The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-14

5
 Der election in Maine is one of the
 few ante-election "straws still teft
 from the old days Twice In he his
 tory of the country the news from
 Maine" in September was portenfious.
 In ls40 1t accurately indicated lnat
 Harrison would sweep the country
 In 1880, forty years later, 1t showed
 that the Republicans were in terri ble condition and in danger of being
 wiped of the earth. The Democrats
 became too confident. the Republicans
 put almost superhuman energy into
 the fight. and Garfield won by very
 small majority. Even then if 1t had
 not been for the treachery of Tam
 many Hall, the Republican light would
 have been lost.
 The campaign of 1880 stands out as the one Presidential contest tn
 which political manipulation and chica-
 nery oyershadowed everything else.
 Both Garfield and Hancock were nom
 mated by shrewd manipulation in the
 face of the fact that the majority in
 each party preferred another man.
 Garieid faced what seemed certain
 defeat from knifing by great leaders
 in his own party. The Republican
 breach was closed by the making of many promises, most of which could not be fulfilled. Tn the Democratic party the leaders who were battling for reform" were outwitted by the practical politicians and the very same practical politicians committed party hari-kari in the closing days of the campaign.
 The Republican National Convention at Chicago in 1880 was the scene of the greatest battle ever fought for political nomination. General Grant. having returned from a triumphal tour around the world, was an active can didate for c third term. He had the support Of hosts of the Republican voters and of the shouting masses. James c. Blaine was the favorite of the politicians and Of majority of the Republicans who were not car rted away by the glamor of Grants military fame. Blaine was the most magnetic leader his party has had, and his following was . personal one. Opposed to Blaine was the able and austere Roscoe Conkling, Senator from New York. Because he hated Blaine, rather than because he loved Grant Conkling led the Grant forces in the convention. He placed Grant in nomi- nation in the famous speech began. ning:
 If you ask what State he halls from. Our sole reply shall be-.
 He comes from Appomattox,
 And its famous apple tree"
 But in the closing sentences of his speech he nortally offended Blaine supporters and they swore that Grant should be defeated. even if Blaine could not win. For days and days the bat- tie waged, the Grant and Blaine forces holding firm, and each Of dozen other candidates hoping to be the lucky dark horse.
 John Sherman, of Ohio, was a serious candidate, he thought, and his name had been placed in nomination by James A. Garfield. GArtieldts speech was adroit and eonctiiatory and while he was speaking for sherman there were responsive cries from the house for Garfield. At the beginning of the second week, on the thfrty-sixth bal lot, the Blaine column marched soldly to Garfield, the break having been led by Wisconsin. The wisconsin delega- tion decided upon Garfield over Wil- liam Wtndon by a margin of but one vote. Had Windom received that State he might have captured the nomtna- ton. When Garfield was nominated there were still 306 delegates voting for Grant. 'aThe Immortal 30e," they were called. and gold medals were struck for them in commenaoration of the stand they made. It was the only effort to obtain third term ever made by any President.
 ConkIing was furious over the nomi- nation of Garfield, whom he did not trust. He refused to select the Vice Presidential candidate. but the com vention named Chester A. Arthur, just because he was friend of Conkling. We sometimes make Presidents so. General Grant was also chagrined. and for a time he and Conkling were agreed to knife the ticket and defeat Garfield. The balance between the great leader sulking in the tent. on l Affha~ aidA meant defeat.
 But later in the campaign, after the news from Maine came in, peace was restored. The greenbaclker movement i was spreading over the country aud In | Maine there was 2 pemoeratie-gSrssen1. for Governor. PIaisted, defeated the | Republican nominee and 1t was cer- 1 tain that Maina's eoltdly Republican 1 delegation in Congress would be brok- en up. The greenbGckers were in- turing the Republican party more than the Democrats at that time, although | fhe condition was reversed in later | years.
 throw of Republican power caused the narty leaders to bury their factionaI | differences. conklins at last con. sunrerne sacrifice of personal feelings, | ConkIing persuaded General Grant to 1 tska me stump for the frst time in | his life to speak for Garfield That | stonnkd the incipiant revolt which | threatened irretrievable disaster to the | party. .-.,o .. , r,,r1 ana in spite of the sentiment of | StnS.tenths of the Democrats of the l ca,,n+rv and in spite of the proteSts 1 of its vIsest leaders, 1t nominated Gem erai Winfield Scott Hancock for presi- | dent. It was not that the Democrats | aid not like Hancock, for he was very | popular and had been mentioned as a l canidate for president in every con- vention since the war.
 But the Democrats. and many of the independents, too, wanted Samuel J. Tilden terminated. Give us the old ticketl" they cried. Let us nght 1t out with the Fraud of TT for our issuew Although Hayes had made 6 good president, although his dministra- ton had restored peace in the country | and although specie payments had been resumed and a dollar was once more a dollar. there were none so poor as to do Hayes honor. He had not pleased his own party politicians and the De- mocrats hated him because they be- lieved he was president by grace Of fraud.
 Tammany Hall hated Tilden. and Tammany Hall told the Democrats at l Cincinnati that they would knife him. | It was a convention of politicians and | they listened to Tammany. But they | neglected to extract a promise from | FTf-. he