The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-10-17
The City Illuminated in Honor Of
the Cause and the Democratic
Speakers----M Music, Fire
works and Bonfres.
The Largest Procession Ever
Seen in Benton.
Rousing Speeches From Major Ma
ginnis and Judge Clements.
AN ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING.

Yesterday way red letter day for Ben
tons democracy, and they came TO the
front one thousand strong. Preparations
upon an elaborate scale had been made
to receive Hons. w. A. Clark and Martin
Maginnis, the orators who we're to ad-
dress the people, and the delegation from
Great Falls. The speakers and the dele
cation, $50 in number, came down IN
special train and we're met by the recep-
tion committee at the depot.
EVERY CONVEYANCE IN THE CITY
was pressed into service to bring the par
ty down from the Manitoba depot.
When near the foot of Main street the
visitors halted, formed into line and pre-
ceded by the Great Falls band, they
marched into the city to the strains OF IN
spring music A huge bonfire was burn
ing at the city park and before the Grand
Union hotel, where the procession halted
and disbanded, and each sought hotel
for supper. In the meantims
CANNON DOOMED
and the crowd lining the sidewalks vel
coined the guests in succession OF hear
tv cheers. At 7:15 the procession, under
the leadership of Marshal Martin Gala
CHER and aids formed at the intersection
of Bond and Front streets Over six hun
dred were in line. Transparencies bear
ING the name of our next delegate to con-
rress-the Hon w. A. Clark the names
of the several candidates upon the demo
cratic county ticket, and appropriate mot
toes were seen in the procession.
IT WAS A GRAND SIGHT.
Six hundred torches, half hundred Chi
nese umbrella lanterns, twenty-tive trans
parencies, carried by as many stalwart
democrats. preceded by full band, rem
dering it's choicest selections, took uE
their line of march amid the booming oi
cannon, the firing of rockets, the slmulta-
neous discharge of fireworks and the
cheers of the vast crowds upon the side
walks. The procession marched up F'rant
street to Laurlon, thence to Main; down
Main to Power, thence to Front; uE
Front to Bond, and up Bond to the court
house. A large number of business
houses and private residences in the city
was Illuminated. Strings Of Chinese
lanterns extended across the streets at
several places, the whole presenting pic
ture never before witnessed in the city.
THE MOST ATTRACTIVE SIGHT
was the court house. This was illuminat
ed from basement to dome, nearly two
thousand candles being ablaze in the nu-
merous great windows of the structure
Arriving at the court house the spacious
court room was soon filled to repletlon by
an enthusiastic and expectant mass OF hu
manity. A large number OF Bentons fal
danes and beautiful bellies graced the
meeting with their presence. The audi
torium was artistically and appropriately
decorated. Over 100 of our country's
flags we're suspended in different portions
Of the room. Behind the platform, upon
A clear white background, the motto:
Our Delegate,
w. "A.
was displayed worked in red, white and
blue silk. Mr.. Chas. E. Duer, chairman
of the county democratic central commit
fee. called the meeting to order ano
named Mr.. G. f. Conrad as presiding OH
Ger. Mr.. Conrad accepted the position II
very neat and appropriate Speech at Inc
conclusion of which he introduced the
Hon Martin Maginnis, the orator OF thf
evening. Mr.. Maginnis was received
WITH rHUNDERs or APPLAUSE.
1t is impossible in the limited space a
our command to give more than yer.
brief synopsis Of the magnificent speecl
delivered by the gentleman. 1t aooano
ed in that logic, unanswerable arguments
wit. humor and telling anecdotes Wh'cl
have gained for Major Maginnis the repu
tation Of being one of the most entertain
ing, effective and eloquent speakers y
the west. Every point he made, ana q
made many, was presented with sucl
clearness and force and accompanied p
such an array of facts that no room -