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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/2045-h.zip b/2045-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b502fff --- /dev/null +++ b/2045-h.zip diff --git a/2045-h/2045-h.htm b/2045-h/2045-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a916854 --- /dev/null +++ b/2045-h/2045-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,15725 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of My Memories of Eighty Years, by Chauncy M. Depew +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's My Memories of Eighty Years, by Chauncey M. Depew + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: My Memories of Eighty Years + +Author: Chauncey M. Depew + +Posting Date: January 29, 2009 [EBook #2045] +Release Date: January, 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY MEMORIES OF EIGHTY YEARS *** + + + + + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +MY MEMORIES OF EIGHTY YEARS +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +BY +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> + TO MY WIFE MAY PALMER DEPEW<BR> + THIS BOOK GREW FROM HER ENCOURAGEMENT<BR> +</H3> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +FOREWORD +</H3> + +<P> +For many years my friends have insisted upon my putting in +permanent form the incidents in my life which have interested +them. It has been my good fortune to take part in history-making +meetings and to know more or less intimately people prominent +in world affairs in many countries. Every one so situated has +a flood of recollections which pour out when occasion stirs the +memory. Often the listeners wish these transcribed for their +own use. +</P> + +<P> +My classmate at Yale in the class of 1856, John D. Champlin, a man +of letters and an accomplished editor, rescued from my own +scattered records and newspaper files material for eight volumes. +My secretary has selected and compiled for publication two volumes +since. These are principally speeches, addresses, and contributions +which have appeared in public. Several writers, without my +knowledge, have selected special matter from these volumes +and made books. +</P> + +<P> +Andrew D. White, Senator Hoar, and Senator Foraker, with whom +I was associated for years, have published full and valuable +autobiographies. I do not attempt anything so elaborate or +complete. Never having kept a diary, I am dependent upon a good +memory. I have discarded the stories which could not well be +published until long after I have joined the majority. +</P> + +<P> +I trust and earnestly hope there is nothing in these recollections +which can offend anybody. It has been my object so to picture +events and narrate stories as to illumine the periods through +which I have passed for eighty-eight years, and the people whom +I have known and mightily enjoyed. +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +C.M.D. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +CONTENTS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="90%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">I. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">II. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">IN PUBLIC LIFE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">III. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">ABRAHAM LINCOLN</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">GENERAL GRANT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">V. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">ROSCOE CONKLING</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">HORACE GREELEY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">RUTHERFORD B. HAYES AND WILLIAM M. EVARTS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">VIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">GENERAL GARFIELD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">IX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">CHESTER A. ARTHUR</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">X. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">GROVER CLEVELAND</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">BENJAMIN HARRISON</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">JAMES G. BLAINE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">WILLIAM McKINLEY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">THEODORE ROOSEVELT</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">UNITED STATES SENATE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">AMBASSADORS AND MINISTERS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK STATE</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XVIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">FIFTY-SIX YEARS WITH THE NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XIX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">RECOLLECTIONS FROM ABROAD</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XX. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">ORATORS AND CAMPAIGN SPEAKERS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXI. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTIONS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">JOURNALISTS AND FINANCIERS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIII. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">ACTORS AND MEN OF LETTERS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">XXIV. </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">SOCIETIES AND PUBLIC BANQUETS</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top"> </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +INDEX [not included]</TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +MY MEMORIES OF EIGHTY YEARS +</H1> + +<BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +I. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH +</H3> + +<P> +It has occurred to me that some reminiscences of a long life +would be of interest to my family and friends. +</P> + +<P> +My memory goes back for more than eighty years. I recall +distinctly when about five years old my mother took me to the +school of Mrs. Westbrook, wife of the well-known pastor of the +Dutch Reformed church, who had a school in her house, within +a few doors. The lady was a highly educated woman, and her +husband, Doctor Westbrook, a man of letters as well as a preacher. +He specialized in ancient history, and the interest he aroused +in Roman and Greek culture and achievements has continued with me +ever since. +</P> + +<P> +The village of Peekskill at that time had between two and three +thousand inhabitants. Its people were nearly all Revolutionary +families who had settled there in colonial times. There had been +very little immigration either from other States or abroad; +acquaintance was universal, and in the activities of the churches +there was general co-operation among the members. Church +attendance was so unanimous that people, young or old, who failed +to be in their accustomed places on Sunday felt the disapproval +of the community. +</P> + +<P> +Social activities of the village were very simple, but very +delightful and healthful. There were no very rich nor very poor. +Nearly every family owned its own house or was on the way to +acquire one. Misfortune of any kind aroused common interest +and sympathy. A helping hand of neighborliness was always extended +to those in trouble or distress. Peekskill was a happy community +and presented conditions of life and living of common interest, +endeavor, and sympathy not possible in these days of restless +crowds and fierce competition. +</P> + +<P> +The Peekskill Academy was the dominant educational institution, +and drew students not only from the village but from a distance. +It fitted them for college, and I was a student there for about +twelve years. The academy was a character-making institution, +though it lacked the thoroughness of the New England preparatory +schools. Its graduates entering into the professions or business +had an unusual record of success in life. I do not mean that they +accumulated great fortunes, but they acquired independence and were +prominent and useful citizens in all localities where they settled. +</P> + +<P> +I graduated from the Peekskill Academy in 1852. I find on the +programme of the exercises of that day, which some old student +preserved, that I was down for several original speeches, while +the other boys had mainly recitations. Apparently my teachers +had decided to develop any oratorical talent I might possess. +</P> + +<P> +I entered Yale in 1852 and graduated in 1856. The college of that +period was very primitive compared with the university to which +it has grown. Our class of ninety-seven was regarded as unusually +large. The classics and mathematics, Greek and Latin, were the +dominant features of instruction. Athletics had not yet appeared, +though rowing and boat-racing came in during my term. The +outstanding feature of the institution was the literary societies: +the Linonia and the Brothers of Unity. The debates at the weekly +meetings were kept up and maintained upon a high and efficient +plane. Both societies were practically deliberative bodies and +discussed with vigor the current questions of the day. Under this +training Yale sent out an unusual number of men who became +eloquent preachers, distinguished physicians, and famous lawyers. +While the majority of students now on leaving college enter business +or professions like engineering, which is allied to business, +at that time nearly every young man was destined for the ministry, +law, or medicine. My own class furnished two of the nine judges +of the Supreme Court of the United States, and a large majority +of those who were admitted to the bar attained judicial honors. +It is a singular commentary on the education of that time that the +students who won the highest honors and carried off the college +prizes, which could only be done by excelling in Latin, Greek, +and mathematics, were far outstripped in after-life by their +classmates who fell below their high standard of collegiate +scholarship but were distinguished for an all-around interest +in subjects not features in the college curriculum. +</P> + +<P> +My classmates, Justice David J. Brewer and Justice Henry Billings Brown, +were both eminent members of the Supreme Court of the United States. +Brewer was distinguished for the wide range of his learning and +illuminating addresses on public occasions. He was bicentennial +orator of the college and a most acceptable one. Wayne MacVeagh, +afterwards attorney-general of the United States, one of the leaders +of the bar, also one of the most brilliant orators of his time, +was in college with me, though not a classmate. Andrew D. White, +whose genius, scholarship, and organization enabled Ezra Cornell +to found Cornell University, was another of my college mates. +He became one of the most famous of our diplomats and the author +of many books of permanent value. My friendship with MacVeagh +and White continued during their lives, that is, for nearly sixty +years. MacVeagh was one of the readiest and most attractive of +speakers I ever knew. He had a very sharp and caustic wit, which +made him exceedingly popular as an after-dinner speaker and as a +host in his own house. He made every evening when he entertained, +for those who were fortunate enough to be his guests, an occasion +memorable in their experience. +</P> + +<P> +John Mason Brown, of Kentucky, became afterwards the leader of +the bar in his State, and was about to receive from President Harrison +an appointment as justice of the Supreme Court when he died +suddenly. If he had been appointed it would have been a remarkable +circumstance that three out of nine judges of the greatest of +courts, an honor which is sought by every one of the hundreds +of thousands of lawyers in the United States, should have been +from the same college and the same class. +</P> + +<P> +The faculty lingers in my memory, and I have the same reverence +and affection for its members, though sixty-five years out of +college, that I had the day I graduated. Our president, +Theodore D. Woolsey, was a wonderful scholar and a most inspiring +teacher. Yale has always been fortunate in her presidents, and +peculiarly so in Professor Woolsey. He had personal distinction, +and there was about him an air of authority and reserved power +which awed the most radical and rebellious student, and at the +same time he had the respect and affection of all. In his +historical lectures he had a standard joke on the Chinese, the +narration of which amused him the more with each repetition. It +was that when a Chinese army was beleaguered and besieged in a +fortress their provisions gave out and they decided to escape. +They selected a very dark night, threw open the gates, and as +they marched out each soldier carried a lighted lantern. +</P> + +<P> +In the faculty were several professors of remarkable force and +originality. The professor of Greek, Mr. Hadley, father of the +distinguished ex-president of Yale, was more than his colleagues +in the thought and talk of the undergraduates. His learning and +pre-eminence in his department were universally admitted. He had a +caustic wit and his sayings were the current talk of the campus. +He maintained discipline, which was quite lax in those days, by +the exercise of this ability. Some of the boys once drove a calf +into the recitation-room. Professor Hadley quietly remarked: +"You will take out that animal. We will get along to-day with +our usual number." It is needless to say that no such experiment +was ever repeated. +</P> + +<P> +At one time there was brought up in the faculty meeting a report +that one of the secret societies was about to bore an artesian +well in the cellar of their club house. It was suggested that such +an extraordinary expense should be prohibited. Professor Hadley +closed the discussion and laughed out the subject by saying from +what he knew of the society, if it would hold a few sessions over +the place where the artesian well was projected, the boring would +be accomplished without cost. The professor was a sympathetic +and very wise adviser to the students. If any one was in trouble +he would always go to him and give most helpful relief. +</P> + +<P> +Professor Larned inspired among the students a discriminating +taste for the best English literature and an ardent love for its +classics. Professor Thacher was one of the most robust and +vigorous thinkers and teachers of his period. He was a born +leader of men, and generation after generation of students who +graduated carried into after-life the effects of his teaching and +personality. We all loved Professor Olmstead, though we were not +vitally interested in his department of physics and biology. He +was a purist in his department, and so confident of his principles +that he thought it unnecessary to submit them to practical tests. +One of the students, whose room was immediately over that of +the professor, took up a plank from the flooring, and by boring +a very small hole in the ceiling found that he could read the +examination papers on the professor's desk. The information +of this reaching the faculty, the professor was asked if he had +examined the ceiling. He said that was unnecessary, because +he had measured the distance between the ceiling and the surface +of his desk and found that the line of vision connected so far +above that nothing could be read on the desk. +</P> + +<P> +Timothy Dwight, afterwards president, was then a tutor. Learning, +common sense, magnetism, and all-around good-fellowship were +wonderfully united in President Dwight. He was the most popular +instructor and best loved by the boys. He had a remarkable talent +for organization, which made him an ideal president. He possessed +the rare faculty of commanding and convincing not only the students +but his associates in the faculty and the members of the corporation +when discussing and deciding upon business propositions and +questions of policy. +</P> + +<P> +The final examinations over, commencement day arrived. The +literary exercises and the conferring of degrees took place in the +old Center Church. I was one of the speakers and selected for +my subject "The Hudson River and Its Traditions." I was saturated +from early association and close investigation and reading with the +crises of the Revolutionary War, which were successfully decided +on the patriots' side on the banks of the Hudson. I lived near +Washington Irving, and his works I knew by heart, especially +the tales which gave to the Hudson a romance like the Rhine's. +The subject was new for an academic stage, and the speech made +a hit. Nevertheless, it was the saddest and most regretful day of +my life when I left Yale. +</P> + +<P> +My education, according to the standard of the time, was completed, +and my diploma was its evidence. It has been a very interesting +question with me how much the academy and the college contributed +to that education. Their discipline was necessary and their +training essential. Four years of association with the faculty, +learned, finely equipped, and sympathetic, was a wonderful help. +The free associations of the secret and debating societies, the +campus, and the sports were invaluable, and the friendships formed +with congenial spirits added immensely to the pleasures and +compensations of a long life. +</P> + +<P> +In connection with this I may add that, as it has been my lot +in the peculiar position which I have occupied for more than +half a century as counsel and adviser for a great corporation +and its creators and the many successful men of business who +have surrounded them, I have learned to know how men who have +been denied in their youth the opportunities for education feel +when they are in possession of fortunes, and the world seems +at their feet. Then they painfully recognize their limitations, +then they know their weakness, then they understand that there +are things which money cannot buy, and that there are gratifications +and triumphs which no fortune can secure. The one lament of all +those men has been: "Oh, if I had been educated I would sacrifice +all that I have to obtain the opportunities of the college, to be +able to sustain not only conversation and discussion with the +educated men with whom I come in contact, but competent also +to enjoy what I see is a delight to them beyond anything which +I know." +</P> + +<P> +But I recall gratefully other influences quite as important to +one's education. My father was a typical business man, one of +the pioneers of river transportation between our village and +New York, and also a farmer and a merchant. He was a stern man +devoted to his family, and, while a strict disciplinarian, very +fond of his children. +</P> + +<P> +My mother was a woman of unusual intellect bordering upon genius. +There were no means of higher education at that period, but her +father, who was an eminent lawyer, and her grandfather, a judge, +finding her so receptive, educated her with the care that was +given to boys who were intended for a professional life. She was +well versed in the literature of the time of Queen Elizabeth and +Queen Anne, and, with a retentive memory, knew by heart many +of the English classics. She wrote well, but never for publication. +Added to these accomplishments were rare good sense and prophetic +vision. The foundation and much of the superstructure of all that +I have and all that I am were her work. She was a rigid Calvinist, +and one of her many lessons has been of inestimable comfort to +me. Several times in my life I have met with heavy misfortunes +and what seemed irreparable losses. I have returned home to find +my mother with wise advice and suggestions ready to devote herself +to the reconstruction of my fortune, and to brace me up. She +always said what she thoroughly believed: "My son, this which +you think so great a calamity is really divine discipline. +The Lord has sent it to you for your own good, because in His +infinite wisdom He saw that you needed it. I am absolutely +certain that if you submit instead of repining and protesting, +if you will ask with faith and proper spirit for guidance and +help, they both will come to you and with greater blessings than +you ever had before." That faith of my mother inspired and +intensified my efforts and in every instance her predictions +proved true. +</P> + +<P> +Every community has a public-spirited citizen who unselfishly +devotes himself or herself to the public good. That citizen of +Peekskill in those early days was Doctor James Brewer. He had +accumulated a modest competence sufficient for his simple needs +as bachelor. He was either the promoter or among the leaders of +all the movements for betterment of the town. He established +a circulating library upon most liberal terms, and it became an +educational institution of benefit. The books were admirably +selected, and the doctor's advice to readers was always available. +His taste ran to the English classics, and he had all the standard +authors in poetry, history, fiction, and essay. +</P> + +<P> +No pleasure derived in reading in after-years gave me such delight +as the Waverley Novels. I think I read through that library and +some of it several times over. +</P> + +<P> +The excitement as the novels of Dickens and Thackeray began +to appear equalled almost the enthusiasm of a political campaign. +Each one of those authors had ardent admirers and partisans. +The characters of Dickens became household companions. Every one +was looking for the counterpart of Micawber or Sam Weller, Pecksniff +or David Copperfield, and had little trouble in finding them either +in the family circle or among the neighbors. +</P> + +<P> +Dickens's lectures in New York, which consisted of readings from +his novels, were an event which has rarely been duplicated for +interest. With high dramatic ability he brought out before the +audience the characters from his novels with whom all were +familiar. Every one in the crowd had an idealistic picture in +his mind of the actors of the story. It was curious to note that +the presentation which the author gave coincided with the idea +of the majority of his audience. I was fresh from the country +but had with me that evening a rather ultra-fashionable young +lady. She said she was not interested in the lecture because +it represented the sort of people she did not know and never +expected to meet; they were a very common lot. In her subsequent +career in this country and abroad she had to her credit three +matrimonial adventures and two divorces, but none of her husbands +were of the common lot. +</P> + +<P> +Speaking of Dickens, one picture remains indelibly pressed upon +my memory. It was the banquet given him at which Horace Greeley +presided. Everybody was as familiar with Mr. Pickwick and his +portrait by Cruikshank in Dickens's works as with one's father. +When Mr. Greeley arose to make the opening speech and introduce +the guest of the evening, his likeness to this portrait of Pickwick +was so remarkable that the whole audience, including Mr. Dickens, +shouted their delight in greeting an old and well-beloved friend. +</P> + +<P> +Another educational opportunity came in my way because one of +my uncles was postmaster of the village. Through his post-office +came several high-class magazines and foreign reviews. There +was no rural delivery in those days, and the mail could only be +had on personal application, and the result was that the subscribers +of these periodicals frequently left them a long time before they +were called for. I was an omnivorous reader of everything +available, and as a result these publications, especially the +foreign reviews, became a fascinating source of information and +culture. They gave from the first minds of the century criticisms +of current literature and expositions of political movements and +public men which became of infinite value in after-years. +</P> + +<P> +Another unincorporated and yet valuable school was the frequent +sessions at the drug store of the elder statesmen of the village. +On