Morris tribune., 1880-06-17
THE CHICAGO CONVENTION.
Jov,s Pressntassen or Bsatn

tiont ahall never cease to regret that circum-
stances have been such a. to impose the duty
upon myself to make nomination of = candi-
date to this convention. / have been ahsent
from the couRtry for the past two months. aud
arrived home but Just before this convention.
Since the convention has been in session have
been employed upon the floor all the time.
If l. thsrefOre, words or music
are important for the candidate who shall ho
proposed, they will benefit him bat little. !
will, however, bring him before the oonVen-
ton in a. brief g manner as possible. That IL
win be very brief will. presume, aatisfy the
convention and the audience, because we are
now all impatient for voting.
Il was in 1860. l think, that = then young
man, born in the old keystone State, but
resident in the State Of Maine, entered the
House of Representatives. II was ct time
when the sky WAS lowering when the horizon
was filed with clouds, indicating q tempest.
1t was Just before the war. The
clouds and the tempest burst on
The country and the war ensued
which waged for four long years. Fortunately
for Us there was st the helm of the ship of State,
the right man, and it was manned with the right
crew After WhirlWinds of war had ragged for
four wears the elements of strength of the con-
tending parties gave way and peace ut length
settled down on the country. Then ensued the
contest for reconstruction, and 1t occupied
nearly three or four years more. During all OF
that time that young man was always true
always brave, always eloquent, applied his tai
snts in all debates and in all procedures which
were necessary to carry ON the war or to bring
about reconstruction upon its proper basis.
RWhen reconstruction had been secured and dur
ing the period of those controversls his reputa-
ton had been emerging, growing, towering. IN
til 1t last when inlS6S, reconstruction had been
practically secured, his reputation was towering
before the country and his name was one or the
great names of the country, that had become
spread abroad all over the land. II had be-
some household name. 1t was familiar IN
every corner. 1t was looked up to from every
part of the country. The name was the Hon
Jas. G. Blaine. the Senator from Maine. (GreAt
outburst of enthusiasm
When the stormy period of Andrew Johnson's
administration had passed away, or was passing
away, and nomination of General Grant was
made to the country for the Presidency of the
United States, all eyes in the northern section
of the country turned to the Hon. ]. G..
Blaine. BE was called upon to canvass the
Maine to Mississippi, and beyond. He inside
himself familiar with the great North and the
great West. The people became familiar with
him in the North and in the great West He
had about him that wonderful power of attract
ing which half q century ago was possessed in
q most eminent degree, also by another
great man of this country, the great son of the
great State of Kentucky. Henry Clay.
On the second nomination of Gen. Grant in
1872 he was called upon in the same way, and
traversed the country, exercising his power,
his ability and his eioquence for the cause OF
his country, over the same extent Of this
northern territory. be had become so well
known. the people of the country had become
SO well ACC uainted with him, he had fastened
them to him by attractions SO great, that in the
convention which was held at Cincinnati four
wears ago, he had become the leading candidate
of the Northern people for the Presidency oil
the United States. He was the favorite
candidate of the State which repre-.
sent in this convention. Its delegates
went to that convention with view
of urging and securing, if it were possible, hi:
nomination. He came within few votes q
success when for some reason his column
broke, and the result was another nomination
which had been before the country.
You all know the ,yOn all know
perhaps the sstonishment which was created IN
some sections of the country at the result. BY
the State which have the nonor to represen;
upon this floor, it was co.'s aered almost cal
snity to the individual members OF the He
publican party of that State. They felt it n
= personal olew. But while ne might
have been disappointed reasonably III til
the results, when the canvass came, anG
was doubtful whether the Repnbficans- would
succeed in electing their candida (, although
he had been repudiated at the convention, he
buckied on his harness and he catered tn,
ranks. He traversed the county, he Tough
uanfully, gloriously, vigorously, uRiIltiIe bat
tie was won (applausel though by q small ma
jority.
The result was he endeared himself tenfoll
more to the working Republicans of this north
west than he had ever been before, and wheT
this convention was called the people of tn
State which represent, and which had gu ear
nessly advocated him before, determined agaiI
to place him before this convention. am bu
executing their wishes when do So
Now, gentlemen 1 will say in regard to tn
State of Michigan it is no doubtful State. It j
State which stands by its banner all the tim
tapplsuse). It will not matter far AZ III
vigOr Rnd energy which that State will put int
the contest whether he be nominated here u
not. We stand by the flag there whoever ma
be the standard bearer. With these remarks
gentlemen, longer Shau intended, l have tb
honor to present to this convention, th
candidate for the presidential chair, for tn
ensuing term, to be voted for by the people, tn
name of the Hon. james G.. Blaine.
The applause which followed, increased TO
soue time. Most of the delegates RENAME
sitting for few moments, but the audIenc
became more enthusiastic, delegates rose I
their feet and joined in q scene that for q fe'
moments suggested the scene OF the night be
fore. PixIey of Colorado secs nded nominatiO
in q short address after which having obtaine
permission of the house -. SIS
HON. ". P. FRYE .. y
then stepped 10 the front Of the platform an
spoke a. follows:
saw once storm at sea in the nigt
Time and one staunoh old shi
battling for its life with the fur
of the tempest. Darkness everywhere
the wind shrieking and bowling through til
rigging, the huge waves beating upon the side
of that ship and making her shiver from stel
to stern. The lightnings were Tapping th
thunders were rolling, there was danger every
where. saw at the helm a calm, bold, cou
sgeous, immevable, commanding man. In th
tempest calm, in the commotion brave, in th
diEmay hopeful. saw him take that old shi
and bring her into the harbor, into saltwater
into safety. That man wAs q hero. / saw Il
COED old ship, the State of Maine (applsuse
within the last year fighting her way thrOue
the same darkness, through the same peri
against the same waves, against the same daI
Rers. She was freighted with all that is pre-
ioUs in the principle, of our Republic, with Il
rights of American citizenship, with all that
guaranteed to the American citizen by OIL
constitution. The eyes Of the whole natiC
we're upon her and intense anxiety filled ever
American heart lest the grand old ship, q
State Of Maine, might go down beneath Il
WoNSoO06LyAuk ZIG pHSUAOuo AHCABnS WAsn NC
Bat, sir, there WAS q ms
ct the helm (applause) calm, deliberat
commanding. sagaciOps. he made even Il
foolish man wise. Courageous, he INSPIRED q
tinid with courage. Hopeful, he gave heart
the dismayed, and he brought that good o
ship safely into the harbor, into safety, n
there she floats to-day, brighter, purer, strOn
er from her baptism by danger. That man, to
was hero, and his name was James g. Blain
loud Gpplause.) Maine sends greeting to I'll
magnificent convention, with the memory
her own salvation from impending peril FIRE
upon her. She says to you, representatives
fifty million of American people, who ha
met here to counsel how the republic shall
saved-she says to you, representatives.
the people, take the man, the true man, t
Htaunch man, for your leader, who has fl
saved her. and he will bear you to safety q
certain victory. loud end long continu
Epplause.)
Minnesota being called, Mr. e. =, Drake TO
the platform and dominated VIM. Window
the following address:
The Republicans of the State Of Minnese
place before this convention a. q candidate
the Office Of President Of the United Stat
The Hon. VIM. Window, Of Minnesota, (grt
applause.) We believe that the candida
which we present will better unite all the d
anti 1a ~e ~ ~.oA<