The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-19
THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION.
An Appreciation Of the Hayes ana
wheeler Ticket.

IN. u. Herhlu CINCINNATI E0ltlon. June HI
The most important political conven
ton since that which nominated Lin
coin at Chicago in 1860 adjourned yes
terday, after nominating for the Presi
dency Rutherford B. Hayes. Of Ohio
and for the Vice Presidency William A.
| Wheeler, OF New York. It was dra-
matte, picturesque, fighting convention
All the pent-up animosities OF State
guarrels had full play. Pennsylvania
fought over the hereditary quarrels Of
the house Of Camerons. New York re-
vived the strife Of her Republican Mon
tagues and Capulets. Illinois seemed
to have no higher purpose than to de-
feat the nomination of one Republican,
Mr.. Washburne, whose name would
have been an assurance Of victory. Ohio
and Maine seemed to be the only States
who stood by their colors with unfalter-
ing courage, and the result was that
Ohio and Maine controlled the conven-
ton. Hayes won the nomination
for the Presidency, while Mr..
Blaine came out of the fight as
much leader Of the Republican party
as Henry Clay was the leader Of
the Wings in their palmiest days. Mr.
Blaine made what we might call a Har-
ry Clay canvass. We must admire the
gallantry and the resolution of his
friends. Never was u leader so bravely
supported. There was something like
chivalry in the way bis friends nailed
his colors to tho mast and went down
with them floating in the breeze. The
attractiveness of Mr.. Blaine's canvass
was really its weakness. 1t was series
ofcavalry charges. Mr.. Blaine fought
for the nomination as though he was
fighting for an election. He treated his
party brethren as though they were
Democrats. He had the Convention
from the first. His policy was plainly
that Of alliance and reconciliation. What
tactics he used in fighting Ben Hill
were applied to his rivals. Mr.. Tilden's
name, for instance, would have had
more courtesy than that OF Conk
ling. The election Of Mr.. McPher-
blunder Some man like Mr.. Curtis, Mr..
Dana or Gov. Chamberlain might have
been given this honor. But Mr.. Blaine's
friends must go into the Pennsylvania
delegation and elevate man whose
only claim was that he was opposed to
the Secretary Of War. The throwing
out OF Spencer and Frederick Douglass
was also blunder. Mr.. Morton had
scant courtesy, while Mr. Curtis was
actually Kissed for making q reform
speech. 1t was rule or ruin with Blaine
from the beginning, and the result was
that every element in the Convention
finally combined against him. Instead
OF breaking the coalition, arraying one
against the other, capturing some and
cOaxing others, Mr.. Blaine's leaders |
in two days to combine every
element In the Convention against him. |
Don Cameron comes out in this Con
vention in bold relief as by all odds the |
most skillful and daring leader on the |
ioor Mr.. Cameron seemed to be the |
especial object of the assaults of the |
Blaine line. 1t was proclaimed to the |
world that the Administration in the
person Of its War Minister. and the
Jamerons especially, was to be humil-
ated on the floor Of the Convention.
Every dispatch came burdened with this
egend. The end was terrible to the
lopes OF Blaine. Don Cameron took
command of the nti-Blaine forces at
nee. In q minority always, he won
very point His mutinous delegation
vas held In subjection until the time
ame, and it was launched like thun-
Ierbolt at Blaine's trembling column.
i Pennsylvania could only have been
vrested from Don Cameron's leadership
N the second ballot Blaine would have
von. This was the express purpose Of
}lalne's friends. Mcpherson in the
hair led the movement. This young
Var Secretary was the master of his
opponents. He held Pennsylvania while
pleased him, and threw it into the
'alance to defeat Blaine. This episode
) the most dramatic incident in the
one brilliant achieve
nent in political generalship.
New York was forced into the same
'Osition by treatment bestowed upon
lr. Conkling Because Of an unfor-
tlnate personal difference between
hem, the friends of Mr. Blaine resolved
hat Mr.. Conkling should share ia the
anne humiliation imposed upon the
,amerons. AS one of our correspond
,as treated as though he had been d
Democrat. He was arraigned upon the
oor Of the Convention. When Mr..
Voodford presented his name he had
arely civil treatment, il the truth is
poken. The most elegant Republican
a the Senate did not receive the cour-
esy from the frinds OF Mr.. Blaine they
7ould have shown Tilden. As conse-
uence, New York, which, under ordi-
ary circumstances, would have voted
Or an Eastern in preference to q West
IN man, was, In the critical moment,
brown into the anti Blaine balance.
uc JIutu 10 tuttt DlulD0 . lIlcuuS
0 managed his course that only one (
ath was left open to self-respecting
After q cavalry charge or
NO they exhausted their strength.
Vhen the steady fighting came. the
olumns Of Morton, from Indiana,
I Bristow, from Kentucky. and the con-
ngents OF Cameron and Cornell CON-
ined and threw him. So far as Mr..
'laine's defeat is concerned, we have !
My congratulations for the Republican
arty and the country. His nomination
this time would have been the down.
Ill Of his party. He would have lost
lis State. He would have given the
walk-over. AS it now .
lands, the ticket is fair one. It is no J
lch ticket as Washburne and Logan,
and Hayes, or Morton and .
would have been. It means
othing but mediocrity. Gov. Hayes is :
ood man. He has fair, safe record. He
efeated Thurman and Allen in Ohio, J
hich shows how strong he is at home. !
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