certain evenings these men, representing most of the activities +of the village, would avail themselves of the hospitable chairs +about the stove and discuss not only local matters but the general +conditions of the country, some of them revolving about the +constitutionality of various measures which had been proposed +and enacted into laws. They nearly all related to slavery, +the compromise measures, the introduction of slaves into new +territories, the fugitive slave law, and were discussed with much +intelligence and information. The boys heard them talked about +in their homes and were eager listeners on the outskirts of this +village congress. Such institutions are not possible except in the +universal acquaintance, fellowship, and confidences of village +and country life. They were the most important factors in forming +that public opinion, especially among the young, which supported +Mr. Lincoln in his successful efforts to save the Union at whatever +cost. +</P> + +<P> +A few days after returning home from Yale I entered the office +of Edward Wells, a lawyer of the village, as a student. Mr. Wells +had attained high rank in his profession, was a profound student +of the law, and had a number of young men, fitting them for the +bar under his direction. +</P> + +<P> +I was admitted to the bar in 1858, and immediately opened an +office in the village. My first client was a prosperous farmer +who wanted an opinion on a rather complicated question. I prepared +the case with great care. He asked me what my fee was, and +I told him five dollars. He said: "A dollar and seventy-five is +enough for a young lawyer like you." Subsequently he submitted +the case to one of the most eminent lawyers in New York, who +came to the same conclusion and charged him five hundred dollars. +On account of this gentleman's national reputation the farmer +thought that fee was very reasonable. In subsequent years I have +received several very large retainers, but none of them gave so +much satisfaction as that dollar and seventy-five cents, which I had +actually earned after having been so long dependent on my father. +</P> + +<P> +After some years of private practice Commodore Vanderbilt sent +for me and offered the attorneyship for the New York and Harlem +Railroad. I had just been nominated and confirmed United States +minister to Japan. The appointment was a complete surprise to me, +as I was not an applicant for any federal position. The salary was +seven thousand five hundred dollars and an outfit of nine thousand. +The commodore's offer of the attorneyship for the Harlem Railroad, +which was his first venture in railroading, was far less than +the salary as minister. When I said this to the commodore, he +remarked: "Railroads are the career for a young man; there is +nothing in politics. Don't be a damned fool." That decided me, +and on the 1st of January, 1921, I rounded out fifty-five years in +the railway service of this corporation and its allied lines. +</P> + +<P> +Nothing has impressed me more than little things, and apparently +immaterial ones, which have influenced the careers of many people. +My father and his brothers, all active business men, were also +deeply interested in politics, not on the practical side but in +policies and governmental measures. They were uncompromising +Democrats of the most conservative type; they believed that +interference with slavery of any kind imperilled the union of +the States, and that the union of the States was the sole salvation +of the perpetuity of the republic and its liberties. I went to +Yale saturated with these ideas. Yale was a favorite college +for Southern people. There was a large element from the +slaveholding States among the students. It was so considerable +that these Southerners withdrew from the great debating societies +of the college and formed a society of their own, which they +called the Calliopean. Outside of these Southerners there were +very few Democrats among the students, and I came very near being +drawn into the Calliopean, but happily escaped. +</P> + +<P> +The slavery question in all its phases of fugitive slave law and +its enforcement, the extension of slavery into the new territories, +or its prohibition, and of the abolition of the institution by +purchase or confiscation were subjects of discussion on the campus, +in the literary societies, and in frequent lectures in the halls in +New Haven by the most prominent and gifted speakers and advocates. +</P> + +<P> +That was a period when even in the most liberal churches the pulpit +was not permitted to preach politics, and slavery was pre-eminently +politics. But according to an old New England custom, the pastor +was given a free hand on Thanksgiving Day to unburden his mind +of everything which had been bubbling and seething there for +a year. One of the most eminent and eloquent of New England +preachers was the Reverend Doctor Bacon, of Center Church, +New Haven. His Thanksgiving sermon was an event eagerly anticipated +by the whole college community. He was violently anti-slavery. +His sermons were not only intently listened to but widely read, +and their effect in promoting anti-slavery sentiment was very great. +</P> + +<P> +The result of several years of these associations and discussions +converted me, and I became a Republican on the principles +enunciated in the first platform of the party in 1856. When I came +home from Yale the situation in the family became very painful, +because my father was an intense partisan. He had for his party +both faith and love, and was shocked and grieved at his son's +change of principles. He could not avoid constantly discussing +the question, and was equally hurt either by opposition or silence. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +II. IN PUBLIC LIFE +</H3> + +<P> +The campaign of 1856 created an excitement in our village which +had never been known since the Revolutionary War. The old +families who had been settled there since colonial days were +mainly pro-slavery and Democratic, while the Republican party was +recruited very largely from New England men and in a minority. +</P> + +<P> +Several times in our national political campaigns there has been +one orator who drew audiences and received public attention and +reports in the newspapers beyond all other speakers. On the +Democratic side during that period Horatio Seymour was pre-eminent. +On the Republican side in the State of New York the attractive +figure was George William Curtis. His books were very popular, +his charming personality, the culture and the elevation of his +speeches put him in a class by himself. +</P> + +<P> +The Republicans of the village were highly elated when they had +secured the promise of Mr. Curtis to speak at their most important +mass meeting. The occasion drew together the largest audience +the village had known, composed not only of residents but many from +a distance. The committee of arrangements finally reported to +the waiting audience that the last train had arrived, but +Mr. Curtis had not come. +</P> + +<P> +It suddenly occurred to the committee that it would be a good +thing to call a young recruit from a well-known Democratic family +and publicly commit him. First came the invitation, then the +shouting, and when I arose they cried "platform," and I was +escorted to the platform, but had no idea of making a speech. +My experience for years at college and at home had saturated me +with the questions at issue in all their aspects. From a full +heart, and a sore one, I poured out a confession of faith. +I thought I had spoken only a few minutes, but found afterwards +that it was over an hour. The local committee wrote to the State +committee about the meeting, and in a few days I received a letter +from the chairman of the State committee inviting me to fill +a series of engagements covering the whole State of New York. +</P> + +<P> +The campaign of 1856 differed from all others in memory of men +then living. The issues between the parties appealed on the +Republican side to the young. There had grown up among the young +voters an intense hostility to slavery. The moral force of the +arguments against the institution captured them. They had no +hostility to the South, nor to the Southern slaveholders; they +regarded their position as an inheritance, and were willing to +help on the lines of Mr. Lincoln's original idea of purchasing +the slaves and freeing them. But the suggestion had no friends +among the slaveholders. These young men believed that any +extension or strengthening of the institution would be disastrous +to the country. The threatened dissolution of the Union, secession, +or rebellion did not frighten them. +</P> + +<P> +Political conventions are the most interesting of popular gatherings. +The members have been delegated by their fellow citizens to +represent them, and they are above the average in intelligence, +political information of conditions in the State and nation, as +the convention represents the State or the republic. The belief +that they are generally boss-governed is a mistake. The party +leader, sometimes designated as boss, invariably consults with +the strongest men there are in the convention before he arrives +at a decision. He is generally successful, because he has so well +prepared the way, and his own judgment is always modified and +frequently changed in these conferences. +</P> + +<P> +In 1858 I had the first sensation of the responsibility of public +office. I was not an applicant for the place; in fact, knew +nothing about it until I was elected a delegate to the Republican +State convention from the third assembly district of Westchester +County. The convention was held at Syracuse. The Westchester +delegates arrived late at night or, rather, early in the morning, +and we came to the hotel with large numbers of other delegates +from different sections who had arrived on the same train. It was +two o'clock, but the State leader, Thurlow Weed, was in the lobby +of the hotel to greet the delegates. He said to me: "You are +from Peekskill. With whom are you studying law?" I answered: +"With Judge William Nelson." "Oh," he remarked, "I remember +Judge Nelson well. He was very active in the campaign of 1828." +It was a feat of memory to thus recall the usefulness of a local +politician thirty years before. I noticed, as each delegate was +introduced, that Mr. Weed had some neighborhood recollections +of the man which put a tag on him. +</P> + +<P> +The next day, as we met the leader, he recalled us by name, the +places where we lived, and the districts represented. Mr. Blaine +was the only other man I ever met or knew who possessed this +extraordinary gift for party leadership. +</P> + +<P> +There was a revolt in the convention among the young members, +who had a candidate of their own. Mr. Weed's candidate for +governor was Edwin D. Morgan, a successful New York merchant, +who had made a good record as a State senator. I remember one +of Mr. Weed's arguments was that the Democrats were in power +everywhere and could assess their office-holders, while the +Republicans would have to rely for campaign funds upon voluntary +contributions, which would come nowhere so freely as from Mr. Morgan +and his friends. When the convention met Mr. Weed had won over +a large majority of the delegates for his candidate. It was +a triumph not only of his skill but of his magnetism, which were +always successfully exerted upon a doubtful member. +</P> + +<P> +I was elected to the assembly, the popular branch of the New York +Legislature, in 1861. I was nominated during an absence from +the State, without being a candidate or knowing of it until my +return. Of course, I could expect nothing from my father, and +my own earnings were not large, so I had to rely upon a personal +canvass of a district which had been largely spoiled by rich +candidates running against each other and spending large amounts +of money. I made a hot canvass, speaking every day, and with +an investment of less than one hundred dollars for travel and +other expenses I was triumphantly elected. +</P> + +<P> +By far the most interesting member of the legislature was the +speaker, Henry J. Raymond. He was one of the most remarkable +men I ever met. During the session I became intimate with him, +and the better I knew him the more I became impressed with his +genius, the variety of his attainments, the perfection of his +equipment, and his ready command of all his powers and resources. +Raymond was then editor of the New York Times and contributed +a leading article every day. He was the best debater we had +and the most convincing. I have seen him often, when some other +member was in the chair of the committee of the whole, and we were +discussing a critical question, take his seat on the floor and +commence writing an editorial. As the debate progressed, he would +rise and participate. When he had made his point, which he always +did with directness and lucidity, he would resume writing his +editorial. The debate would usually end with Mr. Raymond carrying +his point and also finishing his editorial, an example which seems +to refute the statement of metaphysicians that two parts of the mind +cannot work at the same time. +</P> + +<P> +Two years afterwards, when I was secretary of state, I passed much +of my time at Saratoga, because it was so near Albany. Mr. Raymond +was also there writing the "Life of Abraham Lincoln." I breakfasted +with him frequently and found that he had written for an hour or +more before breakfast. He said to me in explanation that if one +would take an hour before breakfast every morning and concentrate +his mind upon his subject, he would soon fill a library. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Raymond had been as a young man a reporter in the United States +Senate. He told me that, while at that time there was no system +of shorthand or stenography, he had devised a crude one for +himself, by which he could take down accurately any address of +a deliberate speaker. +</P> + +<P> +Daniel Webster, the most famous orator our country has ever +produced, was very deliberate in his utterances. He soon discovered +Raymond's ability, and for several years he always had Raymond +with him, and once said to him: "Except for you, the world would +have very few of my speeches. Your reports have preserved them." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Raymond told me this story of Mr. Webster's remarkable memory. +Once he said to Mr. Webster: "You never use notes and apparently +have made no preparation, yet you are the only speaker I report +whose speeches are perfect in structure, language, and rhetoric. +How is this possible?" Webster replied: "It is my memory. I can +prepare a speech, revise and correct it in my memory, and then +deliver the corrected speech exactly as finished." I have known +most of the great orators of the world, but none had any approach +to a faculty like this, though several could repeat after second +reading the speech which they had prepared. +</P> + +<P> +In 1862 I was candidate for re-election to the assembly. Political +conditions had so changed that they were almost reversed. The +enthusiasm of the war which had carried the Republicans into power +the year before had been succeeded by general unrest. Our armies +had been defeated, and industrial and commercial depression +was general. +</P> + +<P> +The leader of the Democratic Party in the State was Dean Richmond. +He was one of those original men of great brain-power, force, and +character, knowledge of men, and executive ability, of which that +period had a number. From the humblest beginning he had worked +his way in politics to the leadership of his party, to the presidency +of the greatest corporation in the State, the New York Central +Railroad Company, and in his many and successful adventures +had accumulated a fortune. His foresight was almost a gift of +prophecy, and his judgment was rarely wrong. He believed that +the disasters in the field and the bad times at home could be +charged up to the Lincoln administration and lead to a Democratic +victory. He also believed that there was only one man in the party +whose leadership would surely win, and that man was Horatio Seymour. +But Seymour had higher ambitions than the governorship of New York +and was very reluctant to run. Nevertheless, he could not resist +Richmond's insistence that he must sacrifice himself, if necessary, +to save the party. +</P> + +<P> +The Republicans nominated General James W. Wadsworth for governor. +Wadsworth had enlisted at the beginning of the war and made a most +brilliant record, both as a fighting soldier and administrator. +The Republican party was sharply divided between radicals who +insisted on immediate emancipation of the slaves, and conservatives +who thought the time had not yet arrived for such a revolution. +The radicals were led by Horace Greeley, and the conservatives +by Thurlow Weed and Henry J. Raymond. +</P> + +<P> +Horatio Seymour made a brilliant canvass. He had no equal in the +State in either party in charm of personality and attractive +oratory. He united his party and brought to its ranks all the +elements of unrest and dissatisfaction with conditions, military +and financial. While General Wadsworth was an ideal candidate, +he failed to get the cordial and united support of his party. +He represented its progressive tendencies as expressed and +believed by President Lincoln, and was hostile to reaction. +Under these conditions Governor Seymour carried the State. +</P> + +<P> +The election had reversed the overwhelming Republican majority +in the legislature of the year before by making the assembly a tie. +I was re-elected, but by reduced majority. The assembly being +a tie, it was several weeks before it could organize. I was the +candidate in the caucus of the Republican members for speaker, +but after the nomination one of the members, named Bemus, threatened +to bolt and vote for the Democratic candidate unless his candidate, +Sherwood, was made the nominee. So many believed that Bemus +would carry out his threat, which would give the organization of +the House to the Democrats by one majority, that I withdrew in +favor of Sherwood. After voting hopelessly in a deadlock, day +after day for a long period, a caucus of the Republican members +was called, at which Sherwood withdrew, and on his motion I was +nominated as the party candidate for speaker. +</P> + +<P> +During the night a Democratic member, T.C. Callicot, of Kings County, +came to my bedroom and said: "My ambition in life is to be speaker +of the assembly. Under the law the legislature cannot elect +the United States senator unless each House has first made a +nomination, then the Senate and the House can go into joint +convention, and a majority of that convention elect a senator. +You Republicans have a majority in the Senate, so that if the +House nominates, the legislature can go into joint convention +and elect a Republican senator. As long as the House remains +a tie this cannot be done. Now, what I propose is just this: +Before we meet tomorrow morning, if you will call your members +together and nominate me for speaker, the vote of your party and +I voting for myself will elect me. Then I will agree to name +General Dix, a Democrat, for United States senator, and if your +people will all vote with me for him he will be the assembly +nominee. The Senate has already nominated Governor Morgan. +So the next day the legislature can go into joint convention and, +having a Republican majority, elect Governor Morgan United States +senator." I told Mr. Callicot that I would present the matter +to my party associates. +</P> + +<P> +In the early morning Saxton Smith and Colonel John Van Buren, +two of the most eminent Democrats in the State and members of +the legislature, came to me and said: "We know what Callicot +has proposed. Now, if you will reject that proposition we will +elect you speaker practically unanimously." +</P> + +<P> +This assured my election for the speakership. I had a great +ambition to be on that roll of honor, and as I would have been +the youngest man ever elected to the position, my youth added +to the distinction. On the other hand, the government at Washington +needed an experienced senator of its own party, like Edwin D. Morgan, +who had been one of the ablest and most efficient of war governors, +both in furnishing troops and helping the credit of the country. +I finally decided to surrender the speakership for myself to gain +the senatorship for my party. I had difficulty in persuading my +associates, but they finally agreed. Callicot was elected speaker +and Edwin D. Morgan United States senator. +</P> + +<P> +The event was so important and excited so much interest, both in +the State and in the country, that representative men came to +Albany in great numbers. The rejoicing and enthusiasm were intense +at having secured so unexpectedly a United States Senator for +the support of Mr. Lincoln's administration. +</P> + +<P> +That night they all united in giving me a reception in the ballroom +of the hotel. There was a flood of eulogistic and prophetic +oratory. I was overwhelmed with every form of flattery and +applause, for distinguished service to the party. By midnight +I had been nominated and elected Governor of the State, and an hour +later I was already a United States senator. Before the morning +hour the presidency of the United States was impatiently waiting +for the time when I would be old enough to be eligible. All this +was soon forgotten. It is a common experience of the instability +of promises and hopes which come from gratified and happy +enthusiasts, and how soon they are dissipated like a dream! I have +seen many such instances, and from this early experience deeply +sympathize with the disillusionized hero. +</P> + +<P> +The Democrats of the assembly and also of the State were determined +that Mr. Callicot should not enjoy the speakership. They started +investigations in the House and movements in the courts to prevent +him from taking his seat. The result was that I became acting +speaker and continued as such until Mr. Callicot had defeated +his enemies and taken his place as speaker in the latter part of +the session. +</P> + +<P> +I was also chairman of the committee of ways and means and the +leader of the House. The budget of my committee was larger than +usual on account of the expenses of the war. It was about seven +million dollars. It created much more excitement and general +discussion than does the present budget of one hundred and forty +millions. The reason is the difference in conditions and public +necessities of the State of New York in the winter of 1863 and +now. It is also partly accounted for by the fact that the expenses +of the State had then to be met by a real-estate tax which affected +everybody, while now an income tax has been adopted which is +capable of unlimited expansion and invites limitless extravagance +because of the comparatively few interested. +</P> + +<P> +Eighteen hundred and sixty-three was an eventful year; the early +part was full of gloom and unrest. Horatio Seymour, as governor, +violently antagonized President Lincoln and his policies. Seymour +was patriotic and very able, but he was so saturated with State +rights and strict construction of the Constitution that it marred +his judgment and clouded his usually clear vision. In the critical +situation of the country Mr. Lincoln saw the necessity of support +of the State of New York. The president said: "The governor has +greater power just now for good than any other man in the country. +He can wheel the Democratic party into line, put down the rebellion +and preserve the government. Tell him from me that if he will +render this service to his country, I shall cheerfully make way +for him as my successor." To this message, sent through +Thurlow Weed, Governor Seymour made no reply. He did not believe +that the South could be defeated and the Union preserved. +</P> + +<P> +Later President Lincoln sent a personal letter to the governor. +It was a very human