The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-22
CANDIDATES IN DEFEAT.
Historic Instances Showing How
Difficult I: Is for Great Men to Con.
ccai Their Chagrin at nn LII Turn Oi
EOrtNMe.


From the Times Herald.
Theie are few men who can bear de-
feat with equanimity, particularly when
the lost r,i2e is the greatest to which
man may aspire Consequently. when
Mr. Reed expressed himself more for
cibly than politely at his recent defeat.
with some remarks as to the manage
ment Of the canvass by his friends. the
temporar! ebulition of iage was eX-
cusable. Ee is not the first defeated as
pirant for q nomination who has shown
tenp.r over his loss ard there are num-
erous traditions and anecdotes stili pre-
served showing how s2me OF them
acted Henry Clay was Il candidate for
tEs- presidency in 1874 and again IL 1897,
neither of which times had he the least
chance of election. Eut in lS40 the cur
rent had ct tansed and it was evident
that the wings We're bound to be sue
cessful. Clay as the leader of his party
was entitled to the nomination, and
there is no doubt that the rank and file
of the party eagerly wished him for
their candidate. But the politicians.
Thurlow Weed particularly, Were op
IJsed TO him, and looking around for
an "availa BILE" candidate they pitched
upon General William Henry Harrison.
The whig convention met at Harris
burg in December 1899. to nominate
candidates. and the names Of Clay.
Harrison, and General Scott were pre-
scented. II Is the universal testimony
that ajority of the conventions Were
really In favor of Clay. but owing to
| the extraordinary method of making
| the nomination--an invention of Thur
| low Weed-Clay was defeated and Har-
rison nominated.
Mr.. Clay was in Washington when he
| received the news, and Henry A. Wise
has related his outburst of passion and
the storm of curses and iinprecations
that he called down upon everybody
connected with the whole affair. Ris-
ing from his chair and walking the room
| rapidly, lifting his feet like horse
string halted in both legs. he stamped
upon the floor, eXclaiming: MY fIiends
are not worth the powder and shot it
would take to kill them" He men,
| toned the names of several of them, in
voking upon them the most dreadful
imprecations, and then cried out: If
| there We're two Henry Clays one of them
| would make the other president of the
United States"
When demonstrated with for his un-
| seemly passion he said: 1t is dia-
bolical intrigue. l now know. which has
| betrayed me. | am the most unfortu-
| nate man in the history of parties; al
| ways run by my friends when sure to
be defeated. and now betrayed for a
nomination when l, or anyone, would be
sure of an election.
Clay sulked for a time, but soon re-
Tented and gave unwavering support to
General Harrison His superb oratory
| carried everything before it in the long
| and hilarious campaign Of 1910.
THE CASE OF WEBSTER.
Daniel Webster was standing candi-
date for presidential nomination from
1886 until 1852. In 1873 he was nominated
by his own state, Massachusetts, and
received its electoral vote, but no other.
In 1S40 Harrison carried off the honors
and in 1874 Henry Clay, but in lS4S there
was chance for Webster. but again
Thurlow Weed used his fine Italian
hand" and under the old plea Of avail
ability secured the nomination of Cen
eral Taylor
This angered Webster. and he did not
hesitate in expressing himself. "A