Theeditorofthepaperatthattimewasaverygiftedyoungwriter，anoldschoolmateandfriendofmine，who，actingunderinstructionsfromthemanagersofthepaper，tookaverybitterlineagainsttheadministrationanditssupporters。
Aboutthetimeofthemeetingoftheconventionthisoldfriendcametome，expressedhisregretatthelinehewasobligedtotake，saidthatbothheandhiswifeweresickofthewholethingandanxioustogetoutofit，andadded:``Theonlywayout，thatIcansee，issomeappointmentthatwillatoncerelievemeofalltheseduties，andinfacttakemeoutofthecountry。CannotyouaidmebyapplicationtothesenatororthePresidentinobtainingaconsulate？’’Iansweredhimlaughingly，``Mydear————，IwillgladlydoallIcanforyou，notonlyforfriendship’ssake，butbecauseIthinkyouadmirablyfittedfortheplaceyouname;butdon’tyouthinkthat，forafewdaysatleast，whileyouareapplyingforsuchaposition，youmightaswellstopyouroutrageousattacksagainsttheverymenfromwhomyouhopetoreceivetheappointment？’’
Havingsaidthis，halfinjestandhalfinearnest，I
thoughtnomoreonthesubject，saveastothebestwayofaidingmyfriendtosecurethereliefhedesired。
SorosethechargethatIwas``bribingpersonstosupporttheadministrationbyofferingthemconsulates。’’
Butstrongfriendsralliedtomysupport。Mr。GeorgeWilliamCurtisin``Harper’sWeekly，’’Mr。Godkinin``TheNation，’’Mr。CharlesDudleyWarnerandothersinvariousotherjournalstookupthecudgelsinmybehalf，andIsoondiscoveredthattheattacksratherhelpedthanhurtme。Theydidmuch，indeed，todisgustmeforatimewithpoliticallife;butIsoonfoundthatmyfriends，mystudents，andthecountryatlargeunderstoodthecharges，andthattheyseemedtothinkmoreratherthanlessofmeonaccountofthem。InthosedaystheairwasfullofthatsortofonslaughtuponeveryonesupposedtobefriendlytoGeneralGrant，andtheeffectinonecasewasrevealedtomerathercuriously。MatthewCarpenter，ofWisconsin，wasthenoneofthemostbrilliantmembersoftheUnitedStatesSenate，apublicservantofwhomhisStatewasproud;buthehadcordiallysupportedtheadministrationandwasconsequentlymadethemarkforbitterattack，dayafterdayandweekafterweek，bytheopposingjournals，andtheseattacksfinallyculminatedinanattempttobaseaveryuglyscandalagainsthimuponwhatwasknownamonghisfriendstobeasimplecourtesypubliclyrenderedtoaveryworthylady。Theattacksandthescandalresoundedthroughouttheanti—administrationpapers，theirevidentpurposebeingtodefeathisrelectiontotheUnitedStatesSenate。
ButjustbeforethetimeforthesenatorialelectioninWisconsin，meetingaverybrightandactive—mindedstudentofmyseniorclasswhocamefromthatState，Iaskedhim，``WhatisthefeelingamongyourpeopleregardingtherelectionofSenatorCarpenter？’’Mystudentimmediatelyburstintoatorrentofwrathandanswered:``ThepeopleofWisconsinwillsendMr。CarpenterbacktotheSenatebyanenormousmajority。Wewillseeifagangofnewspaperblackguardscanslanderoneofoursenatorsoutofpubliclife。’’Theresultwasasmyyoungfriendhadforetold:Mr。Carpenterwastriumphantlyrelected。
WhileIamonthissubjectImayrefer，asacomforttothosewhohavefoundthemselvesunjustlyattackedinpoliticalmatters，totwoothernotablecaseswithinmyremembrance。
Probablynosuchvirulencehaseverbeenknowndayafterday，yearafteryear，aswasshownbysundrypressesoflargecirculationintheirattacksonWilliamH。Seward。
Theyrepresentedhimasshadyandtricky;asthelowestofdemagogues;asutterlywithoutconscienceorability;
aspretendingahostilitytoslaverywhichwassimplyacravingforpopularity;theyrefusedtoreporthisspeeches，or，iftheydidreportthem，distortedthem。Hehadalsoincurredthedispleasureofverymanyleadersofhisownparty，andofsomeofitsmostpowerfulpresses，yetheadvancedsteadilyfromhighpositiontohighposition，andwonalastingandmosthonorableplaceinthehistoryofhiscountry。
ThesamemaybesaidofSenatorConkling。Theattacksonhiminthepresswerebitterandalmostuniversal;