epistle. The president wrote: "You and I +are substantially strangers, and I write this that we may become +better acquainted. In the performance of duty the co-operation +of your State is needed and is indispensable. This alone is +sufficient reason why I should wish to be on a good understanding +with you. Please write me at least as long a letter as this, +of course saying in it just what you think fit." +</P> + +<P> +Governor Seymour made no reply. He and the other Democratic +leaders thought the president uncouth, unlettered, and very weak. +The phrase "please write me at least as long a letter as this" +produced an impression upon the scholarly, cultured, cautious, +and diplomatic Seymour which was most unfavorable to its author. +Seymour acknowledged the receipt of the letter and promised to +make a reply, but never did. +</P> + +<P> +Seymour's resentment was raised to fever heat when General Burnside, +in May, 1863, arrested Clement L. Vallandigham. The enemies of +the war and peace at any price people, and those who were +discouraged, called mass meetings all over the country to protest +this arrest as an outrage. A mass meeting was called in Albany +on the 16th of May. Erastus Corning, one of the most eminent +Democrats in the State, presided. +</P> + +<P> +I was in Albany at the time and learned this incident. One of +Governor Seymour's intimate friends, his adviser and confidant +in personal business affairs was Charles Cook, who had been +comptroller of the State and a State senator. Cook was an active +Republican, a very shrewd and able man. He called on the governor +and tried to persuade him not to write a letter to the Vallandigham +meeting, but if he felt he must say something, attend the meeting +and make a speech. Cook said: "Governor, the country is going +to sustain ultimately the arrest of Vallandigham. It will be proved +that he is a traitor to the government and a very dangerous man +to be at large. Whatever is said at the meeting will seriously +injure the political future of the authors. If you write a letter +it will be on record, so I beg you, if you must participate, attend +the meeting and make a speech. A letter cannot be denied; it can +always be claimed that a speech has been misreported." +</P> + +<P> +The Governor wrote the letter, one of the most violent of his +utterances, and it was used against him with fatal effect when +he ran for governor, and also when a candidate for president. +</P> + +<P> +On July 11th the draft began in New York City. It had been +denounced as unconstitutional by every shade of opposition to +Mr. Lincoln's administration and to the prosecution of the war. +The attempt to enforce it led to one of the most serious riots +in the history of the city, and the rage of the rioters was against +the officers of the law, the headquarters of the draft authorities, +and principally against the negroes. Every negro who was caught +was hung or burned, and the negro orphan asylum was destroyed +by fire. The governor did his best to stop the rioting. He issued +a proclamation declaring the city in a state of insurrection, and +commanded obedience to the law and the authorities. +</P> + +<P> +In this incident again the governor permitted his opposition to +the war to lead him into political indiscretion. He made a speech +from the steps of the City Hall to the rioters. He began by +addressing them as "My friends." The governor's object was to +quiet the mob and send them to their homes. So instead of saying +"fellow citizens" he used the fatal words "my friends." No two +words were ever used against a public man with such fatal effect. +Every newspaper opposed to the governor and every orator would +describe the horrors, murders, and destruction of property by +the mob and then say: "These are the people whom Governor Seymour +in his speech from the steps of the City Hall addressed as +'my friends.'" +</P> + +<P> +The Vallandigham letter and this single utterance did more harm +to Governor Seymour's future ambitions than all his many eloquent +speeches against Lincoln's administration and the conduct of the war. +</P> + +<P> +The political situation, which had been so desperate for the +national administration, changed rapidly for the better with +the victory at Gettysburg, which forced General Lee out of +Pennsylvania and back into Virginia, and also by General Grant's +wonderful series of victories at Vicksburg and other places which +liberated the Mississippi River. +</P> + +<P> +Under these favorable conditions the Republicans entered upon +the canvass in the fall of 1863 to reverse, if possible, the +Democratic victory the year before. The Republican State ticket was: +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> + Secretary of State ..... Chauncey M. Depew.<BR> + Comptroller ..... Lucius Robinson.<BR> + Canal Commissioner ..... Benjamin F. Bruce.<BR> + Treasurer ..... George W. Schuyler.<BR> + State Engineer ..... William B. Taylor.<BR> + Prison Inspector ..... James K. Bates.<BR> + Judge of the Court of Appeals ..... Henry S. Selden.<BR> + Attorney-General ..... John Cochran.<BR> +</P> + +<P> +The canvass was one of the most interesting of political campaigns. +The president was unusually active, and his series of letters +were remarkable documents. He had the ear of the public; he +commanded the front page of the press, and he defended his +administration and its acts and replied to his enemies with skill, +tact, and extreme moderation. +</P> + +<P> +Public opinion was peculiar. Military disasters and increasing +taxation had made the position of the administration very critical, +but the victories which came during the summer changed the situation. +I have never known in any canvass any one incident which had +greater effect than Sheridan's victory in the Shenandoah Valley, +and never an adventure which so captured the popular imagination +as his ride from Washington to the front; his rallying the retreating +and routed troops, reforming them and turning defeat into victory. +The poem "Sheridan's Ride," was recited in every audience, from +every platform, and from the stage in many theatres and created +the wildest enthusiasm. +</P> + +<P> +My friend, Wayne MacVeagh, who was at Yale College with me, +had succeeded as a radical leader in defeating his brother-in-law, +Don Cameron, and getting control for the first time in a generation +against the Cameron dynasty of the Republican State organization +of Pennsylvania. He had nominated a radical ticket, with +Andrew G. Curtin as a candidate for governor. +</P> + +<P> +MacVeagh wrote to me, saying: "You are running at the head of +the Republican ticket in New York. Your battle is to be won +in Pennsylvania, and unless we succeed you cannot. Come over +and help us." +</P> + +<P> +I accepted the invitation and spent several most exciting and +delightful weeks campaigning with Governor Curtin and his party. +The meetings were phenomenal in the multitudes which attended +and their interest in the speeches. I remember one dramatic +occasion at the city of Reading. This was a Democratic stronghold; +there was not a single Republican office-holder in the county. +The only compensation for a Republican accepting a nomination +and conducting a canvass, with its large expenses and certain +defeat, was that for the rest of his life he was given as an +evidence of honor the title of the office for which he ran, and so +the county was full of "judges, Mr. District Attorneys, State +Senators, and Congressmen" who had never been elected. +</P> + +<P> +We arrived at Reading after midday. The leading street, a very +broad one, was also on certain days the market-place. A friend +of the governor, who had a handsome house on this street, had +the whole party for luncheon. The luncheon was an elaborate +banquet. Governor Curtin came to me and said: "You go out and +entertain the crowd, which is getting very impatient, and in about +twenty minutes I will send some one to relieve you." It was +raining in torrents; the crowd shouted to me encouragingly: "Never +mind the rain; we are used to that, but we never heard you." As +I would try to stop they would shout: "Go ahead!" In the meantime +the banquet had turned into a festive occasion, with toasts and +speeches. I had been speaking over two hours before the governor +and his party appeared. They had been dining, and the Eighteenth +Amendment had not been dreamed of. I was drenched to the skin, +but waited until the governor had delivered his twenty-minute +speech; then, without stopping for the other orators, I went over +to the house, stripped, dried myself, and went to bed. +</P> + +<P> +Utterly exhausted with successive days and nights of this experience, +I did not wake until about eight o'clock in the evening. Then +I wandered out in the street, found the crowd still there, and +the famous John W. Forney making a speech. They told me that +he had been speaking for four hours, delivering an historical address, +but had only reached the administration of General Jackson. I never +knew how long he kept at it, but there was a tradition with our party +that he was still speaking when the train left the next morning. +</P> + +<P> +Governor Curtin was an ideal party leader and candidate. He was +one of the handsomest men of his time, six feet four inches in +height, perfectly proportioned and a superb figure. He never +spoke over twenty minutes, but it was the talk in the familiar +way of an expert to his neighbors. He had a cordial and captivating +manner, which speedily made him the idol of the crowd and a most +agreeable companion in social circles. When he was minister +to Russia, the Czar, who was of the same height and build, was +at once attracted to him, and he took a first place among the +diplomats in influence. +</P> + +<P> +When I returned to New York to enter upon my own canvass, the State +and national committees imposed upon me a heavy burden. Speakers +of State reputation were few, while the people were clamoring for +meetings. Fortunately I had learned how to protect my voice. In +the course of the campaign every one who spoke with me lost his +voice and had to return home for treatment. When I was a student +at Yale the professor in elocution was an eccentric old gentleman +named North. The boys paid little attention to him and were +disposed to ridicule his peculiarities. He saw that I was specially +anxious to learn and said: "The principal thing about oratory +is to use your diaphragm instead of your throat." His lesson +on that subject has been of infinite benefit to me all my life. +</P> + +<P> +The programme laid out called upon me to speak on an average +between six and seven hours a day. The speeches were from ten +to thirty minutes at different railway stations, and wound up with +at least two meetings at some important towns in the evening, +and each meeting demanded about an hour. These meetings were +so arranged that they covered the whole State. It took about four +weeks, but the result of the campaign, due to the efforts of the +orators and other favorable conditions, ended in the reversal +of the Democratic victory of the year before, a Republican majority +of thirty thousand and the control of the legislature. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +In 1864 the political conditions were very unfavorable for the +Republican party, owing to the bitter hostility between the +conservative and radical elements. Led by such distinguished men +as Thurlow Weed and Henry J. Raymond, on the one side, and +Horace Greeley, with an exceedingly capable body of earnest +lieutenants on the other, the question of success or defeat depended +upon the harmonizing of the two factions. +</P> + +<P> +Without having been recognized by the politicians or press of +the State, Reuben E. Fenton, who had been for ten years a congressman +from the Chatauqua district, had developed in Congress remarkable +ability as an organizer. He had succeeded in making Galusha A. Grow +speaker of the House of Representatives, and had become a power +in that body. He had behind him the earnest friendship and support +of the New York delegation in the House of Representatives and had +not incurred the enmity of either faction in his own State. His +nomination saved the party in that campaign. +</P> + +<P> +As an illustration how dangerous was the situation, though the +soldiers' vote in the field was over one hundred thousand and +almost unanimously for the Republican ticket, the presidential and +gubernatorial candidates received less than eight thousand +majority, the governor leading the president. +</P> + +<P> +The re-election of Mr. Lincoln and the election Reuben E. Fenton +over Governor Seymour made our State solidly Republican, and +Governor Fenton became at once both chief executive and party +leader. He had every quality for political leadership, was a shrewd +judge of character, and rarely made mistakes in the selection +of his lieutenants. He was a master of all current political +questions and in close touch with public opinion. My official +relations with him as secretary of state became came at once +intimate and gratifying. It required in after-years all the +masterful genius of Roscoe Conkling and the control of federal +patronage granted to him by President Grant to break Fenton's +hold upon his party. +</P> + +<P> +Governor Fenton was blessed with a daughter of wonderful executive +ability, singular charm, and knowledge of public affairs. She made +the Executive Mansion in Albany one of the most charming and +hospitable homes in the State. Its influence radiated everywhere, +captured visitors, legislators, and judges, and was a powerful +factor in the growing popularity and influence of the governor. +</P> + +<P> +One of the most interesting of political gatherings was the +Democratic convention, which met at Tredwell Hall in Albany +in the fall of 1864, to select a successor to Governor Seymour. +The governor had declared publicly that he was not a candidate, +and that under no conditions would he accept a renomination. He +said that his health was seriously impaired, and his private affairs +had been neglected so long by his absorption in public duties +that they were in an embarrassing condition and needed attention. +</P> + +<P> +The leaders of the convention met in Dean Richmond's office and +selected a candidate for governor and a full State ticket. When +the convention met the next day I was invited to be present as +a spectator. It was supposed by everybody that the proceedings +would be very formal and brief, as the candidates and the platform +had been agreed upon. The day was intensely hot, and most of +the delegates discarded their coats, vests, and collars, especially +those from New York City. +</P> + +<P> +When the time came for the nomination, the platform was taken +by one of the most plausible and smooth talkers I ever heard. +He delivered a eulogy upon Governor Seymour and described in +glowing terms the debt the party owed him for his wonderful public +services, and the deep regret all must have that he felt it necessary +to retire to private life. He continued by saying that he acquiesced +in that decision, but felt it was due to a great patriot and +the benefactor of the party that he should be tendered a +renomination. Of course, they all knew it would be merely a +compliment, as the governor's position had been emphatically +stated by himself. So he moved that the governor be nominated by +acclamation and a committee appointed to wait upon him at the +Executive Mansion and ascertain his wishes. +</P> + +<P> +When Mr. Richmond was informed of this action, he said it was +all right but unnecessary, because the situation was too serious +to indulge in compliments. +</P> + +<P> +In an hour the delegation returned, and the chairman, who was +the same gentleman who made the speech and the motion, stepped +to the front of the platform to report. He said that the governor +was very grateful for the confidence reposed in him by the +convention, and especially for its approval of his official actions +as governor of the State and the representative of his party at +the national convention, that in his long and intense application +to public duties he had impaired his health and greatly embarrassed +his private affairs, but, but, he continued with emphasis. . . He +never got any further. Senator Shafer, of Albany, who was unfriendly +to the governor, jumped up and shouted: "Damn him, he has accepted!" +</P> + +<P> +The convention, when finally brought to order, reaffirmed its +complimentary nomination as a real one, with great enthusiasm +and wild acclaim. +</P> + +<P> +When the result was reported to Mr. Richmond at his office, I was +told by one who was present that Richmond's picturesque vocabulary +of indignation and denunciation was enriched to such a degree +as to astonish and shock even the hardened Democrats who listened +to the outburst. +</P> + +<P> +A committee was appointed to wait on the governor and request him +to appear before the convention. In a little while there stepped +upon the platform the finest figure in the State or country. +Horatio Seymour was not only a handsome man, with a highly +intellectual and expressive face of mobile features, which added +to the effect of his oratory, but he never appeared unless perfectly +dressed and in the costume which was then universally regarded +as the statesman's apparel. His patent-leather boots, his +Prince Albert suit, his perfectly correct collar and tie were +evidently new, and this was their first appearance. From head to +foot he looked the aristocrat. In a few minutes he became the idol +of that wild and overheated throng. His speech was a model of +tact, diplomacy, and eloquence, with just that measure of restraint +which increased the enthusiasm of the hearers. The convention, +which had gathered for another purpose, another candidate, and +a new policy, hailed with delight its old and splendid leader. +</P> + +<P> +Commodore Vanderbilt had a great admiration for Dean Richmond. +The commodore disliked boasters and braggarts intensely. Those +who wished to gain his favor made the mistake, as a rule, of boasting +about what they had done, and were generally met by the remark: +"That amounts to nothing." Mr. Tillinghast, a western New York man +and a friend of Richmond, was in the commodore's office one day, +soon after Richmond died. Tillinghast was general superintendent +of the New York Central and had been a sufferer from being stepped +on by the commodore when he was lauding his own achievements and +so took the opposite line of extreme moderation. The commodore +asked Tillinghast, after praising Mr. Richmond very highly, "How +much did he leave?" "Oh," said Tillinghast, "his estate is a +great disappointment, and compared with what it was thought to be +it is very little." "I am surprised," remarked the commodore, +"but how much?" "Oh, between five or six millions," Tillinghast +answered. For the first time in his life the commodore was thrown +off his guard and said: "Tillinghast, if five or six million +of dollars is a disappointment, what do you expect in western +New York?" At that time there were few men who were worth that +amount of money. +</P> + +<P> +Governor Seymour made a thorough canvass of the State, and I was +appointed by our State committee to follow him. It was a singular +experience to speak and reply to the candidate the day after his +address. The local committee meets you with a very complete report +of his speech. The trouble is that, except you are under great +restraint, the urgency of the local committee and the inevitable +temptations of the reply under such conditions, when your adversary +is not present, will lead you to expressions and personalities which +you deeply regret. +</P> + +<P> +When the canvass was over and the governor was beaten, I feared +that the pleasant relations which had existed between us were +broken. But he was a thorough sportsman. He sent for and received +me with the greatest cordiality, and invited me to spend a week-end +with him at his home in Utica. There he was the most delightful +of hosts and very interesting as a gentleman farmer. In the +costume of a veteran agriculturist and in the farm wagon he drove +me out mornings to his farm, which was so located that it could +command a fine view of the Mohawk Valley. After the inspection +of the stock, the crops, and buildings, the governor would spend +the day discoursing eloquently and most optimistically upon +the prosperity possible for the farmer. To his mind then the food +of the future was to be cheese. There was more food value +in cheese than in any known edible article, animal or vegetable. +It could sustain life more agreeably and do more for longevity +and health. +</P> + +<P> +No one could have imagined, who did not know the governor and +was privileged to listen to his seemingly most practical and +highly imaginative discourse, that the speaker was one of the +ablest party managers, shrewdest of politicians, and most eloquent +advocates in the country, whose whole time and mind apparently +were absorbed in the success of his party and the fruition of +his own ambitions. +</P> + +<P> +As we were returning home he said to me: "You have risen higher +than any young man in the country of your age. You have a talent +and taste for public life, but let me advise you to drop it and +devote yourself to your profession. Public life is full of +disappointments, has an unusual share of ingratitude, and its +compensations are not equal to its failures. The country is full +of men who have made brilliant careers in the public service and +then been suddenly dropped and forgotten. The number of such men +who have climbed the hill up State Street to the capitol in Albany, +with the applause of admiring crowds whom none now can recall, +would make a great army." +</P> + +<P> +He continued by telling this story: "In the war of 1812 the +governor and the legislature decided to bring from Canada to +Albany the remains of a hero whose deeds had excited the admiration +of the whole State. There was an imposing and continuous +procession, with local celebrations all along the route, from +the frontier to the capital. The ceremonies in Albany were attended +by the governor, State officers, legislature, and judges, and the +remains were buried in the capitol park. No monument was erected. +The incident is entirely forgotten, no one remembers who the hero +was, what were his deeds, nor the spot where he rests." +</P> + +<P> +Years afterwards, when the State was building a new capitol and +I was one of the commissioners, in excavating the grounds +a skeleton was found. It was undoubtedly the forgotten hero +of Governor Seymour's story. