Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-06-22
CENTENNIAL JOTTINGS.

CENTENNIAL JOTTlNGS.
Occasional Philadelphia Correspondence
Of the CLARION.
The Exposition has had formidable
rival in public interest the last week
Not that the number of visitors has
at all fallen off or the attractions OF
the place been in any way curtailed'
for on the contrary the exhibition
grows in grace and beauty within and
without every day. But the Nation
al Republican Convention which was
in session all the week in Cincinnati,
for the nomination Of Republican
candidate for President Of the United
States, may be fairly said to have also
attracted public attention in an in
tense degree. Nor was the interest
confined to one part;. The demo-
Gratis also :elt a lively interest in
watching the party tactics OF the
friends of four strong candidates such
as James G. Blaine, Of Maine, Sena-
tor Morton, of Indiana. Senator Conk.
ling, Of New York, and Benz. H. Bris-
tow, Of Kentucky. And which, after
all their shiftings and shufilings, was
to result in setting them all aside and
placing the standard in the hands Of
the great unknown, in the person OF
Gov. Hayes, Of Ohio. This is the YER
itable result.
The ways Of politicians are truly
hard to understand. So embittered
against each other were the friends OF
each prominent candidate in the Con-
yention, that none Of the factions
could be brought to vote together in
favor Of any one, but as soon as a
new candidate is named one delega-
ton after another breaks away from
its former candidate and in 4 ballot or
two more the new candidate is trium-
plant. This has several times been the
case, also in democratic national con-
veutions. James X. Polk and Frank
lin Pierce were both fresh compromise
candidates. The republicans have
been the ruling party in this country
for sixeeen years past and this is the
first contest they have had in that
time for the nomination. AtChicago,
in 1860, there was fierce struggle.
Mr.. Seward opened with 70 votes,
Mr.. Lincoln, l02, Mr.. Chase, 40, and
50 scattering. On the second ballot
the Cameron delegation, from Penna.,
went over to Lincoln fifty strong. On
the third ballot there was general
"break" and Mr.. Lincoln received 354
to no for Seward. In 1864 Mr.. Lin
coin got all the votes in the Baltimore
convention tor denomination except
of Missouri. In 1868 Gen Grant was
the unanimous nominee at Chicago
and in 1872 was again the unanimous
choice at the convention at Philadel-
phia.
IT is pleasant to know that the de.
feated candidates are all perfectly
satisfied with the triumph of Cover
nor Hayes. His nomination was made
on Friday afternoon and in Saturdays
papers there were warm congratula.
tory dispatches from Messrs. Blaine,
Conkling, Morton and Bristow, each
pledging their personal labors for his
success. Mr.. Blaines first ballot in
the Convention gave his friends strong
assurance of success, being within
about eighty votes Of enough to Sc
cure his nomination. He regards his
failure as arising chiefly from the
course of the Pennsylvania delega-
ton. More than half Of which were his
warm friends although pledged to
Gen. Hartranft.
None Of the candidates went into
the convention with as much dash and
dramatic effect as Mr.. Blaine. A
week previous the eyes Of the coun-
try we're fastened on him with intense
and admiring interest as he stood like
a fearless gladiator in the areana Of
the investigating committee at Wash.
ington, eloquently defending his rep.
utation from malignant assaults and
winning the eulogistic plaudits Of
both friends and foes. He finished
the work Of self vindication just in
time, as his friends thought, to place
him before the convention without
stain or reproach. But on the Sun
day preceding the convention more