Year: 1878

the nomination.


To pass the time until the Committee on Resou-
tons should report the Convention called on Judge
West, the defeated candidate for Governor last
year, for speech. The blind orator was helped
upon the platform and made singularly pictur-
esque figure with his gaunt form, his thin
intense, nervous face and his long hair.
one lock of which stood up like plume. His man
ner of speaking was very eccentric. Sometimes he
sat down ON the table sometimes he bent himself
into a triangle leaning upon his cane and pro-
jecting his sharp sentences like shot from a
gun. His speech a bitter nvective against the
Democratic party, Private Dalzel spoke afterward
for few minutes. Then Richard Smith, of The Gin
ciRRdti Gazette brought in the resolutions, which he
half spoiled by poor reading.


The committee had worked for four hours on the
platform. OF course the difficult point was the
resolution referring to the President. Five of the
twenty members opposed all mention of the Presi-
dent or the Administration five wanted a
fat-foOted Endorsement of policy motives
and performances the other ten were for something
that would harmonize the Convention The ten pre-
vailed and the resolution reported had at last the
active antagonism of only one man. 1t was the
best possible compromise of conflicting views.


After the platform was read a delegate moved to
strike out the word Mexicanize and insert anar-
chlzc so as to avoid rejecting upon weak sister
repu6lic General Beatty seized the oppOr-
tunity to ask whether the term Mexican
ize" had any reference to the Presidents action
in allowing the rebels to Mexicanize two Southern
States. A storm of mingled hlsses and applause
was the answer to his question. He was ruled out
of order but he was determined to make a speech
After great deal of tumult the Convention agreed
to hear him, and he mounted the platform, greatly
exalted and evidently in capital condition to





was a violent TRADE against the President Its
effect on the Convention was wonderful. The quiet
and rather solemn gathering was converted IN
stantly into an uproarious mob that filed the hall
with din of Kisses, cheers shouts and angry
cries. which broke ont again and again after every
sentence in Beatty's harangue. The vast audience
of spectators caught the excitement and redOubled
the tumult Beatty had obtained the floor by offer
ing the following resolution. which had been re-
ceived with good deal of favor by the anti-in-
dorsement peoI at the district delegation meetings:


Resolred, That We hereby renew our pledge Of 6dey
the principles Of the Republican party as cnuncated
in the platforms of its National Conventions and lncoI-
sutuuoni anu Whle rccogul lZihS .he ol
differences Of opinion respecting the southern policy OF
inc Improvement of the Civil Service nevertheless
agree IN earnest desire for permanent aeioation
for attainment of Civil Service based on honesty
capacity and experience and in affirming mat me ltle



equity, IN law ana in fact.


Beatty said that the committees resolution in
dorsed the policy Of the Administration, which was
not true of the party in Ohio He declared that the
Southern policy was an outrage on the Republicans
of the South and that the Civil Service policy
was a sham. The veto of the Silver Bill,
he said was intended to defeat the only
measure that could bring the country to
resumption without runing business The Presi-
dent had humiliated and betrayed a great party
he had turned two Republican States over to the
rebel Democracy; he had sought TO conciiiate
Democrats by sacrificing Republicans his policy
was one of cold-bl0Oded ingratitude ana
deliberate tIeachery; 10 was initiated from t1ll-
more, Tyler and Andrew johnson, and had lett
HAYES without a party or q follower. Much OF
Beattv's speech cOuli not be heard on account OF
the continued Interruptions storm of Kisses and
which he flung out his sentences.


When he had finished, there were calls for Cen
referred in q gOOd-tempeTed but cutting wayto
Beatty's performance last year. When be
put nv a boiling movement which Resulted in
turning the state over TO the democracy.
The pIOdgal was welcomed back now, but u did not
become him TO dictate platform TO the party he
had SO lately deserted If every should make
a fuss because his exact ideas not
put into the platform. the party might as
well disintegrate at once lhe resolutions did
not 90 back into the past; they let dead !
issues alone and struck AT the common enemy Of all
Republicans on the live questions Of the day. The
speaker COuuhelltQ ualulohN ilt hdu IItHlucht
Hayes had been faithful as a soldier aud faithful
IN the positions the State bad placed him |
i'm, and was now faithful to to his more exalted !
trust. When General GTOsVcn0r sat down, a dozen
men camored for the floor. but the chairman wisely
pressed a vote on the resolutions Beatty's amend
ment was voted down by an oyerwhel Inning major
itv not more than twenty yeas spoke up for it.
The platform as reported was then adopted by an
almost unanimous vote, and an adjournment fol-
lowed Immediately.


Beatty made a bad bunder. Instead of dividing
the Convention, he solidlfed IT, An Ohio Repubi-
can Convention is not just the place for calling
Rutherford B. Hayes a scOundrel The reaction
from the feeling Of tolerance TO nOn-apprOval.
displayed by a large proportion Of the delegates
toward Beatty's resolution, instantaneous when
he poured out his vias of wrath on the President.
He ruined himself by his speech, and strength
ened President Hayes