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +When my term was about expiring with the year 1865 I decided +to leave public life and resume the practice of my profession. +I was at the crossroads of a political or a professional career. +So, while there was a general assent to my renomination, I +emphatically stated the conclusion at which I had arrived. +</P> + +<P> +The Republican convention nominated for my successor as secretary +of state General Francis C. Barlow, a very brilliant soldier in +the Civil War. The Democratic convention adopted a patriotic +platform of advanced and progressive views, and nominated at the +head of their ticket for secretary of state General Henry W. Slocum. +General Slocum had been a corps commander in General Sherman's +army, and came out of the war among the first in reputation and +achievement of the great commanders. It was a master stroke on +the part of the Democratic leaders to place him at the head of +their ticket. He was the greatest soldier of our State and very +popular with the people. In addition to being a great commander, +he had a charming personality, which fitted him for success +in public life. +</P> + +<P> +The Democrats also on the same ticket nominated for attorney-general +John Van Buren. He was a son of President Van Buren and a man +of genius. Although he was very erratic, his ability was so great +that when serious he captured not only the attention but the judgment +of people. He was an eloquent speaker and had a faculty of +entrancing the crowd with his wit and of characterization of his +opponent which was fatal. I have seen crowds, when he was +elaborately explaining details necessary for the vindication of his +position, or that of his party which did not interest them, +to remain with close attention, hoping for what was certain to come, +namely, one of those sallies of wit, which made a speech of +Van Buren a memorable thing to have listened to. +</P> + +<P> +Van Buren was noted for a reckless disregard of the confidences +of private conversation. Once I was with him on the train for +several hours, and in the intimacy which exists among political +opponents who know and trust each other we exchanged views in +regard to public measures and especially public men. I was very +indiscreet in talking with him in my criticism of the leaders of +my own party, and he equally frank and delightful in flaying alive +the leaders of his party, especially Governor Seymour. +</P> + +<P> +A few days afterwards he made a speech in which he detailed what +I had said, causing me the greatest embarrassment and trouble. +In retaliation I wrote a letter to the public, stating what he had +said about Governor Seymour. The Democratic ticket was beaten +by fifteen thousand in a very heavy vote, and Van Buren always +charged it to the resentment of Governor Seymour and his friends. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +In our country public life is a most uncertain career for a young +man. Its duties and activities remove him from his profession or +business and impose habits of work and thought which unfit him +for ordinary pursuits, especially if he remains long in public +service. With a change of administration or of party popularity, +he may be at any time dropped and left hopelessly stranded. +On the other hand, if his party is in power he has in it a position +of influence and popularity. He has a host of friends, with many +people dependent upon him for their own places, and it is no easy +thing for him to retire. +</P> + +<P> +When I had decided not to remain any longer in public life and +return home, the convention of my old district, which I had +represented in the legislature, renominated me for the old position +with such earnestness and affection that it was very difficult +to refuse and to persuade them that it was absolutely necessary +for me to resume actively my profession. +</P> + +<P> +Our village of Peekskill, which has since grown into the largest +village in the State, with many manufacturing and other interests, +was then comparatively small. A large number of people gathered +at the post-office every morning. On one occasion when I arrived +I found them studying a large envelope addressed to me, which +the postmaster had passed around. It was a letter from +William H. Seward, secretary of state, announcing that the president +had appointed me United States minister to Japan, and that the +appointment had been sent to the Senate and confirmed by that +body, and directing that I appear at the earliest possible moment +at his office to receive instructions and go to my post. A few +days afterwards I received a beautiful letter from Henry J. Raymond, +then in Congress, urging my acceptance. +</P> + +<P> +On arriving in Washington I went to see Mr. Seward, who said to me: +"I have special reasons for securing your appointment from the +president. He is rewarding friends of his by putting them in +diplomatic positions for which they are wholly unfit. I regard +the opening of Japan to commerce and our relations to that new +and promising country so important, that I asked the privilege +to select one whom I thought fitted for the position. Your youth, +familiarity with public life, and ability seem to me ideal for this +position, and I have no doubt you will accept." +</P> + +<P> +I stated to him how necessary it was that after long neglect in +public life of my private affairs I should return to my profession, +if I was to make a career, but Mr. Seward brushed that aside by +reciting his own success, notwithstanding his long service in our +State and in Washington. "However," he continued, "I feared that +this might be your attitude, so I have made an appointment for you +to see Mr. Burlingame, who has been our minister to China, and +is now here at the head of a mission from China to the different +nations of the world." +</P> + +<P> +Anson Burlingame's career had been most picturesque and had +attracted the attention of not only the United States but of +Europe. As a member of the House of Representatives he had +accepted the challenge of a "fire-eater," who had sent it under +the general view that no Northern man would fight. As minister +to China he had so gained the confidence of the Chinese Government +that he persuaded them to open diplomatic relations with the Western +world, and at their request he had resigned his position from +the United States and accepted the place of ambassador to the great +powers, and was at the head of a large delegation, composed of +the most important, influential, and representative mandarins of +the old empire. +</P> + +<P> +When I sent up my card to his room at the hotel his answer was: +"Come up immediately." He was shaving and had on the minimum +of clothes permissible to receive a visitor. He was expecting me +and started in at once with an eloquent description of the attractions +and importance of the mission to Japan. With the shaving brush +in one hand and the razor in the other he delivered an oration. +In order to emphasize it and have time to think and enforce a new +idea, he would apply the brush and the razor vigorously, then pause +and resume. I cannot remember his exact words, but have a keen +recollection of the general trend of his argument. +</P> + +<P> +He said: "I am surprised that a young man like you, unmarried +and with no social obligations, should hesitate for a moment +to accept this most important and attractive position. If you +think these people are barbarians, I can assure you that they +had a civilization and a highly developed literature when our +forefathers were painted savages. The western nations of Europe, +in order to secure advantages in this newly opened country for +commerce, have sent their ablest representatives. You will meet +there with the diplomats of all the western nations, and your +intimacy with them will be a university of the largest opportunity. +You will come in contact with the best minds of Europe. You can +make a great reputation in the keen rivalry of this situation +by securing the best of the trade of Japan for your own country +to its western coasts over the waters of the Pacific. You will +be welcomed by the Japanese Government and the minister of +foreign affairs will assign you a palace to live in, with a garden +attached so perfectly appointed and kept as to have been the envy +of Shenstone. You will be attended by hundreds of beautiful and +accomplished Japanese maidens." +</P> + +<P> +When I repeated to a large body of waiting office-seekers who had +assembled in my room what Mr. Burlingame had said, they all became +applicants for the place. +</P> + +<P> +There is no more striking evidence of the wonderful advance in +every way of the Japanese Empire and its people than the conditions +existing at that time and now. Then it took six months to reach +Japan and a year for the round trip. Of course, there was no +telegraphic or cable communication, and so it required a year +for a message to be sent and answered. The Japanese army at that +time was mostly clad in armor and its navy were junks. +</P> + +<P> +In fifty years Japan has become one of the most advanced nations +of the world. It has adopted and assimilated all that is best of +Western civilization, and acquired in half a century what required +Europe one thousand years to achieve. Its army is unexcelled +in equipment and discipline, and its navy and mercantile marine are +advancing rapidly to a foremost place. It demonstrated its prowess +in the war with Russia, and its diplomacy and power in the recent war. +</P> + +<P> +Japan has installed popular education, with common schools, +academies, and universities, much on the American plan. It has +adopted and installed every modern appliance developed by +electricity—telegraph, cable, telephone, etc. +</P> + +<P> +While I was greatly tempted to reverse my decision and go, +my mother, who was in delicate health, felt that an absence so +long and at such distance would be fatal, and so on her account +I declined. +</P> + +<P> +As I look back over the fifty years I can see plainly that four +years, and probably eight, in that mission would have severed +me entirely from all professional and business opportunities +at home, and I might have of necessity become a place holder +and a place seeker, with all its adventures and disappointments. +</P> + +<P> +If I had seriously wanted an office and gone in pursuit of one, +my pathway would have had the usual difficulties, but fickle +fortune seemed determined to defeat my return to private life +by tempting offers. The collectorship of the port of New York +was vacant. It was a position of great political power because +of its patronage. There being no civil service, the appointments +were sufficiently numerous and important to largely control the +party in the State of New York, and its political influence reached +into other commonwealths. It was an office whose fees were +enormous, and the emoluments far larger than those of any position +in the country. +</P> + +<P> +The party leaders had begun to doubt President Johnson, and they +wanted in the collectorship a man in whom they had entire +confidence, and so the governor and State officers, who were all +Republicans, the Republican members of the legislature, the State +committee, the two United States senators, and the Republican +delegation of New York in the House of Representatives unanimously +requested the president to appoint me. +</P> + +<P> +President Johnson said to me: "No such recommendation and +indorsement has ever been presented to me before." However, +the breach between him and the party was widening, and he could +not come to a decision. +</P> + +<P> +One day he suddenly sent for Senator Morgan, Henry J. Raymond, +Thurlow Weed, and the secretary of the treasury for a consultation. +He said to them: "I have decided to appoint Mr. Depew." The +appointment was made out by the secretary of the treasury, and the +president instructed him to send it to the Senate the next morning. +There was great rejoicing among the Republicans, as this seemed +to indicate a favorable turn in the president's mind. Days and +weeks passed, however, and when the veto of the Civil Rights Bill +was overridden in the Senate and, with the help of the votes +of the senators from New York, the breach between the president +and his party became irreconcilable, the movement for his +impeachment began, which ended in the most sensational and perilous +trial in our political history. +</P> + +<P> +On my way home to New York, after the vote of the New York senators +had ended my hope for appointment, I had as a fellow traveller +my friend, Professor Davies, from West Point. He was a brother +of that eminent jurist, Henry E. Davies, a great lawyer and +chief justice of our New York State Court of Appeals. Professor +Davies said to me: "I think I must tell you why your nomination +for collector was not sent to the Senate. I was in Washington +to persuade the president, with whom I am quite intimate, to make +another appointment. I was calling on Secretary Hugh McCulloch +and his family in the evening of the day when the conference decided +to appoint you. Secretary McCulloch said to me: 'The contest +over the collectorship of the port of New York is settled, and +Chauncey Depew's name will be sent to the Senate to-morrow +morning.' I was at the White House," continued the professor, +"the next morning before breakfast. The president received me +at once because I said my mission was urgent and personal. I told +him what the secretary of the treasury had told me and said: +'You are making a fatal mistake. You are going to break with +your party and to have a party of your own. The collectorship +of the port of New York is the key to your success. Depew is +very capable and a partisan of his party. If you have any doubt, +I beg of you to withhold the appointment until the question +comes up in the Senate of sustaining or overriding of the veto +of the Civil Rights Bill. The votes of the two New York senators +will decide whether they are your friends or not.' The president +thought that was reasonable, and you know the result." +</P> + +<P> +There was at least one satisfaction in the professor's amazingly +frank revelation: it removed all doubt why I had lost a great +office and, for my age and circumstances, a large fortune. +</P> + +<P> +President Andrew Johnson differed radically from any President +of the United States whom it has been my good fortune to know. +This refers to all from and including Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Harding. +A great deal must be forgiven and a great deal taken by way of +explanation when we consider his early environment and opportunities. +</P> + +<P> +In the interviews I had with him he impressed me as a man of +vigorous mentality, of obstinate wilfulness, and overwhelming +confidence in his own judgment and the courage of his convictions. +His weakness was alcoholism. He made a fearful exhibition of +himself at the time of his inauguration and during the presidency, +and especially during his famous trip "around the circle" he +was in a bad way. +</P> + +<P> +He was of humble origin and, in fact, very poor. It is said of him +that he could neither read nor write until his wife taught him. +He made a great career both as a member of the House of Representatives +and a senator, and was of unquestionable influence in each branch. +With reckless disregard for his life, he kept east Tennessee +in the Union during the Civil War. +</P> + +<P> +General Grant told me a story of his own experience with him. +Johnson, he said, had always been treated with such contempt +and ignored socially by the members of the old families and slave +aristocracy of the South that his resentment against them was +vindictive, and so after the surrender at Appomattox he was +constantly proclaiming "Treason is odious and must be punished." +He also wanted and, in fact, insisted upon ignoring Grant's parole +to the Confederate officers, in order that they might be tried +for treason. On this question of maintaining his parole and +his military honor General Grant was inflexible, and said he would +appeal not only to Congress but to the country. +</P> + +<P> +One day a delegation, consisting of the most eminent, politically, +socially, and in family descent, of the Southern leaders, went to +the White House. They said: "Mr. President, we have never +recognized you, as you belong to an entirely different class +from ourselves, but it is the rule of all countries and in all ages +that supreme power vested in the individual raises him, no matter +what his origin, to supreme leadership. You are now President +of the United States, and by virtue of your office our leader, +and we recognize you as such." Then followed attention from +these people whom he admired and envied, as well as hated, +of hospitality and deference, of which they were past masters. +It captivated him and changed his whole attitude towards them. +</P> + +<P> +He sent for General Grant and said to him: "The war is over +and there should be forgiveness and reconciliation. I propose +to call upon all of the States recently in rebellion to send +to Washington their United States senators and members of the House, +the same as they did before the war. If the present Congress +will not admit them, a Congress can be formed of these Southern +senators and members of the House and of such Northern senators +and representatives as will believe that I am right and acting +under the Constitution. As President of the United States, I will +recognize that Congress and communicate with them as such. +As general of the army I want your support." General Grant replied: +"That will create civil war, because the North will undoubtedly +recognize the Congress as it now exists, and that Congress will +assert itself in every way possible." "In that case," said the +president, "I want the to support the constitutional Congress +which I am recognizing." General Grant said: "On the contrary, +so far as my authority goes, the army will support the Congress +as it is now and disperse the other." President Johnson then +ordered General Grant to Mexico on a mission, and as he had +no power to send a general of the army out of the United States, +Grant refused to go. +</P> + +<P> +Shortly afterwards Grant received a very confidential communication +from General Sherman, stating that he had been ordered to Washington +to take command of the army, and wanted to know what it meant. +General Grant explained the situation, whereupon General Sherman +announced to the president that he would take exactly the same +position as General Grant had. The president then dropped +the whole subject. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +III. ABRAHAM LINCOLN +</H3> + +<P> +The secretaryship of the State of New York is a very delightful +office. Its varied duties are agreeable, and the incumbent is +brought in close contact with the State administration, +the legislature, and the people. +</P> + +<P> +We had in the secretary of state's office at the time I held +the office, about fifty-eight years ago, very interesting archives. +The office had been the repository of these documents since +the organization of the government. Many years afterwards they +were removed to the State Library. Among these documents were +ten volumes of autograph letters from General Washington to +Governor Clinton and others, covering the campaign on the Hudson +in the effort by the enemy to capture West Point, the treason of +Arnold and nearly the whole of the Revolutionary War. In the course +of years before these papers were removed to the State Library, +a large part of them disappeared. It was not the fault of the +administration succeeding me, but it was because the legislature, +in its effort to economize, refused to make appropriation for the +proper care of these invaluable historic papers. Most of +Washington's letters were written entirely in his own hand, and +one wonders at the phenomenal industry which enabled him to do +so much writing while continuously and laboriously engaged in +active campaigning. +</P> + +<P> +In view of the approaching presidential election, the legislature +passed a law, which was signed by the governor, providing machinery +for the soldiers' vote. New York had at that time between three +and four hundred thousand soldiers in the field, who were scattered +in companies, regiments, brigades, and divisions all over the South. +This law made it the duty of the secretary of state to provide +ballots, to see that they reached every unit of a company, to gather +the votes and transmit them to the home of each soldier. The State +government had no machinery by which this work could be done. +I applied to the express companies, but all refused on the ground +that they were not equipped. I then sent for old John Butterfield, +who was the founder of the express business but had retired and +was living on his farm near Utica. He was intensely patriotic and +ashamed of the lack of enterprise shown by the express companies. +He said to me: "If they cannot do this work they ought to retire." +He at once organized what was practically an express company, +taking in all those in existence and adding many new features +for the sole purpose of distributing the ballots and gathering +the soldiers' votes. It was a gigantic task and successfully +executed by this patriotic old gentleman. +</P> + +<P> +Of course, the first thing was to find out where the New York +troops were, and for that purpose I went to Washington, remaining +there for several months before the War Department would give +me the information. The secretary of war was Edwin M. Stanton. +It was perhaps fortunate that the secretary of war should not only +possess extraordinary executive ability, but be also practically +devoid of human weakness; that he should be a rigid disciplinarian +and administer justice without mercy. It was thought at the time +that these qualities were necessary to counteract, as far as +possible, the tender-heartedness of President Lincoln. If the boy +condemned to be shot, or his mother or father, could reach the +president in time, he was never executed. The military authorities +thought that this was a mistaken charity and weakened discipline. +I was at a dinner after the war with a number of generals who +had been in command of armies. The question was asked one of +the most famous of these generals: "How did you carry out the +sentences of your courts martial and escape Lincoln's pardons?" +The grim old warrior answered: "I shot them first." +</P> + +<P> +I took my weary way every day to the War Department, but could +get no results. The interviews were brief and disagreeable and +the secretary of war very brusque. The time was getting short. +I said to the secretary: "If the ballots are to be distributed +in time I must have information at once." He very angrily refused +and said: "New York troops are in every army, all over the enemy's +territory. To state their location would be to give invaluable +information to the enemy. How do I know if that information would +be so safeguarded as not to get out?" +</P> + +<P> +As I was walking down the long corridor, which was full of hurrying +officers and soldiers returning from the field or departing for it, +I met Elihu B. Washburne, who was a congressman from Illinois +and an intimate friend of the president. He stopped me and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Hello, Mr. Secretary, you seem very much troubled. Can I help you?" +I told him my story. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you going to do?" he asked. I answered: "To protect +myself I must report to the people of New York that the provision +for the soldiers' voting cannot be carried out because the +administration refuses to give information where the New York +soldiers are located." +</P> + +<P> +"Why," said Mr. Washburne, "that would beat Mr. Lincoln. You don't +know him. While he is a great statesman, he is also the keenest +of politicians alive. If it could be done in no other way, the +president would take a carpet-bag and go around and collect those +votes himself. You remain here until you hear from me. I will +go at once and see the president." +</P> + +<P> +In about an hour a staff officer stepped up to me and asked: "Are +you the secretary of state of New York?" I answered "Yes." +"The secretary of war wishes to see you at once," he said. I found +the secretary most cordial and charming. