which the Constitution offered no bar, could be urged
for the same reason with still more cogency. Such apparently logical
action would not only necessarily familiarise the public mind, already
disturbed by the increasing depression to business caused by the
turmoil incident to quadrennial elections, with the idea of a
perpetual Presidency, but it would foster confidence in personal
government, and encourage the feeling that approved experience, as in
the case of trusted legislators, is necessary to the continuance of
wise administration.

Party reasons also furnished effective opposition. German voters,
especially in New York and Wisconsin, early disclosed an indisposition
to accept Grant even if nominated, while the Independent or Scratcher
voiced a greater hostility than the Cornell nomination had excited.
Never before had so much attention been given to a political question
by persons ordinarily indifferent to such speculation. Anti-Grant
clubs, springing up in a night, joined the press in ridiculing the
persistent talk about the need of "a strong man," and charged that the
scheme was conceived by a coterie of United States senators, managed
by former office-holders under President Grant, and supported by men
who regarded the Hayes administration as an impertinence. Matthew
Hale, in accepting the presidency of the Albany Club, declared the
movement to be at war with American traditions and with the spirit of
American institutions.[1666]

[Footnote 1666: The Albany Club was organised early in January, 1880.]

Such acrimonious antagonism quickly uncovered the purpose of the
Stalwarts, who now sought to control the nomination regardless of
opposition. For this purpose unusually early conventions for the
selection of delegates to the National Convention, to be held at
Chicago on June 2, were called in Pennsylvania, New York, and other
States. Pennsylvania's was fixed for February 4 at Harrisburg, and New
York's for the 25th at Utica. Like methods obtained in the selection
of delegates. At Albany John F. Smyth issued a call in the evening for
primaries to be held the next day at noon, and furnished his followers
with pink coloured tickets, headed "Grant." Smyth was already in bad
odour. Governor Robinson had accused him of compelling illegal
payments by insurance companies of a large sum of money, to which he
replied that the act making it illegal was unconstitutional, although
no court had so pronounced. His misdeme