The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-03
The Audience Called in vain at the
End of the Programme for the
SiIyer-Tongued Orator.
EHRICH'S VOICE GAVE OUT
COLORADO ANS MAsTERLY AD-
DRESS WAS NOT DELIVERED.
Col. John r.. Fellows the Presiding
Chicer-Spccchcs by Lewis, of New
g Jersey, and Farrar, of Louisiana.

A magnificent audience emb at
Tomlinson Hall last night to grace the
mass meeting of the National Democrats
and the meeting must be set down as the
most memorable gathering ever assembled
in this city. The cosmopolitan character
of the audience, composed as it was of
men representing the patriotism, integrity
and intellectual strength of nearly every
State of the Nation, would have been
enough in itself to command the admiral
ton of the thousands of spectators who
crowded into the building to listen to
speakers from all sections of the country,
but there were other features none the
less striking. The meeting was to have
commenced at s o'clock. Long before that
time every seat in the balcony. top gal
1ery and the section of the lower floor re-
served for visitors was filed, as well as
four hundred seats on the stage, and hun
dreds of men and women were standing
IN the aisles, sitting on the radiators and
occupying every nook and corner Of the
big building. Fully five Thousand people
were there. Even the windows in the top
gallery were utilized in lieu of more COM
Portable seats. at the last moment it was
found that there were to be a great many
chair on the press platform and the
sergeant-at-arms directed his assistants to
allow them to be occupied by visitors.
There were no vacant chairs in the space
reserved for delegates to the convention
when the meeting opened, although the
delegates were slow in arriving.
In the audience were hundreds of ladies
who had been attracted by the opportunity
to get a peep at a national convention.
Tbair hr;Ohf atfira n nd oav fans lent q
spirit of animation and color to the scene.
Nor were they behindhand in showing
appreciation of the thrilling words uttered
by the galaxy of brilliant speakers, as
their applause was as spontaneous and en-
thusiastio as that Of their escorts. TIL
women, 1t seems, are taking an unusual
interest in politics this year and appeared
to be well enough Informed last night to
understand and appreciate the telling
points made by the distinguished orators.
Tomlinson Hall never appeared more
strikingly beautiful than last night. The
electric lights softened and toned down
the colors in the mass of red, white and
blue bunting and the thousands of flags.
and scintillated from the golden wreaths
wound about the names of the heroes of
the party along the balcony. All over the
house people discussed the beautiful and
impressive scene.
BRECKENRIDGE DIDN'T SPEAK.
Col. w. C. p. Breckenridge, who was adj
vertised as one of the star speakers at the
mass meeting last night, did hot make a
speech, and the great majority of the au-
dience was greatly disappointed thereat.
Upon several occasions there were loud
calls for Breckenridge, and Chairman Eel
lows was compelled to explain early in the
evening that Colonel Breckenridge would
speak at his appointed place on tie pro-
gramfne. Then, when the appointed time
came. the chairman was compelled to again
explain that, owing to the lateness of the
hour, Colonel Breckenridge was unable to
speak. Thereby hangs a tale.
Early yesterday afternoon a number of
the delegates from Pennsylvania and Kan
sas were hustling about the city anxiously
inquiring who hal charge of the pro-
gramme of the mass meeting. They were
referred to John p. lrenzel, to whom the
national executive committee had given
over the arrangement for this meeting.
called upon Mr.. Frenzel and demand
ed that Mr.. Breckinridge's name be with
drawn from the programme. Mr.. Frenzel
did not desire to assume this responsibility,
and together they sought the officers of the
executive committee and the delegates re-
newed their demands. The officers of the
G&StoIlNc tOIAiiAittCC SAIloihSu Niii IL 49,
sistence in this demand would place them
in an extremely embarrassing position.
They had invited Colonel Breckenridge to
address the meeting. and he had accepted.
The announcement had been very widely
advertised through the newspapers, and to
go to him then and ask that he withdraw
was something they could not do. The
delegations from Pennsylvania and Kansas
saw the point to the explanation, but did
not take to it kindly. and departed with
the remark that if the audience was Of the
proper character Colonel Breckenridge
would PROBABLY be Missed off the stage.
In some way or other news of this fact
reached the K~entuckian's ear. He remarked
to a friend shortly before the meeting
that he was in such bad voice that it was
doubtful whether he would be able to
speak.
But although Colonel Breckenridge did
not speak. the audience was treated to a
feast of e%loquence that it does not fall to
the lot of most men 10 enjoy more than
once in a lifetime, and time and again the
speakers were compelled to pause until
the wild applause subsidized. The mention
of Grover Cleveland was always the cue
Tor a wild demonstration. The climax was
reached when Hon. c. Il. Lewis, of New
Jersey. referred to the fact that the audi
said that he could not refrain from ex-
pressing his opinion of Cleveland's courage
in upholding the dignity and authority OF
the government.
CHEERS CLEVELAND.
1--WE have in him" said Mr.. Lewis, zone
of the few men in political life who dis
regarded the opinion of the herd TO be-
Queath his memory to foreign nations and
the next ages" He was about 10 continue.
but was compelled 10 wait several seconds
for the tremendous demonstration which
his ringing tribute TO the President called.
All over the house men stood on chairs,
waving their hands, crying :'Bravo!
bravo" and shouting themselves hoarse.
Again and again the demonstration broke
forth.
In another sentence Mr.. Lewis referred
to the fact that the popular idea OF the
President is that his selection is the result
of accident and that it matters little who
Is selected. "Of all the great service the
$enloeratic party has rendered the Ma