The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-06-27
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION
OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
Speeches of Chairman Jones,
Temporary Chairman Thurs
ton, John c. Fremont and
Fred. Douglass.

swept over Lake Michigan landwards
this morning. Very grateful ii proved to
the thousands that from an early hour
gathered in front of the great building
and gazed longingly upon the doors
through whose portals they had no open
sesame.
Inside the building all was hustle and
confusion. The war concert Of last night
had interrupted the labors of the work
men, and a good deal in the way of dec
Grating remained to be done at daybreak.
But the small army of mechanics worked
with will and everything but the ar
rangement and numbering of the press
seats was completed by 10 o'clock. Tn
fortunately the latter, the really most inn
portant work, had been left until the last
moment, and greatly to their disrnay the
legion of correspondents We're compelled
to wait outside of the barrier and per-
mitted to fill the air with maledictions
upon the management until within few
minutes of the time appointed for calling
the convention to order. The delegates
themselves were slow in assembling and
the same might be said of the visitors.
Between the police and the plethora of
assistant sergeant-at-arms and other sub
was brought into use as if the fortunate
holders of tickets were about to enter the
kingdom of Heaven. Once within the
building, however, indignation was quick
~ changed into exclamations of delight.
1t was like a transformation from bar
rem plain into Fairyland. With its myr-
lads Of electric jets in arches, in stars, in
diamonds, in spheres, in almost every
conceivable design of art, with its olios,
bannerets, bunting streamers of a thou
sand hues, the immense interior was a
symphony Of color, magnificent specta-
Gle of the art decorative. The immense
platform was a floral bower Nothing
could be seen of the front Of the desk.
upon which eight years ago descended
the gavel that announced the nomination
of James A. Garfield, and four years later
the success of James q. Blaine. 1t was
one huge bank of roses-jacqueminots,
Mareschal Neils, hyacinths, peonies, vio-
lets and lilies. and il shed delicious per
fume far and wide. The entire floral
work was contribution TO the convcn
ton from Manager Fred. Limouse, of the
Floral Glen Company, and it has never
been surpassed. To the right and left the
American flag was patterned in form of
with the top of either end two
huge, artisticaliy- arranged bouquets at
tached to arches of smilax, which in
turn connected with the American flags
which entwined the end pillars, and
combined 10 make the stand an arcadian
bower
Directly beneath the chair were pict-
uresof Generals Logan and Grant wreath
ed in immortelles, while from the first
balcony portraits of all the Republican
Presidents, from Washington TO Arthur,
looked down upon the delegates.
THE FIRST ARRIVALS
The New York, Michigan and Massa-
chusetts delegations, which had been
honored with the front seats, directly
facing the speakers stand, were among
the first to arrive. At u O'Clock. at
which hour, so said Chairman Jones yes
terday, the convention would be prompt
ly called to order, less than half the dele
gates were in their seats. while the chairs
in the balconies allotted to the guests
were less than one-third filled. In the
next five minutes the Western and North
western delegates came in raridly, but
the Southern men. especially those from
Tennessee, the Caplinas and Mississippi
were still laggard, and left a big hole in
the seating space u the left of the chair.
The Nirginians, too, were considerably
behind, and nany opera glasses were
vainly leveled in questioning search of
the diminutive Manone and the doughty
Wise. who head the rival delegations.
Chauncey NJ. Depev, with genial smile
overspreading his countenanee, glided IN
unobserved, and so did Governor For
aker. In fact, the crowd either failed to
recognize distinguished men, who made
their appearance, or te weather was too
warm for enthusiasm to assert itself so
early in the day.
At 1925 o'clock tha grizzled veteran
and first candidate IF the Republican
party for President, Gen. John {. Free
mont, was escorted te the platform by
the Sergeant-at-Arms, and caught the
eye of the galleries. lie was honored
with the first great buEt of applause that
had been given so far ,uring the morn
ing.
BY the time that Wise and Malone
came in the Convention was sea of wav-
ing fans, :and they lot the reception
which might have falen to them had
they observed the rule of punctuality.
Half-past twelve, and he band galvan-
lied into life by the fratic efforts which
some of the assistant seretanes had for
some time been makineto attract its at
tention, struck up tun but sign from
Chairman Jones at l2;3 brought it to
full stop and the Conyation was called
to order
DIVINE ECoUNsELNyoKED
Then Rev. Frank " Gunsaulus was
introduced TO lead tn, convention in
PRAYER He thanked th Lord for the
intelligence and courageinder which the
banners of the Republican party had
been carried to conqueS, and prayed
that the convention nigh be dominated
by good purposes for thu glory of God
and the good of the peple. Blessings
were asked for the leader of the party
and for those occupying Ugh places in
the Administration "W invoke Thy
blessing" said the reereil gentleman,
"upon the great soldier, he captain Of
our armies, who lies so nar to death.
Oh, Lord, touch him tenerly by Thy
hand. Comfort him by Iy spirit and
restore him TO that Nation hat loves him
in full health" This refer nee to Sheri-
dan was followed by burs of applause
which evidently Jared upo the preach