yettheonlyvisibleresultwasthathewasrelectedtothenationalSenatebyanincreasedmajority。Tothecatastrophewhichsomeyearslaterendedhispoliticalcareer，theonslaughtbythenewspaperscontributednothing;itresulteddirectlyfromthedefectsofhisowngreatqualitiesandnotatallfromattacksmadeuponhimfromoutside。
AlmostfromthefirstmomentofmyacquaintancewithMr。Conkling，Ihadendeavoredtointeresthiminthereformofthecivilservice，andatleast，ifthiswasnotpossible，topreventhisactivelyopposingit。InthissenseIwrotehimvariousletters。Foratimetheyseemedsuccessful;
butatlast，undertheseattacks，hebrokeallboundsandbecamethebitteropponentofthemovement。Inhispowerfulmannerandsonorousvoicehefromtimetotimeexpressedhiscontemptforit。ThemoststrikingofhisutterancesonthesubjectwasinoneoftheStateconventions，which，beinggiveninhisdeep，sonoroustones，ranmuchasfollows:``WhenDoctor—r—rJa—a—awnsonsaidthatpatr—r—riotism—mwasthel—a—w—s—tr—r—refugeofascoundr—r—rel，heignor—r—redtheenor—r—rmouspossibilitiesofthewordr—refa—awr—r—rm！’’
Thefollowingspring（June5，1872）IattendedtheRepublicanNationalConventionatPhiladelphiaasasubstitutedelegate。Itwasveryinterestingand，unliketheenormousassemblagessinceoftwelveorfifteenthousandpeopleatChicagoandelsewhere，wasareallydeliberativebody。AsitwasheldintheAcademyofMusic，therewasroomforasufficientaudience，whiletherewasnotroomforavastmoboverpoweringcompletelythemembersoftheconventionandpreventinganyrealdiscussionatsomemostimportantjunctures，ashasbeenthecaseinsomanyconventionsofbothpartiesintheselatteryears。
ThemostnoteworthyfeaturesofthisconventionwerethespeechesofsundrycoloreddelegatesfromtheSouth。
Veryremarkabletheywere，andagreatrevelationastotheabilityofsome，atleast，oftheirraceintheformerslaveStates。
GeneralGrantwasrenominatedforthePresidency，andfortheVice—PresidencyMr。HenryWilsonofMassachusettsinplaceofSchuylerColfax，whohadheldthepositionduringGeneralGrant’sfirstterm。
TheonlyspeechesImadeduringthecampaignwereonefromthebalconyoftheContinentalHotelinPhiladelphiaandonefromthestepsoftheDelavanHouseatAlbany，buttheywereperfunctoryandformal。Therewasreallynoneedofspeeches，andIwaslongingtogoatmyproperuniversitywork。Mr。JamesAnthonyFroude，thehistorian，hadarrivedfromEnglandtodeliverhislecturesbeforeourstudents;and，besidesthis，theuniversityhadencounteredvariousdifficultieswhichengrossedallmythoughts。
GeneralGrant’srelectionwasagreatvictory。Mr。
GreeleyhadnotoneNorthernelectoralvote;worstofall，hehad，duringthecontest，becomeutterlybrokeninbodyandmind，andshortlyaftertheelectionhedied。
Hisdeathwasasadendingofacareerwhich，asawhole，hadbeensobeneficent。AstoGeneralGrant，Ibelievenow，asIbelievedthen，thathiselectionwasagreatblessing，andthathewasoneofthenoblest，purest，andmostcapablemenwhohaveeversatinthePresidency。
Thecheap，clap—trapantithesiswhichhasattimesbeenmadebetweenGrantthesoldierandGrantthestatesmanis，Iamconvinced，utterlywithoutfoundation。Thequalitieswhichmadehimagreatsoldiermadehimaneffectivestatesman。ThisfactwasclearlyrecognizedbytheAmericanpeopleatvarioustimesduringthewar，andespeciallywhen，atthesurrenderofAppomattox，hedeclinedtodepriveGeneralLeeofhissword，andquietlytooktheresponsibilityofallowingthesoldiersoftheSouthernarmytoreturnwiththeirhorsestotheirfieldstoresumepeacefulindustry。ThesestatesmanlikequalitiesweredevelopedmoreandmorebythegreatdutiesandresponsibilitiesofthePresidency。
HistriumphoverfinancialdemagogyinhisvetoesoftheInflationBill，andhistriumphoverpoliticaldemagogyinsecuringthetreatyofWashingtonandtheAlabamaindemnity，provehimastatesmanworthytorankwiththebestofhispredecessors。Inviewoftheseevidencesofcompleteintegrityandhighcapacity，andbearinginmindvariousconversationswhichIhadwithhimduringhispubliclifedowntoaperiodjustbeforehisdeath，Ifeelsurethathistorywillpronouncehimnotonlyageneralbutastatesmaninthebestsenseoftheword。
