National Republican., 1876-06-20
AN INSIDE VIEW OF THE CINCINNATI
CONVENTION

AN INSIDE VIEW OF THE CINCINNATI
CONVENTION.
The hot impulse and much of the
warmer enthusiasm among the delegates
were for Mr. Blaine. The blaze and blarc
of pyrotechnics, calcium lights and brass
music were nearly all for him, as we'll as
the banners and bold block type with which
the blank walls and hotel corridors were
covered. The benches back of the plat
form in the convention hall, designed for
distinguished visitors, were filled with his
friends. The galleries and the city OF Gin
cinnati, naturally amenable TO the influence
of contiguous Kentucky territory &C
claimed in behalf of Bristow. In fact,
over a thousand gallery tickets were issued
10 Bristow clacquers, and whenever his
name was mentioned on the floor, the rooi
of the rattle trap wooden barn, to which
Porkopolis invited the greatest political
party Of modern times, was fairly raised
by their prolonged applause. Next in
order, as regards noise and outside de-
monstrstions of enthusiasm, were the
Pennsylvsnians. They had two brass
bands, one of the Hartranft Club of Phila.
delphia and one Of the Lincoln Club OF
Pittsburg. Next came the New Workers.
They had one band-that of the New York
City Republican Club-and about three
hundred men, all well-drilled and wonder
fully enthusiastic. Their demonstrations
were by far the most imposing, although
their number was comparatively small.
Senator Morton's adherepts were not so
boisterous, but were eager and industrious.
Mr.. Blaine's forces were led by Senator
Hamlin and Representatives Hale and
Frye; Mr.. Conkling's by the Hon. T. c.
Platt, A. B. Cornell, Secretary Gorham
and all New York besides; Secretary Bris-
tow's by Carl Schurz Reuben E. Fenton,
George William Curtis and D. II. Cham
berlain; Senator Mcrton's by Col.
Halloway, Gen. S. Sturm, "Buck" Terrell
and Bowles Baker, while Governors
Hayes and Hartranft were simply sup
ported by minority Of the delegates from
their respective States.
The manner in which these gentlemen
came to be placed before the public as
Candidates for the nomination is well
known. Messrs. Blaine and Morton have
undoubtedly been ambitious to win that
distinction for years, and it is not to their
discredit 10 say that their friends have
labored seduously in their behalf lfor that
purpose during the present and the last
Congress Mr.. Blaine, by his suave man
per and personal magnetism, aided by the
opportunities afforded him as Speaker of the
Heuse made the most widespread popu-
lar impression. Mr.. Bristow loomed up
after his success in the prosecution of the
whisky trisls-a success due as much to
the Republican party, the Administration
and to President Grants personal efforts as
to anything else. Mr.. Conkling was not
brought out until after the Utica conven-
tion, or about two months ago Previous
to that he repelled with stern and charac-
teristic dignity all illusions to the subject
in his presence. Meanwhile George Will
liam Curtis, in Hdrper'S Weekly, insisted
that Mr.. Conkling was a candidate-in
fact, a sham candidate to cover the alleged
Third Term aspirations of President
Grant. So persistent was Mr.. Curtis in
his assertions that the editors and leading
'local' politicians of New York fairly
overwhelmed Mr.. Conkling with letters Of
inquiry regarding his future intentions.
To these inquiries he invariably replied
that he was not, and could not be per-
suaded to enter the list. Mr.. Curtis per-
sisted in his declarations, accompanying
them with assaults upon Mr.. Conkling of a
personal character, and the result was,
when the State convention met, the latter's
friends were compelled to support him to
yindicate his character against these as
saults. As matter of course Mr.. Curtis
was signally defeated, and the delegation
went TO Cincinnati solid for Co1kling with
the solitary exception of Mr.. Curtis vote.
After this Mr.. Conkllng's friends, laboring
under the disadvantage of being tardy
workers, began to advocate his claims.
Messrs Hayes and Hartranft were ranked
among the Great Unknown.
The cooler heads. the deep thinkers and
unimpassioned leaders at Cincinnati, in
looking over this array of talent in the list
OF candidates, were puzzled. When affair
began to crystalline, however, and assume
ship-shape, 1t became evident that neither
MIR. Bristow nor Mr.. Blaine should be
nominated, the former because he is A
border State, man and belongs to that class
of men who, unfortunately for him, are
always subject to suspicion in the minds of
the majority Of the Republican party; and
Mr.. Blaine, because it was feared that
with him as a leader the party would be
put on the defensive from the very outset
Of the campaign. No one feared Mr..
Bristow's nomination, except as an un-
looked for contingency; but the prospect
of Mr. Blsine's SUCCESS was a constant
menace and an impending danger. In
the interest of their candidate Mr.. Conk
lipg's friends made smicable advances to
the Blaine legions, and the canvass pre-
ceding the organization of the convention
was characterized by eff rts at concilia'ioa
and an absence of ali semblance of re-
elimination, as It was also by a spirit of
temperance, illustrated by the fact that
wine and liquors were banished from
the headquarters and pariors of all the
State and Territorial delegations