my memories of eighty years-第21章
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s to remove no one on account of politics； and to appoint no one except for demonstrated efficiency for the place。 He pursued the same policy in the Internal Revenue and Post…Office Departments。 This policy threatened the primacy of the Conkling machine。
President Hayes had a very strong Cabinet。 The secretary of state； William M。 Evarts； and the secretary of the treasury； John Sherman； were two of the ablest men in the country。 Evarts was the leader of the national bar； and in crystallized mentality had no equal in the profession or outside of it。 Sherman was the foremost and best…informed economist； and also a great statesman。 In close consultation with Sherman； Hayes brought about the resumption of specie payment。 The 〃green…backers；〃 who were for unlimited paper； and the silver men； who were for unlimited coinage of silver； and who were very numerous； joined the insurgent brigade。
While Mr。 Hayes retired from the presidency by what might be called unanimous consent； he had created conditions which made possible the success of his party in 1880。
It was a refreshing experience to meet the president during these troublous times。 While everybody else was excited； he was perfectly calm。 While most of the great men at the Capitol were raging； he； at the other end of the avenue； was placid and serene。 He said once to me： 〃It is a novel experience when you do what you think right and best for the country to have it so generally criticised and disapproved。 But the compensation is that you expect antagonism and disapproval and would think something was the matter with your decisions if you did not receive them。〃
The general abuse to which he was subjected from so many sources affected the public's view of him。 After he had left the presidency he told me that he thought it was the duty of an ex…president to utilize the prestige which belonged to the office in the aid of education。 〃I have found；〃 he said； 〃that it helps enormously in colleges and schools to have lectures； lessons； etc。； in history and patriotism； and behind them the personality of an ex…president of the United States。〃
As an illustration of how distinguished men； when out of power； no longer interest our people； I remember I met Mr。 Hayes one day in front of a fruit display of a well…known grocery establishment； and after greeting said to the groceryman： 〃That is ex…President Hayes。 Don't you want to meet him？〃 The groceryman replied： 〃I am not interested in him； but I have the finest collection of pears in the city and want to sell you some。〃
The Capitol was full of the rich and racy characterizations； epigrams； and sarcasms which Senator Conkling was daily pouring out upon President Hayes； and especially Secretary Evarts。 By all the rules of senatorial courtesy in those machine days； a member of the Cabinet from New York should have been a friend of its United States senator。 Mr。 Evarts was too big a man to be counted in any other class or category except his own。 Of course； all these criticisms were carried to both the president and the secretary of state。 The president never mentioned them； and I never heard Evarts； though I met him frequently； make any reply but once。
Dining with Mr。 Evarts； who entertained charmingly； a very distinguished English jurist among the guests； here on a special mission； said： 〃Mr。 Secretary； I was at the Senate to…day and heard Senator Conkling speaking。 His magnificent personal appearance； added to his fine oratory； must make him one of the most formidable advocates at your bar and in your courts。〃 The English judge thought； of course； that Mr。 Evarts； as the leader of the American Bar and always in the courts； would know every lawyer of distinction。 Mr。 Evarts dryly replied： 〃I never saw Mr。 Conkling in court。〃
It is always dangerous to comment or narrate a racy story which involves the personal affliction of anybody。 Dining with Mr。 Evarts one night was also a very distinguished general of our Civil War； who had been an important figure in national politics。 He was very curious to know about Mr。 Tilden； and especially as to the truth of a report that Mr。 Tilden had a stroke of paralysis； and appealed to me； as I was just from New York。 I narrated a story which was current at the time that Mr。 Tilden had denied the report by saying to a friend： 〃They say I cannot lift my left hand to my head。〃 He then put his right hand under the left elbow and shot the left one easily up to his face and said： 〃See there； my left has reached its goal。〃
I saw that Mr。 Evarts was embarrassed at the anecdote and discovered afterwards that the distinguished guest had recently had a similar stroke on his left side and could propel his left arm and hand only with the assistance of his right。
My old bogie of being put into office arose again in the senatorial election of 1882。 The legislature； for the first time in a generation； was entirely leaderless。 The old organization had disappeared and a new one had not yet crystallized。
Mr。 Evarts was anxious to be senator； and I pledged him my support。 Evarts was totally devoid of the arts of popular appeal。 He was the greatest of lawyers and the most delightful of men； but he could not canvass for votes。 Besides； he was entirely independent in his ideas of any organization dictation or control； and resented both。 He did not believe that a public man should go into public office under any obligations； and resented such suggestions。
A large body of representative men thought it would be a good thing for the country if New York could have this most accomplished； capable； and brilliant man in the United States Senate。 They urged him strongly upon the legislature； none of whose members knew him personally； and Mr。 Evarts would not go to Albany。
The members selected a committee to come down to New York and see Mr。 Evarts。 They went with the idea of ascertaining how far he would remember with gratitude those who elected him。 Their visit was a miserable failure。 They came in hot indignation to my office and said they did not propose to send such a cold and unsympathetic man as their representative to Washington and earnestly requested my consent to their nominating me at the caucus the next morning。
The committee telephoned to Albany and received the assent of every faction of their party to this proposition。 Then they proposed that when the caucus met； Mr。 Evarts； of course； should receive complimentary speeches from his friends。 Meanwhile others would be nominated； and then a veteran member； whom they designated； should propose me in the interest of harmony and the union of the party； whereat the sponsors of the other candidate would withdraw their man； and I be nominated by acclamation。 My answer was a most earnest appeal for Mr。 Evarts。 Then Mr。 Evarts's friends rallied to his support and he was elected。
I place Mr。 Evarts in the foremost rank as a lawyer； a wit； and a diplomat。 He tried successfully the most famous cases of his time and repeatedly demonstrated his remarkable genius。 As a general railway counsel and； therefore； as an administrator in the retaining of distinguished counsels； I met with many of the best men at the bar； but never any with such a complete and clarified intellect as William M。 Evarts。 The mysteries of the most complicated cases seemed simple； the legal difficulties plain； and the solution comprehensible to everybody under his analysis。
Mr。 Evarts was the wittiest man I ever met。 It is difficult to rehabilitate in the sayings of a wit the complete flavor of the utterance。 It is easier with a man of humor。 Evarts was very proud of his efforts as a farmer on his large estate in Vermont。 Among his prizes was a drove of pigs。 He sent to Chief Justice Morrison R。 Waite a copy of his eulogy on Chief Justice Salmon P。 Chase； Waite's predecessor； and at the same time a ham； saying in his letter： 〃My dear Chief Justice； I send you to…day one of my prize hams and also my eulogy on Chief Justice Chase； both the products of my pen。〃
The good things Mr。 Evarts said would be talked of long after a dinner。 I remember on one occasion his famous partner； Mr。 Choate； who was a Harvard man； while Evarts was a g
