Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-18
Some Republican History.

Inc wafer carriers 1Or the sacred
elephant will assemble at Chicago on
Tuesday. June 16. to open their 14th
national convention. 1t will be the
seventh republican gathering in that
Icity-Chicago having entertained the
national conventions of 1860, 1868,
1880. 1884. 1883 and 1904.
Times and conditions have>ehanged
wonderfully since the republicans
held their first annual convention in
Philadelphia a little over half cen
fury ago.
The delegates were not chosen then
on the basis of representation which
now prevails. For instance. in the
convention of 1856. New York had 90
delegates, Pennsylvania 81. Ohio So.
In the convention next year New York
will have only IS delegates, Pennsvl-
vania IS, Ohio. 46.
! In the first national convention of
the republican party ali of the dis
| tinctively northern states were repre-
sented. and. in addition. Delaware,
Maryland Virginia and Kentucky. In
| the party's 14th national convention,
which will be held next June. every
state and territory of the union will
| be represented.
/ In 1886 the popular vote for the
republican candidate for president,
John C. Fremont of California was l.
341 264. In 1904 Mr.. Roosevelt re-
ceived 1923, 1856. The state of New
York has more voters now of all par
ties than the entire republican vote
OF so years ago.
The first national convention of the
republican party declared in its plat
form that the maintenance of the
principles promulgated in the Declara-
| ton of independence and embodied in
the federal constitution is essential to
the preservation of our republican in
Istitutions.' 1t rebuked the democratic
party for the latteI's attitude toward
Cuba, and asserted that the big high
wayman's, plea that might makes
right embodied in the Ostend circular.
would bring shame and dishonor upon
any governor or people that gave it
their sanction" Since these declara-
ton were made the United States,
under republican administrations. has
acquired the Philippines and Porto
Rico-and the Declaration of Indepen-
dence and the denunciation of 1.-The
| highwayman' plea" no longer figure
in republican platforms
In the first national convention OF
! the republican party there were two
candidates for the presidential nomi
nation-John c. Fremont of Califor
MIA and John Mclean of Ohio. Nc
Lean was the preference OF the old
time wings, who had identified them
selves with the republican party. Hi
was tainted with ACKNOWLEDGMENT
however. and that was the prime
cause of his defeat
i. When the party held it's SECOND
convention, in Chicago. in 1860, the
New York seemed a foregone conclu
sion bit the honor was bestowed oil
Abraham Lincoln, who wal renom
mated in 1864 by the Baltimore con
: vention. General U. S. Grant wa
t nominated, without dissenting voice
at the Chicago convention of 1868. ant
renommated unanimously at the Phi
adelphia convention in 1872. In tn
convention of 1876 at Cincinnati
!, James G. Blaine led all other cand
dates for the nomination for six ba
: lots, but was defeated on the sevent
by Rutherford B. Hayes On the frs
ballot Mr.. Blaine had 2S5 votes. whic
were increased TO 351 on the seventt
i General Hayes had only 81 votes O
the first ballot and 113 on the. sixth
S On the seventh ballot he received SO
S votes, or six more than were nece:
+ sary to choice. 1t was Blaine agains
r the field-and the field was stronge
i than Names magnetic statesman"
In the convention of 1880. at Oh
d eago, the ''old guard" made a despe
II ate effort TO nominate General Graz
e for a third term. The general led a
h other candidates for So ballots. Til
e unit rule received its death blow i
this convention, and on the Seth ba
: lot James A. Garfield was nominate
IL Blaine was again a candidate. and +
<. ceived almost as many votes up
D. the 35th ballot as General Grant. The
y the"dark horse carried off the priz
d In 1884, at Chicago, Mr. Blaine rea
ST lied his ambition and was nominate
lie for the presidency. but was beaten
. the polls by his democratic opponer
L Grover Cleveland. The Chicago CO
vention of 1888 lasted six days. Jol
~ Sherman of Ohio led for seven ballot
g. On the eighth he was beaten by Be
lg jamin Harrison of Indiana. At Mi
lie neapolis. in 1892, President Harris,
or was renominated on the first ball,
IN but was beaten at the polls by N
IN Cleveland William Mckinley w
Of nominated on the first ballot at S
RI Louis in 1896. and renominated unal
is mouslN at Philadelphia in 1900.
ig 1904, at Chicago, President Theodo
mt Roosevelt was nominated without {
n position.