The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-17
Portland, May 4, 1876.
The Nomination.

The Nomination.
The great battle has been fought. Names
great statesmen, the only man in the contest
who has a national reputation, hes been de-
feated. The great mass of the Republican
party in Maine, with few insignificant and
and ignobie exceptions, deeply regret that he
is not their leader in the pending national
contest. The admire great-hearted James
G. Blaine. They admire his splendid abii-
ties, his rare couragea nd his national repu-
tation. To-day, as the defeated statesman,
as their Maine statesman, their admiration
has become devotion, and when he returns to
Maine he will receive such an ovation as no
man ever received in Maine.
But if disappointed and chagrined by his
defeat, we are none the less Republicans than
is our great Leader. From his sick room our
great Leader telegraphs our candidate, Gen.
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES: ''I offer you ma
sincere congratulations on your nomination.
IT WILL BE ALIKE MY HIGHEST PLEASURE
AS WE'LL AS MY FIRST POLITICAL DUTY to
do the almost in my po,per to promote you
election.'
REPUBLICANS OF MAINE let James G..
Blaine's noble declaration be to us an order
70 anti ff,o
thusiasm and vigor which has characterized
us as party since 1856. Let us remember,
also, that Coy. Hazes is Mr.. Blaine,s faHorite.
In saying this we know whereof we speak.
When Mr.. Blaine was last in Maine he re-
marked that he did not fear Messrs. Morton.
Conklng or Bristow as competitors,
but that he could foresee that if Gov.
Hayes should be brought into the field,
that combinations could be made which would
result in his defeat. He then proceeded to
speak of Gov. Hayes rs man of excellent
ability, sound judgment and high reputation
and justly popular in the West, and in every
way fit to receive the nomination, and emf
nently worthy of the support Of the Repub-
lican party. 81 should prefer him." said Mr..
Blaine, to any man who has been mention
ed as possible candidate, because he is
good man and would make an excellent Pres
ident."
GEN. RUTHERFORD BIRCHARD HAYES
was born in Delaware, Ohio, October 4, 1922.
He graduated at Kenyon College in 1912, and
at Cambridge Law School in 1S45. He be-
gan the practice of law in Cincinnati and Sc
cured large practice, and took high rank
in the profession. From 1858 to 1861 he was
City Solicitor.
When the Rebellion broke out, he was one
of the first to respond to the call of the coun-
try. He was first Major and subsequently
Colonel of the 23d Ohio Volunteers. At the
battle of Cedar Mountain, he was severely
wounded. From December 1862, to Sep
tember 1864, he commanded brigade of the
Kenawha division. Much of the time he
commanded the division. For meritorious
conduct at the battles of Winchester Fishers
Hill and Cedar Creek, he was promoted to
Brigadier-General in October, 1864, and sub
sequently breVetted Major-General. While
in the army, his party friends in his Congress
sional district recognized him as the man best
| qualified 10 carry close district and besought
| to accept nomination. He refused, saying
that he could best serve the country and the
cause in the face of the enemy.
At the close of the war, he was elected to
| Congress from close district and served
| with credit from 1866 to 1868. In 1867, Gen.
Hayes was recognized by the Republicans OF
| the s'Empire State of the West" as fit man
| for leader against George Fl. Pendleton,
who was regarded as the most popular
Democrat in that state and then the most
prominent candidate in the West for the
Presidential nomination in 1868. The contest
was a memorable one, but Gen. Hayes was
elected by majority of 5000. in 1869 he
was re-nomnated and had for his competitor
Senator Thurman, the abest and best known
Democrat of the state of Ohio. The contest
was sharp one, but Gov. Hayes had SO
grown in the confidence and esteem of the
people that he was elected by a majority Of
1900 on much larger vote. Last year the
Republicans were in position where they
| had to nominate man Of the highest charac
ter and ability Several able men were men,
Toned, including Attorney General TAFT, but
the convention dropped every other aspirant
| and with unanimity which testifes to the
ability and popularity of the man, called up
on Gov. Hayes to lead the party in the most
notable political contest ever known in Ohio
| He was not an aspirant Of the office. He re-
| luctantly accepted the proffered leadership as
matter of duty. He made several speeche;
taking decided stand against the initiation
heresy which had infected a large part of the
Republican party in that state. No man
called to lead in a critical period ever bore
himself more nobly. He did not waver OF
equivocate, but in strong earnest words de-
clared for honest money and national integ
rity. The result of that brilliant con
test is fresh in the minds Of all; and the
victory was as largely due 10 his high persona
qualities as TO any other one cause. Thus
Gov. Hayes has defeated successfully three
presidential aspirants in Ohio-Pendleton
Thurman and Allen. He goes into the
pending contest with the prestige of victory
| A correspondent of the New York Herald