my memories of eighty years- 第15部分

I　tried　to　argue　the　question　with　Young　by　portraying　to　him　the　situation　and　the　utter　hopelessness　of　any　attempt　to　break　the　slate。　　He；　however；　insisted　upon　it；　saying　that　all　pledges　and　preferences　would　disappear　because　of　Greeley's　services　to　the　party　for　so　many　years。

When　we　arrived　at　Syracuse　and　stated　our　determination　to　present　Mr。　Greeley's　name；　it　was　hilariously　received　as　a　joke。　　Efforts　were　made　by　friends　of　Greeley　to　persuade　him　not　to　undertake　such　an　impossible　task；　but　they　could　produce　no　effect。

Mr。　Griswold　was　put　in　nomination　by　Mr。　Demers；　one　of　the　most　eloquent　young　men　in　the　ministry　of　the　State；　and　afterwards　an　editor　of　power；　and　his　speech　filled　every　requirement。

Then　I　presented　Mr。　Greeley。　　At　first　the　audience　was　hostile；　but　as　the　recital　of　the　great　editor's　achievements　grew　in　intensity　and　heat；　the　convention　began　to　applaud　and　then　to　cheer。　　A　delegate　hurled　at　me　the　question：　　〃How　about　Greeley　signing　the　bail　of　Jefferson　Davis？〃　　The　sentiment　seemed　to　change　at　once　and　cheers　were　followed　by　hisses。　Then　there　was　supreme　silence；　and　I　immediately　shouted：　〃There　are　spots　on　the　sun。〃

The　effect　was　electrical。　　Delegates　were　on　their　feet；　standing　on　chairs；　the　air　was　full　of　hats；　and　the　cheers　deafening　for　Greeley　for　some　minutes。　　Mr。　Demers；　the　preacher　delegate；　lost　his　equilibrium；　rushed　up　to　me；　shaking　his　fist　excitedly；　and　shouted：　　〃Damn　you！　you　have　nominated　him　and　beaten　Griswold。〃

A　recess　was　taken；　and　when　the　convention　reconvened　the　ballot　demonstrated　that　if　the　organization　is　given　time　it　can　always　reform　its　shattered　lines　and　show　the　efficiency　of　discipline。

When　I　met　Mr。　Greeley　soon　after；　he　said：　　〃I　cannot　understand　why　I　desired　the　nomination　for　governor；　nor　why　anybody　should　want　the　office。　　There　is　nothing　in　it。　　No　man　now　can　name　the　ten　last　governors　of　the　State　of　New　York。〃

Having　tried　that　proposition　many　times　since　on　the　average　citizen；　I　have　found　that　Mr。　Greeley　was　absolutely　right。　Any　one　who　does　not　think　so　can　try　to　solve　that　problem　himself。

The　meeting　of　the　Electoral　College　at　the　Capitol　at　Albany　in　1864　was　one　of　the　most　picturesque　and　interesting　gatherings　ever　held　in　the　State。　　　People　came　from　all　parts　of　the　country　to　witness　the　formality　of　the　casting　of　the　vote　of　New　York　for　Abraham　Lincoln。　　The　members　of　the　college　were；　most　of　them；　men　of　great　distinction　in　our　public　and　civic　life。

Horace　Greeley　was　elected　president　of　the　college。　　The　meeting　was　held　in　the　Senate　chamber。　　When　Mr。　Greeley　took　the　chair；　the　desk　in　front　of　him　made　only　his　bust　visible　and　with　his　wonderfully　intellectual　face；　his　long　gray　hair　brushed　back；　and　his　solemn　and　earnest　expression；　he　was　one　of　the　most　impressive　figures　I　ever　saw　occupying　the　chair　as　a　presiding　officer。

