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me。 What they did not reckon with was that the people of the State of New York； or； rather； the Republicans of the State； having just elected a president； would not view favorably the legislature of the State sending two senators to embarrass their own administration。 There was hardly a newspaper in the State or in the country that did not take a hostile attitude。
Mr。 Blaine again came to New York and insisted upon my entering the canvass； and that I was the only one who could get the whole of the anti…organization vote。
With the Democrats voting for their own candidate； and the anti…organization men voting for me； it was impossible for any one to have a majority。 The fight was most bitter。 The ineffectual ballotting went on every day for months。 Then Garfield was assassinated。 The leader of the Conkling forces came to me and said： 〃You have a majority of the Republican members now voting for you。 Of course； the antagonism has become so great on your candidacy that we cannot vote for you； but if you will withdraw； we will go into caucus。〃
I instantly accepted the proposition； saw my own people； and we selected Warner Miller to represent the administration； and Congressman Lapham； a very able and capable lieutenant of Mr。 Conkling； to represent the organization。 The caucus unanimously nominated them and they were elected。 Senator Conkling immediately settled in New York to practise law and retired from political activities。
It is the irony of fate that General Garfield； who did more than any other statesman to bring the public from its frenzy after the murder of Lincoln back to a calm and judicious consideration of national conditions； should himself be the victim； so soon after his inauguration； of an assassin。
Lincoln was assassinated in April； after his second inauguration in March； while Garfield was shot in the railway station at Washington July 2； following his inauguration。 The president was removed to a cottage at Long Branch； N。 J。； and lingered there with great suffering for over two months。
I was living at Long Branch that summer and going up and down every day to my office in New York。 The whole country was in alternate emotions of hope and despair as the daily bulletins announced the varying phases of the illustrious patient's condition。 The people also were greatly impressed at his wonderful self…control； heroic patience； endurance； and amiability。
It was the experience of a lifetime in the psychology of human nature to meet； night after night； the people who gathered at the hotel at Long Branch。 Most of them were office…seekers。 There were those who had great anticipations of Garfield's recovery； and others； hidebound machinists and organization men； who thought if Garfield died and Vice…President Arthur became president； he would bring in the old order as it existed while he was one of its chief administrators。
There were present very able and experienced newspaper men； representing every great journal in the country。 The evening sessions of these veteran observers of public men were most interesting。 Their critical analysis of the history and motives of the arriving visitors would have been； if published； the most valuable volume of 〃Who's Who〃 ever published。 When President Garfield died the whole country mourned。
IX。 CHESTER A。 ARTHUR
Chester A。 Arthur immediately succeeded to the presidency。 It had been my good fortune to know so well all the presidents； commencing with Mr。 Lincoln； and now the occupant of the White House was a lifelong friend。
President Arthur was a very handsome man； in the prime of life； of superior character and intelligence； and with the perfect manners and courtesies of a trained man of the world。 A veteran statesman who had known most of our presidents intimately and been in Congress under many of them said； in reviewing the list with me at the recent convention at Chicago： 〃Arthur was the only gentleman I ever saw in the White House。〃
Of course； he did not mean exactly that。 He meant that Arthur was the only one of our presidents who came from the refined social circles of the metropolis or from other capitals； and was past master in all the arts and conventionalities of what is known as 〃best society。〃 He could have taken equal rank in that respect with the Prince of Wales； who afterwards became King Edward VII。
The 〃hail…fellow…well…met〃 who had been on familiar terms with him while he was the party leader in New York City； found when they attempted the old familiarities that； while their leader was still their friend； he was President of the United States。
Arthur； although one of the most rigid of organization and machine men in his days of local leadership； elevated the party standards by the men whom he drew around himself。 He invited into party service and personal intimacy a remarkable body of young； exceedingly able and ambitious men。 Many of those became distinguished afterwards in public and professional life。 The ablest of them all was a gentleman who； I think； is now universally recognized both at home and abroad as the most efficient and accomplished American diplomat and lawyerElihu Root。
There is no career so full of dramatic surprises as the political。 President Hayes put civil…service reform upon its feet； and without the assistance of necessary laws vigorously enforced its principles。 Among the victims of his enforcement was General Arthur； whom he relieved as collector of the port of New York。 To the surprise of every one and the amazement of his old friends； one of the first acts of President Arthur was to demand the enactment of a civil…service law； which had originated with the Civil Service Association； and whose most prominent members were George William Curtis and Carl Schurz。
The president's urgency secured the passage of the measure。 He then appointed a thoroughgoing Civil Service Commission； and during his term lived up to every requirement of the system。 In doing this he alienated all his old friends； and among them General Grant； ex…Senator Conkling； Thomas C。 Platt； and also Mr。 Blaine； whom he had asked to remain in the Cabinet as secretary of state。 Among them was also John Sherman； whom he had equally wished to retain as secretary of the treasury。
Arthur's administration； both in domestic affairs and in its foreign policies； meets the approval of history and the impartial judgment of posterity。 But he was not big enough； nor strong enough； to contend with the powerful men who were antagonized； especially by his civil…service…reform tendencies。 When the Republican convention met in 1884 and nominated a new ticket； it was universally recognized by everybody； including the president； that his political career had closed。
President Arthur was one of the most delightful of hosts； and he made the White House the centre of refined hospitality and social charm。 He was a shrewd analyst of human nature and told stories full of humor and dramatic effect of some of his contemporaries。
General Arthur； while Republican party leader in New York； invited me to a dinner given him by a friend who had just returned from a hunting trip with a large collection of fine game。 With the exception of myself； all the guests were active leaders in the State machine。
During the dinner the general said to me： 〃While we draft you every fall to help in our canvass； after we have nominated our ticket we miss you in our councils and we need you。〃
〃Well； 〃 I replied； 〃I do not know what the matter is； nor why Senator Conkling should have a continuing hostility； which I only feel when the time comes around to elect delegates to the State convention。〃
The general continued： 〃We are unable to find out either。 However； it is absurd； and we are going to see that you are a delegate to the national convention； and we want you to be at the State convention at Utica。〃
I went to Albany； knowing that there would be a conference at the Executive Mansion； with General Arthur； Governor Cornell； and Senator Conkling； to lay out a programme for the convention。 I met the then secretary of the State committee； Mr。 Johnson； and told him about my conversation with General Arthur。 He said he was going to attend the conference and would report to me。
When Mr。 Johnson returned he told me that General Arthur； Governor Cornell； and others had strongly urged my being a delegate； and that Senator Conkling became very indignant and said that he did not want me back in the organization； and that it was a matter of indifference on what side I was。 It is needless to say that I did not attend the convention at Utica。
Mr。 Johnson also told me that among other things decided upon was that if General Grant should be nominated for a third term； the old machine under Senator Conkling would be made stronger than ever； that the men who had come to the front during President Hayes's administration as members of the State Senate and assembly and of Congress would be retired； and that another State paper would be established which would wipe out the Albany Evening Journal； because it had sustained President Hayes and his policies。
While the convention was in session at Utica I had an interview with Mr。 George Dawson； w