Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-27
New NEWS OF YESTERDAY
When Lincoln's Son Refused to
Lead His; Party.
Robert r. Was Urged to Accept Nom
ination for the Presidency in 1884,
But Declined Because of 10y
atty to Arthur.
BY E. i. EDWARDS.

A few hours after the nomination
Of James &. Blaine for president By
The Republican national convention al
Chicago, in 1884, and the nomination
Of Gen. John A. Logan as vice-presi-
dent, the late Gen. James H. Hustled
came to my room and, taking seat
by the desk al which | was writing,
said to me: You needn't put it in your
dispatches that the ticket which has
just been nominated is doomed 10 de-
feat; but ! tell you that it is and that
the Republican party has made
grave blundsr in nominating Blaine.
! heard what General Hustled said
with interest, because knew that he
was one Of the best judges Of political
conditions in New York state, at Least
in the Republican party He had been
many times speaker of the lower
house Of the New York state legisla'
ture; he was the intimate friend OF ali
the leading politicians of each party,
and he was always great admirer OF
James G. Blaine.
Are you sorry that Blaine has been
nominated" asked.
Eyes. am sorry for his sake and
for bis party's sake, because ] am con
fident he is doomed 10 defeat" was
the reply. And am especially sorry
because, but for one thing. ne could
have named a candidate who would
have swept the country, whose nomina
ton and election would have wiped
out all factional troubles in the Repub
lican party"
WHO is tbat?" I asked.
Robert I. Lincoln" General Hustled
replied. Il can tell You confidenlially
now that a movement was begun i'll
Illinois some months ago which had
for its object the nomination Of RoberI
T. Lincoln for president by acclama'
tion by this convention after the frs
complimentary ballot had been taken
The movement had the support G.
many OF the friends of General Logan
and ! am sure ii would have received
the support of nearly all the leading
politicians of the Republican party had
the opportunity come 10 them TO give
that support.
~ Months ago all Of the strong Re
publican leaders realized that if Blaine
were nominated by this convention
Senator Roscoe Conkling's friends il
New York would knife him at tn
polls. | myself am certain hat enough
Of Conklirg's friends will knife Blaine
at the election in November to cos,
him the electoral vote Of New York
state. You know. the quarrel between
Conkling and Blaine was never healed.
On the other hand. it was doubtful
whether President Arthur If he were
nominated, could carry New York state.
SO it was suggested early in the spring
OF this year that we look arounu 10 see
if We could not find some candidate
who would receive the support of all
factions OF the party and who would
be certain 10 carry New York state.
From some Of General Logan's
friends in Illinois the suggestion came
that we take UP Robert 7. Lincoln. i
was a splendid suggestion; The move
ment that sprang from it made consid'
cradle Roadway. so that at last it was
thought best 10 put matters before Lin
coin himself. | think the better way
would have been to say nothing. but
at The right moment 10 have stamped
ed the convention for him. But per.
sonal friends Of Lincoln were asked
TO approach him and lay the matter be
fore him This they did. and after
that the movement must stop then and
there. They said that Lincoln had told
them that he was the only member o.
the Garfield cabinet whom President
Arthur had retained throughout his en-
tire administration; he knew that Ar
thur craved nomination; not so much
that be might be president again as
that there might be vindicalion Of his
difficult administration: under The cir
cumstauces he felt that it would be
rank disloyalty 10 President Arthur, his
chief. if he were 10 permit any move.
mcnt Of this kind 20 be made: and,
finally. if it went ahead without his
consent, ne should take adequate
steps 10 put stop TO it.
That ended il. So, today. Blaine was
nominated And certain defeat is be,
fore us. Bat do YOU suppose that there
would have been, any check to the en-
1husiasm Of the old Republicans az
they contemplated the opportunity OF
voting for the son Of Abraham Lin.
coin for PRESIDENT
copyright. 1911. by T.. J. Edwards. All
Rights Rcserved)