Daily Republican., 1880-06-08
REPUBLICAN nI.KET.
The Great Convention.

are 10 R6au tuo NhLlOh6t hepuplAeAi
ticket has passed by and apparently VI
are no more nearer knowing whs tn
men are 10 be than uhsn the bal OF tint
commenced at 10 O'Clock yestt rday
morning. This at least seems to be tn
situation at this writing. What new
combinations may have been formed
since the adjournment we have NJ
means Of knowing nything about and
nothing but the first ballot to-day will
reveal the inside workings Of the great
Convention now assembled at Chicago.
Perhaps before this may strike the eye
Of our readers the peoples delegates
will have done their work and will be
on their way home. This Convention
is the largest and mcst exciting Ct any
the Republican party has ever held
since the party WAS organized twenty
four years ago, and when John C. Free
mont was made Its candidate. These
we're stirring tines, for it was the birth
of 3 party that was to revolutioniEa the
country and snatch it from the cruel
fangs of slavery. The Convention that
followed four years later and placed
the ]amented Lirooln, the noblest
American Of all tht Presidents since
the time Of Washington before the peo-
pie, were also exciting and full of inter-
est. The FIRST man had been found
who was to lead the Republican hosts
to victory, who was 10 be the first Re-
publican President and who was to
give to the people q redeemed nation
frem the curse OF oppression, which
like a oanker worm, had eaten to the
very heart Of our boasted free institu-
tions and threatened with death the
tree Of liberty which our fathers
planted and watered with their blood
on many hard fought battle field. |
The Convention which nominated Lin.
'ooln the first time was a spontaneous
Outburst Of the patriotism Of the people. |
The times were urgent, the necessity |
pressing, the man for both was at hand |
and the Convention compared with the
present One was short, sharp and deci.
sive. The succeeding four years was
an epoch tig with important events.
Slavery was abolished and the nation
was free. Secession, like lans crawl
ing venomons serpent, was scotched
and lay helple ess before the victorious
arms Of a victorious people. What
could grateful people do then in the {
eighth year of the history Of the Re.
publican party but renominate the man
Who had guided the ship of State safely
through the past four years. The Con-
vention which placed Lincoln a second +
time upon the Republican ticket was
but delegation from a grateful people
appointed to lay the choicest jewel of :
the na!icn at the feet of the patriot
and statesman, who had SO well and :
faithfully earned IL. l.
When President Lincoln fell at the
end Of one month after his second in =
auguration the Aation lost its best
friend. The next Convention ushered :,
in the epoch of rule by the citizen sol. !,
disr, General Grant, the man who led >.
The armies Of the nation until the foe :,
yielded and laid down their arms on
The plains Of Appomattox. General +
Grant returned from a successful war, .
With not only his own sword, but also :,
that Of the rebel leader, General Lee =,
by his eide. -
This convention which placed him 10 =,
nomination for the Presidency was al >,
most hasty in honoriDg the nations p
defender with the effsr Of the nations =,
best gift. This was the fourth Nation a,
al convention of the great Republican h
party. The fifth convention of the =.
party which met in Philadelphia hav-
ing nothing to do but to remember the "
citizsn soldier whe had proved himself %
3 statehman as we'll as warrior. Il =,
was short enthusiastic and harmonious. J.
The great party that saved the nation 4
from anarchy held lis sixth convention =.
1t Cincinnati in 1875. 1t like its pre- al
iecessors was enthusiastic and harme-
nious, but labcring under greater re- ~
possibilities the session was some m
what prolonged but not like the pres Il
mt one. 1t is Of such recent date that h
t is well remembered, and the peril
ous times which followed will not soon v
% forgotten. Tbs prestige, the victo a,
lies, the achievements of the past his d
'ory Of the party hung suspended as If 10
BY single hair. Happily the dificul n,
y was bridgsd over and low the party ar
organized twenty four years and which a.
mas never met defeat except once in It's n,
nfaUcy ha0 come dowA to its seventh of
national convention. -.
This apparently is the most impor- do
ant convention ever held by the Ee. in
'ublicaD party. That /: has beea pro- I'll
onged.an unusual lengtn OF time and nj