TherenominationofGeneralGrantatthePhiladelphiaconventionwastheresultofgratitude，respect，andconvictionofhisfitness。AlthoughMr。GreeleyhadthesupportofthemostinfluentialpressesoftheUnitedStates，andwaswidelybelovedandrespectedasonewhohadbornetheburdenandheatoftheday，hewasdefeatedinobediencetoahealthynationalinstinct。
YearsafterwardIwasaskedinLondonbyoneofthemosteminentofEnglishjournalistshowsuchathingcouldhavetakenplace。Saidhe，``TheleadingpapersoftheUnitedStates，almostwithoutexception，wereinfavorofMr。Greeley;how，then，didithappenthathewasinsuchahopelessminority？’’IexplainedthematterasbestIcould，whereuponhesaid，``Whatevertheexplanationmaybe，itprovesthattheAmericanpress，byitswildstatementsinpoliticalcampaigns，andespeciallybyitsrecklessattacksuponindividuals，haslostthatholduponAmericanopinionwhichitoughttohave;and，dependuponit，thisisagreatmisfortuneforyourcountry。’’I
didnotattempttodisprovethisstatement，forIknewbuttoowellthattherewasgreattruthinit。
OfmypoliticalexperiencesatthatperiodIrecalltwo:
thefirstofthesewasmakingtheacquaintanceatSaratogaofMr。SamuelJ。Tilden。Hispoliticalfortuneswerethenattheirlowestpoint。WithMr。DeanRichmondofBuffalo，hehadbeenoneofthemanagersoftheDemocraticpartyintheState，but，Mr。Richmondhavingdied，theTweedwingoftheparty，supportedbythecanalcontractors，haddeclaredwaragainstMr。Tilden，treatedhimwithcontempt，showedtheiraversiontohimineveryway，and，itwasfullyunderstood，hadmadeuptheirmindstodeposehim。IrememberwalkingandtalkingagainandagainwithhimunderthecolonnadeatCongressHall，and，withoutreferringtoanypersonbyname，hedweltuponthenecessityofmoreearnestworkinredeemingAmericanpoliticsfromthemanagementofmenutterlyunfitforleadership。LittledidheorIforeseethatsoonafterwardhisarch—enemy，Tweed，theninthesamehotelandapparentlyall—powerful，wastobeafugitivefromjustice，andfinallytodieinprison，andthathe，Mr。
Tildenhimself，wastobeelectedgovernoroftheStateofNewYork，andtocomewithinahair’s—breadthofthepresidentialchairatWashington。
TheothercircumstanceofapoliticalcharacterwasmyattendanceasanelectoratthemeetingoftheElectoralCollegeatAlbany，whichcastthevoteofNewYorkforGeneralGrant。Ihadneverbeforesatinsuchabody，anditsproceedingsinterestedme。AspresidentweelectedGeneralStewartL。Woodford，andasthebody，aftertheformalelectionofGeneralGranttothePresidency，wasobligedtosendcertificatestothegovernoroftheState，properlysignedandsealed，andasithadnosealofitsown，GeneralWoodfordaskedifanymemberhadasealwhichhewouldlendtothesecretaryforthatpurpose。
Thereuponaseal—ringwhichGoldwinSmithhadbroughtfromRomeandgivenmewasusedforthatpurpose。Itwasanancientintaglio。Verysuitably，itborethefigureofa``WingedVictory，’’anditwasagainpubliclyused，manyyearslater，whenitwasaffixedtotheAmericansignatureoftheinternationalagreementmadeatthePeaceConferenceofTheHague。
ThefollowingwinterIhadmyfirstexperienceof``Reconstruction’’intheSouth。Beingsomewhatwornwithwork，ImadeavisittoFlorida，passingleisurelythroughthesouthernseaboardStates，andfindingatColumbiaanoldYalefriend，GovernorChamberlain，fromwhomI
learnedmuch。Butthesimpleuseofmyeyesandearsduringthejourneygavememorethanallelse。AvisittotheStatelegislatureofSouthCarolinarevealedvividlytheneworderofthings。TheStateCapitolwasabeautifulmarblebuilding，butunfinishedwithoutanddirtywithin。ApproachingthehalloftheHouseofRepresentatives，Ifoundthedoorguardedbyanegro，squalidandfilthy。Heevidentlyreveledinhisnewcitizenship;hischairwastiltedbackagainstthewall，hisfeetwerehighintheair，andhewasmakingeverythingnauseousabouthimwithtobacco;buthesoonbecameobsequiousandadmittedustooneofthemostsingulardeliberativebodieseverknown——abodycomposedofformerlandedproprietorsandslave—ownersmixeduppell—mellwiththeirformerslavesandwithNorthernadventurersthenknownas``carpet—baggers。’’TheSoutherngentlemenoftheAssemblyweregentlemenstill，andoneofthem，Mr。
