Chapter 52

[861]The following table gave great offense:Democratic Districts.Counties.Population.Republican Districts.Counties.Population.3dKings292,25820thHerkimer, Otsego89,3388thNew York235,48218thJefferson, Lewis90,5967thNew York173,22526thOntario, Yates, Seneca91,0642dKings172,72516thClinton, Essex, Warren101,3279thNew York167,53027thCayuga, Wayne106,120

[861]The following table gave great offense:

[862]Appleton'sCyclopædia, 1879, p. 672.

[863]Sharpe's term having expired he had withdrawn his application for reappointment.

[864]"You remember, don't you, what Orville Baker told us about Arthur's two passions, as he heard them discussed at Sam Ward's dinner in New York? New coats being one, he then having ordered twenty-five from his tailor since the New Year came in."—Mrs. James G. Blaine,Letters(January 28, 1882), Vol. 1, p. 294.

[865]New YorkTribune, November 22, 1871. See also,Ibid., November 21.

[866]See his letters to the Secretary of the Treasury, New YorkTribune, January 28, 1879.

[867]In his testimony before the Jay Commission, Arthur spoke of "10,000 applicants," backed and pressed upon him with unabated energy by the most prominent men "all over the country."—New YorkTribune, July 28, 1877.

[868]Arthur was offered an appointment as consul-general to Paris.—See Theodore E. Burton,Life of John Sherman, p. 294.

[869]New YorkHerald, November 9, 1877. Respecting this interview Conkling made a personal explanation in the Senate, in which he said: "Though some of the remarks in question may at some time have been made in private casual conversations, others of them never proceeded from me at any time."—New YorkTribune, November 13. It is assumed that the portions quoted above, taken from a three-column interview, are substantially correct, since they are corroborated by several persons now living (1908) who heard the Senator's expressions. See, also, Alfred R. Conkling,Life of Conkling, pp. 552-554."Mr. Conkling, in all his conversations, seemed to consider men who differed from him as enemies of the human race."—White,Autobiography, Vol. 1, p. 188."Conkling spoke with great severity of President Hayes, and said he hoped it would be the last time that any man would attempt to steal the presidency."—Hoar,Autobiography, Vol. 2, p. 44.

"Mr. Conkling, in all his conversations, seemed to consider men who differed from him as enemies of the human race."—White,Autobiography, Vol. 1, p. 188.

"Conkling spoke with great severity of President Hayes, and said he hoped it would be the last time that any man would attempt to steal the presidency."—Hoar,Autobiography, Vol. 2, p. 44.

[870]Harper's Weekly, December 8, 1877.

[871]Conkling,Life of Conkling, p. 373.

[872]Harper's Weekly, December 22, 1877.

[873]New YorkTribune, December 17, 1878.

[874]Theodore Roosevelt died on February 9.

[875]The strength of the anti-Conkling sentiment was clearly shown in the contest for speaker of the Assembly. Thomas G. Alvord received 52 votes to 43 for George B. Sloan of Oswego. Although Sloan and his supporters declared for Conkling, Alvord was confessedly the Conkling candidate.

[876]New YorkTribune(correspondence), February 1, 1879.

[877]Ibid., January 28.

[878]These exhibits made a document of 423 pages, of which 308 were extracts from the testimony taken by the Jay Commission, then published for the first time.

[879]Cooper,American Politics, Book 3, pp. 176-186.

[880]The extra session of Congress adjourned July 1, 1879.

[881]On August 29, the State convention of Nationals assembled at Utica, and nominated Harris Lewis of Herkimer, for governor. The platform opposed National banks and demanded an issue of greenbacks at the rate of $50 per capita, at least. Lewis, who had been a member of the Assembly twenty years before, was president of the Farmers' Alliance.The State Prohibition convention met at Syracuse, September 3, and nominated a full State ticket, with John W. Mears of Oneida, for governor. The platform declared the license system the cornerstone of the liquor traffic and favoured woman suffrage.

The State Prohibition convention met at Syracuse, September 3, and nominated a full State ticket, with John W. Mears of Oneida, for governor. The platform declared the license system the cornerstone of the liquor traffic and favoured woman suffrage.

[882]"The only complaint that his friends have ever made of Mr. Wheeler is that his generous nature forbids him, politically, to fight. Had he been willing to lead in the State convention in 1879, it would have had a different result."—Harper's Weekly, March 26, 1881.

