The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-03-21
: WAY DOWN SOUTH IN DIXIE

ion-0itnpoes Of Illinois,
Indiana and Ken.
tucky-NAshviile
and its Not.
able P2ao.
1t was . great big convention, that
one of the Republican Union League
at Nashville the Fourth Of March.
Delegates were there from nearly ev.
cry State In the Union, not forgetting
one lone man who bore banner, with
the ptrange device "Alaska.n Eight
hundred In all, "more Republicans
than had been together in Nashville
at any one time since old Pap Thorn
as left it, come veteran remarked.
And they carried their Republicanism
with them. There were no apologies
Or evasions out of Difference to the en-.
vironment. Republican principles are
fc-' universal application,-and they
were applied In the speeches made be.
fore this convention with vigor that
possibly had nearly a. much to do
with the surrounding temperature as
had the snow storm which happened
along about the same time. President
John M. Thurston, Of Nebraska, and
Coy. Golf, of West Virginia, were the
orators. Thurston is man Of medium
size, blonde hair and mustache, and
spectacles, with nothing about his face
to suggest special strength, except the
mouth which shuts like q steel trap.
But when he gets up to talk there IL
The Master in every line Of his figure,
in every gesture, In every tone OF his
marvellous voice, in every aptly chos-
en- word, in every perfectly balanced
sentence. I have heard q good many
political orators. but never one who
could get hold of convention and bold
il like John M. Thurston can.
Gov. Goff-the Democrats counted
him out but he was elected ard 50
they call him Governor-is q smallish
rotund man-might be a brother to
Jake Stotler-cheery, with q smooth
face, fresh and bright as q boys, aud
a quick, taking way about him,
He talks tariff, and fair count. and
talks them In way to make the av.
erage Bourbon's moss curl. He has Q
funny way Of enforcing a good point
by clapping his hands three or four
times-an invitation to applaud that
the audience can rarely resist.
There were plenty Of other good
speakers but these were the best and
the Convention never missed an OPP
portunity to call them out. We were
proud Of Mr.. Thurston at
the reception given US by the Cover
nor and members Of the legislature.
He made speech in response to speech.
es made by the Governor-''FIddling
Bob" Taylor-the speaker of the House
and other State notables. and he '.laid
it over them" in q way that was beau-
tiful to hear. They tried to geS Golf
to speak at this reception but he de-
After q contest as bitter as
his has been he probably feared to
trust his tongue to find only the
phrases that the courtesies of
the occasion demanded.
But the telegraph has already re-
ported the proceedings of the Conven-
ton and this letter is not to repeat the
story. Let it suffice to say that 1t was
an all round success. 1t was harmon
ious and enthusiastic, splendid exhi-
bition of the fighting force Of the Re.
publican party.
"I wish 1 were in Dixie" is the bur.
den of the old cong, and long enter
tanned desire to visit the south had as
much to do with my trip to Nashville
as the wish to attend the convention
itself. A Republican convention is no
special curiosity to Kansas man, but
the chance to take a journey through
the late Confederacy offers tempta.
ton not easily resisted. And 40 the
ground passed over is probably as
much terra incognita TO most Of the
readers as it was to the
writer, some account of the things seen
may not be without interest.
-
The most direct route from lola to
is via Memphis. but being
anxious to collect long standing bill
against Mr.. Jay Gould for advertising,
went by way of st. Louis. From st.
Louis the road,-Loulsville & Nash
ville,-ruos through southern Illinois,
cuts off a corner CT Indiana. and CROSS
es Kentucky. EGYPT" is never a
enlivening region and on
the third of March it was mostly I'M
der water, presenting q very dreary
and bedraggled appearance. Indiana
was not much better and the ride was
enough till we found
ourselves upon the yellow soil and
among the wooded hills and passing
the queer little towns of sold
Doesn't the mere eight
of the name. Kentucky, bring to your
mind visions of stately mansions, long
reaches of blue grass, prancing steeds
and beautiful women? 1t used to to
mine, but it doesn't any more. Un-
painted log cabins with the inevitable
Nh r,nau o., tho nni side af ono ar both