172 POLITICAL LIFE -VIII 



most important junctures, as has been the case in so many 

 conventions of both parties in these latter years. 



The most noteworthy features of this convention were 

 the speeches of sundry colored delegates from the South. 

 Very remarkable they were, and a great revelation as to 

 the ability of some, at least, of their race in the former 

 slave States. 



General Grant was renominated for the Presidency, 

 and for the Vice-Presidency Mr. Henry Wilson of Massa 

 chusetts in place of Schuyler Colfax, who had held the po 

 sition during General Grant s first term. 



The only speeches I made during the campaign were 

 one from the balcony of the Continental Hotel in Philadel 

 phia and one from the steps of the Delavan House at 

 Albany, but they were perfunctory and formal. There 

 was really no need of speeches, and I was longing to go at 

 my proper university work. Mr. James Anthony Froude, 

 the historian, had arrived from England to deliver his 

 lectures before our students ; and, besides this, the univer 

 sity had encountered various difficulties which engrossed 

 all my thoughts. 



General Grant s reelection was a great victory. Mr. 

 Greeley had not one Northern electoral vote ; worst of all, 

 he had, during the contest, become utterly broken in body 

 and mind, and shortly after the election he died. 



His death was a sad ending of a career which, as a 

 whole, had been so beneficent. As to General Grant, I be 

 lieve now, as I believed then, that his election was a great 

 blessing, and that he was one of the noblest, purest, and 

 most capable men who have ever sat in the Presidency. 

 The cheap, clap-trap antithesis which has at times been 

 made between Grant the soldier and Grant the statesman 

 is, I am convinced, utterly without foundation. The 

 qualities which made him a great soldier made him an 

 effective statesman. This fact was clearly recognized 

 by the American people at various times during the 

 war, and especially when, at the surrender of Appomat- 

 tox, he declined to deprive General Lee of his sword, 



