San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-06-16

outside the hall where they stood.
About ll:20 o'clock Carter,
chairman OF the national commit
tee, who was TO call the conven-
ton to order, arrived and gave full
instructions to the secretaries and
reading clerks.
The $50 seats reserved for the
press are filled with busy news
paper men, and the click OF the
telegraph instruments had already
begun to carry the news to the
world at large.
AS prominent personages arrived
in the hall and were recognized
they were received with applause
and cheering by the galleries.
Within a few minutes the dele
cations began crowding into their
places. The arrival OF nOtables,
however, was not attended by any
demonstrations. The most famous
republican leaders seemed unrec-
ognized from the galleries, but
were warmly greeted by their
friends from the floor.
Senator Lodge, tall, slender and
athletic, who held Reeds New
England delegation and is the gen.
eral of the radical politicians, was
besieged on every hand as he
walked down the aisle.
The venerable Dick Thompson,
OF Indiana, who participated in the
Clay-Jackson campaign OF 1882,
and who has been a conspicuous
figure at every republican conven-
ton since the organization OF the
party, attracted much attention.
He bears his 81 years sturdily and
looked full of vigor.
1t was II 30 p. m. when Chair
man Carter called the convention
to order and when quiet was Sc
cured, Rabbi Sale invoked the Di-
vine blessing, the vast assemblage
standing during the entire invo-
cation:
All Msrciful and Most Gracious Father,
Fountain of Light and Life: We seek
| thy presence and implore thy guidance
in the tolls and tasks of our earthly be-
ing. o, thou who art enthroned in the
soul OF man, and the creator of the
destiny of nations, be nigh unto us now
and show forth thy wouderous ways In
this assembly of people. Hearken unto
thy servants and pour on them who have
come to do thy bidding in the service OF
truth and honor the spirit of wisdom and
understanding, the spirit Of council and
strength, the spirit OF knowledge and OF
fear OF the Lord. Make Righteousness
the girdle Of their loins and faithfulneSs
the girdle of their hopes so hat they
may manfully discharge the sacred duties
of their gathering to further the well be-
ing OF the people aud to safeguard the
honor and integrity of the nation. o,
kindle anew in the hearts OF our genera
ton the alter flame Of devotion to the
high aims that in 'pired the minds of the
founders of our republic, and above all
| illumined and immortalized the life OF
| the father of his country. Fill us with
a deep and abiding sense OF the trans
cendant dignities and nobility OF Ameri-
can citizenship, and'of the sacred obliga-
tions that should attend IT., so that we
may grow from day to day in the beauty
of thy virtue and our beloved land,
from hundred .harboured Maine to the
vine clad slope OF the Golden Gate, from
the ice bound north TO the warm and sun
ny south, may go from strength 10
strength until it achieves It's destiny TO
become the fixed and shining marx for
every bark bound for heaven law and
liberty.
Let not the glory of past be greater
than the present outlook, nor let us come
to shame or grief by the worship OF gods
Of gold and silver. to the neglect OF those
ideas of the mind and sou which are
alone worthy of a freeman's homage and
can alone secure the continued possession
- ~ af.f1 I'D raIt-fnna hh-
eTty. Remove from around us the din
and noise and insincerlty and blow sound
ing blows. Let bitter strife ami wrang-
ling cease, and firmly bound In the cause
Of our common country let us realize how
good and lovely II is for brethren TO
dwell together in harmony.
Prosper thou the work Of this council,
convened In the cause OF the people, and
when the message goes forth over the
land may its golden ring bring them as
surances that prosperity will brighten
our homes, and the immediate jewel of
our soul, the good name OF our people:
and the credit Of our government, shall
remain u~ntarnished forever.
May Thy grace, o, God, come upon us
and do Thou establish the work OF our
hands. Amen.
Fairbanks, as temporary chair
man, then delivered the following
speech, opening the convention:
Gentlemen of the Convention: | am
profoundly grateful for this expression OF
| your generous confidence. As citizens we
were never called upon to discharge a
more important duty than which rests
upon US. The n~omipation Of a president
and vice president Of the United States.
This duty is o peculiarly expressive one
at this moment, for 1t is already written
In the book of fate that the choice OF this
| convention will be the next president and
vice president of the great republic. Three
years of democratic rule have been three
years OF panic, Of wasted energies, Of
| anxiety and loss to the American people
| without a parallel in our history. Today
| the people return to the republican party,
hopefully, confidently, and 1t Is for US TO
| meet their expectations; IL is for us to
give them those candidates upon whom
their hearts have centered and to give
them clear straight forward; emphatic