forty degrees
The stage, which is but slightly raised above
the floor OF the hall, commands view not
only OF the great audience in front, but of the
large balcony in the rear, and tier OF boxes
at either side. This stage stretches from side
TO side of the hall, and accommodates, in adj
dition to the presidents platform, which is in
the center, several hundred newspaper repre-
sentatives. There are Just eight thousand one
hundred seats in the hail. and, as the conyen-
ton is called to order, probably nine thousand
people are within glance of Chairman Jones's
eye.
DECORATIONS IN THE HALL.
The decorations appear trihe bewildering
at first and the walls, ceiling and every post
pillar and panel is covered with flags, bunting
and streamers in varied artistic designs and
oolors, and portraits and paintings of historic
scenes meet the eye everywhere. Red, white
and blue is conspicuous, of course. everywhere,
but a great sheet of terra Gotta bunting hangs
as roof between the sunlight, which pouTS
through it from great open space just above
the great gallery, and relieves the otherwise
monotony of SO prodigal display of the national
colors. But even the sunlight shines but
dimly in the great hall, the electric illumina-
ton being depended upon, because OF the i'm
possibility of protecting the audience in the
present unfinished state of the building, and
letting in day at the same time.
The arrangement of the electric lamps in
great stars, suspended from the roof and walls
of the hail. is one of the most
EFFECTIVE AND BEAUTIFUL FEATURES
Of the scene which greets Chairman Jones' as
he stands, himself a striking figure tall, erect,
with suspended gayel to hush the great stir
and hustle before him to present the clergy
man who is to ask the divine benediction upon
the deliberations Of the convention.
Some of the details of the auditorium deco
rations are worth special mention. at the
apex in front of the chairrnan's desk is a
glded American eagle, and beneath it a por-
trait Of Washington. On the right of the
chairmans desk is a plaster bust of the late
General John A. Logan, in heroic size, draped
with an American flag. Hanging from one of
tho boxes at the right is large painting of
Bogan'S charge at the battle of Atlanta. On
the face Of the north and south walls of the
auditorium, framed in festoons of large Amer
can flags and surrounded by "a circle of electric
stars, are portraits Of Lincoln and Grant, the
designs being mammoth in proportion and
form two of the most striking details of the
decorations.
Flashing its parti-colored brilliancy full into
the face Of tho audience and delegates, is sus-
pended an American shield, formed of differ
ent colored electric lamps, This shield, its
horizon of stars its stripos of the union are all
pictured out and put in a basso relieve OF light
by flashing jets through red, white and blue
globes. At points of exit and entrance to the
hall, which dip like great wells into the audi
forum, arc the nations standards, planted at
either side and draped SO as to hide the rough
boards which form the staircases of these ave-
nues TO the convention OF which there are suf-
ticient to empty the place i'll case Of accident
in three minutes.
The Boston club has planted its magnificent
banner, five feet long, just behind the stage
and II proudly floats, bearing in letters of gold
upon field of blue, the sentiments which APP
pear to be uppermost IN the minds Of the dele
eg&tes. The banner is inscribed; "Homo
Market Club OF Boston. American ways for
American woriIingmen. American markets
for the American people. Protection for Amer
lean homes"
CALLED TO ORDER.
Precisely at 12:30, the gavel of Chairman
Jones, of tho national republican committee,
sounded sharply upon the mahogany desk, and
5he republican convention OF 1888 was formally
lpened. The hum of conversation ceased
throughout the vast auditorium, and the buzz
d expectation gave place to the impressive
silence as the chairman introduced Rev. Frank
w Gunsauler, OF Plymouth Congregational
church of Chicago, who opened the proceed
ngs with prayer.
AT the conclusion of the prayer. Chairman
Jones announced that the secretary, Mr.. Fes-
sender, OF the national committee, would read
-he call for the convention issued by the ma
Iional committee.
Allusions in the call to the position of the
ri "a ~ Il
nation of the party to have q fair election and
honest count, and to other saliant points,
were warmly applauded by the convention.
Upon the conclusion of the reading of tho
call, Chairman Jones stepped to the front Of
the platform and addressed the convention.
Mr.. Jones said:
The two parties are dramatically opposite to
each other. one taVoTS progress the other retro
preston. one h!ts mp; the other casts down.
Thanks TO President Cleveland and his southern al
lies. the democratic party has thrown of the dis
guse in which 1t has heretofore fought lis battles in
the northern states and has boldly declared for Brit
ish free trade and against American protection This
n Oval has caused much adulation in certain
tons of this country, and IN all of England,
the industrial progress of the United States But it
has fallen heavily upon the OF the patriotic pOr
uon Of The democratic party. However we must
not expect that this is the end of this dishonest pre-
tence Deceit, iallaces ana sophistry will again be
Tesorted TO- Therefore, We should have platform
based upon true republican principles, free from
eluivoc8tiOn or ambig guilty and should nominate
Sa cam a'te who are the embodiment Of these
one of the first acts OF the federal government
was e provide for revenue and for The protection of
tho industrial interests OF the Couuiry. Ali our
early presidents, trom WASHINGTON 10 Jackson in
elusive, advocated tariff for revenue and for pro-
lection. All Of the great an! patriotic statesmen OF
th9se Gays eolnesied IN TINS policy, No man Of
note who was a lover Of his country down TO Jack
son first term entertained and eXuressed doubts as
70 The constltuuonality OF the policy of protecting
the industries OF the United States AGAINST foreign
competition. The tariff question as not consid-
cred as one embracing solely or chiefly the manu-
lecturers interest; but one which broadly en-
hmced the social condition Of the laloring classes
the mutual interest OF all home rro lucers in
the home morSet and II the colnnys rsal indie
pondHce. Tie British, who now sEOutlree trade,
protected themselves against all competition until
they were masters OF tie commercial Woald ana ur-
I'll they realized that the United states with its
the same means, was becoming formidable rival.
Il was only when Great Britain perceived some
thing OF The future Of her American rival that she
attempted 10 reggin that control over this country
by arhcc, which she was unable % hold or reclaim
by the force OF arms
Alter relating the history Of tho alleged al-
lance of the south with English inauufact-
ureGs under the administrations az Van Buron,
Polk, Pierce and Buchanan, chairman Jones
continued.
The republican party yauQusshcd the democratic
party, passed the homestead law a, sttuyui slavery
elevated the "Wud sllls, restore iaslctit redeemed
the country and started 10 anew IN the lines con
tenlplated by The Gathers. To-day We occury Il
much higher plane That any other people ON the
face OF the globe. The republican party believes