St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-25
The GRANDEST SCENE
Old Market Hall Never Yet
Witnessed Last Nights
Parallel.
The Immense Auditorium
Crammed to It's Utmost
Capacity.
Royal Welcome rendered
There to Next Governor
LaWler.
Henry George Leads Off With
a Rafting Democratic
Speech.
DEMOCRATS. REGISTER TODAY

Never In the history of the Market
house has it been the scene of enthusl-
asm as ON last evening. Nor was the
immense throng which packed the
house until there was not standing room
left, nor scarcely breathing room,
rabbIe of boys and unthinking people;
it was sea of intelligent. earnest faces.
Never since the days of Lincoln and
Douglas has such political excitement
prevailed, and the Democratic meetings
of last evening reminded an Old-tlme
Republican who has long since de-
serted the old party and taken
refuge in the ranks of Democracy of
the great debates between Lincoln and
Douglas in Illinois when people rallied
for many miles around, and covered
acres of ground surrounding the speak
ers' stand straining their ears to catch
every word which fell from the lips Of
either orator. while he was so far away
that they could scarcely hear the sounds
of his voice. And many others were
also reminded of those days. And Henry
George was so forcIbly struck by it that
he said IN his speech that he believed
this year would prove as great pOlit-
ical revolution as was the year 1860.
Market hall was neatly decorated, the
sides being festOoned with red. white
and blue StreamerS and flags. and hung
with pictures of the hero of the hour,
Hon. Daniel w. Lawler.
The house was packed long before the
time Tor the speaking TO begin, and yet
the great parade was going on outside.
TorchlIght professions are grand, and
1t must De great cause that can keep
people away from one. And the town
outside was ablaZe with glory and eX-
citement, and there were thousands
outside to enjoy it; yet the immense
throng in Market hall, which began TO
assemble before Z O'Clock. sat there
patiently but anXiously awaiting the
arrival of Henry George, the first
speaker n The programme.
waited for LaxvIer.
Yes, they were anxious to hear Henry
George: but it was not Henry George
that was enthuSing them so that they
could not resist the impulse to cheer
upon the appearance of any and every
body, and TO cheer when no one was in
sight to vent their overfiowing spirits
it was the magnetic LAWYER they were
there to honor: it was the name and
thought Of this hero who has
swept the state with such
mighty force that brought them out
and filled them with feelings they could
not contain in silence. The scene re-
sembled an excited thrOng in Roman
amphitheater, as pictured in word and
on the canvas by the great masters.
There was good sprinkling of ladies
present, and they were not less inter-
ested and enthusiastic than their es-
co1ts.
Most of the audience had waited
nearly an hour, and then rather aged
man appeared upon the stage. He was
there to find a comfortable seat near the
speaker SO he could hear we'll, but he
caused a pandemOnium among the audi
ence. They shouted and cheered him,
and called for a speech. After the up
roar had gone on some minutes the old
gentleman arose and said:
boys, I'm no speaker; but | am the
oldest Democrat in the state of Mime
sofa. My name is John j. Williams"
The proud old Democrat was given
rousing applause which he can remem-
Der with pleasure the remainder of his
days.
By s o'clock the seats OH the stage
were pretty nearly filled, but no speaker
made his appearance, and the audience
was growing more enthusiastic and
expressing its feelings in true Ameri-
can style, some of the time sending up
Shouts which nearly raised the roof.
Came to Order.
At $40 Judge Flandrau, the chair
man of the occasion, walked moGestly
out on the stage. and was hailed by
storm of applause. A moment later
Henry George made his appearance
and walked to chair close to Judge
Flandrau. The audience did not com
prehend for a moment who he was, but
rnry n 4 H., e
the room exclaimed loud enough to be
heard some distance around, "Why.
that is Henry George" And in
stantly the entire mass broke out in
tremendous applause, which lasted some
moments. When this subsidized twenty
men with flags formed into sashes and
fastened over the right shoulder and
under their left arm, filed OH the stage
and took seats in the rear. When they
were seated Judge Flandrau arose, and
stepping to the front of the stage, said:
Fellow Citizens, Ladies and Gentle
men: Before a great political revolution
takes place 1t always makes Itself felt in
the atmosphere. There is something in
the atmosphere tonight; it is filled with
indications of Democratic victory. We
are favored tonight with some of the
best speakers in America. This meet
ing Will be opened with a patriotic song
by the German-American GIee club.
The twenty men who were decorated
with flags proved to be the glee club.
They sang ''America.''
Judge Flandrau stepped to the front
OF the stage again, when the singing
was finished, and said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: We have the
distinguished honor tonight of listening
to one of the most profound thinkers,
one OF the most exact reasoners, one
who is not only one of the most dis
tinguished authors in the world, but a
renowned orator. l have the honor to
Introduce to you the great philosopher
and author. Hon. Henry George"
Mr.. George stepped to the f0otlights,