Evening star., 1934-06-10
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

The nomination Of James G. Blaine
for the presidency by the Republicans
~. in 1884 Immediately
hepuDllcan evoked hostility on
Disaffection. the part of factions
opposed to him and
reports of a purpose to oppose the
ticket of Blaine and Logan came from
various quarters. The Star of June
9, 1884, thus summarizes the situa-
ton:
The talk of bolt against Blaine
and the hostile attitude of several in
fiuential Republican newspapers ma
turally calls to mind the 'anything-to-
beat-Grant' movement in 1872. When
in the Spring of that year it became
apparent that Grant would certainly
get the Republican nomination.
large and intelligent element in the
Republican party organized a bolt in
advance of the Philadelphia conven-
ton. The leaders included several
men of national reputation and influ-
ence, such as Senator's Sumner, Trum-
bull, Upton, Ferry, Schurz and Fen
ton and many other politicians OF
note, as for instance Long John
Wentworth. Stanley Matthews, Gen
Cochrane, Judge Hoadley, Gov. Cur.
tin. Messrs. Dorsheimer, Waldo
Hutchins. Julien and Col. Mcclure
The political philosophers were repre-
sented by Charles Francis Adams
Horace White. Theodore Tilton, VIII
liam Cullen Bryant, David A. Wells
Edward Atkinson and many others OF
distinction.
THE boilers convention met In
May and after stormy session nomi-
mated Horace Greeley and B. Gratz
Brown. The chief difference was OF
the tariff. the free traders generally
claiming that they were betrayed BY
the nomination of such stiff protec.
tionist as Greeley. but the ticket was
accepted with tolerable unanimity
and, as every one remembers, was SUBJ
sequently swallowed with a very wry
face by the Democrats in their con.
vention at Baltimore. And every
body knows, too. that at the election
in the Fall Grant was reelected BY
an overwhelming majority.
"Thus, while it will not do to be.
little the present outcropping of dis
affection in the Republican ranks, the
'kickers' should be admonished by his
tory not to overestimate their impor-
tance. Grant was fully as well hateo
by the independents in 1872 as Blaine
is in 1884. and the leaders of the re.
volt were, as the list just given shows
men of recognized eminence and sup
posed great influence. The newspa-
pers which swung away from ortho-
doxy to support Greeley were, also
among the most powerful in the coun-
try. But the movement failed utterly
so utterly and shamefully that its
champion died of chagrin.
The conditions of the problem are
In many respects different now from
what they were in 1872. The war IA
further away; the need Of a strons
government Is Jess felt; the South /.
freed from bayonet rule; the Repub.
ncan party is weaker; the Democratic
party Is stronger, and independence
In politics is more the fashion. Sucb
a revolt as that which swept Cleve.
land into office in New York with 200.
600 majority in 1882 would scarcely
have been possible In 1872. II the
Democrats are wise enough to select
Just the right man, it is not unlikely
that, without destroying their own
organization. as they did by takint
Greeley in 1872, they can win ovel
enough independents to defeat Blaine
in the States where party allegiance
sits hghtest In New York and Mas.
sachusetts, both doubtful States, ane
whose united vote would, with the solic
South, elect Democratic President.
the independents are ripe for revolt
provided they are given a satisfactory
candidate by the Democrats. wha,
Is that party going to do about it,"