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Secretary, what do you desire?" he asked. I stated the case +as I had many times before, and he gave a peremptory order to one +of his staff that I should receive the documents in time for me +to leave Washington on the midnight train. +</P> + +<P> +The magical transformation was the result of a personal visit of +President Lincoln to the secretary of war. Mr. Lincoln carried +the State of New York by a majority of only 6,749, and it was +a soldiers' vote that gave him the Empire State. +</P> + +<P> +The compensations of my long delay in Washington trying to move +the War Department were the opportunity it gave me to see +Mr. Lincoln, to meet the members of the Cabinet, to become intimate +with the New York delegation in Congress, and to hear the wonderful +adventures and stories so numerous in Washington. +</P> + +<P> +The White House of that time had no executive offices as now, +and the machinery for executive business was very primitive. +The east half of the second story had one large reception-room, +in which the president could always be found, and a few rooms +adjoining for his secretaries and clerks. The president had very +little protection or seclusion. In the reception-room, which was +always crowded at certain hours, could be found members of Congress, +office-seekers, and an anxious company of fathers and mothers +seeking pardons for their sons condemned for military offenses, +or asking permission to go to the front, where a soldier boy was +wounded or sick. Every one wanted something and wanted it very +bad. The patient president, wearied as he was with cares of state, +with the situation on several hostile fronts, with the exigencies +in Congress and jealousies in his Cabinet, patiently and +sympathetically listened to these tales of want and woe. My position +was unique. I was the only one in Washington who personally did +not want anything, my mission being purely in the public interest. +</P> + +<P> +I was a devoted follower of Mr. Seward, the secretary of state, +and through the intimacies with officers in his department I learned +from day to day the troubles in the Cabinet, so graphically described +in the diary of the secretary of the navy Gideon Welles. +</P> + +<P> +The antagonism between Mr. Seward and Mr. Chase, the secretary +of the treasury, though rarely breaking out in the open, was +nevertheless acute. Mr. Seward was devoted to the president and +made every possible effort to secure his renomination and election. +Mr. Chase was doing his best to prevent Mr. Lincoln's renomination +and secure it for himself. +</P> + +<P> +No president ever had a Cabinet of which the members were so +independent, had so large individual followings, and were so +inharmonious. The president's sole ambition was to secure the +ablest men in the country for the departments which he assigned +to them without regard to their loyalty to himself. One of +Mr. Seward's secretaries would frequently report to me the acts +of disloyalty or personal hostility on the part of Mr. Chase with +the lament: "The old man—meaning Lincoln—knows all about it +and will not do a thing." +</P> + +<P> +I had a long and memorable interview with the president. As +I stepped from the crowd in his reception-room, he said to me: +"What do you want?" I answered: "Nothing, Mr. President, I only +came to pay my respects and bid you good-by, as I am leaving +Washington." "It is such a luxury," he then remarked, "to find +a man who does not want anything. I wish you would wait until +I get rid of this crowd." +</P> + +<P> +When we were alone he threw himself wearily on a lounge and was +evidently greatly exhausted. Then he indulged, rocking backward +and forward, in a reminiscent review of different crises in his +administration, and how he had met them. In nearly every instance +he had carried his point, and either captured or beaten his +adversaries by a story so apt, so on all fours, and such complete +answers that the controversy was over. I remember eleven of +these stories, each of which was a victory. +</P> + +<P> +In regard to this story-telling, he said: "I am accused of telling +a great many stories. They say that it lowers the dignity of the +presidential office, but I have found that plain people (repeating +with emphasis plain people), take them as you find them, are more +easily influenced by a broad and humorous illustration than in any +other way, and what the hypercritical few may think, I don't care." +</P> + +<P> +In speaking Mr. Lincoln had a peculiar cadence in his voice, caused +by laying emphasis upon the key-word of the sentence. In answer +to the question how he knew so many anecdotes, he answered: +"I never invented story, but I have a good memory and, I think, +tell one tolerably well. My early life was passed among pioneers +who had the courage and enterprise to break away from civilization +and settle in the wilderness. The things which happened to these +original people and among themselves in their primitive conditions +were far more dramatic than anything invented by the professional +story-tellers. For many years I travelled the circuit as a lawyer, +and usually there was only one hotel in the county towns where +court was held. The judge, the grand and petit juries, the lawyers, +the clients, and witnesses would pass the night telling exciting +or amusing occurrences, and these were of infinite variety and +interest." He was always eager for a new story to add to his +magazine of ammunition and weapons. +</P> + +<P> +One night when there was a reception at the executive mansion +Rufus F. Andrews, surveyor of the port of New York, and I went +there together. Andrews was a good lawyer and had been a +correspondent in New York of Mr. Lincoln, while he was active +at the bar in Illinois. He was a confidential adviser of the +president on New York matters and frequently at the executive +mansion. As the procession moved past the president he stopped +Andrews and, leaning over, spoke very confidentially to him. +The conversation delayed the procession for some time. When +Andrews and I returned to the hotel, our rooms were crowded with +newspaper men and politicians wanting to know what the confidential +conversation was about. Andrews made a great mystery of it and so +did the press. He explained to me when we were alone that during +his visit to the president the night before he told the president +a new story. The president delayed him at the reception, saying: +"Andrews, I forgot the point of that story you told me last night; +repeat it now." +</P> + +<P> +While Mr. Lincoln had the most logical of minds and his letters +and speeches on political controversies were the most convincing +of any statesman of his period, he rarely would enter into a long +discussion in conversation; he either would end the argument by +an apt story or illustration enforcing his ideas. +</P> + +<P> +John Ganson, of Buffalo, was the leader of the bar in western +New York. Though elected to the House of Representatives as +a Democrat, he supported the war measures of the administration. +He was a gentleman of the old school, of great dignity, and always +immaculately dressed. He was totally bald and his face also +devoid of hair. It was a gloomy period of the war and the reports +from the front very discouraging. Congressman Ganson felt it his +duty to see the president about the state of the country. He made +a formal call and said to Mr. Lincoln: "Though I am a Democrat, +I imperil my political future by supporting your war measures. +I can understand that secrecy may be necessary in military +operations, but I think I am entitled to know the exact conditions, +good or bad, at the front." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lincoln looked at him earnestly for a minute and then said: +"Ganson, how clean you shave!" That ended the interview. +</P> + +<P> +The first national convention I ever attended was held in Baltimore +in 1864, when Mr. Lincoln was renominated. I have since been four +times a delegate-at-large, representing the whole State, and many +times a delegate representing a congressional district. Judge +W. H. Robertson, of Westchester County, and I went to the convention +together. We thought we would go by sea, but our ship had a +collision, and we were rescued by a pilot boat. Returning to +New York, we decided to accept the security of the railroad. +Judge Robertson was one of the shrewdest and ablest of the Republican +politicians in the State of New York. He had been repeatedly +elected county judge, State senator, and member of Congress, and +always overcoming a hostile Democratic majority. +</P> + +<P> +We went to Washington to see Mr. Seward first, had an interview +with him at his office, and dined with him in the evening. To dine +with Secretary Seward was an event which no one, and especially +a young politician, ever forgot. He was the most charming of hosts +and his conversation a liberal education. +</P> + +<P> +There was no division as to the renomination of Mr. Lincoln, but +it was generally conceded that the vice-president should be a war +Democrat. The candidacy of Daniel S. Dickinson, of New York, +had been so ably managed that he was far and away the favorite. +He had been all his life, up to the breaking out of the Civil War, +one of the most pronounced extreme and radical Democrats in the +State of New York. Mr. Seward took Judge Robertson and me into +his confidence. He was hostile to the nomination of Mr. Dickinson, +and said that the situation demanded the nomination for vice-president +of a representative from the border States, whose loyalty had been +demonstrated during the war. He eulogized Andrew Johnson, of +Tennessee, and gave a glowing description of the courage and +patriotism with which Johnson, at the risk of his life, had advocated +the cause of the Union and kept his State partially loyal. +</P> + +<P> +He said to us: "You can quote me to the delegates, and they will +believe I express the opinion of the president. While the president +wishes to take no part in the nomination for vice-president, yet +he favors Mr. Johnson." +</P> + +<P> +When we arrived at the convention this interview with Mr. Seward +made us a centre of absorbing interest and at once changed the +current of opinion, which before that had been almost unanimously +for Mr. Dickinson. It was finally left to the New York delegation. +</P> + +<P> +The meeting of the delegates from New York was a stormy one and +lasted until nearly morning. Mr. Dickinson had many warm friends, +especially among those of previous democratic affiliation, and +the State pride to have a vice-president was in his favor. Upon +the final vote Andrew Johnson had one majority. The decision +of New York was accepted by the convention and he was nominated +for vice-president. +</P> + +<P> +This is an instance of which I have met many in my life, where +the course of history was changed on a very narrow margin. Political +histories and the newspapers' discussions of the time assigned +the success of Mr. Johnson to the efforts of several well-known +delegates, but really it was largely if not wholly due to the +message of Mr. Seward, which was carried by Judge Robertson and +myself to the delegates. +</P> + +<P> +The year of 1864 was full of changes of popular sentiment and +surprises. The North had become very tired of the war. The people +wanted peace, and peace at almost any price. Jacob Thompson +and Clement C. Clay, ex-United States senators from the South, +appeared at Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side, and either they +or their friends gave out that they were there to treat for peace. +In reference to them Mr. Lincoln said to me: "This effort was +to inflame the peace sentiment of the North, to embarrass the +administration, and to demoralize the army, and in a way it was +successful. Mr. Greeley was hammering at me to take action for +peace and said that unless I met these men every drop of blood +that was shed and every dollar that was spent I would be responsible +for, that it would be a blot upon my conscience and soul. I wrote +a letter to Mr. Greeley and said to him that those two ex-United +States senators were Whigs and old friends of his, personally and +politically, and that I desired him to go to Niagara Falls and find +out confidentially what their credentials were and let me know." +</P> + +<P> +The president stated that instead of Mr. Greeley doing it that +way, he went there as an ambassador, and with an array of reporters +established himself on the American side and opened negotiations +with these two alleged envoys across the bridge. Continuing, +Mr. Lincoln said: "I had reason to believe from confidential +information which I had received from a man I trusted and who had +interviewed Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, +that these envoys were without authority, because President Davis +had said to this friend of mine and of his that he would treat on +no terms whatever but on absolute recognition of the independence +of the Southern Confederacy. The attention of the whole country +and of the army centred on these negotiations at Niagara Falls, +and to stop the harm they were doing I recalled Mr. Greeley and +issued my proclamation 'To Whom It May Concern,' in which I stated +if there was anybody or any delegation at Niagara Falls, or anywhere +else, authorized to represent the Southern Confederacy and to treat +for peace, they had free conduct and safety to Washington and +return. Of course, they never came, because their mission was +a subterfuge. But they made Greeley believe in them, and the +result is that he is still attacking me for needlessly prolonging +the war for purposes of my own." +</P> + +<P> +At a Cabinet meeting one of the members said to Mr. Lincoln: +"Mr. President, why don't you write a letter to the public stating +these facts, and that will end Mr. Greeley's attacks?" The president +answered: "Mr. Greeley owns a daily newspaper, a very widely +circulated and influential one. I have no newspaper. The press +of the country would print my letter, and so would the New York +Tribune. In a little while the public would forget all about it, +and then Mr. Greeley would begin to prove from my own letter that +he was right, and I, of course, would be helpless to reply." He +brought the Cabinet around to unanimous agreement with him by +telling one of his characteristic stories. +</P> + +<P> +This affair and the delays in the prosecution of the war had +created a sentiment early in 1864 that the re-election of Mr. Lincoln +was impossible. The leaders of both the conservative and the +radical elements in the Republican party, Mr. Weed, on the one +hand, and Mr. Greeley, on the other, frankly told the president +that he could not be re-elected, and his intimate friend, +Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, after a canvass of the country, +gave him the same information. +</P> + +<P> +Then came the spectacular victory of Farragut at Mobile and the +triumphant march of Sherman through Georgia, and the sentiment +of the country entirely changed. There was an active movement +on foot in the interest of the secretary of the treasury, Chase, +and fostered by him, to hold an independent convention before +the regular Republican convention as a protest against the +renomination of Mr. Lincoln. It was supported by some of the most +eminent and powerful members of the party, who threw into the +effort their means and influence. After these victories the effort +was abandoned and Mr. Lincoln was nominated by acclamation. +I recall as one of the excitements and pleasures of a lifetime +the enthusiastic confidence of that convention when they acclaimed +Lincoln their nominee. +</P> + +<P> +Governor Seymour, who was the idol of his party, headed the +New York delegation to the national Democratic convention to +nominate the president, and his journey to that convention was +a triumphal march. There is no doubt that at the time he had +with him not only the enthusiastic support of his own party but +the confidence of the advocates of peace. His own nomination +and election seemed inevitable. However, in deference to the war +sentiment, General McClellan was nominated instead, and here +occurred one of those little things which so often in our country +have turned the tide. +</P> + +<P> +The platform committee, and the convention afterwards, permitted +to go into the platform a phrase proposed by Clement C. Vallandigham, +of Ohio, the phrase being, "The war is a failure." Soon after +the adjournment of the convention, to the victories of Farragut +and Sherman was added the spectacular campaign and victory of +Sheridan in the Valley of Shenandoah. The Campaign at once took +on a new phase. It was the opportunity for the orator. +</P> + +<P> +It is difficult now to recreate the scenes of that campaign. +The people had been greatly disheartened. Every family was +in bereavement, with a son lost and others still in the service. +Taxes were onerous and economic and business conditions very bad. +Then came this reaction, which seemed to promise an early victory +for the Union. The orator naturally picked up the phrase, "The war +is a failure"; then he pictured Farragut tied to the shrouds of his +flag-ship; then he portrayed Grant's victories in the Mississippi +campaign, Hooker's "battle above the clouds," the advance of the +Army of Cumberland; then he enthusiastically described Sheridan +leaving the War Department hearing of the battle in Shenandoah +Valley, speeding on and rallying his defeated troops, reforming +and leading them to victory, and finished with reciting some of +the stirring war poems. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lincoln's election under the conditions and circumstances +was probably more due to that unfortunate phrase in the Democratic +platform than to any other cause. +</P> + +<P> +The tragedy of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln was followed by +the most pathetic incident of American life—his funeral. After +the ceremony at Washington the funeral train stopped at Philadelphia, +New York, and Albany. In each of these cities was an opportunity +for the people to view the remains. +</P> + +<P> +I had charge in my official capacity as secretary of state of +the train after it left Albany. It was late in the evening when +we started, and the train was running all night through central +and western New York. Its schedule was well known along the route. +Wherever the highway crossed the railway track the whole population +of the neighborhood was assembled on the highway and in the fields. +Huge bonfires lighted up the scene. Pastors of the local churches +of all denominations had united in leading their congregations +for greeting and farewell for their beloved president. As we +would reach a crossing there sometimes would be hundreds and +at others thousands of men, women, and children on their knees, +praying and singing hymns. +</P> + +<P> +This continuous service of prayer and song and supplication lasted +over the three hundred miles between Albany and Buffalo, from +midnight until dawn. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IV. GENERAL GRANT +</H3> + +<P> +The fairies who distribute the prizes are practical jokers. +I have known thousands who sought office, some for its distinction, +some for its emoluments, and some for both; thousands who wanted +promotion from places they held, and other thousands who wanted to +regain positions they had lost, all of whom failed in their search. +</P> + +<P> +I probably would have been in one of those classes if I had been +seeking an office. I was determined, however, upon a career in +railroad work until, if possible, I had reached its highest rewards. +During that period I was offered about a dozen political +appointments, most of them of great moment and very tempting, +all of which I declined. +</P> + +<P> +Near the close of President Grant's administration George Jones, +at that time the proprietor and publisher of the New York Times, +asked me to come and see him. Mr. Jones, in his association with +the brilliant editor, Henry J. Raymond, had been a progressive and +staying power of the financial side of this great journal. He was +of Welsh descent, a very hardheaded, practical, and wise business +man. He also had very definite views on politics and parties, and +several times nearly wrecked his paper by obstinately pursuing +a course which was temporarily unpopular with its readers and +subscribers. I was on excellent terms with Mr. Jones and admired +him. The New York Times became under his management one of +the severest critics of General Grant's administration and of +the president himself. +</P> + +<P> +I went to his house and during the conversation Jones said to me: +"I was very much surprised to receive a letter from the president +asking me to come and see him at the White House. Of course I +went, anticipating a disagreeable interview, but it turned out +absolutely the reverse. The president was most cordial, and his +frankness most attractive. After a long and full discussion, +the president said the Times had been his most unsparing critic, +but he was forced to agree with much the Times said; that he had +sent for me to make a request; that he had come to the presidency +without any preparation whatever for its duties or for civic +responsibilities; that he was compelled to take the best advice he +could find and surround himself with men, many of whom he had +never met before, and they were his guides and teachers; that he, +however, assumed the entire responsibility for everything he had +done. He knew perfectly well, in the retrospect and with the +larger experience he had gained, that he had made many mistakes. +'And now, Mr. Jones,' he continued, 'I have sent for you as +the most powerful as well as, I think, the fairest of my critics, +to ask that you will say in your final summing up of my eight years +that, however many my errors or mistakes, they were faults of +judgment, and that I acted conscientiously and in any way I thought +was right and best.' +</P> + +<P> +"I told the president I would be delighted to take that view in +the Times. Then the president said that he would like to show +his appreciation in some way which would be gratifying to me. +I told him that I wanted nothing for myself, nor did any of my +friends, in the line of patronage. Then he said he wanted my +assistance because he was looking for the best man for United States +district attorney for the district of New York. With my large +acquaintance he thought that I should be able to tell him whom +among the lawyers would be best to appoint. After a little +consideration I recommended you. +</P> + +<P> +"The president then said: 'Mr. Depew supported Greeley, and +though he is back in the party and doing good service in the +campaigns, I do not like those men. Nevertheless, you can tender +him the office and ask for his immediate acceptance.'" +</P> + +<P> +I told Mr. Jones what my determination was in regard to a career, +and while appreciating most highly both his own friendship and +the compliment from the president, I must decline. +</P> + +<P> +General Grant's mistakes in his presidency arose from his possession +of one of the greatest of virtues, and that is loyalty to one's +friends. He had unlimited confidence in them and could not see, +or be made to see, nor listen to any of their defects. He was +himself of such transparent honesty and truthfulness that he +gauged and judged others by his own standard. Scandals among +a few of the officials of his administration were entirely due +to this great quality. +</P> + +<P> +His intimacy among his party advisers fell among the most extreme +of organization men and political machinists. When, under the +advice of Senator Conkling, he appointed Thomas Murphy collector +of the port of New York, it was charged in the press that the +collector removed employees at the rate of several hundred per +day and filled their places with loyal supporters of the organization. +This policy, which was a direct reversal of the ideas of +civil-service reform which were then rapidly gaining strength, +incurred the active hostility of civil-service reformers, of whom +George William Curtis was the most conspicuous. +</P> + +<P> +When General Grant came to reside in New York, after his tour +around the world, he was overwhelmed with social attentions. +I met him at dinners several times a week and was the victim +of a characteristic coldness of manner which he had towards +many people. +</P> + +<P> +One St. Patrick's Day, while in Washington, I received an earnest +telegraphic request from Judge John T. Brady and his brother-in-law, +Judge Charles P. Daly, president of the Society of the Friendly +Sons of St. Patrick, saying: "The Sons are to have their greatest +celebration because they are to be honored by the presence of +General Grant, who will also speak, and it is imperative that you +come and help us welcome him." +</P> + +<P> +I arrived at the dinner late and passed in front of the dais to my +seat at the other