The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1916-06-07


broke forth. An immense charcoal
likeness of Lincoln was unrolled from
the rear gallery. and the entire audi
ence and convention, with the excep-
ton of the New York delegation, In
dulged in the widest enthusiasm for
some minutes. When order was re
stored there were other changes that
gave Lincoln a total of 354
Ingersoll on Blaine.
When the Republican convention con
vened at Cincinnati i'm 1876 Blaine was
thought to have a safe majority of the
delegates surely fc" him. As matter
of fact, he did receive the votes of
majority of the delegates. but not on
any one ballot. Many delegates were
held by instructions or other compiled
tons from registering their real wishes,
and there was probably not mo-
ment when, had they all been free to
act as they chose he could not have
received large majority.
The speech of Robert c. Ingersoll
placing Blaine i'm nomination viii go
down in history as most eloquent eN-
ample Of convention oratOry. When
the spea ker finished the stirring tribute
to the "plumed knight" even the oppo-
nents Of the Maine statesman We're
stirred to enthusiasm in spite of them
selves. The audience and delegates
rose as one man, those who bore in
structiOns for other candidates vieing
with Blaine's most steadfast support
ers in paying him the compliment of
unrestrained applause. If a ballot had
been reached that day it is doubtful II
any power could have prevented
Blaine's nomination. 1t was at this
critical juncture that some of the cool
er headed of the antl-Blaine leaders re-
sorted to extreme tactics to save the
day. They had the gas clandestinely
cut off from the convention hall. so
that when night came on adjournment
was forced by the darkness.
Overnight the opposing forces re-
gained their equilibrium and struggled
desperately for delay. The key to the
situation was held by the Pennsylva-
mia delegation, which. under the head
of Simon Cameron, one Of Blaine's bit
terest opponents. was instructed to
vote for Governor Hartranft. At the
end Of the second day Of balloting
Cameron realized that he could not
hold the delegates In line much longer.
He therefore proposed that the delega-
ton should continue to support Hart
ranft only so long as his vote increased.
When 1t fell of they We're to be free to
vote as they chose. The Blaine men,
beers of the delegation eagerly accepted
this apparently favorable proposal.
Cameron, however, who knew argu-
ments that would go with the southern
carpet bag and negro politicians, ar
ranged to have Hartranft's vote In
crease slightly on each ballot BY this
method Hartranft's vote was main
tanned until the break to Hayes as a
compromise candidate came on the
seventh ballot.
Grant and Third Term.
When the Republican national con
vention met at Chicago ON June 2.
1880, more than three-quarters of the
delegates were found to be almost
equally divided into two political
camps. The two leaders whom they
supported were General Grant, who
was candidate for third term, and
James G. Blaine, who had been lead
Ing candidate In 1876. The two forces
were completely organized and ably
led, Roscoe Conkling being in charge
Of the Grant forces, while Senator
Hale marshaled the Blaine cohorts
Grants opponents were fully reafs-
Ing that In view of the remarkable
manifestation of popularity which had
hoon sccordad him since his return I'm