The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-06-18
INGALLS, VIEWS.
He Wires His Impressions of the
Opening
Of the Convention to the New
York Journal
INGALLS, SARCASTIC.
Says New England DecOrOusly
Chaps Her Hands
When the Current Corporation
Epigrams Are Sprung
About Fifty-cent Dollars But
Applause Is Feeble.
SARCASTIC.

New York, June 18.-Ex-Senaor In
gals says in his telegraph letter from
St. Louis to the Morning Journal:
The auditorium is severe in its sim
plicity. 1t has no lines of beauty nor
any superduity of ornament. The ex-
terror is covered with gray stuccO.
Four tiers Of openings admit air, light
and spectators. Outside stairways at
the sides ard ends afford entrance to
the galleries, beneath which are Off
GERS quarters, telegraph rooms and
restaurants. It is as plain as a cavalry
barrack or a tobacco warehouse. Rows
Of hagstaffs are ranged along the caves
and bronze eagles adorn the gables.
The interior is lofty and spacious and
Wei proportional Draperies of flags
and testOOns OF muslin conceal the slIel-
eton framework and trusses OF the sides
and roof. The heraldry Of the states
is displayed along the balustrades and
patrlOtc notices appear at appropriate
intervals. The arrangements for light
and ventilation are excellent
The spectacle at noon today was inn
preSS1Ve- There We're vacant spaces
and empty seats in the upper galleries,
but the main floor was densely packed
with delegates and alternates and dis
tIngulshed and undistinguished guests.
Inc vast audlence was GOOD naTureQ,
but listless and impressive. The deco
rum Yerged on solemnity. The absence
OF women was notable. There was no
came in and took their places unrecOg-
nized and without salutation. The in
art1culate murmur which usually per
Vades great assemblageS was not heard.
The roar of acclamatiOn which was
won't to follow the entrance of COnk-
ling and Garfield and other popular
leaders in former conventions was alb
sent
When Chairman Carter smote thrice
with his gave1 he was greeted cordially
put his remarks were inaudible, as he
presented Rabbi Saale, whose prayer
dealt with the questions OF the day in
an effective manner. He prayed with
the eyes open, as if the Almighty were
in the audience and he was addressing
him in person The rabbi received the
rather unusual compliment Of a hearty
round OF applause after his amen.
Whether this innovation upon ecclesi-
aSucal customs proceeded from the
gold men or the silver men, or was
purely patriotic did not appear.
Mild expectation was aroused in Mr-
Fairbanks, the temporary chairman
de IS a candidate Tor the senate IN
Indiana and a lawyer Of high stand
ing and lucrative practice. Great things
had been predicted and he was well
advertised
Mr.. Fairbanks is an exceedingly tall.
spare man. OF middle age and scholarly
/ aspect, rendered somewhat sOmber by
a full black close cropped beard. His
elOcutiOn was good his gestures were
appropriate. but studied and cOnVen-
tiOnal His speech was printed on
small slips, which he held concealed in
his left hand and to which ne reIerl ed
constantly in his delivery. His voice,
which might be adequate for an argu-
ment in a court room, was not equal
to the demands Of a space so enormous
and an audience 50 immense, and soon
became husky and broken
Three things are said to be neces-
sary to a great speech-a speaker, an
4 occasion and an audience. Probably
the last two are most tant-lnGiS-
/ pensa ble-than the first. All the great
nations of ancient and modern times
Z illustrate the truth that the able ora
( tor cannot reach the height of his pow
I ers except upon a great theme, and be-
+ fore an audience that is either friendly
4 or hostile to the cause he represents
J The reply of Webster to t1ayne, the
invectives of Phillips and Beecher
! against slavery. and the Grafton of Lin
+ coin at Gettysburg are memorable eX-
ampIes OF the conditions IF successful
I speechmaking for which no instruction
Z can be given
/ Mr. Fairbanks presented in a coeent
] and coherent WaV the stock argun eDtS
! and phrases of Republication. The
/ current epigrams about the fifty cent
/ dollar and honest toll and honest money
i We're all brought in, but the response
was very feeble The corporate, con-
I servative theories Of finance, with
I which we are all so familiar. were Wig
I orOusly set forth The delegates from
/ New York and New England clapped
/ their hands decorOusly and looked graf
fled. At the mention Of the name Of
/ Blaine there was a brief OutbUrst Of
Z genuine emotion. which soon SUbsidcd
4 Whether the fault was with the ora
4 tor the theme or the hearers is diff
+ cult to decide, but there was no demon
/ stra ton. The session was tame, com
I mOnplace and mOnotonous- The dele
! gates and the spectators We're curious
I ~ Indifferent and unsympathetic- Per
/ haps some thing may be charged to the
/ acoustic conditions of the hall. which
+ are not good. The voice of the speaker
+ seemed to be dispersed and dissipated
/ in an abyss.
INGALLS, rs NO JAY