The Portland daily press., 1888-04-28
A MEMORABLE SCENE.
conkIing's Great Effort in Behalf of a
Third Term for Grant.
New York Graphic.l

On Saturday, June 5, 1880, the national re-
publican convention had been in session for
three days already. Every man, woman and
child in this country who had read the news
papers for a year before knew that the fight
for third term for General Grant was the
great struggle to be decided by the 756 dele
gates who had gathered there from all parts
of the country. Senator Hoar, Of Massachu-
sets was in the chair and the long, wearying
session of the day had given place to the
calm and quiet that evening brings. II was
o'clock at night and the great building was
packed from the stage to the outer doors. 1t
was the time set apart for the calling Of the
rolls of states and the presentation of candi-
dates. The calling began and the silence Of
the great hall was unbroken until the secre-
tary reached the state of Maine. Before the
name had passed his lips there was whirl
of applause that widened and broadsned and
grew louder and more prolonged, until IT
Warped the listening thousands in magnif
cent uprOar. 1t was the fOrerunner OF James
g. Blaine's naming for the Presidency. The
duty was done for him as his state wished,
and then the roll call went on. 1t was mo-
notOnnus enough. though here and there
some favOrite son was mentioned, for way
down in the hearts OF every man and woman
in the building was the anxious waiting for
New York to be called. 1t came at last, and
never be forgotten by those who witnessed it
No one but those near the secretary heard
New York called The audience knew that
it came next after New Jersey, and when his
lips Enclosed the cheers of the thousands
drowned all other sounds. The big building
shivered and shook with its overflow of mag
nifeent applause, Again and again the
chairman stood up and in mute pantomime
prayed the convention to come to order, but
the men before him were fOrgetful of every
thing but the man who was to speak and the
man he was to speak for. By and by the tu-
mutt stilled, and from the centre Of the hall
where the New York delegation sat, Roscoe
Conkling rose and walked towards the plat
form. 1t was like the rush of mighty waters,
that tempest Of heart-stirring applause that
again echoed and re-eehoed through the great
hall. He stood upon one Of the reporters
desks, down near the delegates, but where
every one in the house could see him. He
was in the prime OF life and as he faced the
people his eyes were tull of the nre that was
to leap from his lips. His was a labor Of
great love, for to him General Grant was the
embodiment of greatness and gracious friend
ship. 1t took minutes to still the great audi
ence but silence came at last, and 1t was pro-
found. Then with the brave, fearless and
dashing way that made Mr.. ConkIing a great
orator, and without word of preface he be-
gam
And when asked what state he halls from,
Our sole reply shall be,
He comes from Appomattox
And its famous apple tree.
He got no farther for actually seventeen
minutes, for the convention was on its feet
in an Instant, and the whirlwind Of great
cheers swept everything before it. When it
was stilled he went on and finished the speech
that added another laurel to his own brow,
and would have made the great soldier the
candidate of his party II eloquence could
have accomplished it.