tion of all its citizens as a sacred duty; the enforcement of
the Constitutional Amendments was enjoined; and the obligation of
removing any just cause of discontent was coupled with that of securing
to every American citizen complete liberty and exact equality in the
exercise of all civil, political, and public rights; the Public Credit
Act, the measure first signed by President Grant, was referred to with
the declaration that its "pledge must be fulfilled by a continuous and
steady progress to specie payments." The platform also embraced a
distinct declaration for a radical reform of the civil service, making
a broader and more precise enunciation than was contained in the
Liberal platform of 1872, though the assigned reason for that revolt,
as given by its champions, was the alleged hostility of the Republican
party to improvement in the Government service. The Protective policy
was upheld; the extirpation of polygamy was demanded; and an
investigation into the Chinese question, then beginning to distract
California, was recommended.

With the platform adopted, the Convention proceeded at once to the task
of nominating candidates. Mr. Thompson of Indiana presented Senator
Morton. The name of Mr. Bristow was submitted by Judge Harlan, and
supported by Mr. Curtis and Richard H. Dana, jun. Colonel Ingersoll
followed in advocacy of Mr. Blaine, with a speech which placed him at
once in the front rank of popular orators. He was seconded by Mr. Frye
of Maine, and by Mr. Turner, a well known colored preacher from
Georgia. Senator Conkling was eloquently presented by Mr. Stewart L.
Woodford; and Governor Hayes by Ex-Governor Noyes, with a few words of
approval from Ex-Senator Wade. Marshall Jewell was nominated by Mr.
Kellogg of Connecticut; and General Hartranft by Lynn Bartholomew of
Pennsylvania. The speeches, as a whole, were pointed and inspiring.
Under their stimulating influence the Convention was eager to begin
the balloting, but the gathering shades of evening compelled an
adjournment to the next morning.

With the opening of the third day the Convention immediately proceeded
to the first ballot. The result was: Blaine 285, Morton 124, Bristow
113, Conkling 99, Hayes 61, Hartranft 58, Jewell 11, William A. Wheeler
3. Hartranft's 58 was the solid vote of Pennsylvania; Hayes had the
solid 44 of Ohio and a few scattering votes from other States;
Conkling had all but one of New York's 70, with 8 from Georgia,