Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-06-07

bed IT o'clock Saturday morning with a
great noise ringing in their ears, but, as they
made good part of it themselves, they did
not mind it. The noise had made very
marked impression on their minds. The iD-
preston was that James G. Blaine had more
friends in the convention than Gen. Grant,
and that the lung power of the Blaine men
was as superior as'their numbers. To many
Of the Grant men this was a solemn thing.
They did not believe the Blaine men were SO
strong and they did not relish being fairly
outcricd by the Blaine men. All around the
hotels the impression spread that Blaine was
not only much stronger than Grant, but that
there was great danger Of his nomination,
and, with this impression on many of the
Grant mems minds, the convention re-assem-
bled betw cen III and IL o'clock. The audi
ence was there before them. The scene was
not differeat from that of the previous days,
except that, as warm rain was prevailing out
side, the atmosphere inside was laden with
heat and vapOr, and the audience was very
uncomfortable. Nearly every person oscil-
lated a fan, and perspiratiOn gathered on
every brow. Mr.. Conkling did not forego
his daily theatrical appearance subsequent to
the opening Of business, in order that the
plaudits of his admirers might be shOwered
upon him. The Kansas case was the first to
come up. 1t was discussed for an hour, and
then the report of the majority, seating four
Grant men, was adopted. The Grant men
generally were, in consistency, bound to vote
against the adoption of this report. but good
many of them voted for it. nevertheless
PENNSYLVANIA maintained her line pretty well,
giving 33 votes against the seating of the
Grant men. On the other hand. a good many
of the Blaine men were consistent and voted
to seat them, among the number the Maine
delegation. The New York Grant men did
not all vote, because Conkling so advised.
Massachusetts, cast "a votes in the affirmative
and in the negative. The discussion of the
West Virginia case followed, and the vote
proved very interesting. In this State two
Sherman district delegates claimed the place
of two Blaine delegates by the State conven-
ton The result showed a union between
the Grant, Sherman and Edmunds forces
against the Blaine men. The latter, with the
help Of the Washburne men, mustered $50
votes. Six of the Minnesota men also voted
with the Blaine men. The majority stood at
AT, showing that the three candidates, by
uniting their forces, could beat Blaine. The
combination was not absolute, however, as 8
Connecticut delegates voted not to admit the
district delegates from West Virginia. The
next vote that was had was still closer test
case which was briefly discussed. The ques-
ton involved was not important. 1t was
merely whether the Territory should be rep
resented by Blaine or Grant delegates, the
sitting members being Blaine men. The
vote to put the Grant delegates in their places
was 426 to 312 Eighteen delegates did not
vote, mostly Sherman men. Conn. showed
2 Blaine men, Ga. Z, Ind. 26. La. 10, Md. 3,
MINI. 4, Miss. 8, N. Y. 10, O. 10, Penn. so,
Va. IL. Wis. 3.
As soon as all the contests were settled,
which was about 3 o'clock, the Grant men. in
pursuance of their policy for a fight, pro-
ceeded to demand ballot for President in
advance of action on the report Of the Com
mittee on Rules, which was the next thing in
order. Mr.. Sharpe of N. Y, was put for
ward by Mr. Conkling to make this fight,
and his resolution for q ballot was ruled in
order by Mr.. Hoar. Mr.. Garfield, the chair
man Of the Committee on Rules, made a
brisk fight against this, saying that it meant
a ballot for President before settling about
the unit rule. He was interrupted by Mr..
FRYE, who remarked that it might mean a
steady balloting until midnight. Mr.. Conk-
ling jumped up at this and said he was very
glad to see that Maine did not see the point.
The vote was taken on Mr.. Sharpe's resolu-
ton, amid intense interest, because every
body saw that the resolution would show the
exact strength of the Grant forces. The vote
of each anti Grant State was cheered, and the
result was announced amid great applause
276 for the resolution, Grant; 40 against
the resolution, anti-Grant. The Grant men
gave in at this point and allowed the rules to
be adopted as reported by the majority Of the
committee. An amendme Mt was adopted
providing that the call for the next National
convention should provide in clear terms for
the representation Of States by districts.
The Platform
was then called for and is as follows:
The republican party, in National conven-
ton assembled at the end of 90 years since
the Federal government was first committed
to its charge, submits to the people of the
United States this brief report of its admin
istration. 1t suppressed rebellion, which
had armed nearly a million of men to sub
vert the National authority. Applause. ]
1t reconstructed the Union of the States, with
freedom instead of slavery rs its corner
stone. Applause. 1t transformed
4. 900, 600 human beings from the likeness OF
things to the rank of citizens. Ap.
plause. 1t relieved Congress from the in
famous work of hunting fugitives slaves, and
1t has raised the value of our paper currency
from 80 per cent. to the par of gold. Cheers.
1t has restored, upon solid basis, payment
in coin for all the National obligations, and
has given a currency absolutely good and
equal in every part of our extended country
II has lifted the credit of the Nation from
the point where per cent bonds sold at 81
to that where 4 per cent. bonds are eagerly
| sought at a premium. Under its admins
tration, railways have increased from 81 ,00t
! miles in 1860 to more than 0,000 miles il
1876 Our foreign trade has increased from
| 500, 0OO, 600 to 81, loo. 100000 in the'samt
| time. and our exports. which were
| GO, OOO, 900 less than our imports in 1860
were SEGA .OOO, 900 more than our imports il
| 1879. IApplause. Without resorting Il
loans, it has, since the war closed, defrayet
the ordinary expenses Of the government
| besides the accruing interest on the publi'
debt, and discussed annually more thar
| ga, OoO, 900 for soldiers pensions. 1t ha
paid esSS, O0O, 900 of the public debt, and, b,
refunding Of the balance 1t lower rates, ha
reduced the annual interest charge from
nearly Sl5l, 000. 900 to less than $50 600, 900
All the industries of the country have re
vived. Abor il in demand. wages have in
crsass1, and throughout the entire countr,
] there is evidence Of coming prosperit