Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-07-02
DEMOCRACY
IN HISTORY
DENVER CONVENTION WILL BE
TWENTIETH THOUGH PARTY
HISTORY TRACES BACK OVER
100 YEARS.

At this time, on the eve of the dem
ocratic national convention, 1t Is in
teresting to recall the great conven-
tions that have been held by that
party in the past. The convention
which opens at Denver next Tues
day will be the twentieth national
assemblage Of the democratic party.
while the. one held recently in Chi
cago was only the fourteenth repub-
lican national gathering. But the
democratic party surpasses the re-
publican in age much more than
this difference would indicate. Born
in 1871, and christened by Jeffer-
son a year or so later, the demo-
cratic party has long since passed
the century mark in its life.
The convention system of choos-
ing candidates for president and
vice president superseded the con-
gressional caucus method in 1881.
IN December of that year the wings
met in Baltimore and nominated
Henry Clay for president and John
Sergeant for vice president. In The
following May the democrats met in
the same city, ostensibly fog the pur-
posa of selecting a candidate for
vice pres'd mt, bot it assumed the
responsibility of nominating a cam
d'aete for president, Andrew Jack
son. and Martin Van Buren, for vice
president. 5 " *N&# sF# 4
IN lot ny r,.u H.. r.
democratic convention OF 1899 but
lit adopted a resolution which pros
vided for the. perpetuation of the
delegate convention system Of Sc
Letting the party candidates for
president and vice president The
two-thirds rule was then adopted.
sin 1885 the democrats met again
at Baltimore and nominated Martin
Van Buren, for president and Rich
ard M. johnson of Kentucky for
vice president. The opposition de-
clined to make a nomination in con-
vention. hoping to throw the cleo
: ton into the house OF representa-
/ tives. Van Buren, was successful in
this election. the opposition voting
generally for General Harrison in
stead of Henry CLAY, who was the
idol of the whig party. In 1914 the
two-thirds rule was used for Van
Buren's overthrow. Though he had
been defeated in the election four
years previously by General Harri-
son. the nomination of Van Buren,
was conceded by most of his ene-
mics. But the ax-president on the
eve of his nomination wrote a let
ter on the subject Of Texas annexa-
ton which offended a. large portion
of his southern admirers and result
ed in his defeat in the convention.
On the first balloS Van Mren. had
a majority, but less than two-thirds.
On the eighth ballot. James K.
Polk, ex-governor Of Tennessee, re-
cslvsd the nomination. and In the
following November he was elected
In lS4e the democratic conven.
ton at Baltimore nominated Lewis
Case. who was defeated in the cleo.
ton by General Taylor, the whie
candidate. In 1862 the democratic
convention again assembled In Bal.
Gmore, this time ON the first dag
OF June. General Cass led at the
beginning Of the balloting. but on
the forty-ninth ballot the nomina.
tion went to Franklin Pierce. . dark
horse. In 1856 the democratic con.
vention went west for the first
time, meeting in Cincinnati. James
Buchanan was named for presiden,
and John c. Breckenridge for vic.
president.
The most fateful convention II
the history OF the democratic part!
; was that held at Charleston ir
1860, which split the party into {
northern and southern section, eacl
; of which held convention at an
other place, put up ticket of 1T
own, and made separate canvass
Stephen A. Douglas was the candi
> date Of the regular" convention
which met at Baltimore, and a
Richmond the seceders from tn
Douglas convention nominate,
Breckenridge. Abraham Lincoll
l
> was the successful nominee OF tn
republicans. In 1864 the democrat
= met at Chicago and nominated Gen
eral Mcclellan for president an
George H. Pendleton for vice presi
dent. In the convention of 1875
q the only one ever held in New York
9 Seymour was nominated, but wa
easily beaten by Grant in the cleo
h ton. The 1872 convention accept
ed Horace Greeley. and Grant re
v peated his victory OF 1868. In thei
r convention of 1876 the democrat,
X | meeting at St. Louis. nominate
their strongest and ablest man. Til
v den. and came within one vote il
q the electoral college OF electing hin
a and in 1880. with General Hancoc
as their standard-bearer. they mad
r an active canvass. which was decid
ed against them by the vote OF Ne,
York. Cleveland and Hendrick
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