Memminger，formerlySecretaryoftheTreasuryoftheConfederateStates，wasespeciallycourteoustous。Butsoonallotherthingswerelostincontemplationof``Mr。
Speaker。’’Hewasabright，nimble，volublemulattowho，asoneoftheSoutherngentlemeninformedme，was``thesmartestniggerGodevermade。’’Havingbeenelevatedtothespeakership，hemagnifiedhisoffice。Whilewewereobservinghim，agentlemanofoneofthemosthistoricfamiliesofSouthCarolina，afamilywhichhadgiventotheStatealonglineofmilitarycommanders，governors，senators，andambassadors，rosetomakeamotion。Thespeaker，aformerslave，atoncedeclaredhimoutoforder。
Onthememberpersistinginhiseffort，thespeakercalledout，``DegenlemunfrumBuferthasnorighttodefloh;
degenlemunfromBufertwilltakehisseat，’’andtheformeraristocratobeyed。Tothisithadcomeatlast。
Inthepresenceofthisassembly，inthishallwheredis—
unionreallyhaditsbirth，wheresecessionfirstshoneoutinallitsglory，aformerslaveorderedaformermastertositdown，andwasobeyed。
InCharlestonthesamestateofthingswastobeseen，andforthefirsttimeIbegantofeelsympathyfortheSouth。ThisfeelingwasdeepenedbywhatIsawinGeorgiaandFlorida;andyet，belowitallIseemedtoseethehandofGodinhistory，andinthemidstofitallI
seemedtohearadeepvoicefromthedead。Tome，seeingthesethings，therecame，reverberatingoutofthelastcentury，thatpredictionofThomasJefferson，——himselfaslaveholder，——who，afterdepictingtheoffensesofslavery，endedwiththesewords，worthyofIsaiah，——divinelyinspiredifanyeverwere:——``ItremblewhenIrememberthatGodisjust。’’
CHAPTERXI
GRANT，HAYES，ANDGARFIELD——1871—1881
AtvarioustimesafterthedeathofMr。LincolnIvisitedWashington，meetingmanymenespeciallyinfluential，and，firstofall，PresidentGrant。OfallpersonageswhomIthenmetheimpressedmemoststrongly。AtvarioustimesItalkedwithhimattheWhiteHouse，diningwithhimandseeinghimoccasionallyinhislightermood，butatnotimewastheretheslightestdiminutionofhisunaffecteddignity。Nowandthenhewouldmakesomedryremarkwhichshowedastrongsenseofhumor，butineverythingtherewasthesamequiet，simplestrength。Ononeoccasion，whengoingtotheWhiteHouse，ImetProfessorAgassizofCambridge，andtookhimwithme:wewerereceivedcordially，GeneralGrantofferinguscigars，aswashiswontwithvisitors，andAgassizgeniallysmokingwithhim:whenwehadcomeawaythegreatnaturalistspokewithhonestadmirationofthePresident，evidentlyimpressedbythesamequalitieswhichhadalwaysimpressedme——hismodesty，simplicity，andquietforce。
IalsovisitedhimatvarioustimesinhissummercottageatLongBranch，andononeoftheseoccasionshegaveabitofhistorywhichspeciallyinterestedme。Asweweretakingcoffeeafterdinner，acardwasbroughtin，andthePresident，havingglancedatit，said，``TellhimthatIcannotseehim。’’Theservantdepartedwiththemessage，butsoonreturnedandsaid，``ThegentlemanwishestoknowwhenhecanseethePresident。’’``TellhimNEVER，’’saidGrant。
Itturnedoutthatthepersonwhosenamethecardborewasthecorrespondentofanewspaperespeciallynotedforsensation—mongering，andtheconversationdriftedtothesubjectofnewspapersandnewspapercorrespondents，whenthePresidenttoldthefollowingstory，whichIgiveasnearlyaspossibleinhisownwords:
``DuringthehottestperiodofthefinalstruggleinVirginia，wesufferedverymuchfromthereportsofnewspapercorrespondentswhoprowledaboutourcampsandthenputonthewirestheinformationtheyhadgained，whichofcoursewentSouthasrapidlyasitwentNorth。
Itbecamereallyseriousandembarrassedusgreatly。Onthisaccount，onenight，whenIhaddecidedtomakeanimportantmovementwithaportionofthearmyearlynextday，Igaveordersthatatentshouldbepitchedinanout—of—the—wayplace，attheearliestpossiblemomentinthemorning，andnotifiedthegeneralswhoweretotakepartinthemovementtomeetmethere。
``Ithappenedthatonthepreviousdaytherehadcometothecampanewspapercorrespondentnamed————，and，asheborealetterfromMr。Washburne，Itreatedhimascivillyaspossible。
