Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-04-26
INDIANA POLITICS.
Hoosier Republicans Hold
Their State Convention.
OVATION TO COL. DICK THOMPSON

And Another to the Ex-Predident Who
Pays Warm and Glowing Tribute to
the Old Man Eloquent ana Tells What
He Thinks Is the Matter With the
Country-A Ticket Made Up of New
Timber Excep. in One Instance.
INDIANAPOLIS. April a6.-tn a hall lib
orally decorated with red, white, and blue,
around the walls of which were the por-
traits of the leaders of the Republican
party, and hanging over the stage heroic
size portrait of the party candidate for
president in 1892, the nearly ., 600 delegates
TO the state convention met and nominated
ticket TO be voted for next fall. The
building was packed upon the floor, in the
galleries. ana on the stage, and the Repub-
of this state probably never held a
more enthusiastic gathering There was
vein of sadness i'll the enthusiasm, how
ever, for the chairman, Colonel Dick"
Thompson, was probably presiding for the
last time at such n gathering. and all Ind-
ana Republicans love "Dick" Thompson.
Gave the Old Leader an Ovation.
This was apparent when he appeared on
the sage. Did the convention whoops
why it was like the roar OF many waters
ana the rafters tuggod 1T their Gastenings
a6 the swelling sound OF welcome The ex-
secretary is so years old. and hearty as he
now is it would be phenomenal ii he
should again preside ut a similar conyen-
ton. His sreec'l was brief when he rose
rs the presiding officer to address the dele
gates. He said that his work was nearly
done-that he was no longer IA boy. He
urged the state Republicans to work
Zeaiousiy for success m November: advo-
Gated n protective tariff and ueplored the
present condition Of affairs aud charged it
TO the misgovernment of the party now in
power, and then he announced that Gen
erai benjamin Harrison would address
tic convention
Harrison Warmly Welcomed.
IL We're possible to have eclipsed the
storm OF applause given to Colonel Thomp-
son, the audience seemed willing to have
done 50 when it saw the stout figure of the
eN-pr;sident at the front of the platform,
anu when he could obtain IA hearing he
pald an earnest tribute to the presiding
officer. He said:
mir. PRESIDENT: My venerable and
honored friend. congratulate you; |
congratulate the Republicans of Indiana
That you are permitted on this hopeful day
TO preside over gathering of the Repub-
licans of this great state IApplausel You
have battled for the principles of the party
Tor many years; gou have been the able,
dauntless champion of those great prin-
Clinics which called the party into existence
and which have won for it so often and
through series of such brilliant years of
administration the confidence of the peo-
pie lApptause.l As you have been faith
fui TO the panty in the hours of weakness
ana DARKNESS we are glad that you are here
this n.orning when the country is awaS-
ened 10 the fact that IA restoration of Re
publican principles i'll administration is
essential to the prosperity and happiness
ot the people. IGreat applause.l
Ready 10 Help the Cause.
10 you, my friends, i come this morn
ing with an acknowledgement of my crate
full obligations for these undeserved and
accumulated favors which you have
heaped upon me. l will not undertake
this morning. it would be inappropriate.
any full discussion of Republican princi-
pies. l will not stand between you and
the important work which you have as
sembled &c do, and which you are eager
to be about. AT some time during the
campaign which SO auspiciously opens to-
day-if 1t be the pleasure of my fellow
citizens 4 shall hold myself at their sery-
Ice for fuller discussion. IGreat cheer
ingl ! cannot allow. as have said be-
fore, that an ex-president has lost his citi-
zenship. Laughter and applause Nor
can admit that calm and temperate
discussion OF great public questions is IN
diEnifed IN any man. Applause
Th', Tariff l. Always With Us.
I'VE have had, beginning with those
years when as IA champion of the Wing
principles Colonel Thompson spoke to us
fellow citizens Of Indiana. down to the
last national campaign, IA continuous de-
bate upon the question of the tariff The
people have now accepted one view of the
question, and now turning, have adopted
the other. Applause The debate
seemed to have worn itself out.
EeelT your silvery eloquence, sir, was
hardly equal to stirring great interest
in the question. Our people became so
pre- ;perous, SO rich; labor was 50 uni
versally employed ut good wages that
men ceased to appreciate the danger and
disaster that was involved in an abandon
ment of the protection principles" JAp-
I