One　of　the　electors　had　failed　to　appear。　　Most　of　us　knew　that　under　pressure　of　great　excitement　he　was　unable　to　resist　his　convivial　tendencies；　but　no　one　supposed　that　Mr。　Greeley　could　by　any　possibilibility　know　of　his　weakness。　　After　waiting　some　time　one　of　the　electors　moved　that　the　college　take　a　recess　for　half　a　day。　　Mr。　Greeley　turned　very　pale　and；　before　putting　the　question；　made　a　little　speech；　something　like　this；　in　a　voice　full　of　emotion；　I　might　almost　say　tears：　　〃My　brethren；　we　are　met　here　upon　the　most　solemn　occasion　of　our　lives　in　this　crisis　of　the　republic。　　Upon　the　regularity　of　what　we　do　here　this　day　may　depend　whether　the　republic　lives　or　dies。　　I　would；　therefore；　suggest　that　we　sit　here　in　silence　until　our　absent　brother；　who　is　doubtless　kept　from　us　by　some　good　reason；　shall　appear　and　take　his　seat。〃

The　effect　of　this　address　upon　the　Electoral　College　and　the　surrounding　audience　was　great。　　Many　were　in　tears；　and　the　women　spectators；　most　of　whom　were　in　mourning　for　those　lost　during　the　war；　were　all　crying。

As　secretary　of　state　it　was　my　duty　to　have　the　papers　all　prepared　for　execution　as　soon　as　the　college　had　voted；　and　to　attach　to　them　the　great　seal　of　the　State；　and　then　they　were　sent　by　special　messenger　to　Washington　to　be　delivered　to　the　House　of　Representatives。　　Mr。　Greeley；　at　the　opening　of　the　session；　said　to　me：　　〃Chauncey；　as　I　am　not　very　familiar　with　parliamentary　law；　I　wish　you　would　take　a　seat　on　the　steps　beside　me　here；　so　that　I　can　consult　you　if　necessary。〃　　After　this　effective　and　affecting　speech　he　leaned　down　until　he　was　close　to　my　ear；　and　said：　　〃Chauncey；　how　long　do　you　think　it　will　be　before　that　d…　drunken　fool　will　be　able　to　return　and　take　his　seat？〃

General　Grant's　administration　soon　aroused　great　opposition。　Carl　Schurz；　Charles　Francis　Adams；　and　other　leaders　became　very　hostile　to　the　administration　and　to　a　second　term。　　The　country　was　longing　for　peace。　　The　〃carpet…bag〃　governments　of　the　South　were　full　of　corruption　and　incompetence　and　imposed　upon　the　Southern　States　intolerable　burdens　of　debt。　　The　feeling　was　becoming　general　that　there　should　be　universal　amnesty　in　order　that　the　best　and　most　capable　people　of　the　South　could　return　to　the　management　of　their　own　affairs。

This　led　to　the　calling　of　a　convention　of　the　Republicans；　which　nominated　Horace　Greeley　for　president。　　I　had　no　desire　nor　the　slightest　intention　of　being　involved　in　this　controversy；　but　was　happily　pursuing　my　profession；　with　increasing　fondness　for　private　life。

One　day　Commodore　Vanderbilt；　who　had　a　strong　friendship　for　Mr。　Greeley；　but　took　no　interest　in　politics；　said　to　me：　〃Mr。　Greeley　has　been　to　see　me　and　is　very　anxious　for　you　to　assist　him。　　If　you　can　aid　him　in　any　way　I　wish　you　would。〃

Afterwards　Mr。　Greeley　called　at　my　house。　　〃Chauncey；〃　he　said　（he　always　called　me　Chauncey）；　〃as　you　know；　I　have　been　nominated　by　the　Liberal　Republican　convention　for　President　of　the　United　States。　　If　I　can　get　the　indorsement　of　the　Democratic　party　my　election　is　assured。　　My　Democratic　friends　tell　me　that　in　order　to　accomplish　that　I　must　demonstrate　that　I　have　a　substantial　Republican　following。　　So　we　have　called　a　meeting　at　Rochester；　which　is　the　capital　of　the　strongest　Republican　counties　of　the　State。　　It　is　necessary　to　have　for　the　principal　speaker　some　Republican　of　State　and　national　reputation。　　I　have　selected　you　for　that　purpose。〃

To　my　protest　that　I　did　not　wish　to　enter　into　the　contest　nor　to　take　any　part　in　active　politics；　he　said；　very　indignantly：　〃I　have　supported　you　in　my　paper　and　personally　during　the　whole　of　your　career。　　I　thought　that　if　anybody　was　capable　of　gratitude　it　is　you；　and　I　have　had　unfortunate　experiences　with　many。〃　I　never　was　able　to　resist　an　appeal　of　this　kind；　so　I　said　impulsively：　　〃Mr。　Greeley；　I　will　go。〃

