inevitable, he joined in making it unanimous. He did not go with those
who bolted the nomination, because it was not his first choice, but he
supported it with his purse, his voice, and his vote, as appears from
the following synopsis of a brief address which he made at a
ratification meeting, held in the City Hall, Fitchburg, July 11, 1884,
which I clip from the _Fitchburg Sentinel_ of the next day:

"Ex-Mayor Merriam, Chairman of the committee, called the meeting
to order, and said the audience had assembled to hear the report
of the two delegates to the Republican national convention. The
Chairman then introduced Rodney Wallace, who was most heartily
applauded as he arose to speak.

Mr. Wallace, who was one of the delegates from this district to
the Republican convention, said his first choice for President
was the able statesman from Vermont, Senator Edmunds, and his
second choice was President Arthur, who has given us such an
excellent administration. The Massachusetts delegation, almost
without exception, worked hard to secure the nomination for Mr.
Edmunds, but it was impossible for that convention to nominate
anybody but James G. Blaine. Nobody can describe the enthusiasm
through the entire convention for Blaine. The California
delegation bore a banner inscribed "From Maine to California,
through Iowa, all for Blaine," and, in my opinion now, Mr.
Elaine is the strongest man in the Republican party. When the
motion was made to make the nomination unanimous, not a voice
was raised against it. I believe he will be elected in November
and will give us a strong and safe administration."

The writer does not know whether Mr. Wallace considers his political