The Portland daily press., 1892-05-28

THE GATHERING OF STATES.
gress itself, and though they do their
work in a few days, they not only choose
tine president for the coming four years,
but in their platforms control legisla-
tion and direct the efforts of parties.
The first great convention in this coun-
try, the one which showed the possibili-
ties of these gatherings of political lay
men, was held in Chicago in 1860, when
Abraham Lincoln was nominated. Prob
ably the world never saw more po-
tential gathering than this. It left its
mark on all time. It brought on the
rebellion, freed the slaves, changed the
American constitution.
It is odd that the nominations in Dem
ocratic conventions are not so bitterly
contested as in Republican conventions,
Notwithstanding the fact that in the
former the two-thirds rule naturally
contributes to the stubbornness of the
contest. In 1876 Blaine was then the
rising man of his party. AS representa-
tive and speaker he had attained phe-
nomenal popularity. Nearly every one
believed he would be nominated.
But between him and Roscoe Conkling
there had sprung up bitter personal en-
nifty, growing out of the famous
Turkey gobbler" speech Of Blaine's a
few years before. Conkling, with much
of the power of the Grant administra-
ton behind him, went to the convention
with no other purpose in view than the
defeat of Blaine. He became candi-
date himself, not with the hope of being
nominated, but that he might better
contend against his adversary. Bristow,
who as secretary Of the treasury had
won fame in the prosecution of the
whisky ring, was strongly supported.
Encouraged by the Conkling war on
Blaine, three states put forward their
favorite sons-Pennsylvania naming
Hartranft, Indiana Morton and Ohio
Hayes.
In the light of subsequent events it is
almost pitiful to look back to this con-
vention. Blaine was clearly the popular
choice, and would have been nominated
but for a succession of accidents. First,
if Pennsylvania, deftly encouraged by
Blaines enemies, had not put Hartranft
forward, Blaine would have been
chosen, as Pennsylvania was enthusiast
tically for him, and gave him her vote
when it was too late. Second, if there
had not been in the convention certain
obscure but bright Ohioan, now holding
Office in this city, Blaine would have
been chosen. This Ohioan had faith in
Hayes, and saw an opportunity to do
him some good. He went to the friends
Of Governor Morton, of Indiana, and
proposed to them that when the danger
Of "break" came, Ohio and Indiana
were to join hands for the one of their
stranger.
On the first ballot Morton had 1876
votes and stood next to Blaine. But his
friends made the mistake of throwing
all their strength on the first roll call.
On the second ballot they lost, and Bris-
tow passed Morton. Hayes had started
with only IS votes, but he held his own;
and after the fourth ballot, when other
states had retired for consultation, Ohio
sent word to Indiana that the time had
come. On the fifth ballot part of The
Indiana delegates went to Hayes, giving
him 102 to Morton's 50. The next bal
lot Hayes gained more from the same
source, and on the seventh Indiana led
the mighty ''break" to Hayes, which re-
suited in his nomination over Blaine,
the figures being 3S4 to 351.
The Republican convention of 1880
was q remarkable struggle. Here Conk-
ling and Blaine were again the great
coInbatants. Conkling was there in per-
son leading the Grant forces. Sherman
made his first appearance as presiden-
tial candidate. EdMunds, Washburne
and Window were the others. Gallant
was the struggle between the Blaine and
Grant ferces. For the latter 3O6 men
stood from first to last like the Old
Guard: CTS men rallied about the Blaine
standard. For two days the battle con
tinued. Through thirty-fiv ballots there
was little change-Grant's highest vote
being 313 and Blaine's 2S4.
In the convention, conspicuous in al
debates, leader Of the struggle against
the unit rule which only the Grant mer
favored and all the others opposed, wa:
James A. Garfield. How the conven
ton, weary Of the bitter conflict, sough
solution of its great problem by bring
ing Garfield to the front in an incom
parable whirlwind, is history. The anti
Grant forces had simply united to de
feat third term.
In the last four conventions of Democ
racy there have been but six ballots
Tilden won on the second at st. Louis
Hancock On the second at Cincinnati
Cleveland on the SECOND at Chicago. ant