The　meeting　was　a　marvellous　success　for　the　purpose　for　which　it　was　called。　　It　was　purely　a　Republican　gathering。　　The　crowd　was　several　times　larger　than　the　hall　could　accommodate。　Henry　R。　Selden；　one　of　the　judges　of　the　Court　of　Appeals　and　one　of　the　most　eminent　and　respected　Republicans　of　the　State；　presided。　　The　two　hundred　vice…presidents　and　secretaries　upon　the　platform　I　had　known　intimately　for　years　as　Republican　leaders　of　their　counties　and　districts。　　The　demonstration　so　impressed　the　Democratic　State　leaders　that　at　the　national　Democratic　convention　Mr。　Greeley　was　indorsed。

There　were　two　State　conventions　held　simultaneously　that　year；　one　Democratic　and　one　Liberal　Republican。　　In　the　division　of　offices　the　Democratic　party；　being　the　larger；　was　given　the　governorship　and　the　Liberal　Republicans　had　the　lieutenant…　governorship。　　I　was　elected　as　the　presiding　officer　of　the　Liberal　Republican　convention　and　also　was　made　unanimously　its　nominee　for　lieutenant…governor。　　The　Democratic　convention　nominated　Francis　Kernan；　one　of　the　most　distinguished　lawyers　of　the　State；　and　afterwards　United　States　senator。

If　the　election　had　been　held　early　in　the　canvass　there　is　little　doubt　but　that　Mr。　Greeley　would　have　carried　the　State　by　an　overwhelming　majority。　　His　difficulty　was　that　for　a　quarter　of　a　century；　as　editor　of　the　New　York　Tribune；　he　had　been　the　most　merciless；　bitter；　and　formidable　critic　and　opponent　of　the　Democratic　party。　　The　deep…seated　animosity　against　him　was　fully　aroused　as　the　campaign　proceeded　by　a　propaganda　which　placed　in　the　hands　of　every　Democrat　these　former　slashing　editorials　of　the　New　York　Tribune。　　Their　effect　upon　the　Democratic　voters　was　evident　after　a　while；　and　when　in　the　September　election　North　Carolina　went　Republican；　a　great　mass　of　Republicans；　who　had　made　up　their　minds　to　support　Mr。　Greeley；　went　back　to　their　party；　and　he　was　overwhelmingly　defeated。

In　the　early　part　of　his　canvass　Mr。　Greeley　made　a　tour　of　the　country。　　There　have　been　many　such　travels　by　presidential　candidates；　but　none　like　this。　　His　march　was　a　triumphal　procession；　and　his　audiences　enormous　and　most　enthusiastic。　The　whole　country　marvelled　at　his　intellectual　versatility。　　He　spoke　every　day；　and　often　several　times　a　day；　and　each　speech　was　absolutely　new。　　There　seemed　to　be　no　limit　to　his　originality；　his　freshness；　or　the　new　angles　from　which　to　present　the　issues　of　the　canvass。　　No　candidate　was　ever　so　bitterly　abused　and　so　slandered。

A　veteran　speaker　has　in　the　course　of　his　career　original　experiences。　　The　cordiality　and　responsiveness　of　his　audience　is　not　always　an　index　of　their　agreement　with　his　argument。　During　the　campaign　Mr。　Greeley　came　to　me　and　said：　　〃I　have　received　encouraging　accounts　from　the　State　of　Maine。　　I　have　a　letter　from　such　a　place〃naming　it〃from　the　principal　of　the　academy　there。　　He　writes　me　that　the　Congregational　minister；　who　has　the　largest　church　in　town；　the　bank　president；　the　manufacturer；　the　principal　lawyer；　and　himself　are　lifelong　readers　of　the　Tribune；　and　those　steadfast　Republicans　intend　to　support　me。　　He　thinks　if　they　can　have　a　public　meeting　with　a　speaker　of　national　reputation；　the　result　might　be　an　overturn　in　my　favor　in　this　community；　which　is　almost　unani