Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-21

In the centennial year of 1876 national
politics in the United States assumed
that condition that old-time politicians
with tender "reminiscences call normal
That is, the balance between the repuph-
can and democratic parties was so NICE
~ adjusted that every election was III
doubt. that every doubtful state was
battle-ground, and that every victory WAS
a close one This era continued from
1875 until 1896. and in the national con-
vent.ons held during that period more
was heard OF men than OF measures
more OF availa bi!ity than OF advocacy
more of politics than OF principle. On
seauently. those same national conNen-
tons were the fields OF battling amoltiohs
that gave them an epic character
The republican national convention o.
1876 met in Cincinnati June H. zen
Grants second term was drawing 10 q
close, and the air was filled with 'nliu
term talk-gossip of a possibility OF a
stampede filled the newspapers iHeie
was even talk that if the repupHca.s
didn't nominate Grant the democrats
would, but, OF course, that was iheio
talk.
The popular favorite was James G-
Blaine, but the opposition to Blaine was
determined. Conkling, the arrogant anu
able New York leader, was the mp ,1,e :
BILE enemy of the man from Maine. ne
charges made against Blaine in cennecuoil
with the Fort Smith railroad case were
fresh in the public mind. Blame Wa Wa
the great investigated, and the nela ~
was against him, except when Bris,o" u
Kentucky. the leader of the reform eie
ment. was advanced. AS was said at the
time: Blaine will fight Conkling, Morton
will fight both. while all three VIII nsh'
Bristow.''
This was Roscoe Conkling's time to win
the presidency. This was the accep.eu
ernor of Indiana. This was the time 10
nominate Bristow of Kentucky and re-
unite the sections. Ard it was the tiihe
for Blaine to step into the White House
But these things were not to be. TWO
unconsidered and almost unnoticed Ia
vorite sons" were &c
Favorite Sons be the heroes OF
in Stage Center.F Hartranft OF
Pennsylvania and Rutherford b. hayes VI
Ohio. One was to be the unwilling cause
Of the destruction of the unit rule IN re-
publican conventions; the other was to De
the choice for President.
Sunday, before the convention me-
Wednesday. Mr.. Blaine suffered sun
stroke just as he was entering the door
Of a church in Washington, and his serl-
Gus illness then perhaps may have cost
him the nomination. But had he been the
nominee, with the Fort Smith charges
hanging over him, perhaps Tilden woulo
have been President and our whole his
tory would have been changed.
The convention was the first in winch .
whole day was given over to nominal
ing speeches, the first in which the noml-
majors were carefully selected champions
and the first in which convention ora
tory played d part.
When the name of Illinois was called
Robert G. Ingersoll arose and began thai
famous Grafton which has lived by the
sheer glory of its rhetoric and will live
as long as Americans read their politica
history. Period after period fell from
his rich lips. and men who were there fel
the audience depressing. by a supreme eff
fort of it's collective will, the cheers tina
demanded utterance. Then came this:
Like an armed warrior, like plumet
knight. James G. Blaine marched dow
the halls of the American Congress AM
threw his shining lance full and fai
against the brazen forehead of every de
famer of his country and maligner of it
honor