The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-06
THE CONVENTION OF 1880
An Eloquent Review Of a Truly
Memorable Occasion.
THE CELEBRATED OLD GUARD

II Stood By Grant from Start to Finish
and Went Dowa With Colors Fly.
ins-Reeoiiestions OF the
Struggle.
From the Chicago Times-Herald
When that grand procession swept
down Michigan avenue on the 18th day
of November. 1879. and finally turned
into the broad thoroughfare OF state
street, there was but one name on the
lips Of the multitude. II the people OF
Chicago had been called upon at that
moment to select chief magistrate for
the nation. Grant would have been
chosen by mighty acclamation. He had
Just returned from his trip around the
world. Kings, emOerors, DOtentates OF
every description had showered honors
upon him: but he had borne 1t all so
modestly. had kept such level head"
through II all. that he had endeared
himself anew to the people and stood
before his countrymen more popular
than ever before.
he been led to this eminence! In view
of that record no man short Of middle
age ought to despair OF great success
In life.
Up to 40, Grants life had been utter
ly commonplace. An army officer, he
had resigned. a real estate agent and
auctioneer, he had been unsuccessful.
a farmer, he had failed to satisfy even
his modest ambition. He was not a
striking or heroic figure as he walked
that morning in April, 1861, up the
streets OF Galena bound for Springfield,
but In a far larger sense than he real
ICED he was going to the rescue Of the
republic. Unconscious of exceptional
powers. he marched AZ II directed by
fate the path that led to the command
to that pinnacle Of fame. where for fif-
teen years he stood the foremost citizen
Of the earth.
THE STRANGEST FIGURE.
| call him the strangest figure in our
history We marvel at Lincoln, and
well we may: but Lincoln developed
gradually, and early exhibited signs OF
genius. He was lawyer of local cele-
brity. q legislator member of con-
gress, long before he came into national
| prominence, but Grant. ut middle age,
was, as I have said, distinguished in
nothing, successful in nothing; a brave
soldier in the Mexican war, but living In
that little community unknowing and
unknown. And yet, even Joan OF Arc,
with the mysterious voices Of heaven
calling her never went more confident
| ly to the work Of her high mission than
this unknown soldier Of Galena.
And here he came at last from q tri-
umphant journey abroad. to meet with
a reception which, like mighty perfume,
pervaded .he nation. Grant reached
the zenith Of his life's fame at that
| glitter of tina. marvellous triumph lay
the bitterness Of his first defeat.
| 1t needs a Napoleon to successfully
| conduct q presidential boom. The field
is against the favorite A boom i'm
plies intimate friends, confdants,
| trusted engineers Of the boom. All the
politicians are envious and suspicious
Of favorite and set about having a
favorite Of their own.
| A multitude of things entered into
the defeat Of Grant. The third term
figured largely. of course, but 1t was
not near so potent working factor
against him as the suspected monopoly
of his cause and of his friendship by
certain prominent politicians, known as
"bosses" Of the party. In Chicago.
which seemed the storm center from
the opening to the close Of the cam
paign, social jealousy and personal
envies had no small part In determining
the result. They began with the selec-
|
Grant, and the informal reception the
same day In the parlors OF the Palmer
house. They grew more bitter when
the invitations were sent out for the
Calumet club reception. and when
scores who thought themselves entitled
to an invitation were left Off the list
Indeed, hundreds Of little things con-
tributed to swell the army Of the opp0-
sition. 1t may be remembered by some
yt,rN trts. rknI H. a 49, ~.
In honor OF Grant that the latter, after
standing for upward of an hour on the
balcony Of the Palmer house. review
Ing the procession, was taken inside
while bands and drum corps and socie-
ties continued to march past.
AN AFFRONT TO VETERANS.
Away down that line marched 500
veterans Of the war. They had served
with Grant in his first successes. AS yet
they had not caught sight OF his face,
but they We're marching In his honor
and counted on giving him a soldiers
cheer as they passed the reviewing
stand. On they came, proud, erect,
filled with the old spirit which ami
mated them fifteen years before, when
they had entered Vicksburg under the
eye OF the quiet man who would look
upon them today with a soldiers pride
and a comrades sympathy. They
reached the balcony. but their general
was not there. They peered at the
group which stood where he should
have stood. but the man for whom they
had marched five miles on that bleak
day had apparently abandoned them.
The column passed the Palmer house
and broke into groups The 500 veter-
ans looked upon the affair as personal
affront 1t was small seed, but II fiut.
tered down by the wayside and became
q germ Of discomfort. Grant heard Of
the mistake when 1t was too late to
rectify It, Some one had blundered.
that's all.
1t was. Of course, believed by most
people that the leaders who were advo-
eating Grant for president had an un-
derstanding with him. but. as q matter
of fact. no one had inside information
regarding his intentions and up to a
few months before the convention even
the foremost champions of his cause
lived in daily fear that he would refuse
the use Of his name as candidate and
throw them into a grave embarrass-
ment.
1t was just when they began to feel
confident that he would consent that he
sent word around one night, saying he
would be glad II I would call, as he
had something to communicate. He
was then staying at Colonel Fred
Grants house. OF course, as a news
paper man intent upon SCOOP" was
very prompt in responding was quite
sure he was going to talk about his
candidacy, but was doomed to disap-
po!ntment. He wanted to add some
thing further about Mexico. Of which
he had been speaking and from which
country he had lately returned; and no
efforts could induce him to discuss the
question of the presidency.
An incident occurred. however, which
illustrated :he stability Of his friend
ship. Just as was preparing to go a
number of gentlemen called as a sort
Of committee to warn General Grant