The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-06-17

( St. Louis. June 16.-Auspiciousiy
yand serenely, beneath sky across
! whose arched dome not cloud fioated
the chieftains of the Republican party
from the pine forests of Maine to the
s,sun-kissed hilsl of California, from the
tOranee groves of Florida to the placid
waters of Puget Sound, met in council
IS to-day and in the presence of about
s. 900 spectators entered upon the work
: of selecting candidates and enunciat-
ting policies for the campaign of 1886.
< The first session of the Republican
National convention was brief and
formal.
Chairman Carter, of the National
committee dropped the gavel at 1920
and ninety minutes later an adjourn
ment was taken until 10 a. m. to-mor-
row. There was not jar to mar the pro-
ceedings. There were no sensational
incidents to arouse, nor any demon
strations to thrill, the vast concourse
of people. w
The temporary chairman, I. w.
Fairbanks, of Indianapolis, delivered
as his address strong forcible state
ment in arraignment of the present ad-
ministration and in definement OF the
issues: the committee selections OF the
various delegations were announced
that was all.
Those who expected some allusion
TO Mckinley which would loosen the
bottled-up enthusiasm for the little
NAPOLEON which has had no fght TO
uncorlS it or who imagined that per-
haps some of the great leaders or ora
tors of the party would be called to the
pIatform to fire their imaginatlonS ana
quicken their pulses, were dlsappolnt-
ecK 1t was purely formal session.
The recognized heroes and generals
of the party entered the hall without
demonstration Lodge. Depew
and Quay were applauded but Mark
Hanna, Warwick did not create
ripple when he entered with smilng
and confident air. The fery flYairy
that attends contests between strug
Cling giants where the quesIloh ol
s1,nremacy is still to be fought and
the battle is yet to be won; Wncn
aronses clans and factions to the wild
est pitch of excitement ana entnusl-
asm was lacking. While there may
he vain homes. blighted ambitions and
hitter animosities, still tossing be-
meath the onward sweep OF the Mchlh-
lev tide. those who did not favor the
Ohio candidate as their first choice
are looking forward with relief to the
end of the struggle, knowing that 1t
will bring peace and good VIII IN the
end.
IN the platform ranged behind the
chairman sat his colleagues on the Ma
tional committee, a notable group OF
astute party generals. In his front sat
the delegates. Most prominent, I'M
mediately below the stand, was the 1919
Four of Ohio: Hanna, the king maker;
the dashing Foraker, Gov. Bushneli
and Gen. Grosvenor. Directly IN their
rear were the Indiana delegates clus-
terjno about Gen. Lew Wallace, whose
name is famed in politics, literature
and war while to the rear OF them
were the Pennsylvania delegates, head
ed bv the majestic Hastings and the
silent sphinx-like Quay, the conqueror
of SO many hard-fought political bat
ties. In the next tier of seats were
the New York contingent, with Platt
the old associate of the imperial Conk-
ling. at the head of the dominant fac
ton and the suave Depew and Warner
Miller, the leaders of the opposition.
Massachusetts, with Senator Lodge
in command, was just beyond, while
to the right of the stand sat Senator
Teller, about whom the radical silver
forces cluster, his face grave, stern
and determined. Scattered through
out the pit were others no less renown-
ed in the councils of the party, Gov
Bradley, of Kentucky, who seconded
Grants nomination in 1880 and who
like Senator Wallington, of Maryland
who sat opposite, succeeded last fall
in wrestling his State from Democratic
rule; Gen. "Dave" Henderson, the bril-
liant Iowa orator, and his colleagues
Senator Gear and Col. Hepburn, who
took charge of the Allison boom; ex-
Gov. Merriam, of Minnesota, the cham
pion of gold; the venerable white-hair-
ed Dick Thompson. of Indiana, who
has figured SO conspicuously in the his