The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-06-28
OBSERVATIONS.

i"'hei was an Old Line Wing,
and l can just recall the days wher
that party broke up; among othe,
sayings that l used to hear that sro,.
my childhood ear that memory re.
tains was the saying Politics are run
ming high," a suggestion of the oce,r
tides that we are accustomed to see
l can Just recall the nomination q,
'eneFai Scott by the Wings in 1852
with Franklin Pierce by the Demo,
Gratis; and then the coming Of III.
know-Nothing party and the expir;po
walls OF the Wings. Democrats tool
small men, who not having been be.
tore the people much, not much could
De said against them; and he cited
foik' Cass and Pierce by the Demo.
Gratis as against Clay, Taylor and
Scott by the Wings. In 1856 the frs,
national convention of the new Re.
publican party was held and nominal.
ca Fremont, and the Democrats MI,
up that old public functionary" James
buchanon, called in derision "Old
PUB. Func.," another Small man.
Then in 90 came the nomination o,
Lincoln by the Republicans, Brock.
enridge by the Southern Democrats
Douglass by the Northern Democrats
and Bell by the Union party, mostly
old Wings. Altho only boy | recall
when the news came Of the nom;n,.
ton of Lincoln, people in the cas-,
asked who is Lincoln?" They knew
Of Seward Of New York, Cameron OF
Pennsylvania, Bates of Missouri, and
Chase of Ohio, and half dozen 9th.
ers, but Lincoln was little known east
of the Hudson. We all found out who
Lincoln was. Then in 1864 l recall a
STRAW vote" by soldiers in the field
as between Mcclellan and Lincoln; in
my company there were four or five
votes for Little Mac" or "the Amer.
lean Napoleon" and all the other:
for Lincoln.
| recall stage ride over the Con.
necticut hills early in the year 1868
before the National conventions hao
been held One of the travellers was
state government clerk, and being
in the midst of the political boilina
was supposed to know more of the in.
side thoughts of the leaders; he was
wise; he laid it down as fundamental
fact that Grant would not be a candi.
date; for, if he was wise, he would no,
leave his lifelong position as general
OF the army, a rank which only Wash.
ington had held before, to mix ir
party politics; it would be goot
for him if he never had done so; bu
he did it; Sherman was wiser anc
would not do it. The campaign tc
re-elect Grant was hot one; very hot
And his second term was a tial fol-
him and worse one for the Republi
can party; and then came the nomi
nation of Hayes by the Republican:
and Tilden by the Democrats, and the
outcome that left all in doubt; tina,
was a time that tried American insti
tutions; when it was claimed by some
Democrats that the Republican:
would STEAL" the presidency, and the,
threatened to fight. it is reported thai
Senator Gordon of Georgia calmly
said Gentlemen, l once appealed
to arms and fought four years; if an,
of you desire to fight over the out
come of this election leave me out;
have had enough" And calmer view.
prevailed, and the Electoral commits
sion" resulted with its celebrated de
cision of Eight to seven," by which
the election was given to Hayes. Ane
l presume that no man ever did know
or will know, to which party the votes
of South Carolina, Florida and Lou
isiana really belonged. The 4th o
March came on Sunday, and Senator
Ferry of Michigan, as president pre-
tenn of the senate, was really acting a!
president for one day. bridging ove'
the gap from Grant to Hayes. 1t wa'
a most undesirable position for botf
Hayes and Tilden, and each held him
self we'll in hand as patriotic Ameri
cans. The crisis so strained republi
can institutions as to make then
creakl But the good Ship of State
righted herself safely.