St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-06-09
IT FATIGUES PEOPLE.
The Republican Convention
Is an Unusually Tiresome
Gathering.
Most of. the Applause Is Con-
fined to a Few Claq-
ueuPS.
Men Of Note Enter the Hall
Without So Much as a
Cheer.
The Blaine-Harpison Bitter
ness Responsible for the
Apathy.

The dulleSt national convention on
record. That is what the convention
the Republicans are holding in Mime
apoliS bids fair TO be. A few times the
spectators have tried to work them
selves up to concert pitch They met
with no announcement from the floor
of the biggest and handSomeSt hall ever
prepared for the reception of political
gathering. Interest there is in the pro-
ceedings of this convention; enthusiasm
none. Why is it? What has become of
that spirit of homage to great men that
was wont to move national conventions
in the past?
Bitterness has wiped il out.
In times of war the followers of the
most popular leaders find periods when
they are not disposed TO cheer. Two
armies standing facing each other after
days of battle in which neither has been
successful utter no shout of greeting
when the men who lead them on to vic
tory or defeat appear in view. Their
teeth shut viSe-like. their br0ws lower,
their eyes peer from under darkened
brOwS. determination settles on every
face as the word is given to prepare for
another encounter; but not a cheer es-
capeS them. The strain Is too tense for
utterance. Deep-broOding silence best
conveys a sense of the issues at stake.
Thus the men look upon their leaders
at such times. And upon the opposition?
There they see only deadly enemies. In
the widest battle soldiers have been
known to burst uncOntr0llably into
cheers for some
Dashing Movement
on the part of their enemies. But in
such a case it is always after some short
but sharp encounter. The longer the
battle RACES the iiercer become the pas
Sions of the contending forces. Sullen
hate crowds out all Semblance of more
generous feelings.
What Republican can remember the
time when some recognition was not
accorded the entrance of the leaders of
the party, no matter on what side they
might chance te be arrayed. The men
OH the floor were ever ready TO applaud
the men who had led the party to vie
tory III the past. were ready to acknoWl-
edge that some tribute was due to
power. How different now.
Watch this Minneapolis convention
as 1t is getting ready for business, and
after it has taken up the routine of pre-
pairing for a great campaign. The dele
gates come III one by one. They take
seats in various parts Of the hall as
they have been assigned. No one no
tees them. Here comes 4 man down
the center aisle who has held familiar
intercourse with princes. He is famous
the world over for his many attain
ments. He is looked npOn as one of the
most popular men in this land Of hero
wOrshipers. Does ne meet a cheer
from those who have, heretofore. been
ready to bow before his name? Not at
all. He walks slowly down the aisle,
takes his, seat. and is heard of no more.
So far as the spectators are concerned,
that man is no more recognizable than
thea colored man from the marshes
of Louisiana. who carries his vote in his
band and will deliver to any one for
what he can get. There is a man who
won renOwn OH many IL field during the
war, who was
Never Known to Flineh
where the fight was hottest. He is lost
i'll the throng Here is an orator who
has moved thousands with the sound of
his voice. Not his voice alone, his very
identity is swallowed up in this most
remarkable convention. Yet another
appears. This man has won fame that
is bounded only by the bounds of the
earth. In the pages of literature his
name appears second to few. Men have
been moved to tears by his thoughts
clothed III the cold garb of the printing
Office, and have iOnged for the sight of
his face. They see him and are I'M
moved. That other man over there at
one side has name which has become
a synonym for the principle that his
party holds most dear. Yet neither
that name nor the man vino bears it and
made it what it is can draw one express
sion of enthusiasm from this throng.
Truth to tell, fierce opposition has
drowned all other feelings III the breasts
of these men. Their teeth are shut.
They have no time for enthusiasm.
They are patiently waiting for the
speaking of the word that will let them
loose at the Threats of one another.
There was the report of the committee
Oh permanent organization yesterday,
for instance. William Mckinley was
named as the permanent chairman. If
there is one name in the Republican