of Utah,
though remaining, protested against the convention's financial
utterance.

The Republican platform lauded protection and reciprocity, favored
annexing the Hawaiian Islands, and the building, ownership, and
operation of the Nicaragua Canal by the United States. It reasserted the
Monroe Doctrine "in its full extent," expressed sympathy for Cuban
patriots, and bespoke United States influence and good offices to give
Cuba peace and independence.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
Garret A. Hobart, Vice-President.
Copyright,1899, by Pack Bros., N. Y.

The first ballot, by a majority of over two-thirds, nominated for the
presidency William McKinley, Jr., of Ohio, the nomination being at once
made unanimous. Garret A. Hobart, of New Jersey, was nominated for
Vice-President.

William McKinley, Jr., was born at Niles, Ohio, January 29, 1843, of
Scotch-Irish stock. In 1860 he entered Allegheny College, Meadville,
Pa., but ill health compelled him to leave. He taught school. For a time
he was a postal clerk at Poland, Ohio. At the outbreak of the Civil War
he enlisted as a private in Company E, 23d Ohio Infantry, the regiment
with which William S. Rosecrans, Rutherford B. Hayes, and Stanley
Matthews were connected. Successive promotions attended his gallant and
exemplary services. He shared every engagement in which his regiment
took part, was never absent on sick leave, and had only one short
furlough. A month before the assassination of President Lincoln McKinley
was commissioned a major by brevet.

After the war Major McKinley studied law. He was admitted to the bar in
1867, settling in Canton, Ohio. In 1876 he made his debut in Congress,
where he served with credit till 1890, when, owing partly to a
gerrymander and partly to the unpopular McKinley Bill, he was defeated
by the narrow margin of 300 votes. As Governor of Ohio and as a public
speaker visiting every part of the country, McKinley was more and more
frequently mentioned in connection with the presidency.

The nomination was a happy one. No other could have done so much to
unite the party. Not only had Mr. McKinley's political career been
honorable, he had the genius of manly affability, drawing people to him
instead of antagonizing them. Republicans who could not support the
platform, in numbers gave fealty to the candidate as a true man, devoted
to their protective tenets, and a "friend of silver."

The Democratic convention sat at Chicago July 7th to 10