had a candidate more distinctively her own.
Rutherford B. Hayes had been chosen Governor the preceding year under
circumstances which attested his popular strength. In 1873 the
Democrats had elected the venerable William Allen, and had won a still
more emphatic victory the following year in choosing members of the
House of Representatives. In 1875 the Republicans put forward General
Hayes to defeat Mr. Allen and reclaim the State, and his success
vindicated the wisdom of their choice. He had already served two terms
as Governor, and was regarded as a safe and judicious executive. He
was entirely free from factional entanglements, and was considered by
many wise political leaders to be a peculiarly available candidate.

--The delegates from Pennsylvania, like those from Ohio, presented
their Governor as a candidate. But worthy as General Hartranft was
conceded to be, the circumstances surrounding the movement for him
inspired the general belief that he was brought forward less with the
expectation of a serious effort on his behalf than for the purpose of
making his candidacy the means of holding the delegation in hand.

--The only other candidate who had an active support was Mr. Blaine of
Maine.

The National Convention met at Cincinnati on the 14th of June and
became at once the centre of popular attention. Among the delegates
were many men of position and influence in their respective States, and
some with national reputation. Massachusetts sent E. Rockwood Hoar,
George F. Hoar, Richard A. Dana, jun., and James Russell Lowell. Among
the Maine delegates were Eugene Hale, William P. Frye, Nelson Dingley,
jun., Charles A. Boutelle, and Seth L. Milliken. General Hawley and
Samuel Fessenden came from Connecticut, and Governor Van Zandt and
Nelson W. Aldrich from Rhode Island. New York had a strong
representation, including Alonzo B. Cornell, Theodore M. Pomeroy,
James N. Matthews of the _Buffalo Express_, George William Curtis,
Stewart L. Woodford, Clarence A. Seward, William H. Robertson, Charles
Emory Smith, then editor of the _Albany Journal_, Frank Hiscock, and
Thomas C. Platt. The Ohio delegation was led by the venerable Senator
Wade and by Governor Noyes. J. Donald Cameron, then Secretary of War,
Henry M. Hoyt, afterward Governor, General Bingham, John Cessna, and
Edward McPherson, appeared at the head of the Pennsylvania forces.

Among other notable delegates were Robert G. Ingersoll and Charles B.
F