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。’’