[883]Among the more influential Republican editors, who wrote with rare intelligence, representing both factions of the party, may be mentioned Charles E. Smith, AlbanyJournal; Carroll E. Smith, SyracuseJournal; Ellis H. Roberts, UticaHerald; James N. Matthews, BuffaloExpress; S. Newton Dexter North, AlbanyExpress; Whitelaw Reid, New YorkTribune; John H. Selkreg, IthacaJournal; John M. Francis, TroyTimes; Beman Brockway, WatertownTimes; Charles E. Fitch, RochesterDemocrat-Chronicle; George William Curtis,Harper's Weekly; Charles G. Fairman, ElmiraAdvertiser; William Edward Foster, BuffaloCommercial; George Dawson, AlbanyJournal; Lewis J. Jennings, New YorkTimes.

[884]The sale of a condition powder for cattle started Starin on the road to wealth, which soon discovered itself in the ownership of canal, river, and harbour boats, until he became known as High Admiral of the Commerce of New York. Like success attended his railroad operations.

[885]Pomeroy was district-attorney of his County, 1851-56; in the Assembly, 1857; in Congress, 1861-69, being elected speaker in place of Colfax on the day the latter retired to be sworn in as Vice-President; mayor of Auburn, 1875-76; State Senate, 1878-79.

[886]Whole number of votes cast, 450. Necessary to a choice, 226. Cornell received 234; Robertson, 106; Starin, 40; Pomeroy, 35; Hiscock, 34; Sloan, 1.

[887]Harper's Weekly, October 25, 1879.

[888]New YorkSun, September 8.The following candidates were nominated: Governor, Alonzo B. Cornell, New York; Lieutenant-Governor, George G. Hoskins, Wyoming; Secretary of State, Joseph B. Carr, Rensselaer; Comptroller, James W. Wadsworth, Livingston; Attorney-General, Hamilton Ward, Allegany; Treasurer, Nathan D. Wendell, Albany; Engineer, Howard Soule, Onondaga.

[888]New YorkSun, September 8.

The following candidates were nominated: Governor, Alonzo B. Cornell, New York; Lieutenant-Governor, George G. Hoskins, Wyoming; Secretary of State, Joseph B. Carr, Rensselaer; Comptroller, James W. Wadsworth, Livingston; Attorney-General, Hamilton Ward, Allegany; Treasurer, Nathan D. Wendell, Albany; Engineer, Howard Soule, Onondaga.

[889]New YorkStar, Sept. 17, 1879.

[890]New YorkSun, Sept. 12.

[891]In the early forties Manning began as an office-boy on the AlbanyAtlas, and in 1865, as associate editor of theArgus, he dominated its policy. Upon the death of James Cassidy, in 1873, he succeeded to the presidency of the company with which he continued throughout his life.

[892]After service on the New YorkWorld, and the BrooklynEagle, McKelway became chief editor of theArgusin 1878. He rejoined theEaglein 1885. Among other accomplished editors who made their journals conspicuous in party (Democratic) and State from 1865 to 1880, may be mentioned William Cassidy, AlbanyArgus; Thomas Kinsella, BrooklynEagle; Joseph Warren and David Gray, BuffaloCourier; Samuel M. Shaw, CooperstownFreeman's Journal; James and Erastus Brooks, New YorkExpress; Benjamin Wood, New YorkNews; Manton Marble and Joseph Pulitzer, New YorkWorld; William Purcell, RochesterUnion-Advertiser; Henry A. Reeves, GreenportRepublican Watchman; E. Prentiss Bailey, UticaObserver. Although previously of Democratic tendencies, the New YorkHerald, by 1865, had become wholly independent.

[893]The platform, which dealt mainly with State issues, repeated the fraud-cry of 1876, advocated hard money, and upheld the Democratic programme in Congress.—See Appleton'sCyclopædia, 1879, p. 680.

[894]See New York papers of September 12, 1879.

[895]The ticket presented was as follows: Governor, Lucius Robinson, Chemung; Lieutenant-Governor, Clarkson N. Potter, New York; Secretary of State, Allen C. Beach, Jefferson; Comptroller, Frederick P. Olcott, New York; Treasurer, James Mackin, Dutchess; Attorney-General, Augustus Schoonmaker, Ulster; State Engineer, Horatio Seymour, Jr., Oneida.

[896]Harper's Weekly, October 4, 1879.

[897]New York papers, October 10, 1879.

[898]Harper's Weekly, November 8, 1879.

[899]Cooper Union speech, October 21.

[900]October 23.

[901]Harper's Weekly, November 8.

[902]TheNation, September 25 and October 23, 1879; New YorkTimes, September 19, 20, 24, 25.

