The Liberal Republicans were bolters, of course, from the regular organization, and there was no sufficient opportunity for them to construct a party organization for themselves in time for the Presidential election of 1872. A general call for the leaders among them to meet in mass convention was issued from a "State" convention of Liberal {265} Republicans in Missouri, and the meeting took place at Cincinnati on the 1st day of May, 1872. [Sidenote: Their platform.] The platform which it presented to the people demanded the removal, at once, of all political disabilities from the white men of the South, the maintenance of impartial suffrage and of equal civil rights, the cessation of military rule in the South and the supremacy of civil over military power, the reform of the civil service, and a speedy return to specie payments. Many of the Liberal Republicans were inclined toward a much more moderate tariff policy, but out of respect for the opinions of those among them who were strong protectionists, they abandoned their attempt to insert any doctrine on this subject in the platform. The protectionists were equally considerate, and so the new party went to the country uncommitted upon this very important question. [Sidenote: Their nominees.] It was at first supposed that the choice of the convention for the Presidency would lay between Judge David Davis of Illinois, Charles Francis Adams of Massachusetts and Senator Lyman Trumbull of Illinois. But an unexpected hostility of a very bitter nature soon developed between the supporters of Davis and Adams, and rendered the nomination of either of them impossible. This was evident on the first ballot, on which Mr. Greeley, Senator Trumbull and Gratz Brown each received more votes than Judge Davis, and together more votes than Mr. Adams. It was thus manifest that the Western men would not take Mr. Adams and the Eastern men would not take Judge Davis. The compromise was quickly made upon Greeley, and Gratz Brown was put with him upon the ticket. It was an unfortunate selection. The country did not want any brilliant experiments at the moment. It wanted to settle down to business. And it was to be {266} foreseen that it would not be willing to make a newspaper man President at such a juncture. [Sidenote: Acceptance of the Liberal Republican candidates by the Democrats.]