The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1911-01-02

ikOAIiONCu lIuS iIdulOI duu bO-
reft Of the bitterness of interested
participation IN the political cam
paigns of thirty years ago, one may
recall the scenes and portray the re-
suits with degree of calmness and
approximate fairness; and thus one
may be able to add a few lines and
side-lights to the pages of reliable
history.
While the year 1880 wes drawing
to close and 1881 was almost dawn
ing, versatile and virile Frank Hat
ton, of Iowa, said to little coterie
of personal friends:
II am apprehensiye lest General
Garfield may fail to keep his many
pledges. With Blaine in the cabinet
occupying the premier position, all
pledges are liable and likely to be
broken, and the republican party be
disrupted by internal discussions.
Those words were prophetic They
were often referred to in later months
and years by his hearers. That was
the first serious intimation from a
man of superior political sagacity,
that the jubilant and triumphant re-
publican party was being swept to
disaster. Because of the fulfillrnent
of that prophecy Frank Hatton be-
came first assistant postmaster gen.
eral, then postmaster general; with
the result that he settled permanent
ly in Washington where he became
half owner of newspaper property
which was built up into splendidly
prosperous condition by his editorial
and managerial genius.
That year, 1880, had been an event
full one. Its history is morticed into
the history of the following year.
During the summer of 1880 national
political convention had denied a
third term nomination, to the popular
idol, General Grant, after he had been
received with royal honors by the
potentates of all of the nations of
the world.
General Garfield had gone to that
convention as the leader of the
forces OF John Sherman: one Of the
worlds greatest f1nanciers, and a
man who had served his country well
by bringing about the resumption of
specie payments; but Garfield had
been nominated instead of his chief.
Winfield Scott Hancock: properly
called The Superb because of his
splendid character. his military ca
reer, his wounds and sufferings for
his country and his life of purely
patriotic purpose; had been nominal
ed by the democrats. For the first
time since the close of the civil war
the republicans were alarmed. They
had reasons to be for the democrats
were exceedingly militant.
Immediately LITER the announce
ment of the nomination Of Garfield
the "mud-slinging campaign began.
Certain deeds done by Garfield while
in congress. certain social relations
certain business Affiliations which
may be here alluded to but super
finally, gave the democrats an OPP
portunity to make the republican
candidate seem to be wholly UNI
worthy. Thus the republicans began
a defensive campaign. while the
democrats were the confident aggres-
sors.
At that time the balance of power
was conceded to he with "the sol
der vote" more than million sur.
vivors of the union armies having
been welded into an organization
which was said to be non-political,
but nevertheless helpful to the re-
publican party
General Garfield had been sol
der: but General Hancock had been
a bigger and greater. There were
der vote would go to Hancock: at
least in very great measure. How
10 prevent this, how to change this
was problem for the re-
publican managers. Senator Roscoe
conkling. of New York, the leader of
the Grant forces in the national con
vention a natural born, leader of
men. was said to be sulking in his
tent 1t would be reviving contro-
versy even now, to go into details
the political pledges made
oy Gen. Garfield, in order to induce
Senator Conkling to come forth into
he open and champion the ticket
With his influence and with his
eloQuence. Suffice it to say
hat promises and pledges were made
which induced Achilles to come forth
rom his tent and enter the forensic
ray Within day. or an hour, al
most Sin the twinkling of an eye
he situation was changed.
Although the people would not
live third term in the white house
o General Grant he was still
popular idol. Just as Hancock was a
greater soldier than Garfield. Grant
owered above Hancock and all other
soldiers. Influenced by his friend
Jonkling, land Grant could be led
akf Nv, x,,h, y. =,