Wichita eagle., 1890-03-06
THE REPUBLICAN CLUBS.
A Letter of Regret From President Har.
rison Read.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, March 1t was
after II o'clock when President Thurston
raped the national convention OF Repub-
licans league clubs to order today Not
more than half the delegates were then in
their seats and the remainder kept strag-
CLING in until - o'clock \ cold rain set
In after midnight and has continued every
since, making the situation decidedly dis
agreeable. The atmosphere of the conyen-
iion hall was very chilly and unpleasant
and the delegates enjoyed themselves and
kept warm singing national airs with
brass band accompaniment. The proceed
ings were opened with prayer by Rev.
Mr.. Derrick. of New York, after which
kilograms and letters We're read from
President Harrison, Republican congress
men, Hon. Il. G. Platt, of New York, and
others. President Harrison 5 letter is as
follows:
WASHINGTON, February 1-Hon. John
NJ. Thurston, president of the Republican
league of the United States: Dear Sir: IL
gives me pleasure to acknowledge receipt
of your letter of the 2ith extending on be-
half Of the executive committee of the Re
publican league of the United States an
invitation to attend the third annual con-
vention of the league. While !
can not accept this invitation, neither
Can / refrain from expressing my interest
In the success of your proposed meeting
aud IN the permanence and useful activity
# the clubs which Will he represented.
The party To which you belong has never
suffered by an intelligent discussion of its
history or its principles and am sure your
organization Will continue to furnish
courageous and well appointed champions
wherever the list of debate are opened.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
The invitations rendered to the Gov
eruor OF Tennessee and the members OF
the state Legislature TO seats on the floor
Of the convention We're accepted with
thanks and an invitation extended to The
league TO attend reception at the state
house at noon. This was accepted unani-
mously and an adjournment taken until
= o'clock.
Upon arrival at the state capitol the
band PLAYED Dixie" aad as the league
marched into the house, the scene WAS
most remarkable. Inspirited by the
s, rains OF the old tune, the members of the
legislature arose ana with shouts and
waving OF bsndkerchiefs and flags vel
coined the visitors Speaker Clapp made
The address of welcome.
Governor TAYLOR was then introduced
and in the name Of the whole state. and
especially Nashville, be welcomed the
delegates
1
name Of the league said: I'VE come as
the representatives of one Of the two great
political parties Our relations viii be as
warm as the powers will admit Nothing
better could he heard than the music
of the band playing Dixie and YANKEES
Doodle whenever played At home or
abroad, on land or sea, or before kings and
potentates, the American citizen gets right
up on his feet and applauds. lie will 20
home with a better idea Of the posi- bilities
OF Tennessee then we ever had before and
the result will be worth millions, We recog-
nize that there must be two political
parties and when they are SO near equal in
strength, the public interests are best sub
Served. Thank God that the Republican
party Is IN tie supremacy anu that the
Democratic party Is strong enough TO hold
II down lApplaUSeI. Glod bless old Ten
nessee, Tor her soil Is enriched by the
blood of thousands Of heroes on both sides
who fought for and settled principles IN
herited from our ancestors Thank God
there still remains large part of the brave
army that fought against us
The applause following General Thurs
tons speech continued several minutes
and at the conclusion the bsnd again
played Dixie following it with
Yankee Doodle" Intense enthusiasm
pgain become manifest and Tor some time
the capitol building rang with shouts
from Democrats and Republicans alike,