The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-27
POLITICAL BREAKD0WNS
HORACE GREFLEI's NOTABLE ca NJ
PAIGN RECALLLD.
Likeness to 1t of organs Canvass-signs
of Popocratic Distress-Greeiey's
Strength Was Overestimaie".


I Cen. Grant. the soldier. Mr.. Greeley, with
many other leading Republicans, argued
I that the only method by which Grant
| could be defeated for second term. which
he sought, and perhaps third term after
! ward. WAS TO nominate an independent
Republican ticket and ask the Democracy
to endorse it. As n result Of this move
ment a Liberal Republican National Con-
vention met al Cincinnati on May l. 1872.
and adopted a platform OF gittering
generalities. on which anybody could con-
scientiously stand. At the outset there
had been a general disposition TO nomi-
nate Charles Francis Adams as the most
available Presidential candidate 10 hold to-
eether the heterogeneous elements opposed
to Grantism. But. through some unseen
causes. Horace Greeley was chosen on tho
sixth ballot 10y vote OF lS2 - ls' for
Adamg. Then y. Cratz Brown. OF Missouri.
waS nominated for Vice President.
Like Bryan's nomination. that Of Greeley
! twenty-four years ago was greeted with
furor Of general approval in some OF It's
aspects Il Was drama iczlly proper. II
carried CONSERVATION into the ranks o. the
regulars. Greeley had great personal
following. and through his newspaper
welded a powerful influence throughout
the North. IL was feared that he would
stampede The Republican party. Many
very intelligent Republicans believed that
II he was endorsed by the Democracy.
Grecley's election was assured The coun-
try awaited with breathlcss anxiety the
action OF the National Democratic Con-
ventlon. which met at Baltimore on the
9th Of July. A strong undertone 4 hosu-
lily was manifested toward Greeley. but
the hope Of success finally overcame all
sr.rfff QMnrfHH
Liberal Republican platform in its entire
~. and nominated Greeley on the nrst
ballot by vote Of $50 to As. This proceed
inc seemed 10 settle every doubt as 10 the
result. II was received with acclaim all
over the land.
Like William Jennings Bryan Horace
Greeley was now the nominee OF two par
ties for the Presidency. He possessed
MANY clements OF strength. lie was far
stronger and greater personality In every
way than Mr. Bryan. and he was also
more eloquent and sincere advocate. lie
was an old politician OF ability and eH-
perience and read the people Ike a book.
He Immediately entered upon just such an
energetic personal canvass as Mr.. Bryan
is now making. speaking everywhere and
drawing great throngs. For a time the
Liberal Republican Democratic canvass
was marked by the greatest enthusiasm
and confidence. Like unto the present can
vass vociferous. though somewhat incef-
mite. claims were made OF wholesale de-
sertions from the Republican ranks IN
various States. The regular Republicans
were supposed 10 be on the run. There
was a deafening beating Of tomtoms, lust
such as we are listening 70 now. 10 was
mathematicallv demonstrated daily that
the united opposition vote would give MT.
Greeley certain pivotal States by enormous
maior1ties. Just as a recent Popocrat buile-
tin mathematically demonstrates the GER
tainty OF Mr.. Bryan's election.
As was inevitable from the first, Grant
had been renominated. and was violently
assailed both I'm and out Of his party lie
remained at home and maintained digni-
fed silence on the surface 1t seemed as
81 the Republican party was on the verge
OF dissolution. But little black clouds no
bigger than a mans hand began 10 over
snread the horizon Of the Tribune rhilo-
sophers hopes. His strength had been
overestimated. lie failed 10 draw away
the expected Republican vote. As I'm the
present canvass. all the claims and all the
noise were on one side and all the syste-
matte organization and effective work on
the other. And this told for Grant as IL
IS now telling Tor Mckinley As IN the
present canvass. IL was presently found
that the inconGruOus elements opposed 10
the Republicans could not be fused on
such terms a. to carry their full vote 10
Greeley. There were Tom Watsons IN
those days as there are Tom Matsons
row.
On tho goth Of June. 1872. another gather
ing Of auti-Grant and anu-Greeley reform
ers was held In New York. which nomi-
President and Frederick L. Oimstod. OF
New York. for Vice President But this
was not all. Greeley had been the life
long enemy Of Democracy; there were
many middle Of the road Democrats
who could not and would not bury their
old preiudlces against the man who had
sssaued them for more than thirty years.
This faction held a National Convention az
Louisville, Ky, on Sept. 3. which noml-
mated Charles O'Ccnor OF New York, for
President. and John @. Adams, Of Massa-
chusetts. for Vice-President. IL became
quite clear that thousands OF Democrats
preferred Grant to Greeley. just as thou
sands now prefer Mckinley TO Bryan. Be
sides many dissatisfied Republicans were
returning 10 their party.
The North Carolina election. which oc-
CURED in August. gave the nrst important
Indication or IuNlc 'IlIl'n. J "D i@i'''' ga
candidate for Governor was defeated hy
a small majority 10y the regular Republican
candidate. a result totally unexpected. IL
was a deadly blow. Then followed the
moro important elections in Maine and
Vermont. both OF which went Republican
by heavy majorities. West Virginia also
elected a Republican Governor These dis
astrous results showed that the bottom
had entirely dropped out OF Mr.. Greeley's
canvass. lust as the landsides in Vermont
and Maine this month have knocked the
bottom out Of Bryan's. But Mr.. Greeley
continued his personal appeals for support
with unnagging zeal. just as Mr.. Bryan is
doing. The October elections I'm Ohio.
Indiana, and Pennsylvania confirmed the
verdict Of the September States. although
Thomas A. Hendricks, the Democratic
idol. was elected Governor % Indiana by
less than 200 plurality. The result in
November was inevitable: Mr.. Greeley's
doom was sealed He was simply nowhere.
carrying but six states in the whole
Union. viz. MARYLAND. Kentucky Tonnes-
see. Missouri. Texas. and Georgia, with SIS
electoral votes. Grant carried al the
others. securing 500 electoral votes.
majority Of 2s4 HIS popular maiorifies
were overwhelming: in Pennsylvania 49,
coo In Massachusetts, r. 900. IN Iilino $500
IN New York 5000 IN Iowa $1,000. In
Michigan 43 1900. and SO on. Grants ma
ioritles were greatest IN the very states
where Greeley had drawn the largest
crowds and apparently made tie strongest
impression.