Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-07-17

NFOWA ANUu anU k0AlGAAIc nAAV0 WIN
the men who were sent there to do
the work, and they swarmed through
the aisleS. Visiting clubs" and ''as-
sociations" passed through the hall,
bearing banners and shouting for the
candidates whose counterfeit pre-
sentiments" were borne upon them.
We found and kept our seats-aud
hard they were-wlth difficulty.
The rain poured down our heads and
trickled down our legs, and the steam
lifted the sswdust from the floor and
covered US all over. When we who had
to say something spoke we didn't care
how we looked.
But mere inconvenience Is not the
only thug TO be considered, nor is the
impossibiity Of the decorous transac-
tion OF business.
In that Wigwsm several times we
stood in great physical danger. The
thing itself was necessarily erected
ia great haste, in response
10 foolish demand. 1t
was, therefore. crude and defective,
weak and risky" in every way. A
few days before we entered 1t the roof
was blown of aud was replaced In
a hurry. While we were in it lightning
struck twenty-five places ia the city.
II lightning had struck the building
itself. or If it had merely sought TO
reach the nearest earth through one OF
the greasy uprights, a panic would have
taken place and thousands would have
been trampled TO death.
If the arc light lamp had fallen four
feet more William J. Sheehan might
now be Governor Of New York. II It
had thus fallen when all the delegates
from New York were In their seats,
strong as their good nerves are, panic
could not have been sverted.
Chicago has been blamed for the Wig
wan aud for all the conditions COM
planned OF. But the people OF Chicago
must be fully acquitted. They did not
ask for the convention-they accepted
il. They offered for Convention uses
one of the most perfect OF halls-the
Auditori6m-but it was stupidity re-
iected by the National Committee be-
cause its seating capacity is but eight
thousand! Chicago was compelled to
put up the Wigwam in response to the
demand OF the National Committee. 1t
is rather odd, however, that no member
OF that committee can now be found
who remembers that he voted or asked
for more ROOM" Beyond the physical
danger is the moral and political.
Demos has its say and its first express
sion In the caucus" or primary meet
ing" There it should end. The French
Revolution simply shook the pillars Of
monarchy instead OF replacing them
with new ones because it did not estab-
liSh representative government. 1t
ended, as it began, with France govern
ed by one man with crown on his
head instead Of a government by all
crownless Frenchmen. 1t was because
the Paris mob was permitted to over
awe by their presence and demonstra-
tiOns the chosen representatives OF all
France in the Legislative Chamber.
OURS A SOBER SYSTEM
To liken the jeers and Kisses and
shouts Of approval and the contrary at
Chicago to the paradIng Of the bloody
head OF Deputy Feraud on the point Of
a nike at the head of a drunken Paris
mob In the French convention may seem
a forced illustration. but the two scenes
differ only in degree.
The Paris mob had no true right or
business there. Had they been exclud-
ed France would have grown into per-
manent republic, for her representatives.
would have felt their way to it.
More sOberly our fathers constructed
the wonderful system OF government
under which we live. II was construct
ed out of new material and they had no
old structure to pull down. The archi-
tects OF the American Republic were
men who met in conven-
tion and Congress without personal
pressure or mob domination, because
they were trusted by those who sent
them, and their work lasts through the
ages.
When parties formed in the United
States representative conventions nat
urally followed. These conventions for
q long time followed the decorous
course Of the continental and the fed
eral CongreSseS-the delegates sat, con-
suited, deliberated, passed resolutions,
made nominations aud adjourned.
THE OLD FLAG BEST.
II is only within our day that insanity
TO admit 1.-The public" in greater num-
bers seized the national committees.
The result is a Babel and not deliber-
alive body, a mob and not conven-
ton, chaos instead of order.
1t is argued, however, that 1t would
be wise 70 have some spectators present,
say one or two thousand. No reason is>
given; but il it were desirable it is not
practicable. The moment you admit
any number Of mere spectators the press
ure will be irresistible to admit as many
as a building can be made TO hold. The
evil we complain Of would soon reap
pear.
We must simply work back to con-
ventiOn for business, not for shOw-del-
egates, alternates and press. 1t can be
held in the Town Hall Of Saratoga, or
in almost any hall or opera house in the
country. Perfect order can be main
tanned, every speaker can be heard, all
questions can be really discuSsed-not
merely yelled at-and the business can
be transacted in halt the time it now
takes. Moreover, in ten minutes after
a word is spoken it is printed in ten
thousand newspapers, and the whole
people are treated alike.
To depart from the principle Of pro-
viding only for delegates, alternsteS,
the press and officers Of the convention,
and TO provide for any more spectators,
is 10 invite and insure a return Of the
evil complained OF.
II ~ y