st showed no preponderance for
either, and was broken among many candidates. New York was solidly
for Payne, but made little impression because Payne's own State of
Ohio stood for Senator Thurman. Judge Field of California and
William R. Morrison of Illinois had the support of their own States,
with a few scattering votes. The multiplicity of candidates indicated
the lack of a definite sentiment and a clear policy. The first ballot
gave Hancock 171, Bayard 153-1/2, Payne 81, Thurman 68-1/2, Field 65,
Morrison 62, Hendricks 49-1/2, Tilden 38, with a few votes to minor
candidates. On this test the Convention adjourned for the day, and
during the night combinations already inaugurated were fully completed,
by which Hancock's nomination was made certain. The next day opened
with the announcement that New York had withdrawn Payne and fixed
upon Randall as its choice, but it was too late. The second roll-call
ended without a decision, but before the result was declared Wisconsin
changed to Hancock. This was followed by a similar move from New
Jersey, and immediately State after State joined in his support until
he had 705 votes,--leaving of the whole Convention but 30 for Hendricks
and 2 for Bayard. William H. English of Indiana, who had served in
Congress during Mr. Buchanan's administration, was nominated for
Vice-President. The platform, in marked contrast with the elaborate
document of the preceding campaign, was a compact and energetic
statement of the Democratic creed. It embodied a fatal declaration in
favor _of a tariff for revenue only_, made vehement utterance on the
alleged election fraud of 1876, demanded honest money of coin or paper
convertible into coin, and gave a strong pledge against permitting
Chinese immigration.

General Hancock's nomination was greeted with heartiness amounting to
enthusiasm. He had received a military education at West Point; he had
been brevetted in the Mexican war for gallant conduct at Contreras
and Cherubusco. In the war for the Union he had acquired high rank as
a commander. He distinguished himself throughout the Peninsular
campaign and at Antietam. He added to his fame on the decisive field
of Gettysburg. He was with Grant during most of the campaign which was
crowned with final triumph at Appomattox, and bore a conspicuous part
on its bloody fields. Brave, gallant, and patriotic, a true soldier
and a chivalrous gentleman, he was a worthy representative of that