The Republican Convention met in Chicago on June 3, 1884. The Reverend F.M. Bristol delivered the invocation asking that "the coming political campaign may be conducted with the decency, intelligence, patriotism and dignity of temper which becomes a free and intelligent people." He didn't get his wish.
The Republicans nominated James G. Blaine, the most popular Republican of his generation. Blaine had been engaged in questionable practices involving railroads, and had received stock in the notorious Credit Mobilier scandal. Republican liberals and reformers were outraged, and threatened to bolt the party.
The Democrats nominated Governor Grover Cleveland of New York, who was completely acceptable to reformers of both parties. As mayor of Buffalo and governor of New York, Cleveland had gained a reputation for honesty. The New York World said it was supporting Cleveland for four reasons: "1. He is an honest man; 2. He is an honest man; 3. He is an honest man; 4. He is an honest man." In seconding Cleveland's nomination, General Edward S. Bragg of Wisconsin, referring to the hostility of corrupt politicians To Cleveland, cried: "We love him for the enemies he has made!"
With the nomination of Cleveland, the Republican reformers decided to support him instead of their party's nominee, Blaine. The New York Sun dismissed this group as "Mugwumps" (an Algonquin Indian word meaning "chief"). The Indianapolis Sentinel had used the same word in 1872 to describe Independents who thought they were bigger than their party. Republicans said that Mugwumps had their mugs on one side of the fence and their wumps on the other. The Blaine Republicans called them "Assistant Democrats" and said that they "had their hair parted in the middle, banged in front, neither male nor female." The reformers took the name "Mugwumps" with pride.
A reporter named William H. Hudson, who was assigned to prepare a campaign biography, created Cleveland's campaign slogan. After reviewing Cleveland's speeches and papers, he noticed how often Cleveland referred to elected officials as "the people's servants" who held office as trustees of the public. He came up with the slogan "Public Office is a Public Trust." When Cleveland saw the slogan, he asked, "Where the deuce did I say that?" Hudson replied that Cleveland had said it many times, but not in so few words. Cleveland agreed he had said it but "better because more fully," because that is what he believed, and approved the slogan.
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to John S. Cooper's American Presidents topic, please visit the Discussions page.