[903]New YorkWorld, October 11, 14, 16, 17."John Kelly. Oh! John Kelly!We read you like a book;We've got plain country common-sense,Though homely we may look;And we know each vote you beg, John,Is only begged to sell;You are but the tool of Conkling,And bargained to Cornell."—New YorkWorld, October 17.

[903]New YorkWorld, October 11, 14, 16, 17.

"John Kelly. Oh! John Kelly!We read you like a book;We've got plain country common-sense,Though homely we may look;And we know each vote you beg, John,Is only begged to sell;You are but the tool of Conkling,And bargained to Cornell."—New YorkWorld, October 17.

[904]The election held on November 4, resulted as follows: Governor, Cornell, 418,567; Robinson, 375,790; Kelly, 77,566; Lewis (National), 20,286; Mears (Prohibition), 4,437. Lieutenant-Governor, Hoskins, 435,304; Potter, 435,014. Secretary of State, Carr (Republican), 436,013; Beach (Democrat), 434,138. Comptroller, Wadsworth, 438,253; Olcott, 432,325. Treasurer, Wendell, 436,300; Mackin, 433,485. Attorney-General, Ward, 437,382; Schoonmaker, 433,238. Engineer and Surveyor, Soule, 427,240; Seymour, 439,681. Legislature: Assembly, Republicans, 92; Democrats, 35; National, 1; Senate (elected the previous year), Republicans, 25; Democrats, 8.

[905]To criticisms of his course in taking part in the campaign, Sherman replied; "We must carry New York next year or see all the result of the war overthrown and the constitutional amendments absolutely nullified. We cannot do this if our friends defeat a Republican candidate for governor, fairly nominated, and against whom there are no substantial charges affecting his integrity."—Burton,Life of Sherman, p. 296.

[906]The Albany Club was organised early in January, 1880.

[907]New YorkTimes(editorial), February 18, 1880.

[908]"The Governor showed his contempt for public opinion by nominating John F. Smyth, while the Senate had self-respect enough to refrain from confirming him."—Ibid., May 28, 1880.

[909]"Mr. Smith is one of the happily diminishing class of amphibious editors, one-third journalist, two-thirds 'worker,' who consult with the Bosses in hotels all over the State about 'fixing things,' draw fustian platforms for State conventions, embody the Boss view of the nation and the world in 'editorials,' and supply the pure milk of the word to local committees and henchmen, and 'make it hot' for the Democrats during the canvass."—TheNation, March 4, 1880.

[910]Smith was then thirty-eight years of age.

[911]"Mr. Smith's partners in theJournalhad become enraged in the course of a factional controversy over public appointments, in particular that of Smyth to be the Insurance Commissioner. At a conference Mr. Smith's partners desired to get editorial control at once and to terminate his connection with theJournal."—PhiladelphiaPress, January 20, 1908."The first response of the conscience and courage of the party was the prompt change of the AlbanyEvening Journal, probably the most influential party paper in the State, from the position of a thick-and-thin machine organ to that of an advocate of sound and independent Republicanism."—Harper's Weekly, March 13, 1880.

"The first response of the conscience and courage of the party was the prompt change of the AlbanyEvening Journal, probably the most influential party paper in the State, from the position of a thick-and-thin machine organ to that of an advocate of sound and independent Republicanism."—Harper's Weekly, March 13, 1880.

[912]"Passions are likened best to flowers and streams;The shallows murmur but the deeps are dumb."—Works of Sir Walter Raleigh, Vol. 8, p. 716 (Oxford, 1829).

[912]

"Passions are likened best to flowers and streams;The shallows murmur but the deeps are dumb."—Works of Sir Walter Raleigh, Vol. 8, p. 716 (Oxford, 1829).

[913]New YorkTribune, February 26, 1880.

[914]The vote on the resolution endorsing Grant, stood 216 to 183.

[915]Roscoe Conkling, Alonzo B. Cornell, Chester A. Arthur, and James D. Warren, were selected as delegates-at-large.

[916]Harper's Weekly, March 13, 20, April 3, 1880.

[917]New YorkTribune, February 26.

[918]New YorkTimes, May 8.

[919]From speech made in the Senate on May 7.—New YorkTribune, May 8.

[920]Harper's Weekly, May 29.

[921]Letter dated May 6.—See Appleton'sCyclopædia, 1880, p. 575.

[922]New YorkTribune, May 8.

[923]Everit Brown,A Dictionary of American Politics, p. 372;Harper's Weekly, February 5, 1881.

[924]New YorkTimes, May 16.

[925]Ibid.

[926]Ibid., June 2.

[927]Ibid., May 8.

[928]The minority, representing fourteen States and ably led by Benjamin F. Tracy, sustained the authority of State conventions to overrule the choice of the districts.