``Atdaylightnextmorning，whilewewereassembledinthetentmakingfinalarrangements，oneofmyaides，Colonel————，heardanoisejustoutside，and，goingout，sawthiscorrespondentlyingdownatfulllength，hisearundertheedgeofthetent，andanote—bookinhishand。ThereuponColoneltookthecorrespondentbyhisotherear，liftedhimtohisfeet，andsworetohimasolemnoaththatifhewasvisibleinanypartofthecampmorethanfiveminuteslonger，adetachmentoftroopswouldbeorderedouttoshoothimandburyhimthereintheswamp，sothatnoonewouldeverknowhisnameorburial—place。
``Thecorrespondentleftatonce，’’saidthePresident，``andhetookhisrevengebywritingahistoryofthewarfromwhichheleftmeout。’’
ThesamecharacteristicwhichIhadfoundatothermeetingswithGrantcameoutevenmorestronglywhen，justbeforethecloseofhisterm，hemademeavisitatCornell，whereoneofhissonswasastudent。TomeethimIinvitedseveralofourprofessorsandotherswhowereespeciallyprejudicedagainsthim，and，withoutexception，theyafterwardexpressedtheveryfeelingwhichhadcomeovermeaftermyfirstconversationwithhim——
surpriseattherevelationofhisquietstrengthandhisknowledgeofpublicquestionsthenbeforethecountry。
DuringawalkontheuniversitygroundshespoketomeoftheSantoDomingomatter。[3]Hesaid:``Theannexationquestionisdoubtlesslaidasideforthepresent，butthetimewillcomewhenthecountrywillhaveoccasiontoregretthatitwasdisposedofwithoutadequatediscussion。AsI
amsosoontoleavethepresidency，ImaysaytoyounowthatoneofmymainthoughtsinregardtotheannexationoftheislandhasbeenthatitmightaffordarefugeforthenegroesoftheSouthincaseanythinglikeawarofracesshouldeverariseintheoldslaveStates。’’HethenalludedtothebitterfeelingbetweenthetworaceswhichwasthenshownintheSouth，andwhichwasleadingmanyoftheblackstotakerefugeinKansasandothernorthwesternStates，andsaid，``IfsucharefugeasSantoDomingowereopentothem，theirformermasterswouldsoonfindthattheyhavenotthecoloredpopulationentirelyattheirmercy，andwouldbeobligedtocompromisewiththemonfarmorejusttermsthanwouldotherwisebelikely。’’
[3]SeemychapteronSantoDomingoexperiences。
ThePresidentsaidthiswithevidentlydeepconviction，anditseemedtomeaverythoughtfulandfar—sightedviewofthepossibilitiesandevenprobabilitiesinvolved。
Duringanotherwalk，inspeakingoftheapproachingcloseofhissecondpresidentialterm，hesaidthathefoundhimselflookingforwardtoitwiththesamelongingwhichhehadformerlyhadasacadetatWestPointwhenlookingforwardtoafurlough。
IhaveneverbelievedthattheearnesteffortmadebyhisfriendsatChicagotonominatehimforathirdtermwasreallypromptedbyhim，orthatheoriginallydesiredit。Italwaysseemedtomeduetothedevotionoffriendswhoadmiredhisnoblequalities，andthoughtthattheUnitedStatesoughtnottobedeprivedoftheminobediencetoatradition，inthiscase，morehonoredinthebreachthanintheobservance。
Imayaddherethat，havingseenhimonseveralconvivialoccasions，andundercircumstanceswhen，ifever，hewouldbelikelytoindulgeinwhatwasunderstoodtohavebeen，inhisearlylife，anunfortunatehabit，Ineversawhimbetraytheinfluenceofalcoholintheslightestdegree。
ShortlyafterGeneralGrantlaiddownhishighoffice，hemadehiswell—knownjourneytoEuropeandtheEast，andIhadthepleasureofmeetinghimatCologneandtravelinguptheRhinewithhim。WediscussedAmericanaffairsalldaylong。HehadduringthepreviousweekbeenwelcomedmostcordiallytothehospitalitiesoftwoleadingsovereignsofEurope，andhadreceivedendlessattentionsfromthemostdistinguishedmenofEnglandandBelgium，butinconversationhenever，intheslightestdegree，referredtoanyoftheseexperiences。Heseemednottothinkofthem;hisheartwasinmatterspertainingtohisowncountry。Hetoldmemuchregardinghisadministration，andespeciallyspokewiththegreatestrespectandaffectionofhisSecretaryofState，Mr。
HamiltonFish。
SomewhatlaterIagainmethiminParis，hadseveralwalksandtalkswithhiminwhichhediscussedAmericanaffairs，andIrememberthathedweltwithespecialadmiration，andevenaffection，uponhiscolleaguesShermanandSheridan。
