The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-02-02

years had been allowed his friends to for
get him.
Mr.. Blaine was solicited at the gather.
ing of each convention to lend his follow
ers the strength of his presence. It Is q
move in which other candidates have
found no improperly, and which, in Mr.
Blaine's case, would have had an especial
influence. But he steadily refused, and
in the three contests in which his name
was used, aloof from tho strife, he bore
himself with singular modesty, calmness
and dignity.
On June Sd the convention organized,
George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts,, being
chosen chairman. Gen. Garfield, as
every one remembers, received the ap-
pointment to the ohairmanship on Rules,
and on the following day reported tho
code which guided the convention. Little
business OF interest was transacted ON
Friday and Saturday. At the night ses-
sion, Saturday, the nominations wero
made. When Maine was called james f.
Jay, chairman of the Michigan delega-
tion, responded, making speech for Mr..
Blaine
The wearisome balloting that followed
is familiar to every reader, and it will be
recalled that Mr.. Blaine's friends stood
steadfastly by their leader until the 35th
ballot was reached, when they went over
to Gen. Garfield, effecting his nomination
on the Both ballot.
Those who were engaged in the effort
to nominate General Grant were scarcely
more faithful On tho first ballot it will
be remembered that Mr Blaine was the
choice of the 294 delegates and from this
his support did not appreciably fail until
the 10Th ballot, when the number was
279 His vote fell only once an low as
27O; until the last two ballots, with this
exception, it was not less than 275.
The dogged perseverance which charac-
teriZed the third term men and forbade
them to assist in the nomination of
another candidate, however hopeless tho
fortunes Of their own, was not emulated
by those who through "a ballots cast their
votes steadily for Mr.. Blaine When it
became evident that the man of their
choice could not become the nominee of
the convention a spirit of moderation
prevailed, end the vote of the Blaine dele
cation was cast almost entire for General
Garfield. But for this act Garfield could
not have been nominated. If it was
surrender it was the kind of surrender,
which carries with it something Of the
lustre of victory.
His Nomination and Defeat in 1884.
The story of the convention of 1884,
which nominated Mr.. Blaine on the first
ballot is fresh in all minds. The nomi.
mating speech of Judge West of Ohio was
one of the most forceful ever delivered in
presenting the name of any man to a con
vention.
Mr.. Blaine arrived in Augusta from
Washington on Tuesday of the week of tho
nomination, and spent the stormy days of
the convention quietly in his library, at
work upon the second volume of Twenty
Years in Congress-. His bearing during
this time was not less modest and uneagsy
than on the occasion Of the two former
conventions
As the bulletins were handed him he
sat upon his lawn in the midst of his
family and read them in the methodical
napner usual with him. When the
news of the nomination was received he
maintained the same composure
In speaking of the result, he said that
ne felt all the more gratifed, because 1t
was an honor that had come to him un-
solicited.