American citizen., 1880-07-03
THE GREAT CONVENTION.

Aiti Std.N -fthJ " 90 % -
letter day in the annals of the great
Democratic party. Its page Ill the
history of that grand organization
deserves to be put down az "apples
of gold in pictures OF silver" and
to be kept ever open and fresh in
the memory, to teach succeeding
generations how it is possible for
patriots of all shades of opinion on
minor matters to sink every selfish
or personal ambition in the one
grand aim to attain the success
of their party, in order to perpetuate
the pure sentiments and broad fun
damental principles OF popular gov
ernment.
The calm compoSure observable
among all the Southern delegations
during the first and second days,
when the contested case of New
York was being discussed, showed
clearly enough that the men of the
South were not taking any special
interest in an unfortunate local
scism that was unavoidably brought
before the convention for settles
ment. During the cheers and plaud
its that were so vocifcrously shout-
ed forth by the partisans of the op-
posing factions, the Southern dele
gates sat unmoved. showing no dis
position to cnthuse for Tilden; and
when the committee reported their
Judgment against the TammaDy
delegation, the South WAS not dis
posch to rejoice at the discomfiture
of their brethren of New York,
while by their votes they signified
their approval of maintaining party
discipline.
During recess and at night, the
Southerners kept their own counsel,
and the various booms for the seve
raj candidates swept past them un>
needed. They knew that the yells
and shouts of the strikers and
claquers-the boasts of the schem>
ers, and the pro1fered bets of the
braggarts, were all but sound and
fury. They knew that while North>
ern and Eastern States might roll
up a majority in the convention,
those States could do nothing when
the real work of the party, the
polling of electoral votes, comlnenc>
ed and he must have been poor
of human nature, indeed,
who could not perceive on the
of such men as Hamp
ton, and Walthall, Young and
Barksdale, Hubbard and Feathers
ton, and other leaders from our sec
ton. determination to accept
less than full representa-,
tion of the SOnth's voting and elec-
toral strength in the selection of the
names for President and Vice Pres |
ideut. This being evident, the race
soOn narrowed down to the two
favorttes OF the SOuth-Bayard and
Hancock. MI. Tilden was taken
at his word, and his letter of witb~
drawal(f) was accepted with alacri- |
ty. So extensive and general was
The conviction that Tildem was a
drag upon the party, and should be
speedily eliminated from the prob |
lem, that the convention, by au
vote, declined to
hear the letter read-it having al
ready appeared in pnblic prints.
On the morning of the third day,
the convention assembled promptly |
at 10 o'clock. The feeling that
Hancock would be nominated had
become general. 1t was known
that Tilden's men would endeavor
to defeat the General and to- elect
Speaker Randall--bat tlleir forces
we're badly demoralized.
Peckham, OF New York, appear
I'd at the stand and presented the
name of Samuel j. Randall as New
Tork's choice. The arrangements
for a wild outburst of enthusiasm
had been carefully prepared. AT
he mention of Randall's name, the
club men, of Philadelphia,
4 fine body of splendid looking
men, who sat behind the delegates,
arose IN a body, waved their hats
and handkerchiefs, and
VEL LED LIKE CoMANCHE INDIANS.
1t was expected that the conven
ion would be carried away by this
,utburst, and the Hancock boom
De stayed in its successful career
There was but slight response from
he galleries, mingled with some
Kisses, and less demonstration
Lanong the delegates. The Ran-
laiI boom was started too late, and
ell fat.
The President ordered the Scores I
AIRY to proceed with the roll call,
md amid the greatest suspense and
! thrill OF excitement, the loud, i
lear voice of the Secretary sang
,ut sAlabama!' 1t was like the {
ignal for battle. Alabama respond {
ii with IL for Hancock, which /
how ed that the tide in favor of the I
older son of Pennsylvania had I
TajleD during the night. and WAS S