my memories of eighty years-第43章

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t　find　an　issue。　The　Erie　Canal　is　not　only　a　State　affair；　but　a　national　one。　Its　early　construction　opened　the　great　Northwest；　and　it　was　for　years　the　only　outlet　to　the　seaboard。　　The　public　not　only　in　the　State　of　New　York；　but　in　the　West；　believes　that　there　has　been；　and　is；　corruption　in　the　construction　and　management　of　the　Canal。　　This　great　waterway　requires　continuing　contracts　for　continuing　repairs；　and　the　people　believe　that　these　contracts　are　given　to　favorites；　and　that　the　work　is　either　not　performed　at　all　or　is　badly　done。　　I　believe　that　matter　ought　to　be　looked　into　and　the　result　will　largely　justify　the　suspicion　prevalent　in　the　public　mind。　　I　want　your　judgment　on　the　question　and　what　will　be　the　effect　upon　me。〃

I　then　frankly　answered　him：　　〃Governor；　there　is　no　doubt　it　will　be　a　popular　movement；　but　you　know　that　the　Canal　contractors　control　the　machinery　of　your　party；　and　I　cannot　tell　what　the　effect　of　that　may　be　upon　what　you　desire；　which　is　a　second　term。〃

〃Those　contractors；〃　he　said；　〃are　good　Democrats；　and　their　ability　to　secure　the　contracts　depends　upon　Democratic　supremacy。　A　prosecution　against　them　has　been　tried　so　often　that　they　have　little　fear　of　either　civil　or　criminal　actions；　and　I　think　they　will　accept　the　issue　as　the　only　one　which　will　keep　their　party　in　power。〃

It　is　a　part　of　the　history　of　the　time　that　he　made　the　issue　so　interesting　that　he　became　a　national　figure　of　the　first　importance　and　afterwards　the　candidate　of　his　party　for　President　of　the　United　States。　　Not　only　that；　but　he　so　impressed　the　people　that　popular　judgment　is　still　divided　as　to　whether　or　not　he　was　rightfully　elected　president。

Once　I　was　coming　from　the　West　after　a　tour　of　inspection；　and　when　we　left　Albany　the　conductor　told　me　that　Governor　Tilden　was　on　the　train。　　I　immediately　called　and　found　him　very　uncomfortable；　because　he　said　he　was　troubled　with　boils。　　I　invited　him　into　the　larger　compartment　which　I　had；　and　made　him　as　comfortable　as　possible。　　His　conversation　immediately　turned　upon　the　second　term　and　he　asked　what　I；　as　a　Republican；　thought　of　his　prospects　as　the　result　of　his　administration。　　We　had　hardly　entered　upon　the　subject　when　a　very　excited　gentleman　burst　into　the　compartment　and　said：　　〃Governor；　I　have　been　looking　for　you　everywhere。　　I　went　to　your　office　at　the　Capitol　and　to　the　Executive　Mansion；　but　learned　you　were　here　and　barely　caught　the　train。　　You　know　who　I　am。〃　　（The　governor　knew　he　was　mayor　of　a　city。）　　〃I　want　to　see　you　confidentially。〃

The　governor　said　to　him：　　〃I　have　entire　confidence　in　my　Republican　friend　here。　　You　can　trust　him。　　Go　on。〃

I　knew　the　mayor　very　well；　and　under　ordinary　conditions　he　would　have　insisted　on　the　interview　with　the　governor　being　private　and　personal。　　But　he　was　so　excited　and　bursting　with　rage　that　he　went　right　on。　　The　mayor　fairly　shouted：　　〃It　is　the　station　agent　of　the　New　York　Central　Railroad　in　our　city　of　whom　I　complain。　　He　is　active　in　politics　and　controls　the　Democratic　organization　in　our　county。　　He　is　working　to　prevent　myself　and　my　friends　and　even　ex…Governor　Seymour　from　being　delegates　to　the　national　convention。　　It　is　to　the　interest　of　our　party；　in　fact；　I　may　say；　the　salvation　of　our　party　in　our　county　that　this　New　York　Central　agent　be　either　removed　or　silenced；　and　I　want　you　to　see　Mr。　Vanderbilt　on　the　subject。〃

The　governor　sympathized　with　the　mayor　and　dismissed　him。　　Then　in　a　quizzical　way　he　asked　me：　　〃Do　you　know　this　agent？〃

〃Yes；〃　I　answered。

〃What　do　you　think　of　him？〃

〃I　know　nothing　about　his　political　activities；〃　I　answered；　〃but　he　is　one　of　the　most　efficient　employees　of　the　company　in　the　State。〃

〃Well；〃　said　the　governor；　〃I　am　glad　to　hear　you　say　so。　　He　was　down　to　see　me　the　other　night；　in　fact；　I　sent　for　him；　and　I　formed　a　very　high　opinion　of　his　judgment　and　ability。〃

As　a　matter　of　fact；　the　governor　had　selected　him　to　accomplish　this　very　result　which　the　mayor　had　said　would　ruin　the　party　in　the　county。

