The Washington times., 1903-12-27


indication that the Republican party
was ready to stand by him.
Grants Determination.
It will be remembered that President
Grant wrote in 1875 20 the chairman of
the Pennsylvania Republican State
convention something about the third
term, which attracted great attention
at the time.
Grant said in that letter that he had
not sought a first or second term, and
that The would not accept a nomination
for a third term unless it should come
under such circumstances as to make il
an imperative duty-circumstances not
likely TO arise" This language was
held by Grants Republican opponents
as binding him not to take a third
term nomination, or at any rate to COM
pei him to constrain his friends not to
attempt to get such a nomination for
him.
Probably Grant did not desire another
candidacy. 1t is altogether probable
that he let this fact be known to Conk-
ling, Logan. Cameron, Forney, and the
others who We're pressing him for an
other nomination. When the convention
of 1880 met, nevertheless, everybody
Grant and Blaine
Nobody, Republican or Democrat. in
the United States was surprised when
Grant was seen to lead the convention
for many ballots. despite the anti-third-
term sentiment. In that convention
Blaine not only represented that two
term unwritten law, but he stood for
his own personal prestige as a leader,
which was greater than that Of any
other member of his party of that DAY
except Grant alone. By concentration
of almost all Of the anti-third-termels
on Garfield. the latter. who had not
been an aspirant at all, but was the
leader of Sherman's forces. was nomi-
mated Nobody doubted, however. that
if Grant had received the nomination
in 1880. even after hard contest. he
would have accepted it and made the
canvass.
Hayes Disclaimer.
Hayes let it be known soon after he
entered the presidency in 1877 that he
would not be an aspirant for a re-eleo-
ton. Tilden, Hayes unsuccessful COM
petitor in 1876. also disclaimed any de.
sire for another nomination. He let that
be known formally 10 his friends shortly
before the convention of 1850 met.
This was published in all the papers
Of the country at the time. There were
Democrats, however. who wanted %
make an issue of the crime Of 1876" as
they called the decision Of the electoral
commission, which. in the disputed
cent, seated Hayes.
These advocates OF the "old ticket"
were powerful in the party for time.
but the loss Of the election Of 1876 hit
Tilden's prestige and the military record
of General Hancock did the rest. In the
voting in the convention Of 1880 Hancock
led OF on the first ballot, and was nomi-
rated on the second.
After many ballots the shifting Of the
different delegations 70 the winning side
took place Some OF the delegates, how
ever. voted for Tilden 10 the end. and
II was said at the time that the sage OF
! Undertook expected the nomination,
and that he was angry because all eX-
cept three dozen Of the delegates had
taken him at his word and voted for
somebody else.
Chase's Failure.
Shortly before the conventions Of 1855
it was known that Chase, then Chiel
1 Justice, would accept the Democratic
/ nomination for President in that year
/ longed to almost every party, in sue
! cession, which had appeared in his day
/ He had been Democrat, a Liberty
/ party man, a Wing, a Free Soiler, and
| a Republican AS Republican he had
| been elected governor Of Ohio and Sen
/ ator from that State, and as a Re
! publican he had been an active aspir
| ant for the nomination in the conven
/ ton Of 1860, which gave Lincoln tht
candidacy.
He served in Lincoln's Cabinet and
| while there he aspired TO the candidacy
OF 1864, knowing that his chief wanted
the denomination, but he stepped out Of
the race long before the convention
met, and retired from the Cabinet sooT
| afterward.
When on the Supreme Bench. to which
he was appointed by Lincoln, he gradu
ally diverged from the Republicans OF
| some of the issues connected with tn
reconstruction policy. leaned towarC
| Johnson's side in the Impeachment pro
| ceedings, and announced himself a Dem
ocrat a few months before the CNnven
ton of 1868 met. He drew up a plat
form Of principles 10 which he sub
scribed, declared that he did not thinl
he would be available as a Democrat,
| candidate. but nevertheless was read!
| TO accept the nomination If twO-thirdi
Of the convention offered il 10 him.
! Vallandigham.w who had opposed Chase
| greenback ideas when promulgated first
I'm 1862. and who was against the entir
/ policy Of the Administration of thos
! days OF which Chase had been a part
was an ardent Chase man in the con
/ ventlon in Tammany Hall. which pu
| up the Democratic ticket Of 1868, bu
! the sentiment in favor of the Chief JUS
tice, II there were any such, never man
ifested itself in the convention.
Seymour, Dark Horse.
! The man who became the nominee o.
the Democratic convention Of 1868. Ho
ratio Seymour. had not been prominent
lly mentioned outside Of hts own Stat,
in connection with the candidacy o
that year previous to the meeting o.
the convention. He had been conspicu
Gus IN New York politics for manl
years, had been a member Of the Legls
lature, was governor of the State dur
ing part OF the civil war, and preside,
over the convention which nominate,
- r. H.. q