Each was nominated by a Republican Convention, one at Cincinnati
and the other at Philadelphia; so that in this respect they may
seem to be on equality. But it will not fail to be observed that
the Convention at Cincinnati was composed of able and acknowledged
Republicans, many having acted with the party from its first
formation, who, without previous organization, came together
voluntarily for the sake of Reform and Purity in the Government;
while, on the other hand, the Convention at Philadelphia was composed
of delegates chosen largely under the influence of office-holders,
who assembled to sustain what is known as Grantism, being the
personal government and personal pretensions of President Grant,
involving nepotism, repayment of gifts by official patronage, neglect
of public duty, absenteeism, quarrelling, military rule, disregard
of Constitution and Law, with general unfitness, and indignity to
the colored race,--all of which is so unrepublican as to make its
support impossible for true Republicans. Therefore the Convention at
Philadelphia, though calling itself Republican, was less Republican
in reality than that at Cincinnati.