[929]"Suggestions were made that the substitution of Mr. Conkling for General Grant would give him the nomination, and there was a moment when General Garfield apprehended such a result. There was, however, never a time when it was possible. The 306 would never have consented unless Grant's name were first withdrawn by his authority. A firmer obstacle would have been Conkling's sturdy refusal to allow the use of his name under any circumstances."—Boutwell,Reminiscences, Vol. 2, p. 269.

[930]"When asked what State he hails from,Our sole reply shall be,He comes from AppomattoxAnd its famous apple-tree."

[930]

"When asked what State he hails from,Our sole reply shall be,He comes from AppomattoxAnd its famous apple-tree."

[931]From his speech nominating Elihu B. Washburne.—ChicagoTribune, June 7, 1880.

[932]ChicagoInter-Ocean, June 7, 1880.

[933]New YorkTimes, June 7.

[934]The first ballot was as follows: Grant, 304; Blaine, 284; Sherman, 93; Edmunds, 34; Washburne, 30; Windom, 10. Whole number of votes, 755; necessary to a choice, 378.

[935]Thirty-fifth ballot: Grant, 313; Blaine, 257; Sherman, 99; Edmunds, 11; Washburne, 23; Windom, 3; Garfield, 50. Thirty-sixth ballot: Grant, 306; Blaine, 42; Sherman, 3; Washburne, 5; Garfield, 399.Conkling's peculiar manner of announcing New York's vote excited criticism. "Two delegates," he declared, "are said to be for Sherman, eighteen for Blaine, and fifty are for Grant." The chairman of the West Virginia delegation, whom the Senator had sought to unseat, mimicking the latter's emphasis, announced: "One delegate is said to be for Grant, and eight are known to be for Blaine."

Conkling's peculiar manner of announcing New York's vote excited criticism. "Two delegates," he declared, "are said to be for Sherman, eighteen for Blaine, and fifty are for Grant." The chairman of the West Virginia delegation, whom the Senator had sought to unseat, mimicking the latter's emphasis, announced: "One delegate is said to be for Grant, and eight are known to be for Blaine."

[936]Some months later Chauncey I. Filley, a delegate from St. Louis, caused the Grant medals to be struck for the 306, on which was emblazoned "The Old Guard."

[937]"It has been asserted that this nomination was a boon to Roscoe Conkling to secure his support of Garfield. To deny this is almost supererogatory. He sternly refused to make any suggestion."—Conkling,Life of Conkling, p. 607-608.

[938]Woodford's interview with the writer, October 4, 1908.

[939]Mr. Morton's letter to the author, dated September 14, 1908.

[940]Letter of Howard Carroll to the author, dated October 15, 1908.

[941]Interview of author with General Woodford.

[942]New YorkTribune, June 9.

[943]After the nomination John Sherman wrote to a personal friend: "The nomination of Arthur is a ridiculous burlesque, inspired, I fear, by a desire to defeat the ticket. His nomination attaches to the ticket all the odium of machine politics, and will greatly endanger the success of Garfield. I cannot but wonder how a convention, even in the heat and hurry of closing scenes, could make such a blunder."—Burton,Life of Sherman, p. 296.

[944]"I do not think he [Arthur] knows anything. He can quote a verse of poetry, or a page from Dickens and Thackeray, but these are only leaves springing from a root out of dry ground. His vital forces are not fed, and very soon he has given out his all." Mrs. James G. Blaine,Letters(February 21, 1882), Vol. 1, p. 309.

[945]Tilden's letter of June 18, 1880.—Public Writings and Speeches, Vol. 2, pp. 502-506.

[946]"If the Democrats do not nominate Mr. Tilden, they do relinquish the fraud issue—the strength of their canvass."—New YorkSun, June 22, 1880.

[947]TheNation, April 22.

[948]See district attorney's letter, Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 2, pp. 254-259, 264.

[949]Ibid.

[950]Delegates-at-large: Lucius Robinson, Calvin E. Pratt, Rufus W. Peckham, and Lester B. Faulkner. The last named was chairman of the Democratic State committee.

[951]New YorkTribune, April 21.

[952]New YorkSun, April 21.

[953]Letter to Dr. George L. Miller, New YorkTribune, June 21, 1880.

[954]New YorkSun, April 21, 1880.

[955]New YorkTimes, April 21.

[956]New YorkTimes, April 21.For delegate-at-large to Cincinnati the convention selected the following: Amasa J. Parker of Albany, William Dorsheimer of New York, Jeremiah McGuire of Chemung, George C. Green of Niagara.

[956]New YorkTimes, April 21.

