Show little bandwagon band wagon journeys dy by L T MERRILL av A E 1918 1928 western newspaper paper union 21 grants first nomination IN 1864 the republicans had bad nom dilated and elected a democrat a lee ice president in the hope of securing northern democratic support for or the winning of the civil war four years later wita that Deino democrat cral in the white house as the result ot of Lincol ns assassination the senate after a long quarrel between 36 johnson brison and the radical republican faction in congress over southern reconstruction problems was going through an lm irn peach ment trial to get rid of johnson is as chief executive and simultaneously at Cros bys opera house in chicago the republican convention that called itself the national union republican convention was busy nominating another democrat for president ulysses S grants political leanings and affiliations always had been democratic the one vote for resident president tie be had previously cast in his life had been for a democrat buchanan in arid and had bad he lived long enough in illinois to acquire residence there he would have voted tor for stephen A douglas rather than for lincoln to in but his brilliant military leadership n the civil war had made grant a prize to be sought by both parties the course he was called upon to play piny in political events in washington tol fol lowing the war soon allied him with the republicans he was drawn into the quarrel between johnson and congress agal against rist the president thenceforward the general was an ardent advocate of johnsons impeachment and any democratic leanings he be may have had vanished overwhelming republican demand for his nomination quickly materialized in numerous local and district meetings and conventions so strong was the grant sentiment by may 20 the day on which the convention assembled bled at chicago that that gath ering was virtually only a ratification meeting which was able to finish its transactions in uie lie unusually short time lime of two days gen john A logon logan of illinois see pec ond commander of the G AR made the speech nominating grant in the name of the loyat loyal citizens soldiers and sailors of this great republic of the united states of america to lo the name naine of loyalty of liberty of hu maffly of justice in the name of the national union republican party the vote tor for grant was declared unanimous amid long continued cheering which was intensified by the low ering back of the stage of a large full length portrait of the general hearing bearing the legend match him then while cheers and songs re sounded a white dove was released to fly about thi the hall ball that s symbolism was to find fand further expression in the culminating sentence of grants formal acceptance of the nomination let us have peace he said the sentiment became a republican keynote for the campaign in the meantime as both parties bad been eager to capture grant as their standard bearer another public uan man of national prominence fished and fished in val vain fot for the nomination of ath parties ile he was salmon P chase of ohio whose keen desire for foa the highest office beame alm almost a manla QT as the new york tork journalist put pui it t what ap other men aien J g a far or the he presidency seems to have jave been in chase a lust tor for it even title he wae wa serving as lin coins secretary of the tee treasury chase was scheming and pulling the wires for the Re republican aiom in 1861 1864 despite what les less magnanimous presidents might have co considered eda an n evidence of dia loyalty byh fly lincoln not only retain pd phase in th the a as pa Q A as he 4 would stay aay but bu irett later rewarded him apap lyme nt 10 0 be 00 chiet chief justice 94 p he pinito states supreme court upon the death ot of chief ju justice alce taney apse famous dred scott decision had had bad so much to do with bringing the slavery controversy to a climax As chief justice occupying the post alon of all deemed most removed from partisan politics chase abase continued his nomination fishing in both parties convinced him early ial A 1808 that as a presidential I 1 they 1 oula lime baie rep 94 0 bm then aea nea at at I 1 the time he was presiding at taj the impeachment p 9 n trial rial ot 04 resident A adrew johns johnsen an he condu ica aiani maneuvers through personal cor car W 1 hia aspirations tor for the demo cratic lulor were no longer a 13 secret many democrats sized up his availability favorably at first ue lie aks v ready to yield most principles with which he be had been wen iden tilled save one he stood orm tor for versal negro suffrage when tills ex chuon became became clear his aspirations no longer were seriously considered the uncompromising 04 0 the chief justice on bat oe issue abely vo cost MI tp alie be Demo cralle now nom nation tp oppose grant go 0 that campaign role went to another man who not dot only did not want to undertake it but at first vl vigorously refused to do so though he be was later persuaded to make a run against the adol do of 0 the hour in a contest that was almost sure to prove hopel hopeless esit |