The San Francisco call., 1896-06-19

the Republicans failed to win in 1856. VIZ;
Pennsylvania. Indiana and Illinois, and
on the third ballot Lincoln was nomi-
mated Hannibal Hamlin of Maine was
nominated for Vice-President.
Much has been written by James g..
Blaine concerning this period OF more
than ordinary interest:
1t is one of the contradictions not infre-
quently exhibited in partisan bodies that Mr..
Seward was defeated because of his radical ex-
| pressions on the slavery question, while Mr..
Lincoln was chosen in spite of expressions lar
more radical than those of Mr.. Seward. The
''irrepressible conflict" announced by Mr..
Seward at Rochester did not go as far as Mr..
| Lincoln's declaration at Springfield that "the
! Union could not exist halfsIave, half-free."
Neither Mr.. Seward nor Mr.. Lincoln contem-
plated the destruction of the Government and
yet thousands had been made to believe that
Mr.. Seward made the existence of the Union
depend upon the abolition of slavery.
Mr.. Lincoln had announced the same doc
| trine in advance OF Mr. Seward, with direct
ness and bluntness which could not be found
! in the more polished phrase of the New York
Senator. Despite these facts, large number
| of delegates from doubtful States-delegates
who held the control of the convention-sup-
ported Mr.. Lincoln on the distinct ground that
| the anti-slayery sentiment which they repre-
sented was not sufficiently radical to support
| the author of the speech in which had been
proclaimed the doctrine of an irrepressible
conflict between freedom and slavery.
While there were four Presidential
tickets in the field positive policy could
be justly attributed to only two. Mr.. Lin
coin favored the prohibition of an exten-
sion of slavery by law. Mr.. Breckinridge
favored laws to promote its extension.
During the campaign the Republican
forceswere strengthened by accessions from
the Douglas following. The division OF
the Democrats helped Mr.. Lincoln. His
opponents joined in one electoral ticket to
defeat him In New York, New Jersey and
Rhode Island. A fusion ticket was run in
New Jersey embracing three Douglas, two
Bell and two Breckenridge electors.
Mr.. Lincoln secured four of the electoral
votes in New Jersey. California and
Oregon gave him pluralities, and in every
other free State he had majorities. All
the slave States, with four exceptions,
were carried by Breckenridge. Bell car
ried Maryland, Kentucky and Virginia
aud Douglas carried Missouri. The popu-
lar vote was as follows: Lincoln, 1857
61O; Douglas, 1,291, ,574; Breckinridge, $780,
O82; Bell, GAG, 121. AS soon as the results
of the election were known movements for
secession were begun in the South.
The issue of protection, which has been
consistently advocated by the Republican
party, no doubt had
its effect upon the Protection
success of the Repub- Led to Republican
lican party at this Success,
time. In evidence of
the accuracy of this statement the words
of Mr.. Blaine are once more quoted:
The crushing defect received in the person
| of Wilmot (Free-soil candidate for Governor of
| Pennsylvania occurred on the very eve of the
! financial distress of 1857. The Democratic
| canvass had been made while there was yet no
suspicion of impending panic and revulsion-
made indeed, with the constant boast of the
| general prosperity, and with constant ascrip-
tions of that prosperity to the we'll defined and
long-continued policy of the Democratic party.
| From that time the Democratic party became
! embarrassed in Pennsylvania. With tariff of
| their own making, with President of their
own choice, with both branches of Congress
and every department of government under
their control, q serious disaster had come upon
the country.
The promises Of Democratic leaders had
failed their predictions, had been falsified, and
as consequence their strength was shattered.
The Republicans of Pennsylvania, seeing this
advantage, pressed it by renewed and urgent
demands for protective tariff. On the other
issues of the party they had been hopelessly
beaten, but the moment the hostility to slave
labor in the Territories became identified with
| protected labor in Pennsylvania, the party was
inspired with new hopes, indeed, received new
life.
1t was this condition of public opinion in
| Pennsylvania which made the recognition of
the protective system so essential in the Chi
49, Il - thCN
milton that Mr.. Lincoln IN the end owed his
| election. The memorable victory of Andrew
! G. Curtin when he was chosen Governor by
majority of $4,000, was largely due to his
able and persuasive presentation of the tariff
question and to his effective appeals to the
| laboring men in the coal and iron sections of
the State But for this issue, in fact, there
no reason why Curtin should have been
| stronger in 1860 than Wilmot was in 1857.
! Indeed, but for tn at issue he must have been
weaker.
The agitation over the repeal of the Missouri
| compromise had somewhat subsided with the
lapse of years; the free State victory in Kansas
was acknowledged and that issue was removed;
while the bred Scott decision, failing to arouse
popular resentment at the time it was pro-
nounced, could hardly be effectual for an
aggressive canvass three years later. If Cover
nor Curtin could have presented no other issue
| to the voters of Pennsylvania he would un-
doubtedly have shared the fate Wilmot met
when he had these anti-slavery questions as
his only platform.
Governor Curtin gave a far greater proper
| ton of his time to the discussion of the tariff
| and financial issues than to all others COM
| bined and he carried Pennsylvania because q
majority of her voters believed that the DEM
ocratic party tended to free trade and that the
Republican party would espouse and maintain
the cause of protection.
At its successful entry into American
political control the Republican party was
opposed to servile labor and strongly
favored protection to American industries,
and 1t has maintained its position con-
sistently throughout.
The withdrawal of Southern Senators
and Representatives from Congress. in
pursuance of their policy of secession, left
the Republicans in control. They very
soon enacted the Morrill, tariff bill into
law. No Democratic Senator voted for
the bill and no Republican Senator voted
In the nepatiye The House adopted the