end, while General Grant was speaking. He +was not easy on his feet at that time, though afterwards he became +very felicitous in public speaking. He paused a moment until +I was seated and then said: "If Chauncey Depew stood in my shoes, +and I in his, I would be a much happier man." +</P> + +<P> +I immediately threw away the speech I had prepared during the six +hours' trip from Washington, and proceeded to make a speech on +"Who can stand now or in the future in the shoes of General Grant?" +I had plenty of time before my turn came to elaborate this idea, +gradually eliminating contemporary celebrities until in the future +the outstanding figure representing the period would be the hero +of our Civil War and the restoration of the Union. +</P> + +<P> +The enthusiasm of the audience, as the speech went on, surpassed +anything I ever saw. They rushed over tables and tried to carry +the general around the room. When the enthusiasm had subsided +he came to me and with much feeling said: "Thank you for that +speech; it is the greatest and most eloquent that I ever heard." +He insisted upon my standing beside him when he received the +families of the members, and took me home in his carriage. +</P> + +<P> +From that time until his death he was most cordial, and at many +dinners would insist upon my being assigned to a chair next to him. +</P> + +<P> +Among strangers and in general conversation General Grant was +the most reticent of men, but among those whom he knew a most +entertaining conversationalist. He went over a wide field on such +occasions and was interesting on all subjects, and especially +instructive on military campaigns and commanders. He gave me as +his judgment that among all the military geniuses of the world +the greatest was General Philip Sheridan, and that Sheridan's +grasp of a situation had no parallel in any great general of whom +he knew. +</P> + +<P> +I was with General Grant at his home the day before he went from +New York to Mount McGregor, near Saratoga, where he died. +I learned of the trip and went immediately to see him, and was +met by his son, General Frederick D. Grant. I said to him: +"I learn that your father is going to Mount McGregor to-morrow, +and I have come to tender him a special train." +</P> + +<P> +After all the necessary arrangements had been made he asked me +to go in and see the general. Before doing this I asked: "How +is he?" "Well," he answered, "he is dying, but it is of infinite +relief to him to see people whom he knows and likes, and I know +he wants to see you. Our effort is to keep his mind off from +himself and interest him with anything which we think will be +of relief to him, and if you have any new incidents do not fail +to tell him." +</P> + +<P> +When I entered the room the general was busy writing his "Memoirs." +He greeted me very cordially, said he was glad to see me, and +then remarked: "I see by the papers that you have been recently +up at Hartford delivering a lecture. Tell me about it." +</P> + +<P> +In reply I told him about a very interesting journey there; +the lecture and supper afterwards, with Mark Twain as the presiding +genius, concerning all of which he asked questions, wanting more +particulars, and the whole story seemed to interest him. What +seemed to specially please him was the incident when I arrived +at the hotel, after the supper given me at the close of my lecture. +It was about three o'clock in the morning, and I went immediately +to bed, leaving a call for the early train to New York. At five +o'clock there was violent rapping on the door and, upon opening +it, an Irish waiter stood there with a tray on which were a bottle +of champagne and a goblet of ice. +</P> + +<P> +"You have made a mistake," I said to the waiter. +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir," he answered, "I could not make a mistake about you." +</P> + +<P> +"Who sent this?" I asked. +</P> + +<P> +"The committee, sir, with positive instructions that you should +have it at five o'clock in the morning," he answered. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, my friend, I said, is it the habit of the good people of +Hartford, when they have decided to go to New York on an early +train to drink a bottle of champagne at five o'clock in the morning?" +</P> + +<P> +He answered: "Most of them do, sir." +</P> + +<P> +(Nobody at that time had dreamed of the Eighteenth Amendment +and the Volstead law.) +</P> + +<P> +With a smile General Grant then said: "Well, there are some +places in Connecticut where that could not be done, as local +option prevails and the towns have gone dry. For instance, my +friend, Senator Nye, of Nevada, spoke through Connecticut in +my interest in the last campaign. Nye was a free liver, though +not a dissipated man, and, as you know, a very excellent speaker. +He told me that when he arrived at one of the principal manufacturing +towns he was entertained by the leading manufacturer at his big +house and in magnificent style. The dinner was everything that +could be desired, except that the only fluid was ice-water. After +a long speech Nye, on returning to the house, had a reception, +and the supper was still dry, except plenty of ice-water. +</P> + +<P> +"Nye, completely exhausted, went to bed but could not sleep, +nor could he find any stimulants. So, about six o'clock in the +morning he dressed and wandered down to the dining-room. The head +of the house came in and, seeing him, exclaimed: 'Why, senator, +you are up early.' Nye replied: 'Yes, you know, out in Nevada we +have a great deal of malaria, and I could not sleep.' 'Well,' +said the host, 'this is a temperance town. We find it an excellent +thing for the working people, and especially for the young men, +but we have some malaria here, also, and for that I have a private +remedy.' Whereupon he went to a closet and pulled out a bottle +of brandy. +</P> + +<P> +"After his host had left, Nye continued there in a refreshed and +more enjoyable spirit. Soon his hostess came in and, much +surprised, said: 'Why, senator, you are up early!' 'Yes,' he +said, 'out in Nevada we have a great deal of malaria, and while +I am on these speaking tours I have sharp attacks and cannot +sleep. I had one last night.' +</P> + +<P> +"'Well,' she remarked, 'this is a temperance town, and it is +a good thing for the working people and the young men, but I have +a touch of malaria now and then myself.' Then she went to the +tea-caddy and pulled out a bottle of brandy. The senator by this +time was in perfect harmony with himself and the whole world. +</P> + +<P> +"When the boys came in (sons of the entertainer) they said: +'Senator, we hear that you are an expert on livestock, horses, +cattle, etc. Won't you come out in the barn so we can show you +some we regard as very fine specimens?' The boys took him out +to the barn, shut the door, locked it, and whispered: 'Senator, +we have no live stock, but we have a bottle here in the hay mow +which we think will do you good.' And the senator wound up his +narrative by saying: 'The wettest place that I know of is a dry +town in Connecticut.'" +</P> + +<P> +The next day General Grant went to Mount McGregor and, as we +all know, a few days afterwards he lost his voice completely. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +V. ROSCOE CONKLING +</H3> + +<P> +For a number of years, instead of taking my usual vacation in +travel or at some resort, I spent a few weeks in the fall in the +political canvass as a speaker. In the canvass of 1868 I was +associated with Senator Roscoe Conkling, who desired an assistant, +as the mass meetings usually wanted at least two and probably +three hours of speaking, and he limited himself to an hour. +General Grant was at the height of his popularity and the audiences +were enormous. As we had to speak every day and sometimes several +times a day, Mr. Conkling notified the committees that he would not +speak out of doors, and that they must in all cases provide a hall. +</P> + +<P> +When we arrived at Lockport, N. Y., the chairman of the committee, +Burt Van Horn, who was the congressman from the district, told +the senator that at least twenty thousand people from the town, +and others coming from the country on excursion trains, had filled +the Fair Grounds. Conkling became very angry and told the +congressman that he knew perfectly well the conditions under which +he came to Lockport, and that he would not speak at the +Fair Grounds. A compromise was finally effected by which the +senator was to appear upon the platform, the audience be informed +that he would speak in the Opera House, and I was to be left to +take care of the crowd. The departure of the senator from the +grounds was very dramatic. He was enthusiastically applauded +and a band preceded his carriage. +</P> + +<P> +For some reason I never had such a success as in addressing that +audience. Commencing with a story, which was new and effective, +I continued for two hours without apparently losing an auditor. +</P> + +<P> +Upon my return to the hotel I found the senator very indignant. +He said that he had gone to the Opera House with the committee; +that, of course, no meeting had been advertised there, but a band +had been placed on the balcony to play, as if it were a dime +museum attraction inside; that a few farmers' wives had straggled +in to have an opportunity to partake from their baskets their +luncheons, and that he had left the Opera House and returned +to the hotel. The committee coming in and narrating what had +occurred at the Fair Grounds, did not help his imperious temper. +The committee begged for a large meeting, which was to be held in +the evening, but Conkling refused and ordered me to do the same, +and we left on the first train. The cordial relations which had +existed up to that time were somehow severed and he became +very hostile. +</P> + +<P> +General Grant, as president, of course, never had had experience +or opportunity to know anything of practical politics. It was +said that prior to his election he had never voted but once, and +that was before the war, when he voted the Democratic ticket +for James Buchanan. +</P> + +<P> +All the senators, representatives, and public men who began to +press around him, seeking the appointment to office of their +friends, were unknown to him personally. He decided rapidly +whom among them he could trust, and once having arrived at that +conclusion, his decision was irrevocable. He would stand by a +friend, without regard to its effect upon himself, to the last ditch. +</P> + +<P> +Of course, each of the two United States senators, Conkling and +Fenton, wanted his exclusive favor. It is impossible to conceive of +two men so totally different in every characteristic. Grant liked +Conkling as much as he disliked Fenton. The result was that he +transferred the federal patronage of the State to Senator Conkling. +</P> + +<P> +Conkling was a born leader, very autocratic and dictatorial. He +immediately began to remove Fenton officials and to replace them +with members of his own organization. As there was no civil +service at that time and public officers were necessarily active +politicians, Senator Conkling in a few years destroyed the +organization which Fenton had built up as governor, and became +master of the Republican party in the State. +</P> + +<P> +The test came at the State convention at Saratoga. Senator Conkling +at that time had become hostile to me, why I do not know, nor +could his friends, who were most of them mine also, find out. +He directed that I must not be elected a delegate to the convention. +The collector of the port of New York, in order to make that +decree effective, filled my district in Westchester County with +appointees from the Custom House. +</P> + +<P> +Patronage, when its control is subject to a popular vote, is +a boomerang. The appointment of a citizen in a town arouses +the anger of many others who think they are more deserving. +I appealed to the farmers with the simple question whether old +Westchester should be controlled by federal authority in a purely +State matter of their own. The result of the appeal was +overwhelming, and when the district convention met, the Custom +House did not have a single delegate. +</P> + +<P> +The leader of the Custom House crowd came to me and said: "This +is a matter of bread-and-butter and living with us. It is nothing +to you. These delegates are against us and for you at the +convention. Now, we have devised a plan to save our lives. It is +that the three delegates elected shall all be friends of yours. +You shall apparently be defeated. A resolution will be passed +that if either delegate fails to attend or resigns, the other two +may fill the vacancy. One of these will resign when the convention +meets and you will be substituted in his place. In the meantime +we will send out through the Associated Press that you have been +defeated." I did not have the heart to see these poor fellows +dismissed from their employment, and I assented to the proposition. +</P> + +<P> +When we arrived at the convention Governor Cornell, then State +chairman, called to order. I arose to make a motion, when he +announced: "You, sir, are not a member of this convention." My +credentials, however, under the arrangement made in Westchester, +convinced him that he was misinformed. The Conkling side selected +for their chairman Andrew D. White, and the other side selected +me. Upon careful canvass of the votes we had a clear majority. +</P> + +<P> +There were several delegations which were controlled by federal +office-holders. It is at this point that patronage becomes +overwhelmingly effective. Several of those office-holders were +shown telegrams from Washington, which meant their removal unless +they did as directed by Senator Conkling. When the convention +met the next day, the office-holders kept their heads on their +shoulders, and my dear and valued old friend, Andrew D. White, +was elected chairman of the convention. +</P> + +<P> +I asked the leader of the federal crowd from Westchester how he +explained my getting into the convention. "Oh," he said, "that +was easy. Our people gained so many delegates by offers of +patronage and threats of removal that when I told them you had +bought my delegates away from me, they believed it without +question, and we are all safe in our places in the Custom House." +My success was entirely due to the farmers' indignation at federal +dictation, and the campaign did not cost me a dollar. +</P> + +<P> +Roscoe Conkling was created by nature for a great career. That +he missed it was entirely his own fault. Physically he was the +handsomest man of his time. His mental equipment nearly approached +genius. He was industrious to a degree. His oratorical gifts +were of the highest order, and he was a debater of rare power and +resources. But his intolerable egotism deprived him of vision +necessary for supreme leadership. With all his oratorical power +and his talent in debate, he made little impression upon the country +and none upon posterity. His position in the Senate was a masterful +one, and on the platform most attractive, but none of his speeches +appear in the schoolbooks or in the collections of great orations. +The reason was that his wonderful gifts were wholly devoted to +partisan discussions and local issues. +</P> + +<P> +His friends regarded his philippic against George W. Curtis at +the Republican State convention at Rochester as the high-water +mark of his oratory. I sat in the seat next to Mr. Curtis when +Conkling delivered his famous attack. His admirers thought this +the best speech he ever made, and it certainly was a fine effort, +emphasized by oratory of a high order, and it was received by them +with the wildest enthusiasm and applause. +</P> + +<P> +The assault upon Mr. Curtis was exceedingly bitter, the denunciation +very severe, and every resource of sarcasm, of which Mr. Conkling +was past master, was poured upon the victim. His bitterness was +caused by Mr. Curtis's free criticism of him on various occasions. +The speech lasted two hours, and it was curious to note its effect +upon Mr. Curtis. Under the rules which the convention had adopted, +he could not reply, so he had to sit and take it. The only feeling +or evidence of being hurt by his punishment was in exclamations +at different points made by his assailant. They were: "Remarkable!" +"Extraordinary!" "What an exhibition!" "Bad temper!" "Very +bad temper!" +</P> + +<P> +In the long controversy between them Mr. Curtis had the advantages +which the journalist always possesses. The orator has one +opportunity on the platform and the publication the next day in +the press. The editor—and Mr. Curtis was at that time editor +of Harper's Weekly—can return every Saturday and have an exclusive +hearing by an audience limited only by the circulation of his +newspaper and the quotations from it by journalistic friends. +</P> + +<P> +The speech illustrated Conkling's methods of preparation. I used +to hear from the senator's friends very frequently that he had +added another phrase to his characterization of Curtis. While +he was a ready debater, yet for an effort of this kind he would +sometimes devote a year to going frequently over the ground, and +in each repetition produce new epigrams, quotable phrases, and +characterizations. +</P> + +<P> +There used to be an employee of the State committee named Lawrence. +He was a man of a good deal of receptive intelligence and worshipped +the senator. Mr. Conkling discovered this quality and used +Lawrence as a target or listening-post. I have often had Lawrence +come to my office and say: "I had a great night. The senator +talked to me or made speeches to me until nearly morning." He told +me that he had heard every word of the Curtis philippic many times. +</P> + +<P> +Lawrence told me of another instance of Conkling's preparation for +a great effort. When he was preparing the speech, which was to +bring his friends who had been disappointed at the convention +to the support of General Garfield, he summoned Lawrence for +clerical work at his home. Lawrence said that the senator would +write or dictate, and then correct until he was satisfied with the +effort, and that this took considerable time. When it was completed +he would take long walks into the country, and in these walks +recite the whole or part of his speech until he was perfect +master of it. +</P> + +<P> +This speech took four hours in delivery in New York, and he held +the audience throughout this long period. John Reed, one of +the editors of the New York Times, told me that he sat on the +stage near Conkling and had in his hands the proofs which had +been set up in advance and which filled ten columns of his paper. +He said that the senator neither omitted nor interpolated a word +from the beginning to the end. He would frequently refer apparently +to notes on his cuffs, or little memoranda, not that he needed +them, but it was the orator's always successful effort to create +impression that his speech is extemporaneous, and the audience +much prefer a speech which they think is such. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Conkling held an important position in a critical period +of our country's history. If his great powers had been devoted +in the largest way to the national constructive problems of the +time, he would have been the leader of the dominant party and +president of the United States. Instead, he became the leader +of a faction in his own State only, and by the merciless use +of federal patronage absolutely controlled for twelve years the +action of the State organization. +</P> + +<P> +All the young men who appeared in the legislature or in county +offices who displayed talent for leadership, independence, and +ambition were set aside. The result was remarkable. While prior +to his time there were many men in public life in the State with +national reputation and influence, this process of elimination +drove young men from politics into the professions or business, +and at the close of Senator Conkling's career there was hardly +an active member of the Republican party in New York of national +reputation, unless he had secured it before Mr. Conkling became +the autocrat of New York politics. The political machine in the +Republican party in his Congressional district early in his career +became jealous of his growing popularity and influence, both at +home and in Congress. By machine methods they defeated him and +thought they had retired him permanently from public life. +</P> + +<P> +When I was elected secretary of state I received a note from +Mr. Conkling, asking if I would meet him. I answered: "Yes, +immediately, and at Albany." He came there with Ward Hunt, +afterwards one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court +of the United States. He delivered an intense attack upon machine +methods and machine politics, and said they would end in the +elimination of all independent thought, in the crushing of all +ambition in promising young men, and ultimate infinite damage +to the State and nation. "You," he said, "are a very young man for +your present position, but you will soon be marked for destruction." +</P> + +<P> +Then he stated what he wanted, saying: "I was defeated by the +machine in the last election. They can defeat me now only by +using one man of great talent and popularity in my district. I want +you to make that man your deputy secretary of state. It is the +best office in your gift, and he will be entirely satisfied." +</P> + +<P> +I answered him: "I have already received from the chiefs of the +State organization designations for every place in my office, +and especially for that one, but the appointment is yours and +you may announce it at once." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Conkling arose as if addressing an audience, and as he stood +there in the little parlor of Congress Hall in Albany he was +certainly a majestic figure. He said: "Sir, a thing that is +quickly done is doubly done. Hereafter, as long as you and I +both live, there never will be a deposit in any bank, personally, +politically, or financially to my credit which will not be subject +to your draft." +</P> + +<P> +The gentleman whom he named became my deputy. His name was +Erastus Clark. He was a man of ability and very broad culture, +and was not only efficient in the performance of his duties, but +one of the most delightful of companions. His health was bad, +and his friends were always alarmed, and justifiably so, about him. +Nevertheless, I met him years afterwards in Washington, when +he was past eighty-four. +</P> + +<P> +At Mr. Conkling's request Mr. Clark made an appointment for a +mutual visit to Trenton Falls, a charming resort near Utica. We +spent the week-end there, and I saw Mr. Conkling at his best. +He was charming in reminiscence, in discussion, in his +characterization of the leading actors upon the public stage, +and in varying views of ambitions and careers. +</P> + +<P> +When the patronage all fell into his hands after the election of +General Grant, he pressed upon me the appointment of postmaster +of the city of New York. It was difficult for him to understand +that, while I enjoyed politics and took an active part in +campaigns, I would not accept any office whatever. He then +appointed one of the best of postmasters, who afterwards became +postmaster-general, but who was also one of the most efficient +of his lieutenants, General Thomas L. James. +</P> + +<P> +When Mr. Conkling was a candidate for United States senator I was +regarded as a confidential friend of Governor Fenton. The governor +was one of the most secretive of men, and, therefore, I did not +know his views to the candidate, or whether he had preferences. +I think he had no preferences but wished Conkling defeated, and +at the same time did not want to take a position which would incur +the enmity of him or his friends. +</P> + +<P> +One night there was a great public demonstration, and, being +called upon, I made a speech to the crowd, which included the +legislature, to the effect that we had been voiceless in the +United States Senate too long; that the greatest State in the +Union should be represented by a man who had demonstrated his +ability to all, and that man was Mr. Conkling. This created an +impression that I was speaking for the governor as well as myself, +and the effect upon the election was great. Mr. Conkling thought +so, and that led to his pressing upon me official recognition. +</P> + +<P> +How the breach came between us, why he became persistently hostile +during the rest of his life, I never knew. President Arthur, +Governor Cornell, and other of his intimate friends told me that +they tried often to find out, but their efforts only irritated him +and never received any response. