New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-19

vious week. Somehow, too, these decorative Of
forts were significant Of the distinguishing offer
ence between the two meetings. The first was
tame and spirtless. because .he elements to fire
those in attendance TO deeds Of astonishing dar
Ing in the way OF applause We're wOfully lacking,
and the audience itself Of a totally different
cast Of political countenance.
About the rail of the top gallery the decorators
had extended alternate groupings of flags and
the shields of the States on a groundwork Of the
National colors. This festoonng of the flags was
carried to the rails cf the two lower galleries in
like fashion, and made most brilliant offset to
the rather dead whitcness of the general scheme
of decoration that is permanent in the place. The
great steel girders that form the support Of the
archlng roof were almost concealed behind wav-
ing bands of the red. white and blue which grace
fully curved downward ard outward to their
common ending under the gallery space.
Then on each side Of the fine chandelier and
at equal intervals running from east to west
Of the roof line were su spended four ornamental
umbrellas that were transformed into immense
bouquets of flaming color by the judicious group
ing OF more flags 1t apparent on every
hand that this campaign is rightly viewed as
a campaign Of patriotism, wherein the honor Of
the flag is vitay concerned
FLAG FOR EVERYBODY.
Another feature Of the decorations. too. was
apparent the instant the wave of enthusiasm
broke over the place and swept it like the sound
ings Of the sea. on every chair in the hall and
in the boxes the committee having the affair in
charge had placed a small American flag and A
little circular containing two songs MY Coun-
try 'Ts Of Thee and the Star Spangled Ban
ner." The flags were instantly seized upon and
when the audience rose 70 greet the speaker Of
the evening the flags were thrown high in the air
clasped IN frenzied fingers. and the effect was
like nothing so much as a sea Of multi-colored
aspens stricken with paroxysm Of trembling
The sight Of the waving flags and the shouting
multitude viewed from the height of the plat
form was inspiring to n degree.
And such an audience It was an assembly
to draw out the vecy best that was in a man
gifted with the power Of holding a vast con-
course Of people for a long period. The doors
Of the great hall had been opened as early az
6 o'clock for the committee in charge had in
view a sort of Democratic love feast with
Republican leaning to 1t, and they were deter
mined that there should he no such troublesome
experiences for the assembled thousands as
made of the Democratic notification meeting q
season OF positive misery. The G9th Regiment
Band was in attendance at the hour named and
stationed In the eastern gallery. played a select
programme of popular airs. giving to the early
hours of the evening the gayety Of a prop'enade
concert While the police ont in force to
preserve order they had no difficulty and no
one was admitted to the hall or permitted TO
pass through the tightly drawn lines OF blue
coats without ticket The thoroughly man.
aged ticket distribution and the fact OF the
doors of the hall being opened early. saved
all chance OF a crush. and the hundreds Of
women In attendance had no fear for them
selves. for there was no crowding save possibly
little at the end Of the meeting. for, then OF
course. every one wirhed to get to the open
air first.
SUPERIOR AUDIENCE.
The observer OF such gatherings could not
but contrast the two meetngs-that OF last
night and that OF last Wednesday nlght-with
the comparison largely in favor of the one held
last night Somehow the audience seemed To
be of different chara ter Perhaps the stand
ard OF intelligence higher 1t was not "A
Democratic audience In the political sense and
somehow the greeting OF both Mr.. Cochran and
of Mr. Belmont OF fellow Democrats sounded
a trife far-fetched. "Felow-citizens would
have been more closely approaching the truth
OF the case II one might Judge by appearances
There was q readiness about this great gath-