Evening journal., 1910-07-14
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
An Inside Story Of the
Democratic National Con-
ventiOn of 1880
BY "Ho;iond.~
BY "Ho;innd.-

Al the time Of his third presidential
campaign IN which Grover Cleveland
was the successful candidate for the
Presidency, / had a conversation with
eX-Mayor William r. Grace, of New
York, who took p leading part in the
politics which eliminated in the nomi-
nation of President Cleveland az Chi
cago in 1892 I asked Mayor Grace IL
there was any truth In the report,
widely circulated. that Samuel J. Til
den was not particularly friendly to
Grover Cleveland's nomination in
1884.
Instead of answering my question
Mayor Grace asked in turn: Did |
ever tell you how II happened that
Governor Tilden was not renominated
by his party at the st. Louis conven-
tion of 1880. and how. at last, the con
vention concentrated upon Gen. Han
cock?r
My reply was that the presumption
among Republicans was that Tilden
bad forbidden his friends to make any
EFFORT 90 nominate him
THAT wasn't the reason at all"
Mayor Grace replied. THE real reason
Is known TO few persons only, and
there was an agreement at ST. Louis
that II should not bo told. Tho con-
vention. however, is now so long I'm
the past that | don't think I violate
any condolences in telling you what
the inside history of that convention
was.
Following the Inauguration of
Rutherford b. Hayes as President,
there arose a pretty general feeling
among tho loo Jfr, T,,,,.o,.,t- 4t,.4 -
the next national convention of their
party there was only one course to
pursue as regards the Presidential
nominee. That was to nominate Sam
uel Tilden by acclamation as the
party's protest against the manner in
which Tilden had been treated four
years before. | remember that several
OF us who were close to Mr.. Tilden
talked with him about the matter; and
his position was that the party, to be
| consistent. could do nothing else ex-
cept nominate him by acclamation
Otherwise It could not Justify its claim
that he had been unjustly deprived
OF the office of President, and would
put itself before the country as being
insincere In that declaration. 4 speak
in this manner with entire imperson-
atty said Mr.. Tilden. IT is not be-
cause | am affected, but because of
the principle involved that | wish TO
see this thing done.
Now he went on to say, i shall
write letter which must not be read
or revealed to any one in any way un-
I'll after the party has made its nomi-
nation for President. But when It has
renominated. as 1t should do. the can
didate of 1876 upon the issue that he
was fraudulently deprived of Office in
that year, the letter is TO be read 10
the convention. In it ] shall acknowl-
edge the propriety and consistency of
the action OF the party in nominating
me, and then / shall state that be-
cause OF the precarious condition of
my health II will be impossible for me
TO accept the nomination. In this way
our partys record for consistency will
be unimpeachable. and at the same
time the party will be in a position to
select a candidate whose health will
permit him to make an active can
vass'
I'VE asked Mr. Tilden 10 whom he
would commit his letter and he replied
that he would put II in the hands of
William G. Whitney. under a pledge of
confidence not to reveal IL or its CON
tents or TO let It get out even. that
such a letter had been written until
after the Presidential nomination had
been made
We'll. we went to ST Louis, ready
20 see TO Il that Mr.. Tilden was nomi-