After Tilden’s withdrawal the contest was really between Hancock and Samuel J. Randall, of Pennsylvania. If the Tilden strength had been concentrated on Randall at the opening of the convention, his nomination would have been within the range of probability, but even after Tilden withdrew he hesitated until the 2d ballot before he gave Randall any support. Bayard was a close second to Hancock on the 1st ballot, but he was at no time within sight of a nomination. It was on this occasion that the late Daniel Dougherty made the most eloquent speech of his life, presenting the name of Hancock to the convention. He was not a member of the delegation, but was called into it for the purpose on the morning of the day that the nomination was to be made. He hurried around to my room at the St. Nicholas, as he hesitated about accepting the duty assigned him. He always prepared his important speeches and memorized them. I earnestly urged him to go at once to his room and write a short speech and be prepared to deliver it. He finally decided to do so, and in a speech of not over twenty minutes he delivered the greatest oration of his life. Only two ballots were had for President, and on the second Hancock was so largely in the lead, having 320 to 128-1/2 for Randall, that the delegations began to change their votes until Hancock had 705 to 33 for all others. The following table gives the ballots in detail: ══════════════════════════════════╤═════════╤═════════╤═════════ CANDIDATES. │ First. │ Second. │ After │ │ │ changes. ──────────────────────────────────┼─────────┼─────────┼───────── Winfield S. Hancock, Pennsylvania │ 171 │ 320 │ 705 Thomas F. Bayard, Delaware │ 153-1/2│ 113 │ 2 Henry B. Payne, Ohio │ 81 │ ―― │ ―― Allen G. Thurman, Ohio │ 68-1/2│ 50 │ ―― Stephen J. Field, California │ 65 │ 65-1/2│ ―― William R. Morrison, Illinois │ 62 │ ―― │ ―― Thomas A. Hendricks, Indiana │ 50-1/2│ 31 │ 30 Samuel J. Tilden, New York │ 38 │ 6 │ 1 Horatio Seymour, New York │ 8 │ ―― │ ―― Samuel J. Randall, Pennsylvania │ ―― │ 128-1/2│ ―― Scattering │ 31 │ 22 │ ―― ══════════════════════════════════╧═════════╧═════════╧═════════ As Indiana was one of the debatable States, William H. English, of that State, was nominated for Vice-President, with only Richard M. Bishop, of Ohio, named against him. Before the ballot had proceeded to any considerable extent, Bishop’s name was withdrawn, and English given a unanimous nomination. The following platform was unanimously adopted: The Democrats of the United States, in convention assembled, declare—