The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-05-30

other changes that gave Lincoln
total of 1854.
IngersoIl on Blaine
When the Republican convention
convened at Cincinnati in 1876 Blain
was thought to have safe majority
of the delegates surely for 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 complications from register
ing their real wishes, and there was
probably not moment when had
they all been free to act as they
chose, he could not have received q
large majority.
The speech of Robert G.. Ingersoll
placing Blaine in nomination will go
down in history as a most eloquent
example of convention oratory. When
the speaker finished the stirring trib-
ute to the plumed knight, even the
opponents of the Maine statesman
were stirred to enthusiasm in spite
of themselves. The audience and
delegates rose as one man, those
who bore instructions for other can.
didates vieing with Blaine's most
!steadfast supporters in paying him
the compliment Of unrestrained ap.
lplause. If ballot had been reach
ed that day 1t is doubtful If any pow
er could have prevented Blaine's
nomination. 1t was at this critical
juncture that some OF the cooler
headed of the anti-Blaine leaders re-
sorted to extreme tactics to save the
day. They had the gas clandestine'
ly cut off from the convention hall
so that when night came on adjourn
ment was forced by the darkness.
Overnight the opposing forces re
gained their equilibrium and strug
gled desperately for delay. The key
to the situation was held by thu
Pennsylvania delegation which under
the head OF Simon Cameron. one Of
Blaine's bitterest opponents, was in
; structed to vote for Governor Hart
ranft. At the end of the second da,
of balloting Cameron realized tina
he could not hold the delegates II
line much longer. He therefore pro
posed that the delegation should con
tinue to support Hartranft only 81
long as his vote increased. When l
G fell off they were to be free to vot
as they chose. The Blaine mem
bers of the delegation eagerly &C
, cepted this apparently favorable Pre-
posal Cameron, however, who kne,
-. arguments that would go with tn
southern carpet bag and negro pol
ticians, arranged to have Hartranft
vote increase slightly on each ballo
s. BY this method Hartranft's vote wa
maintained until the break to Haye
II as a compromise candidate came o
u the seventh ballot.
q Grant and Third Terms
u When the Republican nations
u convention met at Chicago on Jun
2, $780, more than three quarters {
20 the delegates were found to be a
T. most equally divided into two pol
10 tical camps. The two leaders whol
e they supported were General Gran
n who was candidate for a thir
d term, and James G. Blaine, who ha
'f been a leading candidate in 1876
81 The two forces were completely o
g ganized and ably led, Rosco Conf
L. ling being In charge of the Grant 70
IS ces, while Senator Hale marshalle
~ the Blaine cohorts,
Grants opponents were fully rea
,e ling that In view of the remarkabl
W manifestation of popularity whic
Il. had been accorded him since his r
It turn in the previous fall from tor
Z, OF the world. their best ground Of a
y, tack was the opposition to a thir
It. term. All attempts to get him
II. commit himself early in 1880 ha
I'd been answered by the terse declar
I'd ton, ! will neither accept nor d
Ie cline an imaginary thing. His su
". porters took heart, however, an
Is when the convention met 1t was eN
n. dent that his followers were con
us dent OF winning.
as Conkling adopted truculent an
1t arrogant attitude in the conventic
he proceedings from the very start thi
at stung the Blaine leaders to ange
an and destroyed all possibility OF col
ed promise. His first act in the CO
ed vention was a play TO the galleri'
and at the same time a studied !
,ts suit of the Blaine faction. He mo