Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1884-12-13
SATURDAY, DECEMBER Is. 1884.
Loean's Theory About It.

twinpes and a fit of irritation n after
noon last winter, on a sofa in the senate
cloak room. A group Of senators had
gathered about him TO listen to the
blunt bat expressive characterizations
of men and events that the swar;hy
senator interjected between his groans
of pain. The conversation turned on
the national convention, and Logan said;
'There's hardly a senator who doesn't
expect to be nominated at Chicago, but
none of you will be. There's M ob.
lection that is fatal. When asked what
that objection was, Logan replied that
every prominent candidate for the
nomination in the senate was too well
known.
"What, then, Logan, are the requisites
for success in the conventions" asked
Mr.. Hoar.
"Obscurity and mediocrity," said
Logan fercely.
Then the senators began to revive the
history of nominating conventions and
national elections, and they were sur
prised to find that Logan's remark was
by no means so flippant as it seemed.
II is interesting tog ance at the record
of presidential nominations and elections.
To the time of Jackson's third candi-
dacy and second election, one but men
who were foremost in ability and ex
perience were suggested for the presi.
dency 1t would have been an imputa-
ton on his sense and %soundness of mind
for a public man to have suggested the
nomination Of anyone who had not won
recognition by years Of crucial tests in
public life. Washington's elections
were matters Of curse. Adams and
Jefferson, Madison and Monroe, were
met by opponents of equal standing
Adam and Jefferson competed for the
presidency; so did Jefferson and Burr
while Clinton, one of the foremost men
OF the day, was a defeated candidate.
John Quincy Adams, Clay, Jackson,
Crawford, and P~inckney were the can,
didates in 1924; Jackson and Adams in
1873; Jackson and Clay in 1882. Sucn
were the men who led their respective
parties to victory aud defeat up to the
year 1885. In that year the democrats
followed their traditions and the imperi
GUS will of Jackson, and nominated one
of their most distinguished members,
Martin Van Buren,. Mr.. Van Buren,
was the only man who advanced by
regular promotion to the presidency
From minor offices he went up to the
United States senate, to the governors
chair in New York-then deemed q
greater honor than a seat in the senate
the minister to England, vice -presi'
dent, and at last president. The wings
however, in 1886, departed from their
traditions. They put against Mr.. Van
Buren, a comparatively unknown man,
Mr.. Harrison had had but limited ex
perience in Legislative affairs, and he
was a poor clerk Of a petty court.
Though defeated by Mr.. Van Buren,, he
turned the tables in 1910. The wings
had nominated, as u matter of expedi-
ency, a man Of comparatively inferior
talents, and certainly Of limited fame
for vice-president. This man, John
Tyler, became president by reason OF
the death Of Harrison, and the whig
party was cheated out Of its victory. as
they claimed. In 1874 the wings re-
turned to their traditions. They nomi-
mated their creator, their great ex-
FOUNDER and leader, Henry Clay. Twice
before a candidate when there was little
hope for success, Mr.. Clay's victory now
seemed assured.
The democrats, however, in that year
departed from their traditions. They
passed by their great leaders. Men of
commanding ability and of long expert
ence, like Cass, Buchanan, Marcy, and
others, were ignored ind a comparative.
ly unknown congressman from Ten
nessee was nominated. Mr.. Polk had
been speaker of the house, it is true. but
he was notup to the time of his nomi
'Aaftun, looked upon either ~ . man Of