It could not have been meant for more than a protest.

Harrison was renominated on the first ballot with Blaine a poor second in the poll.
In the Democratic convention, Cleveland, too, was renominated on the first ballot, in the face of a bitter and outspoken opposition.

The solid vote of his own State, New York, was polled against him under the unit rule, and went in favor of David B.Hill.But even with this large block of votes to stand upon, Hill was able to get only 113 votes in all, while Cleveland received 616.

Genuine acceptance of his leadership, however, did not at all correspond with this vote.

Cleveland had come out squarely against free silver, and at least eight of the Democratic state conventions--in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Nevada, South Carolina, and Texas--came out just as definitely in favor of free silver.