The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-06-16

FA1RBANkS.
the seeessionists. johnson was nom.
mated on the first ballot.
The 1868 convention returned to the
early love, Chicago. May 25 was the
opening date. Crosby Opera House
was the place. The temporary chair
man was Carl Schurz. that remarkable
German American who had become
major general in the Federal army dur
ing the war. General John A. Logan
of Illinois placed General Grant in
nomination The general was nomi-
mated unanimously, the cheering last
ing half an hour No other candidate
was considered. For vice president ex
Senator Henry S. Lane of Indiana
placed before the convention the name
of Schuyler Colfax of his state, speak
er of the national house of representa-
tives, who received the nomination.
AT the convention of 1872, held in
Philadelphia, President Grant again
received a unanimous nomination. An
effort was made to renominate Vice
President Colfax, but Senator Henry
Wilson of Massachusetts was declared
the nominee.
Cincinnati entertained the convention
of 1876. Theodore M. Pomeroy Of New
York presided temporarily, yielding the
gavel to Edward Mcpherson of Penn
sylvania, permanent chairman The
Exposition building was the scene of
the gathering. The convention met
June a. Rutherford B. Hayes of Ohio
was the nominee for president, and
William A. Wheeler of New York was
named for vice president. The Demo
Gratis nominated Samuel ]. Tilden of
New York and Thomas A. Hendricks
of Indiana So close was the election
that the famous electoral commission
of fifteen men was created to deter
mine the issue. The commission de-
clared theC election of Hayes and
Wheeler by a majority of one electoral
vote. In the convention James G..
Blaine of Maine was prominent can
didate, being placed before the house
by Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll of Illi-
nois, who made on that occasion the
celebrated "Plumed Knight" speech.
In referring to a speech of Blaine's in
the house of representatives Colonel
Ingersoll said, Like an armed war
rior, like plumed knight, James G..
Blaine marched down the halls of the
American congress and threw his shin
ing lance full and fair against the bra
zen forehead of every defamer of this
country and maligner of its honor"
In 1880 the Republicans met in Chi
cago, in the Exposition building, de-
scribed by one correspondent as zone
of the most splendid barns that were
ever constructed" Ex-President Grant,
who had been out of Office one term,
was made the issue of this convention.
A strong following proposed to make
him again the candidate, but the op-
ponents of third term were still
stronger.
Roscoe Conkling Of New York placed
Grant in nomination. Conkling was
described by one who saw him in this
convention as man who "has the
physique of gladiator and the man
ner of man who would enjoy being
king" Garfield nominated John
Sherman of Ohio. James f. Joy Of
Michigan made the nominating speech
for Blaine, calling him James Fl. in
stead of James G. Nevertheless there
was half an hours cheering for the
"Plumed Knight" Colonel Ingersoll,
on the platform, snatched a shawl from
lady's shoulders and Joined in
the enthusiasm. A deadlock between
Grant and Blaine resulted In the nomi-
nation of dark horse, Garfield. For
vice president Chester Alan Arthur of
New York was nominated.
In the convention of 1884 at Chicago
appeared as delegate from New York
young man of twenty-six years who
was destined to become foremost fig
ure in Republican councils. His name
was Theodore Roosevelt. He came in
wearing a straw hat and looking boy
ish, according to one of the New York
newspaper correspondents, who thus
described him further: Theodore
Roosevelt, sitting by George William
Curtis, also made a speech, showing
himself for the first time to the west
ern people and being somewhat cheered
His square head, matted with short,
dry sandy hair, and his eyeglasses and
nervously forcible gestures were re-
marked"
Young Mr.. Roosevelt's speech was in
ravor of the selection of John r.
Lynch, the first negro ever selected to
preside over a national convention as
temporary chairman.
The nominees of this convention
were James G. Blaine Of Maine for
president and John a. Logan Of Illi-
nois for vice president.