ted he would surely have
been defeated. In the then condition of political affairs it is
not certain that any Republican would have been elected.

The weakness of the nomination of Blaine was the strong opposition
to him in the State of New York. The selection by the Democratic
convention of Grover Cleveland as the candidate for President, and
of Thomas A. Hendricks for Vice President, was made in view of the
necessity of carrying the two doubtful States of New York and
Indiana, which it was well understood would determine the election.

I promptly took an active part in support of the Republican ticket.
A meeting to ratify the nomination of James G. Blaine and John A.
Logan was held at Washington, D. C., on the 19th of June, at which
I made a speech, which, as reported, was as follows:

"It is one of the curious customs of American politics that when
anybody is nominated for office, his competitors are the first to
be called upon to vouch for the wisdom of the choice. Perhaps that
is the reason I am called upon now. Though I did not consider
myself as much of a candidate, I am ready to accept, approve and
ratify the action of the Chicago convention. I will support the
nomination of Blaine and Logan as heartily as I have done those of
Fremont and Lincoln and Grant and Hayes and Garfield. And this I
would do, fellow-citizens, even if they were less worthy than I
know them to be of the distinguished honor proposed for them. I
would do it for my own honor. I have no patience with any man who,
for himself or any other person, would take his chances for success
in a political convention, and when disappointed would seek to
thwart the action of the convention. Political conventions are
indispensable in a republican government, for it is only by such
agencies, that opposing theories can be brought to the popular
judgment. These can only be presented by candidates chosen as
standard bearers of a flag, or a cause, or a party.

"That Blaine and Logan have been fairly nominated by the free choice
of our 800 delegates, representing the Republicans of every state,
county and district in the broad extent of our great country, is
admitted by every man whose voice has been heard. They are not
'dark horses.' Their names are known to fame; the evil and good
that men could say of them have been said with a license that is
a shame to free discussion. Traveling in peace and in war through
the memorable events of a quarter