The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-04-13
SEWARD.
IAMLIN.

he lived he was to that party all that the
great hero Jackson had been to the old
Democratic party, except that he never
dictated the party policy. The day for
that sort of thing was gone forever. The
convention met at Crosby's opera house in
Chicago, May 20, Mt noon, was in session
less than two days, had no exciting de-
bates, and raised but one question Of IN
usual interest-the calling OF all the states
regardless Of their progress in reconstruc-
ton. Every state and territory in the
Union was represented, for the first time
in any Republican convention; and men
of all shades of color, from full black to
Scandinavian white, participated on a
common level, for the first time, 1t is be-
lieved, in the political history Of any ma
ton. The German, Gen. Carl Schurz,
was temporary chairman, and Governor
Joseph r. Hawley, permanent president;
there were four candidates for vice presi-
dent, and on the fifth ballot Schuyler Col
fax was nominated. Tho convention, in
its untaa of white and black, native
Americans and natives Of several
European nations, was significant
index Of the new era to which the great
party had brought the nation. The sue
cess of the ticket seemed at first view
ceived 2i4 electoral votes to 80 for
Seymour and Blair. And yet the popu-
lar majority WINS but 800, 5S4, in total
vote of nearly 5000, 600, though many
thousand southerners were DISTINGUISHED;
while in several states the majority was
so small that the merest accident might
have changed it. Republicans were dis
tinctly warned that they could only main
tain their supremacy by continued well
doing. twas plain that the country was
rapidly returning to that normal condi-
ton in which the two parties are nearly
balanced.
The amazing eily Of the Democrats in
1872 gave that tendency to equalization
of parties tremendous check. The
Republicans met in convention at Phila-
delphia on tho 9th of June, simply to
ratify the popular denomination OF Presi-
dent Grant. Senator Henry Wilson, Of
Massachusetts, was nominated for vice
president; aud campaign Of almost un-
exampled personalities resulted in giving
this ticket the unprecedented popular
majority of $4,000. Another result, as
painful to the victors as the vanquished,
was the complete prostration and death
of Horace Greeley, probably the greatest
editor, unquestionably the most perfect
master of popular, racy and idiorlatic
English, the western continent has yet
produced.
The Republican convention Of 1876, met
June IA, at Cincinnati. under rather
gloomy auspices. The Democrats had
carried the congressional elections OF 1874
by majorities aggregating 4OO, OO0-a po-
litical change I'm two years of over 1, 100,
600 yotes-a change without precedent in
political history. One important point
was vigorously debated and settled: that
Republican conventions were composed
of district delegates, not of state delcga-
tlons, and the so-called "unit rule" was
abrogated for all subsequent conventions.
The question was again raised at Chicago
in 1880; the decision was reafiirmed, and
thus the party advanced another step in
libcrality. Eight candidates were pre-
scnted ut Cincinnati, and on the sew
enth ballot Rutherford Burchsrd Hayes
then governor Of Ohio, was nominated
| The facts Of the ever memorable Chicago