Many people believed that
he had been not only unjustly but cruelly treated, and were
eager to record their verdict of acquittal from the malignant
charges which had been made against him since 1876. There
was a third class, of whom I was one, who felt that it would
be unwise to nominate either General Grant or Mr. Blaine.
While they had a great respect for the character of Grant,
they dreaded the influences which would be sure to surround
him, if he should come to the Presidency again. While they
had the kindliest feeling for Mr. Blaine and shared the public
indignation at the character of the attacks of which he had
been the victim, they did not like to have a candidate who
would be so handicapped. Mr. Blaine's own imprudence had
unquestionably given an opportunity and a plausibility to
these slanders. They thought, also, that the nomination of
either Grant or Blaine would create a feeling of anger and
disappointment in the supporters of the defeated candidate,
which would seriously endanger the election. They looked
about, therefore, for a person who might not be obnoxious
to either the Blaine men or the Grant men, and found such
a person in Mr.
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