The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-08
The Centennial Campaign.

The political campaign which was closed
yesterday was one of tho strongest and
most important ever decided in this coun-
try. Iu fact. it was in many respects Of
greater Importance than any which has
preceded II. for not only the prosperity OF
the country was at stake in the result, but
also the perpetulty OF our republican in-
situations, owing to the bold attempts
made by the Administration to subvert the
liberties OF at least two States by encroach-
ments upon the freedom of elections.
When the Cincinnati Convention met IN
June, the Republican party was much
demoralized and far from harmonious
The Impeachment OF BELKSAP, the reve-
lations of rascality in the Navy Depart
ment, brought TO light by the investiga-
tons Of the House of Representatives, tho
faint of corruption which hung upon the
garments OF so many leaders Of the party
aud the PROSTATE condition OF our most
important industries, all had combined TO
bring about a general desire for n change
in the management of public affairs,
which was fully appreciated everywhere
except in the White House.
When the Republican National Conven-
ton met In Cincinnati the managers of the
party were greatly divided as TO the best
course TO pursue. II IL had not been for
the exposure of BLAISE's jObbery in Little
Rock bonds and other affairs, which had
occurred just previous TO the Convention,
he would undoubtedly have been nomi-
mated on the first ballot and presented 70
the people as the candidate Of honest men
party. But the damning disclosures OF
MULLIGAS, and the pitable exhibition
which BLAINE made OF himself in counec-
ton with those disclosures, rendered hin
too heavy a load aud yet he came very
near securing the nomination, and during
the canvass was the leading manager OF
the Republican campaign.
OF the seven remaining aspirants who
were formally brought before the Con-
vention for the nomination, JEWELL, Nor
TON, BRIsTow, BLAINE, CosKLIsG. HAYES,
ana HARrRASFT, neither BRIsrow nor
JEWELL had any chance in the Conven-
ton. since IL was well understood that the
nomination of either of them would ha vo
aroused the bitter opposition of the Ad-
ministration; and HARTRASFr of Penn
sylvauia was merely put up to be knocked
down whenever satisfactory bargain
could be made. COHKLINo and MORTON
were both believed by their followers to
have the good wishes of the Admin
istration, but the followers of both
soon learned their mistake. IL was
supposed among the intimate friends
of the President that, with such u
Of nd - Ia
ing a strong backing of Influential follow
ers, any compromise among them would
be impossible, aud that the Convention
would finally come to the conclusion that
Ulysses S. GRANT, who had twice led the
party to victory, was the only man who, in
the existing condition OF affairs, could be
elected President. 1t turned out, how
ever, that the Convention was unabl. to
view the matter in this light, aud Gov.
HAYES of Ohio, an inoffensive gentleman,
whose political record was almost n blank
page, aud who on the first ballot received
only 90 votes against POI cast for BLAINE.
gained the prize for which so many far
more able men had vainly contended.
Probably no man in the United States was
more surprised at this result than Presi-
| dent GRANT.
Then followed the st. Louis Convention
and the nomination by the Democrats OF
TILDEN and HENDMcKs upon platform
which pledged the nominees to every good
principle contained in the Republican
platform, and to tho support OF broad
national policy in the administration OF
affairs-a policy calculated TO restore fra
ternal relations between the different see
tons OF the Union, without any surrender
upon the part of the North OF the results
achieved by the war. The nominations
and the platform were all that the mos
ardent Union man could desire, and they
both secured a following which included
many of the most distinguished Statesmen
and patriots who had heretofore acted
with the Republican party.
The canvass upon the part of the sup
| porters Of TILDEN was conducted quietly
with dignity and effect. Appeals wer'
made 70 the reason OF the people, and no
to their preiudices, and the public wsr'