The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-07-08
THE CHICAGO COLISEUM,

about it all. A champion who has so often
entered the lists to do battle in Democ-
racy's cause, amid the ringing shouts and
the wild acclaim of his party, was put to
the sword that silver might be supreme. 1t
was with reluctance that many Of the
friends of Senator David Bennett Hill
turned their thumbs downward, as the ar
rogant patricians of the empire that ruled
the world did when the populace cried for
mercy. But, like the gladiators who en-
tered the arena to the blare of the trumpet
and the clang of steel, the silver men beat
back their sympathies and hardened their
hearts that the issue might be squarely
drawn and decided, even though it in
volved the doom of one whom they had
delighted to honor in the past.
BY one of those strange, fateful coinci-
dences it was Senator John w. Daniel,
who four years ago. at the Wigwam, NOM
mated Mr. Hill for the presidency, who
was selected to give the fatal blow to the
man whom he would have exalted to the
first place in the republic. No more elo-
quent commentary on the revolution
which has divided the party and made
this convention so memorable could be
needed. 1t was not without a wall Of
agony, however that some of the specta-
tors who could not fathom the mysteries
of political maneuvering and the necessity
of grinding men beneath the heel saw the
old champion, whose slogan and proudest
boast was Il am Democrat" go down.
Even after Senator Daniel had reached
the platform and assumed the gavel they
called loudly fer the defeated leader, but
the experienced general, who has tasted
the bitterness of defeat before, as we'll as
the sweetness of victory only smiled
grimly.
An Inspiring Sight.
The convention itself was an inspiring
sight Never before since the present sys-
TEN of national conventions was inaugu-
rated by the old National Republican
party in Baltimore, in 1881, has conven-
ton met in such q capacious and admira-
bly, adapted structure, On the north side
where the platform and the presidents
chair are situated, the galleries rise one
above the other, while in front from all
sides of the rallied Enclosure where the del
egates Sit each state marked by the neat
est Of STATS, slope away the wilderness Of
seats in gentle terraces to the most remote
limits of the Coliseum, which are almost
400 feet in direct line from the chairman's
table. The hands of the big clock oppo-
site the platform cannot be discerned, yet
the acoustic properties of the building are
so perfect that every word could be dis
tinctly heard.
The decorations are simple, but effective.
From the lofty Orders which hold up the
arched roof tlutter gay trappings. The
galleries in front are entwined with ma
tiopal colors, while at regular intervals
large crayon portraits of the patron saints
of the party, Jefferson, Jackson and others,
lick down upon the successors to their
faith. A large portrait of Mr., Cleveland
is off to one side, the only one displayed of
q living Democrat. With the vast space
filled, almost to the outermost walls, with
forest Of people, an unusually largo
number Of whom were ladies, the scene was
brilliant one. There was no demOnstra-
ton during the day for any of the candi-
dates, but many of the leaders, like Hill
and Whitney of New York, Blackburn of
Kentucky, Ex-Governor Russell of Massa-
chusetts Daniels Of Virginia and Harrity
of Pennsylvania, were the recipients Of
individual ovations. The followers of both
sides took every opportunity to cheer on
their champions.
On the PLATFORM were the members OF
the national committee. Among the dis
tinguished guests seated in their rear were
a number of gold leaders who have been
conspicuous in previous conventions, Lut
who were swept aside by the silver cohorts
in their states These included General
Gordon Of Georgia, Senator Lindsay of
Kentucky, ex-Congressman Bynum of
Indiana, ex-Congressman Cultivate Of
Ohio and others. But strangest of all on
iho platform of Democratic convention