Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1888-01-12
A DISASTROUS OMEN.

The Selection of Chicago as the Place TO
Hold the Republican Convention
At the mention of Chicago as the
place where the Republican party will
meet in June next, to name candidates
for President and Vice-President, what
a train of sad memories must be sug-
gested to Republicans who were old
enough to be active participants in
political affairs i'll 1880. General
Grant. the great Captain credited with
saving the Union, was a candidate for
the nomination for President. He
had been eight years President. He
had just returned from foreign lands,
from his voyage around the world.
He had been feted and toasted by
Kings and Emperors. Lords and
Ladies, the proud and the powerful.
Ovation followed ovation in rapid sue
cession. Cannon had doomed and
flags had been unfurled in his honor.
and brass bands had played ''See. the
Conquering Hero Comes" Come he
had. He was again On his native
heath, and a candidate again for the
highest office in the gift of his coun-
trymen. In that august moment
Blaine struck him down. How? By
asserting that u. S. Grant had turned
traitor to his country, and if again
made President, he would destroy the
Republic and upon its ruins erect an
empire and establish Grant dynasty.
Poor General Grant He had aban-
doned the Democratic party when his
cup of fame was full. Debauched by
the corrupt Republican leaders. who
wanted to use his renown-they turned
him from what Ben. Harrison would
call ''sunlit hills of duty" to kill him
in Chicago-the slaughter-pen of the
world. Grants fame eliminated at
Apo nattoX-after that there was
nothing for Grant At Chicago he
met a Brutus in Blaine, and died of
his wounds on Mt McGregor. No man
who reveres the memory of Grant can
vote for Blaine without confessing
himself 4 paltron, nor for any man
who stood with Blaine on the occasion
when Blaine and his conspirators stab
bed Grant to death.
At Chicago Blaine and Sherman
and Garfield murdered Grant, polit-
ically, and the wounds they inflicted
hurried him to his grave--and they
accomplished their work by attacking
Grants patriotism and by intimations
that he was really for treason. SO
black, that in comparison Arnold's is
white as an angels robe-and that is
what Grant received as a reward for
his abandonment of the Democratic
party.
But it must be remembered. and it
will be remembered. that James A.
Garfield became the beneficiary of
Grants political assassin alton at Chi
cago-and that with his nomination
began Republican factional fight I'M
paralleled for its murderous fierceness.
In the campaign of 1880 the Repub-
lican party sunk to the lowest depths
of corruption and depravity. 1t tri-
umphed, but its success was the death
of Garfield. Poor Garfield, the bene-
ficiary of Grants political death. and
the beneficiary of the crimes of Dorsey,
was seated in the Presidential chair to
be murdered by Republican crank
who had been warmed into life in the
fires of Republican fractional hate
and as he fired the fatal shot ex-
Anu
Arthur became at last the beneficiary
of the Chicago fight. Grant. Garfield,
Arthur and Guiteau are all dead. In
1884 Blaine was nominated at Chicago.
1t is needless to say that his assassina-
ton of Grant contributed to his defeat
Republicans remembered his implaca-
BILE hostility TO Grant at Chicago in
1880. Brilliant. but corrupt and de-
PRAYED. thousands of honest Republic
ans would not vote for him, nor will
they vote for any man who encom-
passed the downfall of Grant at Chica-
go by charging him with treason to the
Republic. The selection of Chicago by
the Republican bosses as the place to
hold the nominating convention of the
Republican party is an omen of disas-
ter to the party-an instance in which
coming events cast their shadows be-
fore INDIANAPOLIS Sentinel