They were the representatives of an aggressive and triumphant party, and felt that though suffering an unexpected chagrin they were moving forward with certainty to a new and brilliant victory.

The chief work of the Convention was determined in advance.

The selection of General Grant as the candidate for the Presidency had for months been clearly foreshadowed and universally accepted by the Republican party.

At an earlier stage there had been an effort to direct public thought towards some candidate who was more distinctively a party chief, and who held more pronounced political views; but public sentiment pointed so unmistakably and irresistibly to General Grant that this effort was found to be hopeless and was speedily abandoned.

The enthusiasm for General Grant was due to something more than the mere fact that he was the chief hero of the war.