For delegate-at-large to Cincinnati the convention selected the following: Amasa J. Parker of Albany, William Dorsheimer of New York, Jeremiah McGuire of Chemung, George C. Green of Niagara.

[957]New YorkTribune(correspondence), April 21.

[958]John Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 2, pp. 265, 271.

[959]Tilden'sPublic Writings and Speeches, Vol. 2, pp. 502-506.

[960]John Bigelow,Life of Tilden, Vol. 2, p. 272.

[961]Ibid.

[962]The vote of the delegation stood as follows: Paine, 38; Tilden, 11; English, 11; Bayard, 6; Hancock, 3; Randall, 1. Under the unit rule this gave Payne the entire number, 70.

[963]The first ballot gave Hancock, 171; Bayard, 153½; Payne, 81½; Thurman, 68½; Field, 65; Morrison, 62; Hendricks, 49½; Tilden, 38; with a few votes to minor candidates. Whole number of votes, 728. Necessary to a choice, 486.

[964]Before changes were made the second ballot gave Hancock 319; Randall, 129½; Bayard, 113; Field, 65½; Thurman, 50; Hendricks, 31; English, 19; Tilden, 6; scattering, 3. After the changes the result was as follows: Hancock, 705; Hendricks, 30; Tilden, 1; Bayard, 2.

[965]The vote stood, without New York, 205 to 457 in favor of rejecting the Shakespeare Hall delegation. With New York it would have been thirty-nine more than a two-thirds majority.

[966]For a copy of this letter, see New YorkTribune, August 28.

[967]Harper's Weekly, May 15, 1873.

[968]Conkling's speech is printed in full in the New YorkTribuneof September 18, 1880.

[969]Alfred R. Conkling,Life of Roscoe Conkling, pp. 623-625."I was informed by Mr. Conkling that he had not been alone one minute with General Garfield, intending by that care-taking to avoid the suggestion that his visit was designed to afford an opportunity for any personal or party arrangement."—Boutwell,Reminiscences, Vol. 2, p. 272.

[969]Alfred R. Conkling,Life of Roscoe Conkling, pp. 623-625.

"I was informed by Mr. Conkling that he had not been alone one minute with General Garfield, intending by that care-taking to avoid the suggestion that his visit was designed to afford an opportunity for any personal or party arrangement."—Boutwell,Reminiscences, Vol. 2, p. 272.

[970]Garfield, 555,544; Hancock, 534,511; Weaver (Greenback), 12,373. Judge of Appeals: Folger, 562,821; Rapallo, 517,661; Armstrong (Greenback), 13,183. Mayor of New York: Grace, 101,760; Dowd, 98,715. Legislature: Assembly, Republicans, 81; Democrats, 47. Senate (hold over): Republicans, 32; Democrats, 18. Republican majority on joint ballot, 52.

[971]November 6, 1880.

[972]New YorkTribune(editorial), January 3, 1881.

[973]"Senator Woodin spoke of Truman G. Younglove, the only speaker in the history of the State who had dared to hold back the committees in order to influence a senatorial caucus, as a 'political corpse,' and said that Sharpe would share his fate."—New YorkTribune, January 13, 1881.

[974]"Blaine, representing Garfield, came to New York and asked me to enter the contest for the purpose of securing the election of a senator who would support the Administration. That was the reason why I became a candidate."—Interview of Mr. Depew with the author, February 19, 1909.

[975]Harper's Weekly, February 5, 1881.

[976]Interview of Mr. Depew with the author, March 28, 1909. See also New YorkTribune, January 9, 1882. "Among others present at the conference," added Depew, "were Webster Wagner, John Birdsall, Dennis McCarthy, and William H. Robertson of the State Senate, James W. Husted, and George Dawson of the AlbanyEvening Journal. Woodin remarked, 'We can trust Platt, and when he's elected senator we shall not need a step-ladder to reach his ear.'"

[977]Total vote in caucus, 105. Necessary to a choice, 53. Platt, 54; Crowley, 26; Rogers, 10; Wheeler, 10; Lapham, 4; Morton, 1.The election, which occurred on January 18, resulted: Senate, Platt, 25; Kernan, 6; Assembly, Platt, 79, Kernan, 44.

[977]Total vote in caucus, 105. Necessary to a choice, 53. Platt, 54; Crowley, 26; Rogers, 10; Wheeler, 10; Lapham, 4; Morton, 1.

The election, which occurred on January 18, resulted: Senate, Platt, 25; Kernan, 6; Assembly, Platt, 79, Kernan, 44.

[978]Alfred R. Conkling,Life of Conkling, p. 634.

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