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Conkling's peculiar temperament was a source of great +trouble to his lieutenants. They were all able and loyal, but +he was intolerant of any exercise on their part of independent +judgment. This led to the breaking off of all relations with the two +most distinguished of them—President Arthur and Governor Cornell. +</P> + +<P> +A breach once made could not be healed. A bitter controversy +in debate with Mr. Blaine assumed a personal character. In the +exchanges common in the heat of such debates Blaine ridiculed +Conkling's manner and called him a turkey-cock. Mutual friends +tried many times to bring them together. Blaine was always +willing, but Conkling never. +</P> + +<P> +Conkling had a controversy which was never healed with Senator Platt, +who had served him long and faithfully and with great efficiency. +During the twenty years in which Platt was leader, following +Senator Conkling, he displayed the reverse qualities. He was +always ready for consultation, he sought advice, and was tolerant +of large liberty of individual judgment among his associates. He +was always forgiving, and taking back into confidence those with +whom he had quarrelled. +</P> + +<P> +One summer I was taking for a vacation a trip to Europe and had +to go aboard the steamer the night before, as she sailed very +early in the morning. One of my staff appeared and informed me +that a very serious attack upon the New York Central had been +started in the courts and that the law department needed outside +counsel and asked whom he should employ. I said: "Senator +Conkling." With amazement he replied: "Why, he has been bitterly +denouncing you for months." "Yes, but that was politics," I said. +"You know the most brilliant lawyer in the United States might come +to New York, and unless he formed advantageous associations with +some of the older firms he could get no practice. Now, this suit +will be very conspicuous, and the fact that Senator Conkling is +chief counsel for the Central will give him at once a standing +and draw to him clients." His appearance in the case gave him +immediate prominence and a large fee. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Conkling's career at the bar was most successful, and +there was universal sorrow when his life ended in the tragedy +of the great blizzard. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +VI. HORACE GREELEY +</H3> + +<P> +While secretary of state of New York, the decennial State census +was taken, and the appointment of three thousand census takers +involved as much pressure from congressmen, State senators, +assemblymen, and local leaders as if the places had been very +remunerative and permanent. I discovered what a power political +patronage is in party organization, because it developed that +the appointment of this large number of men, located in every town +in the State, could easily have been utilized for the formation +of a personal organization within the party. +</P> + +<P> +I was exceedingly fond, as I am still and always have been, +of political questions, issues affecting the general government, +the State, or localities, party organizations, and political +leaders. So, while devoted to my profession and its work and +increasingly enjoying its labor and activities, politics became +an interesting recreation. With no desire for and with a +determination not to take any public office, to be called into +party councils, to be at an occasional meeting of the State +committee and a delegate to conventions were happy relief and +excursions from the routine of professional work, as golf is to +a tired business man or lawyer. +</P> + +<P> +The nomination of General Grant for president by the Republicans +and of Horatio Seymour by the Democrats had made New York the +pivotal State in the national election. John T. Hoffman, the most +popular among the younger Democrats, was their nominee for governor. +The Republicans, with great unanimity, agreed upon John A. Griswold, +a congressman from the Troy district. Griswold was the idol +of his colleagues in the New York delegation in Congress, and +his attractive personality and demonstrated business ability had +made him a great favorite with politicians, business men, and +labor. The canvass for his nomination had been conducted with +great ardor by enthusiastic friends in all parts of the State, and +the delegations were nearly all practically pledged to his +nomination. No one dreamed that there would be an opposition +candidate. +</P> + +<P> +On the train to the convention John Russell Young, then managing +editor of the New York Tribune under Mr. Greeley, came to me and +said: "Mr. Greeley has decided to be a candidate at the convention +for the nomination for governor. You are his friend, he lives in +your assembly district in Westchester County, and wishes you +to make the nomination speech." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 possibility 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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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?" +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 unanimously Republican, +that it may influence the whole State, and," continued Mr. Greeley, +"he suggests you as the speaker, and I earnestly ask you to go." +</P> + +<P> +When I arrived at the place I was entertained by the manufacturer. +The audience crowded the largest hall in the town. The principal +of the academy presided, the Congregational minister opened +the exercises with a prayer, and I was introduced and received +with great cordiality. +</P> + +<P> +For such an audience my line of talk was praising General Grant +as the greatest general of modern times, and how largely the +preservation of the Union depended upon his military genius. +Then to picture the tremendous responsibilities of the presidency +and the impossibility of a man, however great as a soldier, with +a lifetime of military education, environment, and experiences, +succeeding in civil office, especially as great a one as the +presidency of the United States. Then came, naturally, a eulogium +of Horace Greeley, the maker of public opinion, the moulder of +national policies, the most eloquent and resourceful leader of +the Republican party since its formation. The audience cheered +with great enthusiasm all these allusions to General Grant, +and responded with equal fervor to my praise of Horace Greeley. +</P> + +<P> +When I concluded they stood up and gave me cordial cheers, and +the presiding officer came forward and said: "I now suggest that +we close this meeting with three rousing cheers for Horace Greeley." +The principal of the academy, the manufacturer, the minister, +the lawyer, a very few of the audience, and several women responded. +After this frost a farmer rose gradually, and as he began to let +out link after link of his body, which seemed about seven feet +tall, he reached his full height, and then in a voice which could +be heard a mile shouted: "Three cheers for General Grant!" The +response nearly took the roof off the house. I left the State +the next morning and told Mr. Greeley that he could not carry Maine. +</P> + +<P> +Among the amusing episodes of the campaign was one which occurred +at an open-door mass meeting at Watertown, N. Y. John A. Dix had +been nominated for governor on the Republican ticket, and I was +speaking of him and his career. He had changed from one party to +the other five or six times in the course of his long career, and +each time received an office. There was great doubt as to his +age, because in the American Encyclopaedia the date of his birth +was given as of a certain year, and in the French Encyclopaedia, +which published his biography when he was minister to France, +a widely different date was given. In the full tide of partisan +oratory I went over these changes of political activity, and how +each one had been rewarded, also the doubt as to his age, and +then I shouted: "I have discovered among the records of the +Pilgrim Fathers that when they landed on Plymouth Rock they found +John A. Dix standing on the rock and announcing that unless they +made him justice of the peace he would join the Indians." An +indignant farmer, who could not hold his wrath any longer, shouted: +"That's a lie! The Pilgrims landed more than two hundred and +fifty years ago." I saw that my interrupter had swallowed my +bait, hook, and line, bob and sinker, pole and all, and shouted +with great indignation: "Sir, I have narrated that historical +incident throughout the State, from Montauk Point to Niagara Falls, +and you are the first man who has had the audacity to question it." +</P> + +<P> +Another farmer stepped up to the heckler and said: "Here is my +hat, neighbor. You can keep it. I am going bareheaded for the +rest of my life." In his uproarious laughter the crowd all joined. +It was years before the questioning farmer could visit Watertown +without encountering innumerable questions as to when the Pilgrims +landed on Plymouth Rock. +</P> + +<P> +The last meeting of the campaign was held at Mr. Greeley's home +at Chappaqua in Westchester County. We all knew that the contest +was hopeless and defeat sure. I was one of the speakers, both +as his neighbor and friend, and accompanied him to New York. +A rough crowd on the train jeered him as we rode along. We went +to his office, and there he spoke of the lies that had been told +about him, and which had been believed by the public; of the +cartoons which had misrepresented him, especially those of Tom Nast, +and of which there were many lying about. Leaning upon his desk, +a discouraged and hopeless man, he said: "I have given my life +to the freeing of the slaves, and yet they have been made to +believe that I was a slave driver. It has been made to appear, +and people have been made to believe, that I was wrong or faithless, +or on the other side of the reforms which I have advocated all my +life. I will be beaten in the campaign and I am ruined for life." +He was overcome with emotion, and it was the saddest interview +I ever had with any one. It was really the breaking of a great +heart. He died before the votes were counted. +</P> + +<P> +There was instantly a tremendous revulsion of popular feeling +in the country. He had lost his wife during the campaign, and +the people woke up suddenly to the sorrows under which he had +labored, to his genius as a journalist, to his activity as a +reformer, and to a usefulness that had no parallel among his +contemporaries. The president-elect, General Grant, and the +vice-president-elect, Schuyler Colfax, attended the funeral, and +without distinction of party his death was universally mourned. +</P> + +<P> +After the election, in consultation on railroad affairs, +Commodore Vanderbilt said to me, "I was very glad you were +defeated," which was his way of saying that he did not want me +either to leave the railroad or to have other duties which would +impair my efficiency. +</P> + +<P> +With the tragic death of Mr. Greeley the Liberal Republican +movement ended. Most of us who had followed him resumed at once +our Republican party relations and entered actively into its work +in the next campaign. The revolt was forgiven, except in very few +instances, and the Greeley men went back to their old positions +in their various localities and became prominent in the official +life of the State. I, as usual, in the fall took my vacation on +the platform for the party. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +VII. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES AND WILLIAM M. EVARTS +</H3> + +<P> +It is one of the tragedies of history that in the procession of +events, the accumulation of incidents, year by year and generation +by generation, famous men of any period so rapidly disappear. +</P> + +<P> +At the close of the Civil War there were at least a score of +generals in the North, and as many in the South, whose names +were household words. About fifty-five years have passed since +the war closed, and the average citizen knows only two of +them—Grant and Lee. +</P> + +<P> +One of the last acts of General Grant was to tender to +Senator Conkling the position of chief justice of the Supreme Court +of the United States. Conkling had gained from the senatorship +and the leadership of his party a great reputation, to which +subsequent service in the Senate could add little or nothing. +He was in his early forties, in the prime of his powers, and he +would have had before him, as chief justice of this great court, +a long life of usefulness and distinction. +</P> + +<P> +Conkling was essentially an advocate, and as an advocate not +possessing the judicial temperament. While there was a great +surprise that he declined this wonderful opportunity, we can see +now that the environment and restrictions of the position would +have made it impossible for this fiery and ambitious spirit. It +was well known that General Grant, so far as he could influence +the actions of the national Republican convention, was in favor +of Senator Conkling as his successor. The senator's friends +believed, and they made him believe, that the presidency was +within his grasp. +</P> + +<P> +When the national convention met it was discovered that the +bitterness between the two leaders, Blaine and Conkling, made +harmony impossible. The bitterness by that time was on Conkling's +side against Blaine. With the latter's make-up, resentment could +not last very long. It is an interesting speculation what might +have happened if these two leaders had become friends. It is +among the possibilities that both might have achieved the great +object of their ambitions and been presidents of the United States. +</P> + +<P> +The outstanding feature of that convention in the history of those +interesting gatherings was the speech of Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, +nominating Mr. Blaine. In its effect upon the audience, in its +reception by the country, and by itself as an effort of that kind, +it stands unprecedented and unequalled. +</P> + +<P> +As usual in popular conventions, where the antagonism of the +leaders and the bitterness of their partisanship threatens the +unity of the party, the result was the nomination of a "dark horse," +and the convention closed its labors by presenting to the country +General Rutherford B. Hayes. +</P> + +<P> +President Hayes, although one of the most amiable, genial, and +companionable of our presidents, with every quality to attach men +to him and make warm friendships, was, nevertheless, one of the +most isolated. He inherited all the business troubles, economic +disorganization, and currency disturbances which grew out of the +panic of 1873. He was met with more bankruptcy than had ever +occurred in our business history. +</P> + +<P> +With rare courage and the most perfect good nature, he installed +essential reforms, which, in the then condition of party organization +and public sentiment, practically offended everybody. He threw +the extreme radicals of his party into a frenzy of rage by wiping +out the "carpet-bag" governments and restoring self-government +for the South. He inaugurated civil-service reform, but in doing +so antagonized most of the senators and members of the House. +</P> + +<P> +When he found that the collector of the port of New York, +Chester A. Arthur, and the surveyor, Alonzo B. Cornell, were +running their offices with their vast patronage on strictly machine +lines, and that this had the general approval of party leaders, +he removed them and appointed for their successors General +Edwin A. Merritt and Silas W. Burt, with instructions to remove +no one on account of politics, and to appoint no one except for +demonstrated efficiency for the place. He pursued the same policy +in the Internal Revenue and Post-Office Departments. This policy +threatened the primacy of the Conkling machine. +</P> + +<P> +President Hayes had a very strong Cabinet. The secretary of state, +William M. Evarts, and the secretary of the treasury, John Sherman, +were two of the ablest men in the country. Evarts was the leader +of the national bar, and in crystallized mentality had no equal in +the profession or outside of it. Sherman was the foremost and +best-informed economist, and also a great statesman. In close +consultation with Sherman, Hayes brought about the resumption +of specie payment. The "green-backers," who were for unlimited +paper, and the silver men, who were for unlimited coinage of +silver, and who were very numerous, joined the insurgent brigade. +</P> + +<P> +While Mr. Hayes retired from the presidency by what might be called +unanimous consent, he had created conditions which made possible +the success of his party in 1880. +</P> + +<P> +It was a refreshing experience to meet the president during these +troublous times. While everybody else was excited, he was perfectly +calm. While most of the great men at the Capitol were raging, he, +at the other end of the avenue, was placid and serene. He said +once to me: "It is a novel experience when you do what you think +right and best for the country to have it so generally criticised +and disapproved. But the compensation is that you expect antagonism +and disapproval and would think something was the matter with your +decisions if you did not receive them." +</P> + +<P> +The general abuse to which he was subjected from so many sources +affected the public's view of him. After he had left the presidency +he told me that he thought it was the duty of an ex-president to +utilize the prestige which belonged to the office in the aid of +education. "I have found," he said, "that it helps enormously in +colleges and schools to have lectures, lessons, etc., in history +and patriotism, and behind them the personality of an ex-president +of the United States." +</P> + +<P> +As an illustration of how distinguished men, when out of power, no +longer interest our people, I remember I met Mr. Hayes one day +in front of a fruit display of a well-known grocery establishment, +and after greeting said to the groceryman: "That is ex-President +Hayes. Don't you want to meet him?" The groceryman replied: +"I am not interested in him, but I have the finest collection of +pears in the city and want to sell you some." +</P> + +<P> +The Capitol was full of the rich and racy characterizations, +epigrams, and sarcasms which Senator Conkling was daily pouring +out upon President Hayes, and especially Secretary Evarts. By +all the rules of senatorial courtesy in those machine days, a +member of the Cabinet from New York should have been a friend of +its United States senator. Mr. Evarts was too big a man to be +counted in any other class or category except his own. Of course, +all these criticisms were carried to both the president and the +secretary of state. The president never mentioned them, and I never +heard Evarts, though I met him frequently, make any reply but once. +</P> + +<P> +Dining with Mr. Evarts, who entertained charmingly, a very +distinguished English jurist among the guests, here on a special +mission, said: "Mr. Secretary, I was at the Senate to-day and +heard Senator Conkling speaking. His magnificent personal +appearance, added to his fine oratory, must make him one of the +most formidable advocates at your bar and in your courts." The +English judge thought, of course, that Mr. Evarts, as the leader +of the American Bar and always in the courts, would know every +lawyer of distinction. Mr. Evarts dryly replied: "I never saw +Mr. Conkling in court." +</P> + +<P> +It is always dangerous to comment or narrate a racy story which +involves the personal affliction of anybody. Dining with Mr. Evarts +one night was also a very distinguished general of our Civil War, +who had been an important figure in national politics. He was very +curious to know about Mr. Tilden, and especially as to the truth +of a report that Mr. Tilden had a stroke of paralysis, and appealed +to me, as I was just from New York. I narrated a story which was +current at the time that Mr. Tilden had denied the report by saying +to a friend: "They say I cannot lift my left hand to my head." He +then put his right hand under the left elbow and shot the left one +easily up to his face and said: "See there, my left has reached +its goal." +</P> + +<P> +I saw that Mr. Evarts was embarrassed at the anecdote and discovered +afterwards that the distinguished guest had recently had a similar +stroke on his left side and could propel his left arm and hand +only with the assistance of his right. +</P> + +<P> +My old bogie of being put into office arose again in the senatorial +election of 1882. The legislature, for the first time in a +generation, was entirely leaderless. The old organization had +disappeared and a new one had not yet crystallized. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Evarts was anxious to be senator, and I pledged him my +support. Evarts was totally devoid of the arts of popular appeal. +He was the greatest of lawyers and the most delightful of men, but +he could not canvass for votes. Besides, he was entirely independent +in his ideas of any organization dictation or control, and resented +both. He did not believe that a public man should go into public +office under any obligations, and resented such suggestions. +</P> + +<P> +A large body of representative men thought it would be a good +thing for the country if New York could have this most accomplished, +capable, and brilliant man in the United States Senate. They +urged him strongly upon the legislature, none of whose members +knew him personally, and Mr. Evarts would not go to Albany. +</P> + +<P> +The members selected a committee to come down to New York and +see Mr. Evarts. They went with the idea of ascertaining how far +he would remember with gratitude those who elected him. Their +visit was a miserable failure. They came in hot indignation to my +office and said they did not propose to send such a cold and +unsympathetic man as their representative to Washington and +earnestly requested my consent to their nominating me at the caucus +the next morning. +</P> + +<P> +The committee telephoned to Albany and received the assent of +every faction of their party to this proposition. Then they +proposed that when the caucus met, Mr. Evarts, of course, should +receive complimentary speeches from his friends. Meanwhile others +would be nominated, and then a veteran member, whom they designated, +should propose me in the interest of harmony and the union of +the party, whereat the sponsors of the other candidate would +withdraw their man, and I be nominated by acclamation. My answer +was a most earnest appeal for Mr. Evarts. Then Mr. Evarts's +friends rallied to his support and he was elected. +</P> + +<P> +I place Mr. Evarts in the foremost rank as a lawyer, a wit, and a +diplomat. He tried successfully the most famous cases of his +time and repeatedly demonstrated his remarkable genius. As a +general railway counsel and, therefore, as an administrator in +the retaining of distinguished counsels, I met with many of the +best men at the bar, but never any with such a complete and +clarified intellect as William M. Evarts. The mysteries of the +most complicated cases seemed simple, the legal difficulties plain, +and the solution comprehensible to everybody under his analysis. