my memories of eighty years-第20章
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Among the amusing episodes of the campaign was one which occurred at an open…door mass meeting at Watertown； N。 Y。 John A。 Dix had been nominated for governor on the Republican ticket； and I was speaking of him and his career。 He had changed from one party to the other five or six times in the course of his long career； and each time received an office。 There was great doubt as to his age； because in the American Encyclopaedia the date of his birth was given as of a certain year； and in the French Encyclopaedia； which published his biography when he was minister to France； a widely different date was given。 In the full tide of partisan oratory I went over these changes of political activity； and how each one had been rewarded； also the doubt as to his age； and then I shouted： 〃I have discovered among the records of the Pilgrim Fathers that when they landed on Plymouth Rock they found John A。 Dix standing on the rock and announcing that unless they made him justice of the peace he would join the Indians。〃 An indignant farmer； who could not hold his wrath any longer； shouted： 〃That's a lie！ The Pilgrims landed more than two hundred and fifty years ago。〃 I saw that my interrupter had swallowed my bait； hook； and line； bob and sinker； pole and all； and shouted with great indignation： 〃Sir； I have narrated that historical incident throughout the State； from Montauk Point to Niagara Falls； and you are the first man who has had the audacity to question it。〃
Another farmer stepped up to the heckler and said： 〃Here is my hat； neighbor。 You can keep it。 I am going bareheaded for the rest of my life。〃 In his uproarious laughter the crowd all joined。 It was years before the questioning farmer could visit Watertown without encountering innumerable questions as to when the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock。
The last meeting of the campaign was held at Mr。 Greeley's home at Chappaqua in Westchester County。 We all knew that the contest was hopeless and defeat sure。 I was one of the speakers； both as his neighbor and friend； and accompanied him to New York。 A rough crowd on the train jeered him as we rode along。 We went to his office； and there he spoke of the lies that had been told about him； and which had been believed by the public； of the cartoons which had misrepresented him； especially those of Tom Nast； and of which there were many lying about。 Leaning upon his desk； a discouraged and hopeless man； he said： 〃I have given my life to the freeing of the slaves； and yet they have been made to believe that I was a slave driver。 It has been made to appear； and people have been made to believe； that I was wrong or faithless； or on the other side of the reforms which I have advocated all my life。 I will be beaten in the campaign and I am ruined for life。〃 He was overcome with emotion； and it was the saddest interview I ever had with any one。 It was really the breaking of a great heart。 He died before the votes were counted。
There was instantly a tremendous revulsion of popular feeling in the country。 He had lost his wife during the campaign； and the people woke up suddenly to the sorrows under which he had labored； to his genius as a journalist； to his activity as a reformer； and to a usefulness that had no parallel among his contemporaries。 The president…elect； General Grant； and the vice…president…elect； Schuyler Colfax； attended the funeral； and without distinction of party his death was universally mourned。
After the election； in consultation on railroad affairs； Commodore Vanderbilt said to me； 〃I was very glad you were defeated；〃 which was his way of saying that he did not want me either to leave the railroad or to have other duties which would impair my efficiency。
With the tragic death of Mr。 Greeley the Liberal Republican movement ended。 Most of us who had followed him resumed at once our Republican party relations and entered actively into its work in the next campaign。 The revolt was forgiven； except in very few instances； and the Greeley men went back to their old positions in their various localities and became prominent in the official life of the State。 I； as usual； in the fall took my vacation on the platform for the party。
VII。 RUTHERFORD B。 HAYES AND WILLIAM M。 EVARTS
It is one of the tragedies of history that in the procession of events； the accumulation of incidents； year by year and generation by generation； famous men of any period so rapidly disappear。
At the close of the Civil War there were at least a score of generals in the North； and as many in the South； whose names were household words。 About fifty…five years have passed since the war closed； and the average citizen knows only two of themGrant and Lee。
One of the last acts of General Grant was to tender to Senator Conkling the position of chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States。 Conkling had gained from the senatorship and the leadership of his party a great reputation； to which subsequent service in the Senate could add little or nothing。 He was in his early forties； in the prime of his powers； and he would have had before him； as chief justice of this great court； a long life of usefulness and distinction。
Conkling was essentially an advocate； and as an advocate not possessing the judicial temperament。 While there was a great surprise that he declined this wonderful opportunity； we can see now that the environment and restrictions of the position would have made it impossible for this fiery and ambitious spirit。 It was well known that General Grant； so far as he could influence the actions of the national Republican convention； was in favor of Senator Conkling as his successor。 The senator's friends believed； and they made him believe； that the presidency was within his grasp。
When the national convention met it was discovered that the bitterness between the two leaders； Blaine and Conkling； made harmony impossible。 The bitterness by that time was on Conkling's side against Blaine。 With the latter's make…up； resentment could not last very long。 It is an interesting speculation what might have happened if these two leaders had become friends。 It is among the possibilities that both might have achieved the great object of their ambitions and been presidents of the United States。
The outstanding feature of that convention in the history of those interesting gatherings was the speech of Colonel Robert G。 Ingersoll； nominating Mr。 Blaine。 In its effect upon the audience； in its reception by the country； and by itself as an effort of that kind； it stands unprecedented and unequalled。
As usual in popular conventions； where the antagonism of the leaders and the bitterness of their partisanship threatens the unity of the party； the result was the nomination of a 〃dark horse；〃 and the convention cIosed its labors by presenting to the country General Rutherford B。 Hayes。
President Hayes； although one of the most amiabIe； genial； and companionable of our presidents； with every quality to attach men to him and make warm friendships； was； nevertheless； one of the most isolated。 He inherited all the business troubles； economic disorganization； and currency disturbances which grew out of the panic of 1873。 He was met with more bankruptcy than had ever occurred in our business history。
With rare courage and the most perfect good nature； he installed essential reforms； which； in the then condition of party organization and public sentiment； practically offended everybody。 He threw the extreme radicals of his party into a frenzy of rage by wiping out the 〃carpet…bag〃 governments and restoring self…government for the South。 He inaugurated civil…service reform； but in doing so antagonized most of the senators and members of the House。
When he found that the collector of the port of New York； Chester A。 Arthur； and the surveyor； Alonzo B。 Cornell； were running their offices with their vast patronage on strictly machine lines； and that this had the general approval of party leaders； he removed them and appointed for their successors General Edwin A。 Merritt and Silas W。 Burt； with instructions to remove no one on account of politics； and to appoint no one except for demonstrated effi
