TABLE OF CONTENTS xi 



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in consequence ; rally of old friends to my support. Examples of the futility 

 of such attacks ; Senator Carpenter, Governor Seward, Senator Conkling. 

 My efforts to interest Conkling in a reform of the civil service. Republican 

 National Convention at Philadelphia in 1872 ; ability of sundry colored dele- 

 gates ; nomination of Grant and Wilson. Mr. Greeley's death. Character- 

 istics of General Grant as President. Reflections on the campaign. Questions 

 asked me by a leading London journalist regarding the election. My first 

 meeting with Samuel J. Tilden ; low ebb of his fortunes at that period. The 

 culmination of Tweed. Thomas Nast. Meeting of the Electoral College at 

 Albany; the ''Winged Victory" and General Grant's credentials. My first 

 experience of " Reconstruction" in the South ; visit to the State Capitol of 

 South Carolina ; rulings of the colored Speaker of \ the House; fulfilment of 

 Thomas Jefferson's inspired prophecy 159 



CHAPTER XI. GRANT, HAYES, AND GARFIELD 1871-1881 



Sundry visits to Washington during General Grant's presidency. Impression 

 made by President Grant; visit to him in company with Agassiz ; character- 

 istics shown by him at Long Branch ; his dealing with one newspaper corre- 

 spondent and story regarding another. His visit to me at Cornell; his 

 remark regarding the annexation of Santo Domingo ; far-sighted reason as- 

 signed for it ; his feeling regarding a third presidential term. My journey 

 with him upon the Rhine. Walks and talks with him in Paris. Persons met 

 at Senator Conkling's. Story told by Senator Carpenter. The " Greenback 

 Craze " ; its spirit ; its strength. Wretched character of the old banking 

 system. Ability and force of Mr. Conkling's speech at Ithaca. Its effect. 

 My previous relations with Garfield. Character and effect of his speech at 

 Ithaca ; his final address to the students of the University. Our midnight 

 conversation. President Hayes ; impressions regarding him ; attacks upon 

 him ; favorable judgment upon him by observant foreigners ; excellent im- 

 pression made by him upon me at this time and at a later period. The 

 assassination of General Garfield. Difficulties which thickened about him 

 toward the end of his career. Characteristics of President Arthur. Ground 

 taken in my public address at Ithaca at the service in commemoration of 

 Garfield . , 177 



CHAPTER XII. ARTHUR, CLEVELAND, AND ELAINE 1881- 



1884 



President Arthur; course before his Presidency; qualities revealed after- 

 ward ; curious circumstances of his nomination. Reform of the Civil Service. 

 My article in the "North American Review." Renewal of my acquaintance 

 with Mr. Evarts ; his witty stories. My efforts to interest Senator Platt in 

 civil-service reform ; his slow progress in this respect. Wayne MacVeagh ; 

 Judge Biddle's remark at his table on American feeling regarding capital pun- 

 ishment. Great defeat of the Republican party in 1882. Judge Folger*s un- 

 fortunate campaign. Election of Mr. Cleveland. My address on " The New 

 Germany " at New York, Meeting with General McDowell ; the injustice of 

 popular judgment upon him. Revelation of Tammany frauds. Grover Cleve- 

 land ; his early life ; his visit to the University ; impression made upon me 

 by him. Senator Merrill's visit ; tribute paid him by the University author- 

 ities. My address at Yale on " The Message of the Nineteenth Century to the 

 Twentieth." Addresses by Carl Schurz and myself at the funeral of Edward 