Itrustthatitmaynotbeconsideredoutofplaceif，inthisretrospect，whichisintended，firstofall，formychildrenandgrandchildren，Istatethatapersonalfact，whichwasknowntomanyfromothersources，wasconfirmedtomeinoneoftheseconversations:GeneralGrantinformingme，ashehadpreviouslyinformedmywife，thathehadfullypurposedtonamemeasSecretaryofStatehadMr。Fishcarriedouthisintentionofresigning。Whenhetoldmethis，myanswerwasthatIconsidereditaveryfortunateescapeforusboth;thatmytraininghadnotfittedmeforsuchduties;thatmyexperienceinthediplomaticservicehadthenbeenslight;thatIhadnopropertrainingasalawyer;thatmyknowledgeofinternationallawwasderivedfarmorefromthereadingofbooksthanfromitsapplication;andthatIdoubtedmyphysicalabilitytobearthepressureforpatronagewhichconvergedupontheheadofthePresident’scabinet。
IntheWashingtonofthosedaysmymemoryalsorecallsvividlyadinnerwithSenatorConklingatwhichI
metanumberofinterestingmen，andamongthemGovernorSeymour，whohadbeenthecandidateopposedtoGrantduringhisfirstpresidentialcampaign;SenatorAnthony，SenatorEdmunds，theformerVice—PresidentMr。Hamlin，SenatorCarpenter，andothers。Manygoodstoriesweretold，andoneamusedmeespecially，asitwasgivenwithadmirablemimicrybySenatorCarpenter。Hedescribedanoldfriendofhis，alawyer，who，comingbeforeoneofthehighercourtswithaverydoubtfulcase，beganhispleaasfollows:``Mayitpleasethecourt，thereisonlyonepointinthiscasefavorabletomyclient，butthat，mayitpleasethecourt，isachinkinthecommonlawwhichhasbeenwornsmoothbythemultitudeofscoundrelswhohaveescapedthroughit。’’
Duringtheyear1878IwassentasanhonorarycommissionerfromtheStateofNewYorktotheParisExposition，andshallgiveamorefullaccountofthisperiodinanotherchapter。Sufficeitthat，havingonmyreturnpreparedmyofficialreportontheprovisionforpoliticaleducationmadebythedifferentgovernmentsofEurope，Ibecamemoreabsorbedthaneverinuniversityaffairs，keepingaloofasmuchaspossiblefrompolitics。Butinthepoliticalcampaignof1878Icouldnotbutbeinterested。ItwasdifferentfromanyotherthatIhadknown，forthe``GreenbackCraze’’bloomedoutasneverbeforeandseemedlikelytopoisonthewholecountry。Greathardshipshadarisenfromthefactthatdebtswhichhadbeenmadeunderadepreciatedcurrencyhadtobepaidinmoneyofgreatervalue。Menwho，inwhatwereknownas``flushtimes，’’hadboughtfarms，paiddownhalftheprice，andmortgagedthemfortheotherhalf，foundnow，whentheirmortgagesbecamedue，thattheycouldnotsellthepropertyforenoughtocoverthelienuponit。
Besidesthis，thegreatarmyofspeculatorsthroughoutthecountryfoundtheconstantdepreciationofpricesbringingthemtobankruptcy。Inthecryformoregreenbacks，——
thatis，forcontinuedissuesofpapermoney，——
demagogismundoubtedlyhadalargepart;butthereweremanyexcellentmenwhowereinfluencedbyit，andamongthemPeterCooperofNewYork，founderofthegreatinstitutionwhichbearshisname，oneofthepurestandbestmenIhaveeverknown。
Thiscryformorecurrencywasechoedfromoneendofthecountrytotheother。InvariousStates，andespeciallyinOhio，itseemedtocarryeverythingbeforeit，nearlyallthepublicmenofnote，includingnearlyalltheleadingDemocratsandverymanyoftheforemostRepublicans，bowingdowntoit，themainexceptionsbeingJohnShermanandGarfield。
IncentralNewYorkthemaniaseemed，earlyinthesummer，totakestronghold。InSyracuseJohnWieting，anamazinglyfluentspeakerwithmuchpopularhumor，whohadneverbeforeshownanyinterestinpolitics，tookthestumpforanunlimitedissueofgovernmentpapercurrency，receivedthenominationtoCongressfromtheDemocratsandsundryindependentorganizations，andforatimeseemedtocarryeverythingbeforehim。A
