same time carrying on vigorous and successful campaigns. Nevertheless, the Democracy adopted a peace platform. The most noteworthy resolution was the following:

"Resolved, That this convention does explicetly declare, as the sense of the American people, that after four years of failure to restore the Union by the experiment of war, during which, under the pretense of military necessity or war power, higher than the Constitution, the Constitution itself has been disregarded in every part, and public liberty and private right alike trodden down, and the material prosperity of the country essentially impaired, justice, humanity, liberty, and the public welfare demand that immediate efforts be made for a cessation of hostilities, with a view to an ultimate convention of the States, or other peaceful means, to the end that at the earliest practicable moment peace may be restored on the basis of the Federal Union of the States."

Gen. George B. McClellan was nominated as the candidate for President, and George H. Pendleton, of Ohio, for Vice-President.

THE CANVASS.

The canvass was one of great earnestness on the part of the Republicans. Their meetings were everywhere largely attended, but there was little manifestation of excitement. It was clear that a vast majority of the people had firmly resolved to save the republic, and by means of the re-election of President Lincoln. He carried all of the States voting except New Jersey, Delaware and Kentucky. The States of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Arkansas and Tennessee being in rebellion, did not participate in the election. Of the popular votes, Lincoln received 2,216,127 against 1,808,725 for McClellan, being a Republican majority of 407,402 votes.

This crushing political victory, in addition to the recent triumphs of arms, settled the question of the war. It was universally agreed that the reelection of President Lincoln meant the salvation of the republic. Thus the triumph of the Republican party was identical with the triumqh of the national cause. And as a matter of fact, it was only a little more than one month after President Lincoln's second inauguration that the Rebel armies surrendered and the pretended "Confederate" Government gave up the ghost.

THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

On the 14th of April, 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated, and expired the next morning, only five days after the surrender of the Rebel General Lee at Appomattox. By this fearful crime the nation was thrown from the highest state of enjoyment over the near prospect of peace into the deepest gloom. Had there been wanting evidence of the necessity of the abolition of slavery it would have been found in the possibility of so terrible a crime by one of its defenders. Mr. Lincoln's was "the kindest heart that ever beat," and the deep damnation of his taking off" would forever place any cause in unmixed condemnation. Upon his death the Presidency devolved upon Vice-President Johnson. It is not to be denied that the situation at this time was one of grave responsibility and difficulty. Perhaps no man could have filled the office without making himself in some respects

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vulnerable to honest and well grounded criticism. But there are many reasons for believing that President Johnson's policy of reconstructing the States lately in rebellion, to which he adhered with obstinate determination, greatly added to the difficulties of the times and cast many unnecessary embarrassments in the way of a speedy, just and wise adjustment of troubles which, at best, could not have been easily arranged. As it turned out, the Republican party, instead of having one exceedingly difficult problem to solve, had two; namely, the question of reconstruction and President Johnson. In this great emergency the party performed its mission with such success as to entitle it to the favorable judgment of the country. The President was placed in a hopeless minority, and the friends of the Union in the late rebellious States were given the control of affairs. The President was afterwards impeached by the House of Representatives for high crimes and misdemeanors, but after a long and exciting trial by the Senate he was acquitted, two-thirds failing to vote for conviction. This unhappy difference between the executive and legislative branches of the government certainly, to some extent, delayed practical reconstruction, but that before the close of the first presidential term after Mr. Johnson, the seats of both Houses of Congress were all filled and the Union again fully restored and essentially harmonious, is a justification of Republican policy and statesmanship which it would be difficult to dispute. That, in addition,

the result was brought about with a notable victory for the civil and political rights of millions who had been slaves, and notwithstanding the sturdy opposition of a determined executive, greatly adds to the significance of the triumph.

CHAPTER IV.

HISTORY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

(CONTINUED.)

The Campaign of 1868-Nomination of Grant and Colfax by the Republicans-An Easy Triumph Over Seymour and Blair-Grant in the Presidential Chair-Difficulties which he Encountered-The Ku Klux and the Office Seekers-Grant astonishes the Latter by His Appointments-What His Administration Accomplished.

The National Convention of 1868 was held in the city of Chicago, and was unquestionably one of the most enthusiastic occasions of the kind which has been witnessed in the country. Just before the time for the convention, there was a national gathering of the soldiers of the Union armies, which brought together vast numbers of the veteran defenders of the Republic. They remained in the city during the sittings of the Convention. The hotels and boarding houses were packed. For a week the Garden City was jammed with people. The Crosby Opera House, in which the Convention was held, one of the largest buildings of the kind in the country-since destroyed by the great fire-could not contain a tithe of the people who desired admittance.

Carl Schurz was selected as temporary chairman.