Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/224

 184 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS of his action, nor could there be any just criticism of his loyalty to his candidate, except (and that he never concealed) that he wished more to defeat the nomination of Grant than to secure that of Senator Sherman. He believed a third term such a calamity that patriotism required the sacrifice of all other considerations to prevent it. That view he shared with Mr. Elaine, also a candidate in this convention, whose instructions to his friends were, &quot;Defeat a third term first, and then struggle for the prize of office afterwards. Success in the one case is vital; success in the other is of minor im portance.&quot; On the thirty-third ballot Grant had 306 votes, the remaining 400 being divided between Blaine, Edmunds, and Washburne. The hope of the Grant men or the Blaine men to secure the prize faltered, and in the thirty- fourth ballot Wisconsin broke the monotony by announcing thirty-six votes for James A. Garfield. This put the spark to fuel that had been unconsciously prepared for it by the events of the long struggle. In all the proceed ings, peculiar fitness had put Garfield to the front as the counsellor and leader of the anti-Grant majority, and the exhibition of his splendid qualifi cations won increasing admiration and trust. His tact and readiness in casual debate, and the beauty and force of the more elaborate effort in which he nominated Sherman won the wavering con vention. On the thirty-sixth ballot the delegates