The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-01-31

given consideration by the country,
while at the same time Lincoln was
gaining an overwhelming repute in the
West
George Ashmun s last appearance,
acting the role of a national figure,
was at the republican convention in
Chicago in 1860. This was the conven,
ton that nominated Lincoln for the
presidency and George Ashmun was the
permanent chairman of it. The author.
itatiye biography of Lincoln by Hay
and Nicolay, his secretaries, states that
Ashmun was well chosen to be perma-
nent chairman of the convention be-
cause of his recognized felicity of
speech and knowledge of parliamentary
procedure. 1t is related that he hest.
tated before consenting to become a
delegate to the convention and finally
agreed to go only on the condition that
Lieut.-Gov. Eliphalet Trask, another
| prominent Springfield man of that pc
| Rod, should accompany him.
AS permanent chairman Mr.. Ashmun
governed with consummate skill what
was in many respects the most intense
| In excitement and important in results
| of >a1l the national conventions ever
| held in the United States. When the
convention opened no man knew what
would be its outcome. All realized that
| much thin ice must be crossed, many
| compromises must be effected and
fanatical spirits quelled if the party
was to be able to come from its con-
yention presenting a compact and har.
monious fighting front to it's opponents
IN the coming campaign. Only man
of unusual qualities could have been at
| the helm and steered as well as did
| Mr.. Ashmun. The first two days of
the convention were occupied with the
necessary routine of effecting organiza-
ton and drawing up the platform. On
| the third day it was certain that bal
loting would begin, and crowds hurried
| to the wigwam in a fever of curiosity.
/ William I'll. Seward was the candidate
| of the New York delegation, seconded
| by Michigan, and Abraham Lincoln
was nominated by the Illinois men, Sec
onded by Indiana. There were many
"favorite sons" whose names were
| placed III nomination by their own
states, but every one knew that the
contest was between the East and the
West, Seward and Lincoln.
| The first ballot resulted in giving
Seward 1872 votes and Lincoln 102.
while the other nominees each received
substantial majorities from the delega-
tions of their own states. The New
York delegation was confident, but as
the second ballot progressed its anxiety
began. They watched with eagerness
as the complimentary votes first cast
for favorite- sons were transferred now
to one, now to the other of the recog
nized leaders in the contest, and their
hopes sank when the result of the vote
was announced: Seward 1841a, Lincoln
Isl. Chairman Ashmun had great diff
Guilty in checking the volume of ap
plause that greeted this announcement
Then followed the most intense period
of the convention. Neither candidate
had received a majority and a third
ballot was begun amid a deep suspense,
delegates and spectators alike record
ing each announcement of votes on
their tally sheets with nervous fingers.
The official announcement of the vote
was: Lincoln 2311a, Seward $50. Coun-
ting scattering votes, 465 ballots had
~ ~ n