similarstateofthingsprevailedatIthacaandtheregionroundaboutCayugaLake。Twoorthreepeoplemuchrespectedinthecommunitycameoutforthisdoctrine，and，havingapressundertheircontrol，theirinfluenceseemedlikelytobeserious。ManagersoftheRepublicanorganizationintheStateseemedatfirstapathetic;butatlasttheybecamealarmedandsenttwospeakersthroughthesedisaffecteddistricts——onlytwo，buteach，inhisway，amaster。Thefirstofthem，inorderoftime，wasSenatorRoscoeConkling，andhetookashissubjecttheNationalBankingSystem。Thishadbeenforaconsiderabletimeoneoftheobjectsofspecialattackbyuneasyandunsuccessfulpeoplethroughouttheentirecountry。Asamatteroffact，thenationalbankingsystem，createdduringtheCivilWarbySecretaryChaseandhisadvisers，wasoneofthemostadmirableexpedientseverdevisedinanycountry。
UptothetimeofitsestablishmentthewholecountryhadsufferedenormouslyfromthewretchedcurrencysuppliedfromtheStatebanks。EveninthoseStateswherethegreatestprecautionwastakentoinsureitsredemptionallofitwas，intimeofcrisisorpanic，fluctuatingandmuchofitworthless。ButinotherStatesthecasewasevenworse。Icanrecallperfectlythatthroughmyboyhoodandyoungmanhoodeverymerchantandshopkeeperkeptonhistablewhatwascalleda``bank—notedetector，’’
which，whenanymoneywastenderedhim，hewasobligedtoconsultinordertoknow，first，whetherthebillwasacounterfeit，asitfrequentlywas;secondly，whetheritwasonasolventbank;andthirdly，ifgood，whatdiscountshouldbedeductedfromthefaceofit。Underthissystembank—notesvariedinvaluefromweektoweek，andevenfromdaytoday，withtheresultthatallbuyingandsellingbecameasortofgambling。
When，then，Mr。Chaseestablishedthenewsystemofnationalbankssobasedthateverybill—holderhadsecurityfortheentireamountwhichhisnoterepresented，socontrolledthatabillissuedfromanylittlebankintheremotestState，orevenintheremotestcornerofaTerritory，wasequaltooneissuedbytherichestbankinWallStreet，soengravedthatcounterfeitingwaspracticallyimpossible，therewasanimmensegaintoeveryman，woman，andchildinthecountry。
Toappreciatethisgainonemusthavehadexperienceoftheoldersystem。Irememberwellthepanicof1857，whicharosewhileIwastravelingineasternandnorthernNewEngland，andthat，arrivinginthecityofSalem，Massachusetts，havingtendered，inpaymentofmyhotelbill，notesissuedbyaleadingNewYorkcitybank，guaranteedunderwhatwasknownasthe``SafetyFundSystem，’’theywererefused。TheresultwasthatIhadtoleavemywifeatthehotel，gotoBoston，andtheremanagetogetMassachusettsmoney。
Butthiswasfarshortoftheworst。ProfessorRobertsofCornellUniversityoncetoldmethat，havinginthosedayscollectedaconsiderabledebtinoneoftheWesternStates，hefoundthecurrencysoworthlessthatheattemptedtosecureNewYorkfunds，butthattherateofexchangewassoenormousthat，astheonlywayofsavinganything，heboughtalargequantityofcheapclothing，shippedittotheEast，andsolditforwhatitwouldbring。
AstothewayinwhichtheolderbankingoperationswerecarriedoninsomeoftheWesternStates，GovernorFelchofMichiganoncegavemesomeofhisexperiencesasabankexaminer，andoneofthemespeciallyamusedme。HesaidthatheandabrotherexaminermadeanexcursionthroughtheStateinasleighwithapairofgoodhorsesinordertoinspectthevariousbanksestablishedinremotevillagesandhamletswhichhadthepowerofissuingcurrencybaseduponthespeciecontainedintheirvaults。Aftervisitingafewofthese，andfindingthateachhadtheamountofspecierequiredbylaw，theexaminersbegantonoteacurioussimilaritybetweenthespeciepackagesinthesedifferentbanks，andbeforelongtheirattentionwasdrawntoanothercuriousfact，whichwasthatwherevertheywenttheywereprecededbyasleighdrawnbyespeciallyfleethorses。Onmakingacarefulexamination，theyfoundthatthissleighborefrombanktobankanumberofkegsofspeciesufficienttoenableeachbankinitsturntoshowtheexaminersatemporarybasisinhardmoneyforitsoutputofpaper。
Suchwasthestateofthingswhichthenationalbanksremedied，andthesystemhadtheadditionaladvantageofbeingelastic，sothatanylittlecommunitywhichneededcurrencyhadonlytocombineitssurpluscapitalandestablishabankofissue。