When　the　New　York　Democratic　delegation　left　the　city　for　the　Democratic　national　convention　they　had　engaged　a　special　train　to　leave　from　the　Grand　Central　Station。　　I　went　down　to　see　that　the　arrangements　were　perfected　for　its　movement。　　It　was　a　hilarious　crowd；　and　the　sides　of　the　cars　were　strung　with　Tilden　banners。

Mr。　Tilden　was　there　also　to　see　them　off。　　After　bidding　good…by　to　the　leaders；　and　with　a　whispered　conference　with　each；　the　mass　of　delegates　and　especially　reporters；　of　whom　there　was　a　crowd；　wished　to　engage　him　in　conversation。　　He　spied　me　and　immediately　hurried　me　into　one　of　the　alcoves；　apparently　for　a　private　conversation。　　The　crowd；　of　course；　gathered　around；　anxious　to　know　what　it　was　all　about。　　He　asked　me　a　few　questions　about　the　health　of　my　family　and　then　added：　　〃Don't　leave　me。　I　want　to　avoid　all　these　people；　and　we　will　talk　until　the　train　is　off　and　the　crowd　disperses。〃

Life　was　a　burden　for　me　the　rest　of　the　day　and　evening；　made　so　by　the　newspaper　men　and　Democratic　politicians　trying　to　find　out　what　the　mysterious　chief　had　revealed　to　me　in　the　alcove　of　the　Grand　Central。

I　was　very　much　gratified　when　meeting　him　after　the　fierce　battles　for　the　presidency　were　over；　to　have　him　grasp　me　by　the　hand　and　say：　　〃You　were　about　the　only　one　who　treated　me　absolutely　fairly　during　the　campaign。〃

I　love　little　incidents　about　great　men。　　Mr。　Tilden　was　intensely　human　and　a　great　man。

Doctor　Buckley；　who　was　at　the　head　of　the　Methodist　Book　Concern　in　New　York；　and　one　of　the　most　delightful　of　men；　told　me　that　there　came　into　his　office　one　day　a　Methodist　preacher　from　one　of　the　mining　districts　of　Pennsylvania；　who　said　to　him：　　〃My　church　burned　down。　　We　had　no　insurance。　　We　are　poor　people；　and；　therefore；　I　have　come　to　New　York　to　raise　money　to　rebuild　it。〃

The　doctor　told　him　that　New　York　was　overrun　from　all　parts　of　the　country　with　applicants　for　help；　and　that　he　thought　he　would　have　great　difficulty　in　his　undertaking。

〃Well；〃　the　preacher　said；　〃I　am　going　to　see　Mr。　Tilden。〃

Doctor　Buckley　could　not　persuade　him　that　his　mission　was　next　to　impossible；　and　so　this　rural　clergyman　started　for　Gramercy　Park。　When　he　returned　he　told　the　doctor　of　his　experience。

〃I　rang　the　bell；〃　he　said；　〃and　when　the　door　was　opened　I　saw　Governor　Tilden　coming　down　the　stairs。　　I　rushed　in　and　told　him　hastily　who　I　was　before　the　man　at　the　door　could　stop　me；　and　he　invited　me　into　his　library。　　I　stated　my　mission；　and　he　said　he　was　so　overwhelmed　with　applications　that　he　did　not　think　he　could　do　anything。　　'But；　governor；'　I　said；　'my　case　differs　from　all　others。　　My　congregation　is　composed　of　miners；　honest；　hardworking　people。　　They　have　hitherto　been　Republicans　on　the　protection　issue；　but　they　were　so　impressed　by　you　as　a　great　reformer　that　they　all　voted　for　you　in　the　last　election。'　　The　governor　said：　　'Tell　that　story　again。'　　So　I　started　again　to　tell　him　about　my　church；　but　he　interrupted　me；　saying：　　'Not　that；　but　about　the　election。'　　So　I　told　him　again　about　their　having；　on　account　of　their　admiration　for　him　as　a　reformer；　turned　from　the　Republican　party　and　voted　the　Democratic　ticket。　　Then　the　governor　said：　　'Well；　I　think　you　have　a　most　meritorious　case；　and　so　I　will　give　you　all　I　have。'〃

Doctor　Buckley　interrupted　him　hastily；　saying：　　〃Great　heavens；　are　you　going　to　build　a　cathedral？〃

〃No；〃　answered　the　clergyman；　〃all　he　had　in　his　pocket　was　two　dollars　and　fifty　cents。〃

Governor　Tilden　had　many　followers　and　friends　whose　admiration　for　him　amounted　almost　to　adoration。　　They　believed　him　capable　of　everything；　and　they　were　among　the　most　intelligent　and　able　men　of　the　country。

John　Bigelow；　journalist；　author；　and　diplomat；　was　always　sounding　his　greatness；　both　with　tongue　and　pen。　　Abram　S。　Hewitt　was　an　equally　enthusiastic　friend　and　admirer。　　Both　of　these　gentlemen；　the　latter　especially；　were；　I　think；　abler　than　Mr。　Tilden；　but　did　not　have　his　hypnotic　power。

I　was　dining　one　night　with　Mr。　Hewitt；