bstantial unanimity in the national
convention, my name will not be presented to that convention with
my consent.

"This, fellow-citizens, is about all, and is perhaps more than I
ought to say about personal matters, for in the great contest in
which we are about to engage, the hopes, ambitions, and even the
lives, of men, are of but little account compared with the issues
involved."

I proceeded, then, to discuss the political questions of the day.

During the month of April delegates were selected from the different
congressional districts of the state to attend the state convention,
to meet on the 28th of that month. Prior to the convention the
question of the nomination was the subject of discussion in every
district. The sentiment in my favor was clearly expressed in nearly
every county or district of the state. On the 8th of April I wrote
the following letter to a friend:

"McKinley is still in Ohio, and I presume will be there for some
days. I have to-day written to him at Canton covering the points
you name. You had better write to him yourself giving the list of
appointments desired.

"There is a strong feeling that Garfield, in order to save his
district, should go to the Chicago convention as a delegate. He
is placed in a very awkward attitude now. If this district should
be against my nomination it would be attributed to either want of
influence on his part, or, what is worse, a want of sincerity in
my support. In view of the past this would be a very unfortunate
thing for him. This is a delicate matter for me to take any part
in, and I leave it entirely to your good judgment and kind
friendship."

While in Ohio I had a consultation, at Columbus, with Governor
Foster, ex-Governor Dennison, and a number of other personal friends,
all of whom expressed great confidence that by the time the state
convention met, the friendly feeling in favor of Blaine, in some
of the districts of Ohio, would be waived in deference to the
apparent wishes of the great majority. In that event, in case my
nomination should prove impracticable, the whole delegation could
be very easily changed to Mr. Blaine. As to General Grant, though
he had many warm personal friends in Ohio, yet, on account of
objections to a third term, very few desired his nomination.

Prior to the state convention I had an interview with General
Garfield which he sought at my office in the department, and he
there expressed his earnest de