The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-06-17


have attended sweep over me with
force and vividness. I seem to hear the
applause to see the waving banners
and to feel the thrill Of the battle royal
The nominating cOnclave of 1876 was
wet blanket convention" It opened
with glory and enthusiasm, and closed
almost in silence. BOnnTeS had been
built throughout the length and breadth
OF the land-a Blaine flag surmOJnting
every One-and all were ready for the
torch, when he should be nominated
One dignified Old gentleman of whom
wot was up in the back end OF an ex-
press wagon, responding to the calls OF
a singing, cheering crowd. The burden
or MS words was THE Navarro of Am
erican politics and his great fitness for
the high duties that awaited him. The
CT wa as S r cS dumb VIII IN the 1.
was displayed on the huge plate glass
OF the newspaper Office. The dear old
gentleman climbed down and said: I'm
going home to think it over" Men and
women shed tears and not a single bia e
came from those piled up tar barrels
until the regular ratification meeting.
The clear sentiment of the &c conven-
ton was for Mr.. Blaine. He had more
than enough votes to nominate him, as
they came and went, in The seven bal
lots cast, and in the end he lacked only
twenty-seven votes. Governor Hayes
was most worthy gentleman, and it
was no fault Of his that he followed in
the wake Of theknost magnificent craft
that ever sailed our political seas.
Blaine's Second Defeat.
The convention of 1880 was tragic in
its Intensity. For the third time the
greatest American general, Ulysses S.
Grant, was a candidate. James g.
Blaine, the COuntrys most d.stinz uished
civilian, was the other chief candidate
By the time the baIlouing began the
nerves OF the convention were strained
to a great tension. An immOvable
body was about to come in contact with
an irresistible force, and the result was
uncertainty. The first ballot develop
ed the Window, Washburn.
Edwards and Sherman, with Grant and
Blaine leading. Garfield, who was ulti-
mately successful, pOlled only one vote,
Twenty-seven ballots showed no ma
teriai change. The excitement was at
white heat. Delegates were receiving
kilograms advising, instructing, i'm
ploring and even threatening. The vOt-
ing lasted S)r two long days, Grant
holding his famous 800 and Blaine fall
ing little behind. After the thirtieth
ballot Garfield gained steadily. Grant
losing nothing. On the thir y-=i5th bal
lot Garfield was declared thu victor.
Modest and manly fair and leyel-head-
ed, he sat pale ana mOtiOnless, when
the announcement was made
fhe strain was over, and enthusiasm,
sincere if not eXUbeVant, took the place
of nervous anxiety. The lock was
broken, and almost any result was a
relief. How did the women feel? 1
only know how one woman felt. To her
the fight in that convention seemed like
strife among selfish boys. Twice had
the splendid general received the high
est gift Of the nation. I have always
thought that if he had been appealed
TO Gin the right way, by the right
persons) he would have shown the con-
ventiOn that a great general could
have great magnanimity- 1 believe he
could have been induced to throw his
strength TO one of the other candidates
after he himself had ceased to gain.
General Grant was a deeply generous
man, and there is a beautiful story,
which it is not in my province now to
relate. how he climbed on his crutches
TO a committee room and made touch
ing offer of his services, in a CAMPAIGN
somewhat later.
A Chivalric Convention.
The convention of 1884, held in Chica-
go was a straight out, open fight. The
spirit of the gathering was chivalric
and superb. a fight for the temporary
craftsmanship was begun as soon as
the opening prayer for peace and guild
ance Rad been delivered. While it
lasted, This fight. won by John r. Lynch
of Mississippi, was intensely exciting,
but the usual contest over the seat
ing of delegates did not take place,
there being no minority report from
the credentials committee.
When Il had reported it was clear
that the main business of the COnVen-
ton was al hand, AID thrills of expect
-ancy ran through the big assemblage.
Fans futtered and "a hun spread from
aisle to aisle. and the battle was on.
General HaWley was placed in nomina-
ton. General LOgan's name was pre-
scented by Senator Cullom. Then. with
stirring words, Judge West, the blind
orator, presented the name g Air.
Blaine. Davis Of Minnesota, GoOdloe of
Kentucky, Plat Of New York and Grow
OF Pennsylvania seconded this nominal
tiOn. Chester A. Arthur. John Sher-
man and George L. Edmunds were
named. such 2 display Of OratOTy viii
not occur many times in the experience
Of one sersOn. It was a quarter of ,
o'clock in the morning when adjourn
ment VS. finally effected.
When the ballOting began the next
day all the factions were armed for
the fray. Every Office holder was in
position for Arthur, but the cohorts Of
and Went into battle bravely. The
strife was clearly between these candi-
dates, but the other nominees had seen
one such fight in which neither con-
blatant won. So they took heart
against the day Of reckoning. Murmurs
and whisoerings few around. Blaine
will be nominated" Too MANY Office
holders here, said the pessimist. The
Plumed Knights time has come" said
another. Arthur has possession. and
that's nine points" ventured a listener.
Victory For Plumed Knight.
The women had taken great interest
IN this convention and had helped to
decorate the hall and the various head
quarters. My own big stars and
Stripes" which I hang out on Fourth
OF July Decoration day, and on an
gala occasions, covered one side of the
wall 70 that famous room. the ''Ordi-
nary" of the old Grand Pacific hotel.
This was the headquarters of the
Blaine leaders, and all Iowa turned out
20 make il gay and beautiful and
worthy Of the occasion.
When the ballOting began the excite
ment ran high There was no cOnfu-
sion, just the rustling of the leaves,
the stir Of the breeze which heralds the
storm. No one dared hurry the first
tell-tale ballot. II meant too much. But
the crowd did not wait for the official
announcement of the figures Individ-
ual pencils were quick to show that
Blaine was fi1ty-six and One-half votes
ahead of Arthur, with no one else in
sight. The Blaine adherents shouted.
sang, waved their flags, threw their
hats in air and shouted and sang again.
The next ballot was almost as much
dreaded. so it was put off BY the
victoTs as long as possible, and the
cheering and huzzaipE We're kept up