Butthroughoutthecountrytherewere，astherewilldoubtlessalwaysbe，aconsiderablenumberofmenwho，notbeingabletosucceedthemselves，distrustedanddislikedthesuccessful。Therewasalsoaplentifulsupplyofdemagoguesskilfulinappealingtotheprejudicesoftheignorant，envious，orperverse，andasaresultcameacryagainstthenationalbanks。
InMr。Conkling’sIthacaspeech（1878），hearguedthequestionwithgreatabilityandforce。Hehadasledge—
hammerwaywhichbrokedownallopposition，andheexultedinit。Oneofhisfavoritetactics，whichgreatlyamusedhisauditors，wastoleadsomeprominentgainsayerinhisaudiencetointerrupthim，whereupon，intheblandestwaypossible，hewouldinvitehimtocomeforward，urgehimtopresenthisviews，evenhelphimtodoso，andthen，havinggraduallyentangledhiminhisownsophistriesandmadehimridiculous，thesenatorwouldcomedownuponhimwitharguments——cogent，pithy，sarcastic——muchlikethefistofagiantuponamosquito。
InwhatevertownMr。Conklingarguedthequestionofthenationalbanks，thatsubjectceasedtobeafactorinpolitics:itwassettled;hisattacksupontheanti—bankdemagoguesannihilatedtheirargumentsamongthinkingmen，andhissarcasmmadethemridiculousamongunthinkingmen。Thiswasthesortofthingwhichhedidbest。Whileutterlydeficientinconstructivepower，hisdestructiveforcewasgreatindeed，andinthiscampaignitwasapplied，asitwasnotalwaysapplied，fortheadvantageofthecountry。
TheothergreatspeakerinthecampaignwasGeneralJamesA。Garfield，thenamemberoftheHouseofRepre—
sentatives。MyacquaintancewithhimhadbegunseveralyearsbeforeatSyracuse，whenmyoldschoolfriend，hiscollegemate，CharlesElliotFitch，broughthimintomylibrary。Mycollectionofbookswasevenatthatdateverylarge，andGarfield，beingdelightedwithit，soonrevealedhisscholarlyqualities。IthappenedthatnotlongbeforethisIhadboughtinLondonseveralhundredvolumesfromthelibraryleftbythehistorianBuckle，verymanyofthembearingcopiousannotationsinhisownhand。GarfieldhadreadBuckle’s``HistoryofCivilizationinEngland’’
withespecialinterest，andwhenIpresentedtohimanddiscussedwithhimsomeoftheseannotatedvolumes，therebeganafriendlyrelationbetweenuswhichendedonlywithhislife。
Ialsomethimunderlessfavorablecircumstances。
HappeningtobeinWashingtonattherevelationoftheCrditMobilieroperations，IfoundhimintheHouseofRepresentatives，andevidentlyinthedepthsofsuffering。
Aneffortwasmakingtoconnecthimwiththescandal，andwhileeverythingIknowofhimconvincesmethathewasnotdishonest，hehadcertainlybeenimprudent。Thishefelt，andheaskedme，inanalmostheart—brokentone，ifIreallybelievedthatthishadforeverdestroyedhisinfluenceinthecountry。IansweredthatIbelievednothingofthekind;thatifhecameoutinastraightforward，manlyway，withoutanyoftheprevaricationwhichhadsogreatlyharmedsomeothers，hewouldnotbeinjured，andtheresultshowedthatthisadvicewasgood。
OnourarrivalatthegreathallinIthaca（October28，1878），wefoundfloorandstagepackedineverypart。
Neverhadaspeakerabetteraudience。Therewerepresentverymanymenofallpartiesanxioustohearthecurrencyquestionhonestlydiscussed，andamongthemmanyofthemorethoughtfulsortmisledbytheideathatawronghadbeendonetothecountryintherestorationofthecurrencytoasoundbasis;andtherewasanenormousattendanceofstudentsfromtheuniversity。
AsGarfieldbeganheshowedtheeffectsoffatiguefromthemanyspeecheshehadbeenmakingforweeks，——morning，noon，andnight;butsoonhethrewhimselfheartilyintothesubject，andofallthethousandsofpoliticalspeechesIhavehearditwasthemosteffective。Itwaseloquent，butitwasfarmorethanthat;itwasHONESTLY
argumentative;therewasnosophistryofanysort;everysubjectwastakenupfairlyandeverypointdealtwiththoroughly。OnecouldseethesupportsoftheGreenbackpartyvanishingashewenton。HismannerwastheveryoppositeofMr。Conkling’s:itwaskindly，hearty，asofneighborwithneighbor，——indeed，everypersonpresent，evenifgreenbackerordemagogue，musthavesaidwithinhimself，``Thismanisafriendarguingwithfriends;hemakesmehisfriend，andnowspeakstomeassuch。’’