The Portland daily press., 1888-06-26
FOR GOVERNOR,
EDWIN G. BURLEIGH.
The Nominations.

pleted them yesterday with the nomination
of Benjamin Harrison of Indiana for Presi-
dent and Levi p Morton of New York for
Vice President. 1t was undoubtedly the
hope Of large majority of the Republicans
of Maine that affairs in the convention
might take such a turn that Mr. Blaine
would be nominated and be able to accept,
Notwithstanding his Florence and Paris let
tiers. There was one contingency in which
this would have been possible, namely, the
withdrawal of all the other candidates In his
favor and a substantially unanimous appeal
from the convention to him to accept the
nomination. 1t looked after the balloting of
Saturday as if this contingency was likely to
arise. But Mr.. Blaine's telegram read to
the convention yesterday requesting his
friends not to vote for him put an end to all
hope, and proved that if there had been any
scheming on the part of his over Jealous
friends in the convention to compel the con-
vention to nominate him in spite of his dec
lination, it was in opposition to his wishes.
OF course there will be twinge of disap-
pointment that Mr.. Blaine is not the candi-
date, but it must be remembered that he is
not the candidate simply because he declined
to be. Had he not written the Florence and
Paris letters he would undoubtedly have been
the nominee Of the convention, and that too
by reclamation.
In selecting Mr.. Harrison the convention
has made the wisest choice possible under
the circumstances. While undoubtedly Of
the ayowed candidates before the convention
he was the most grateful of any to Mr..
Blaine's friends, he was not unacceptable to
the friends of the other candidates. Though
Judge Gresham was from Indiana, he did
not antagonize Harrison for he was brought
forward by Illinois, while Mr.. Harrison was
the substantially unanimous choice of the
Hoosiers, Mr.. Depew voluntarily withdrew
In his favor and turned the great bulk of
New York State over to him. Mr.. Allison
also withdrew in his favor and gave
him the support of Iowa. Sherman and
Alger continued to contest with him to
the end, but their rivalry was of an
honorable and friendly character. Mr.. Har-
risons nomination leaves no bitterness any
where. There is no reason whatever why
all the candidates before the convention
cannot give him their hearty support
Mr.. Harrison's nomination will be grateful
to the masses Of the Republican party. He
is an able. upright, honorable man, WITH a
clean record. During the war he was in the
field fighting valiantly for the preserva-
ton of the Union. His Republicanism is of a
a sturdy and steadfast order. On the stump
and in the Senate of the United States
of which he was an honored member until
he was cheated out of his seat by the shame
ndQriO0 IF 1,,, 4bo
Democracy he has even been brave and
vigorous defender of Republican principles
and Republican policy. In his own State
where he is best known he has always been
exceedingly popular, and almost invariably
has run long way ahead of his ticket.
This fact speaks volumes for his worth as a
man and his strength as a candidate. and
doubtless was one Of the prominent factors
In turning the convention to him. 1t was
felt doubtless that his selection would
ensure the vote of Indiana for the Republi.
can ticket. and if we can Judge from his past
record as a candidate this confidence is not
misplaced.
From the foundation of our government
the name Of Harrison has figured conspicu-
ously and honorably in its history. 1t has
been commonly believed also that for the
American branch of the family could be
claimed relationship aud share in the
fame of the old regicide John Harrison.
hard-headed colonel Of Ironsides, the friend
and adviser of Oliver Cromwell, the round
head OF the roundheads, who persisted on
the scaffold in 1860 when the restored House
OF Stuart wreaked vengeance on those who
banished it decade before. But those who
have borne prominently the name Of Harri-
son in America need no Illustration from the
records of old world battles for freedom.
In the new world, from the beginning of
the Revolution to the end Of tile Rebellion
they have served the Union Of these States
loyalty and well, in the council chamber. in
the halls Of legislation, in the battle field.
father and son through four generations.
The first prominent American ancestor of
the man who was yesterday chosen the
standard bearer Of the Republican party.
was Benjamin Harrison, the old Virginia
statesman, who in the troublesome times of
1765 refused the place in the Executive Coun-
ell which the Royalist Governor rendered
with the hope of winning him over to the
support of the stamp act; and who. later, in
the ranks Of the patriots, became member
OF the Continental Congress, a signer of the
Declaration Of Independence, twice Gov
ernor of Virginia and a member of the
famous constitutional convention of 1888
which brought Virginia into the Federal
Union. or the third and youngest son of
this old Revolutionary statesmen nothing
need be said to the men and women Of this
generation or the next. The person must
know very little Of the history of his coun
try who has not heard of the hero of Tippe
canoe, the victorious Wing leader in the
memorable campaign Of 1910, the ninth
President Of the United States. President
William Henry Harrison had one son, John
Scott Harrison, who as Wing served the
the State Of Ohio in Congress from 1853 to
1857 John Scott Harrison named his son,
who was born at North Bend, Ohio, May 26,
1888, for his ancestor Benjamin Harrison.
the Revolutionary patriot. Abraham Lin
coin wrote before the name inherited from
the Revolution a title won on the battle
fields of the Rebellion; and now the party
of Abraham Lincoln propose to write before
the same name the title of President also.
Re markable as is his ancestry, Benjamin
Harrison can honestly claim to be the peer
Of any Of his line; and he has won sure
title to greatness by adding lustre to name
already illustrious. That he has done this
by his own abilities, unaided by inherited
wealth or by the influence of powerful
patrons, puts him at once in the ranks CT
those self-made men, to honor whom has
become traditionary privilege dear to the
hearts OF the American people When Rem
iamin Harrison went to Indianapolis in 1854
he was just 81 years old. poor and unknown.
So far as is known the only persons in
Indianapolis at that time who felt great in
terest in himself or his fortunes were him
self and the young wife whom he brought
with him from the college town where he
had been educated. She was Miss Scott,
and the fact that her father who consented
to the match, was one Of the college profess