The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-07-11
TOLD OF HIS NOMINATION.
GEN. HARRISON FORMALLY NOTIFIED.
He Makes a Brief Speech in Response to
Chairman Estee and will, of Course,
Make the Race-Ceremonies
in Detail.

nomination of Gen. Harrison at Chicago are
over. The committee on notification has dis
charged its duty and the campaign of 'sS is
now fairly on The official ceremony of telling
Gen. Harrison what he already knew and his
reply thereto, occurred at the residence at noon
Wednesday.
An early mornings rain laid the dust and
cleared the atmosphere. The effect upon the
temperature, however, was not pleasing. The
heat arose to meet the sun and soon became
oppressive BY the time the committee APP
peared those in waitingw were hopping their
brows and poking their best looking handker-
chiefs down their collars.
1t was 1910 O'Clock before the committee
drove up before the residence in carriages.
Chairman j. " Huston of the republican state
committee and the Hon. NJ NJ. Estee, chairman
of the notification committee, alighted first
and the other members fell into
line. Within the residence many
personal acquaintance and intimate friends of
Gen. Harrison waited expeetant. The front
room was given to the newspaper fraternity,
while in the room adjoining-made part of the
parlor by the opening of the large double
doors-the committee was arranged; in a half
circle Gen. and Mrs. Harrison then made their
entrance advancing but a little way into the
room and facing the committee. Mrs. Harrison
was dressed in white silk with silver braid
down the front. She stood at the left of
her husband. Mr.. Russell Harrison, their
son, stood within the room at some dis
lance from his fathers right With their
trance hush fell upon the large company and
Mr.. Estee advanced 10 within few feet of Gen.
Harrison with the notification in his hand.
Mr.. Estee stood erect as the bearer of i'm
portant news with a large Harrison and Nor
ton badge pinned on his breast He wore
red, white and blue necktie and spectacles
adorned his nose from which delicate gold
cham hung. He read his manuscript in a
clear voice and with fine accentuation. He
glanced at Gen. Harrison frequently, espec-
tally when he strengthened his emphasis. The
notification read as follows:
"GEN. HARRIsoN-We are commissioned by
the national republican convention to officially
notify you of your nomination as the repub-
lican candidate for president of the United
States. In doing this we may be permitted 10
remind you that your selection met the hearty
approval of the whole convention; it left no
embittered feeling or lukewaTm supporters,
and Its action voiced the average and the best
Judgment of the convention. 1t is true dis
tinguished gentlemen, well known to the
people, who were experienced IN public
affairs, illustriOus in character, and worthy of
the peoples confidence and support, were be-
fore the convention candidates, and
yet you were chosen. Nor was your nomina-
ton due to accident, or the result of hasty or
unthoughtful deliberation. 1t indicated, rather,
that you possessed in a more marked degree
those peculiar qualities which commended you
to the peoples favor. In the hour Of our cOun-
try's peril. you cheerfully accepted an humble
position In the army, went where your country
most needed you, and by long and faithful SER
vice, rose TO higher commands and assumed
graver responsibilities. Elected to the U. $ sem
ate, your enlightened and conservative states
manship commanded the respect and inspired
the confidence OF the American people. Added
to this, the purity OF your past life, and your
exalted private virtues, is an earnest that as
candidate or president, the honor of the repub-
hcan party and the glory of our country will be
safe In your keeping. The platform adopted
by the national republican convention marks
out with clearness and precision the creed of
the party. The American system of protection
to American labor and American products in
American markets, the saeredness and
purity of the ballot the protection of
American citizens native and adopted, at
home and abroad, on land and sea, the pro-
hibition of Chinese immigration, the building
up of our navy, the erection of coast defences,
and especial care of the old soldiers and sailors
of the republic, are questions which occupy
conspicuous places in our platform These and
other subjects referred 10 in our platform will
doubtless receive your careful consideration.
I'm conclusion, we beg to express our per-
sonal qualification at your nomination, and we
indulge the belief that your election is already
assured"
took off his spectacles and looked at the gem
tleman before him. Gen. Harrison cleared his
voice and replied:
MIR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
COMMITTEE-The official notice which you
have brought of the nomination conferred
upon me by the republican national conven-
ton recently In session at Chicago, excites emo
tlOn OF a profound thought OF somewhat con-
fiicting character. That after full deliberation
and free consultation, the representatives of
- 81
shonld have concluded that the great prin-
eiples enunciated In the platform adopted
by the convention could be in some meas
ure safely conhded to my care, is an
honor Of which | am deeply sensible and for
which / am very grateful. i do not assume or
believe that this choice implies that the con-
vention found in me any pre-eminent fitness or
exceptional fidelity to the principles of gov
eminent TO which we are mutually pledged.
NV satisfaction with the result would be alto
gether spoiled if that result had been reached
BY any unworthy methods by disparage-
ment of the more eminent men who divided
with me the suffrages Of the convention. /
accept the nomination with so deep a
sense of the dignity of the Office and
of the gravity of its duties and re-
sponsibilities as altogether to exclude
any feeling of exultatiOn or pride. The prinei-
pies of government and the practices in adj
ministratiOn upon which issues are now for
tunately so clearly made, are so important in
their relations TO national and TO individual
prosperity that we may expect an unusual
popular interest in the campaign. Relying
wholly upon the considerate judgment of our
fellow citizens and the gracious favor OF God,
we viii confidently submit our cause to the
arbitration of free ballot. The day you have
chosen for this visit suggests no thoughts that
are not in harmony with the occasion. The
republican party has walked in the light of the
declaration of independence. Ii has lifted the
shaft of patriotism upon the foundation laid at
Bunker HILL 1t has made the more perfect
union secure by making all men free. Wash
ington and Lincoln, Yorktown sand Appomat-
tox, the declaration of independence and the
proclamation of emancipation are naturally
and worthily associated in our thoughts To-
day.
@As soon as may be possible, 1 shall by letter
acceptance OF the nomination, but 1t may be
proper for me now to say that | have already
examined the platform with some care and
that its declarations; TO some of which your
chairman has alluded are in harmony with my
views
1T gives pleasure, gentlemen, to receive
you IN my home, and 70 thank You for the cor
dial manner in which you have conveyed your
official message"
There was applause at the conclusion of
the response Mr.. Estee then grasped the
candidates hand and afterward extended his
congratulations to Mr.. Harrison. A. II. Hen
bricks (colOred), the committeeman from Ala
hama, was the next introduced. The introduce
tons then became general, and went around
until everybody who was present had offered
eonOrafuiati0ns