The Washington herald., 1908-02-16

Illinois delegation steadfastly 10 Lincoln
the Indiana and Pennsylvania delega-
tions could De brought 10 his support
and thus give him the nomination This
assurance gave great encouragement to
Linoolns friends and they went out to
seek delegations from other States
OF course, it was not long before the
friends of Seward discovered that some
thing was on foot. but they could not tell
just where the danger lay. AS the time
for holding the convention approached It
was seen that Mr.. Lincoln had made
some headway. but still it was not
thought possible to nominate him. be-
cause nearly all the leaders Of the party
were for Seward, who for years had been
the head and front Of the party. His
great services. his eminent ability, and
his long opposition 10 the demands Of the
South, II was felt entitled him 10 the
nomination.
At Chicago, when the convention was
about to convene, Mr. Curtin saw that
desperate measures would be required TO
overcome the lead Of Mr.. Seward.
Makes Bold Stand.
at a meeting OF the Pennsylvania dele
cation he determined TO take a bold
stand and give his party friends his ulti-
matum. In that meeting he told them
that to carry the State would require all
the Republican votes and at least half
the Know-nothing, leaving the other half
TO divide between the two Democratic
candidates. He further told them he
had assurances from the prominent
KnOw-nothings that II Seward was the
Republican nominee the whole party vote
would be cast for Douglas.
II that were so, it would lose the State
70 the Republicans. He said. moreover.
it would be impossible for him TO be
elected in October. and to lose the State
in October would result in discouraging
the party everywhere.
It was determined 10 call a meeting Of
some OF the Seward followers. together
with the Pennsylvania and Indiana dele
cations, TO talk the matter over. At that
meeting the Seward advocates labored
hard TO maintain their hold and to In
crease their strength. until finally Mr.
Curtin took the floor and IN plain and
unmistakable language reviewed the
whole situation especially as il was in
Indiana and Pennsylvania. He pointed
out that without those two States IL
would be impossible 70 elect the nominee
Of the convention. and the election would
be thrown into the House Of Representa-
tives, where II was certain Mr. Breckin-
ridge would be chosen.
He did not convince the Seward advO-
Gates. and when his patience was worn
out ne pronounced the ultimstum he had
already given 10 the Pennsylvania dele
cation, and that was IL Mr. Seward was
nominated he would return 10 Pennsyl-
vania and withdraw from the race for
governor.
Feared His Withdrawal.
The Pennsylvania delegation knew such
a withdrawal would be fatal 20 all
chances Of carrying the State. as II was
Mr. Curfin's personal popularity that was
relied upon for success. At this announce
ment Of Mr.. Curtin. blank amazement
filed the cOuntenances OF the Seward men.
and this amazement was doubIy increas-
ed when Mr. Lane took the floor and in
a most vehement speech announced that
he would follow the example Of Mr.. Cur
tn, as he had no desire 10 sacrifice him
self in a race THAI would be hopeless. The
Seward men were in despair. but would
nct give up hope, determining 20 fight it
out 90 the end.
What took place at the meeting could
not be kept a secret. and soon rumOrs Of
what Mr.. Curtin and Mr.. Lane had said
began 70 spread around the hotel corri-
dors. There It had its effect Delegates
began to inquire who was favored by
those two well-kn0wn champions Of the
party. At first they were very cautious
in giving any expressions I'm favor Of Mr.
Lincoln. OF any one else, only reiterating
their determined opposition to Mr.. Sew
ard. The friends Of Mr. Chase began
industriously plowing with both the In
diana and Pennsylvania delegations. Cur
tin and Lane admitted the great services
and the eminent abilities Of Mr. Chase.
but they pointed 10 the fact that before
becoming a Republican Mr.. Chase had
been a Democrat and that the mass Of
the Republican party in both Indiana and
Pennsylvania had originally been Wings;
and that while there would be no chance
to draw votes from the Democrats by
q Democrat, so bitter was the hostility
of the old-time Wings many Of them
could not be induced 20 vote for former
Democrat. no matter how good a Repub-
liean he might be then
Lnno an 0Id-time WhiE.
Il was the fact that Mr. Lane had been
an old-time Whlg that had led the party
In his State 10 nominate him for govern
or IN preference to Oliver P. Morton, who
had led the party in 1856.
Curtin and Lane triumphed IN their own
delegations, and eventually swung them
for Mr., Lincoln. This gave an impetus
to the Lincoln boom that carried the day,
and the rail-splitter Of Illinois became the
first Republican President and the savior
Of the Union.
Thus, to Mr. Curtin and TO Mr.. Lane
belongs the credit for putting Mr.. Lincoln
into the White House. He had not been
there very long before Mr.. Curtin discov-
cred that he had been very. greatly mis-
taken in his first estimate Of Mr.. Lincoln,
when he thought the great Illinoisan
would not have the nerve and strength
TO meet every exigency.