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Evarts was the wittiest man I ever met. It is difficult to +rehabilitate in the sayings of a wit the complete flavor of the +utterance. It is easier with a man of humor. Evarts was very +proud of his efforts as a farmer on his large estate in Vermont. +Among his prizes was a drove of pigs. He sent to Chief Justice +Morrison R. Waite a copy of his eulogy on Chief Justice +Salmon P. Chase, Waite's predecessor, and at the same time a ham, +saying in his letter: "My dear Chief Justice, I send you to-day +one of my prize hams and also my eulogy on Chief Justice Chase, +both the products of my pen." +</P> + +<P> +The good things Mr. Evarts said would be talked of long after +a dinner. I remember on one occasion his famous partner, +Mr. Choate, who was a Harvard man, while Evarts was a graduate +from Yale, introduced Mr. Evarts by saying that he was surprised +that a Yale man, with all the prejudices of that institution +against the superior advantages of Harvard, should have risked +the coats of his stomach at a Harvard dinner. Mr. Evarts replied: +"When I go to a Harvard dinner I always leave the coats of my +stomach at home." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Evarts once told me when I was visiting him at his country +place that an old man whom he pointed out, and who was sawing +wood, was the most sensible philosopher in the neighborhood. +Mr. Evarts said: "He is always talking to himself, and I asked +him why." His answer was: "I always talk to myself in preference +to talking to anybody else, because I like to talk to a sensible +man and to hear a man of sense talk." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +VIII. GENERAL GARFIELD +</H3> + +<P> +The triumph of the Democrats in Maine in the September election, +1880, had a most depressing effect upon the Republicans and an +equally exhilarating one upon the Democrats. The paralyzing effect +of the simple utterances in popular elections almost makes one +think that every candidate should follow Matthew Quay's famous advice +to his candidate for governor: "Beaver, keep your mouth shut." +</P> + +<P> +In the campaign when General Winfield Scott ran for the presidency, +he began an important communication by stating that he would answer +as soon as he had taken a hasty plate of soup. That "hasty plate +of soup" appeared in cartoons, was pictured on walls, etc., in every +form of ridicule, and was one of the chief elements of his defeat. +</P> + +<P> +When towards the close of the canvass Garfield had succeeded +in making the tariff the leading issue, General Hancock was asked +what were his views on the tariff. (You must remember that the +general was a soldier and had never been in politics.) The general +answered: "The tariff was a purely local issue in Pennsylvania." +The whole country burst into a gale of laughter, and Hancock's +campaign had a crack which was never mended. +</P> + +<P> +There never were two more picturesque opponents than General Garfield +and General Hancock. Hancock was the idol of the Army of the +Potomac, and everybody remembered McClellan's despatch after one +of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsula campaign: "Hancock was +superb to-day." He was an exceedingly handsome man and one of +the finest figures in uniform in the whole country. +</P> + +<P> +General Garfield also presented a very fine appearance. He was +a large man, well-proportioned, and with very engaging manners. +He also had an unusual faculty for attractive public addresses, +not only on politics, but many subjects, especially education and +patriotism. I never can forget when the news of Lincoln's +assassination reached New York. The angry and dangerous crowd +which surged up and down Broadway and through Wall Street threatened +to wreck the banking and business houses which were supposed +to be sympathetic with the Confederates. +</P> + +<P> +Garfield suddenly appeared on the balcony of the Custom House +in Wall Street and succeeded in stilling the crowd. With a voice +that reached up to Trinity Church he urged calmness in thought +and action, deprecated any violence, and then, in an impassioned +appeal to hopefulness notwithstanding the tragedy, exclaimed +impulsively: "God reigns and the Republic still lives." +</P> + +<P> +I was requested by some friends to visit General Garfield and +see how he felt on the political situation, which during the +campaign of 1880 did not look hopeful. I took the next train, +spent the day with him, and was back in New York the following +day. +</P> + +<P> +When I left the train at Cleveland in the morning the newsboys +pushed at me a Cleveland Democratic daily, with a rooster's picture +covering the whole front page, and the announcement that the +Democrats had carried Maine. The belief was universal then that +"as Maine goes so goes the Union," and whichever party carried +that State in the September election, the country would follow +in the presidential contest in November. +</P> + +<P> +I took the next train to Mentor, the residence of General Garfield. +I found at the station a score or more of country wagons and +carriages waiting for passengers. I said to the farmers: "Will +any of you take me up to General Garfield's residence?" One of +them answered: "We will all take you up this morning, but if you +had come yesterday you would have had to wait your turn." +</P> + +<P> +It was a startling instance of the variableness of public opinion. +Delegations from everywhere, on their way to extend greetings +to the candidate, had read the morning papers and turned back, +deciding not to go. +</P> + +<P> +I found Garfield struggling bravely to overcome the depression +which he felt. He was in close touch with the situation everywhere, +and discussed it with discrimination and hopefulness. +</P> + +<P> +The most affecting incident occurred while I was talking with him. +His mother passed through the room and, patting him on the back, +said: "James, the neighbors think it is all right; they are raising +a banner at the corner." +</P> + +<P> +Two old soldier friends came in, and the noonday dinner was a rare +intellectual feast. The general was a brilliant conversationalist. +His mind turned first to the accidents of careers. He asked me if +there was not a time in my early struggles when if Providence had +offered a modest certainty I would not have exchanged the whole +future for it, and then continued: "There was a period in my early +struggles as a teacher when, if I had been offered the principalship + of an endowed academy, with an adequate salary, with the condition<BR> +that I must devote myself to its interests and abandon everything +else, I am quite sure I would have accepted." +</P> + +<P> +Of course, the hopeful application of this incident to the Maine +defeat was that, no such offer having been made or accepted, he +had made a glorious career in the army, rising to the head of the +General Staff, and for twenty years had been the leading figure +in the House of Representatives, and was now a recently elected +United States senator and chosen candidate for president. +</P> + +<P> +Then he turned to the instances where victory had been plucked +from defeat in battles. After citing many instances he gave a word +picture of the Battle of Chickamauga which was the finest thing of +the kind I have ever heard or ever read. +</P> + +<P> +After his two comrades left I told him of the interest which my +friends were taking in his canvass, and that I would add their +contribution to the campaign committee. The general instantly +was exultant and jubilant. He fairly shouted: "Have I not proved +to you all day that there is always a silver lining to the cloud, +and that the darkest hour is just before dawn?" +</P> + +<P> +It was one of the sources of General Garfield's success as an +orator that he was very emotional and sentimental. He happily +carried with him amid all struggles and disappointments, as well +as successes in the making of a career, the buoyant, hopeful, +companionable, and affectionate interests which characterize +the ambitious senior who has just left college to take his plunge +into the activities of life. +</P> + +<P> +So far as our State was concerned, a great deal turned upon the +attitude of Senator Conkling. His great and triumphant speech +of four hours at the Academy of Music in New York brought all +his friends into line, but the greatest help which General Garfield +received was from the generous, unselfish, and enthusiastic support +of General Grant. +</P> + +<P> +General Grant had been the leading candidate in the convention +which finally nominated Garfield, but he voluntarily appeared upon +the platform in several States and at Garfield's home. His brief +but most effective speeches gathered around Garfield not only the +whole of the old-soldier vote but those who had become disaffected +or indifferent because of the result of the national Republican +convention. +</P> + +<P> +There probably was no canvass where the Republican orator ever +had so many opportunities for the exercise of every faculty which +he possessed. His candidate had made an excellent record as +a soldier in the field and as a statesman in Congress, as an +educator and a popular speaker on questions of vital interest, +while the opposition presented abundant opportunities for attack. +</P> + +<P> +After the presidential election came the meeting of the New York +State legislature for the choosing of a United States senator. +The legislature was overwhelmingly Republican, and the organization +or machine Republicans were in a large majority. The assembly was +organized and the appointment of committees used to make certain +the election of an organization man. +</P> + +<P> +A very unusual thing happened. The forces of the organization +were divided between two candidates: Thomas C. Platt and +Richard Crowley. Mr. Conkling had not declared his preference +for either, as they were both devoted friends of his, though he had +the power to have made a selection and have that selection accepted +by the legislature. Vice-President-elect Chester A. Arthur appeared +as manager for Mr. Crowley. Platt conducted his own canvass. +</P> + +<P> +I was called to a meeting in New York, where Mr. Blaine, secretary +of state, was present. Mr. Blaine said that administration managers +had made a thorough canvass of the legislature and they had found +that I was the only one who could control enough anti-organization +votes to be elected, and, therefore, General Garfield and his +friends had decided that I must enter the race. I did not want +to do it, nor did I want the senatorship at that time. However, +it seemed a plain duty. A canvass showed that Mr. Platt, +Mr. Crowley, and myself had about an equal number of votes. +Of course, Mr. Blaine's object was, knowing that Senator Conkling +would be hostile to the administration, to prevent his having +a colleague who would join with him, and thus place the State +of New York against the policies of the incoming president. +</P> + +<P> +After the canvass had been going on for some time, Mr. Platt came +to me and asked why I was in it. I told him frankly that I was in +it to see, if possible, that the senator-elect should support +the administration. He said: "Very well, I will do that." +</P> + +<P> +I immediately called together my supporters. Mr. Platt appeared +before them and stated that if elected he would support the +president and his administration in every respect. He was asked +if he would vote for the confirmation of appointees whom the +president might select who were specially in disfavor with +Senator Conkling, conspicuously Senator William H. Robertson. +Mr. Platt said, "Yes, I will." My friends all went over to him +and he was elected. +</P> + +<P> +General Garfield was inaugurated in March, 1881, and his +difficulties began with his Cabinet. Senator Conkling, who saw +clearly that with Blaine in the Cabinet his organization was in +danger in New York, did not want any of his friends to accept +a Cabinet position. The navy was offered to Levi P. Morton, but +at the request of Senator Conkling he declined. +</P> + +<P> +When the time came for appointments in the Custom House of New York, +General Garfield sent in the name of William H. Robertson, who was +the leader of the anti-machine forces in the State. Mr. Conkling +at once demanded that Mr. Platt should join with him in inducing +the Senate to reject the nomination. Under the rule of senatorial +courtesy the Senate would undoubtedly have done this if the two +New York senators had acted together. Mr. Platt told Mr. Conkling +of his pledge to the members of the legislature, and that he must +abide by it, and, as he told me, suggested to Mr. Conkling that, +as he always had been his friend and did not want any breach +with him, the only thing to be done, consistent with honor, was +for both of them to resign and go back to the legislature for +re-election, with a mandate which should enable them to reject +the appointment of Judge Robertson and all similar appointments. +</P> + +<P> +As the legislature was overwhelmingly Republican, and the organization +had a large majority, it seemed to both senators that they would +be returned immediately. But it is singular how intense partisanship +will blind the ablest and shrewdest politicians. Senators Conkling +and Platt were among the ablest and most capable political managers +of their time. 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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +IX. CHESTER A. ARTHUR +</H3> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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 lawyer—Elihu Root. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +"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." +</P> + +<P> +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." +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +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. +</P> + +<P> +While the convention was in session at Utica I had an interview with +Mr. George Dawson, who was editor of the Albany Evening Journal +and he became convinced that he had nothing to lose by entering +at once into an open antagonism, if there was any way by which it +could be made effective. +</P> + +<P> +I said to Mr. Dawson: "The only salvation for those who have been +benefited during the era of liberty occasioned by President Hayes's +civil-service policies is to prevent the national convention +adopting the unit rule." +</P> + +<P> +The unit rule is that if the majority of the delegates from any +State make a decision, the chairman of the delegation shall cast +the entire vote of the delegation from the State for the result +arrived at by the majority, whether it be a candidate or a policy. +Under the unit rule I have seen a bare majority of one vote for +a candidate, and then the chairman of the delegation cast the entire +vote for the candidate, though the minority were very hostile to him. +</P> + +<P> +The delegates of the State convention at Utica returned to Albany +that night. Many of them were State senators whose decapitation +was assured if the old machine supported by federal patronage was +revived. State Senator Webster Wagner was one of them. He and I +chartered a train and invited the whole State delegation to go with +us to Chicago. In the preliminary discussions, before the national +convention met, twenty-six out of seventy-eight delegates decided +to act independently. +</P> + +<P> +Wayne MacVeagh, a lifelong friend of mine, had a strong following +in the Pennsylvania delegation, and after he learned our position +brought over also his people. Emory Storrs, who led the Illinois +delegation, came to me and said that if we would not boom +Elihu B. Washburne, who was a candidate for the nomination, we +would have the Illinois vote. The result of the canvass was that +the convention decided against the unit rule. This released so +many individual delegates to independent action that the field +was cleared and nobody had majority. The leading candidates were +General Grant, James G. Blaine, and John Sherman. +</P> + +<P> +In the history of convention oratory the nominating speeches of +Senator Conkling for General Grant, and James A. Garfield for +John Sherman take the highest rank. Conkling took a lofty position +on the platform. His speech was perfectly prepared, delivered +with great dramatic effect, and received universal applause on +the floor and in the gallery. +</P> + +<P> +General Garfield, on the other hand, also a fine-looking man and +a practised orator, avoided the dramatic element, in which he +could not compete with Conkling, but delivered a speech along +the line of the average thought and general comprehension of his +audience that made a great impression. It was a common remark: +"He has nominated himself." +</P> + +<P> +There were among the audience thousands of Blaine enthusiasts. +No public man since Lincoln ever had such enthusiastic, devoted, +and almost crazy followers as Mr. Blaine. These enthusiasts were +waiting to raise the roof and secure the nomination of their +candidate when the chosen orator should present their favorite. +</P> + +<P> +The gentleman selected to present Mr. Blaine was eminent in business +and great enterprises, but I doubt if he had ever spoken before +except to a board of directors. Of course, in that vast hall such +a man was fearfully handicapped and could not be very well heard. +He closed by naming his candidate somewhat like this: "I now have +the pleasure and honor of proposing as the candidate of this +convention that eminent statesman, James S. Blaine." Nearly +every one in the convention knew that Mr. Blaine's middle name +was Gillespie. +</P> + +<P> +The Blaine followers, whose indignation had been growing throughout +the speech, because they expected the very highest type of oratory +for their favorite, shouted in chorus, "G., you fool, G!" +</P> + +<P> +When General Garfield was voted for, he indignantly repudiated +the votes as an imputation upon his honor, as he was there to +nominate his friend, John Sherman. Senator George F. Hoar, of +Massachusetts, presided at the convention. He interrupted Garfield +by calling him to order, as it was not in order to interrupt the +calling of the roll, and he did so for fear that Garfield would go +so far as to say he would not accept the nomination if it were +made. On the last ballot State after State, each striving to get +ahead of the other, changed its vote from Sherman or Blaine to +Garfield, and he was nominated. +</P> + +<P> +I sat close to him as a visitor to the Ohio delegation. It was +a curious exhibit of the ambition of a lifetime suddenly and +unexpectedly realized by a highly sensitive and highly wrought-up +man. He was so overcome that he practically had to be carried +out of the convention by his friends. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Conkling was very indignant at the result and expressed +his anger with his usual emphasis and picturesqueness. The Ohio +leaders were then anxious to placate New York, but Conkling would +have nothing to do with them. They then came to us, who had been +opposed to the unit rule, and wanted suggestions as to which +New Yorker they should select for vice-president. Levi P. Morton +was suggested. Mr. Morton said he would accept if Senator Conkling +was willing to agree to it, and that he would not act without the +senator's acquiescence, as he was an organization man. The senator +refused his consent, and told Mr. Morton that no friend of his +would go on the ticket. +</P> + +<P> +It was then suggested that they try General Arthur, who was +Conkling's first lieutenant and chairman of the Republican State +Committee of New York. Senator Conkling made the same answer +to General Arthur, but he frankly said to Conkling: "Such an honor +and opportunity comes to very few of the millions of Americans, +and to that man but once. No man can refuse it, and I will not." +And so General Arthur was nominated for vice-president. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +X. GROVER CLEVELAND +</H3> + +<P> +Grover Cleveland was a remarkable man. He had more political +courage of the General Jackson type than almost any man who ever +held great responsible positions. He defied Tammany Hall while +governor of the State, and repeatedly challenged the strongest +elements of his party while president. Threats of defeat or +retaliation never moved him. If he had once made up his mind +and believed he was right, no suggestions of expediency or of +popularity had any influence on him. +</P> + +<P> +In personal intercourse he made friends and had great charm. +The campaign against him when he ran for governor of New York +was ruthlessly conducted. I considered the actions of his enemies +as unfair and that they would react in the canvass. I studiously +discredited all in my speeches, and begged our people not to +feature them. +</P> + +<P> +I knew Mr. Cleveland, and as an evidence of my appreciation of +his character and ability, when the office of general counsel of +the New York Central Railroad at Buffalo became vacant, I offered +it to him, saying: "I am exceedingly anxious that you should +accept this place. I think, by an adjustment of the administration +of your office, you can retain your private practice, and this +will add about fifteen thousand dollars a year to your income." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Cleveland replied: "I have a very definite plan of life and +have decided how much work I can do without impairing my health, +and how much of additional responsibility I can assume. I have +accumulated about seventy-five thousand dollars and my practice +yields me an income which is sufficient for my wants and a prudent +addition for my old age to my capital. No amount of money whatever +would tempt me to add to or increase my present work." +</P> + +<P> +I doubt if there were many lawyers in the United States who had +that philosophy or control of their ambitions. His annual income +from his profession was considerably less than the compensation +offered by the general counselship of the New York Central. +</P> + +<P> +Cleveland was most satisfactory as president in his quick and +decisive judgment upon matters presented to him. There were no +delays, no revisions; in fact, no diplomatic methods of avoiding +a disagreeable decision. He told you in the briefest time and +in the clearest way what he would do. +</P> + +<P> +A great social leader and arbiter in social affairs in New York +was very desirous that the president should reverse his judgment +in regard to an appointment affecting a member of his family. +I gave him a letter which procured him a personal and confidential +interview. When he came back to me he said: "That is the most +extraordinary man I ever saw. After he had heard me through, he +said he understood the matter thoroughly and would not change +his opinion or action. He has no social position and never had. +I tried to present its attractions and my ability to help him in +that regard, but he only laughed; yes, he positively laughed." +</P> + +<P> +While President Hayes had difficulty with civil-service reform +and incurred the hostility of the Republican organization and +machine men, the situation with him was far less difficult than +it was with Cleveland, who was a sincere civil-service reformer, +and also an earnest Democrat. While a Democratic senator from +Ohio, Mr. Pendleton, had passed a bill during the Hayes +administration for reform in the civil service, the great majority +of the Democratic party believed in Secretary Marcy's declaration +that "to the victors belong the spoils." +</P> + +<P> +There was an aggravation, also, growing out of the fact that the +Democrats had been out of office for twenty-four years. We can +hardly visualize or conceive now of their hunger for office. +The rule for rescuing people dying of starvation is to feed them +in very small quantities, and frequently. By trying this, the +president became one of the most unpopular of men who had ever +held office; in fact, so unpopular among the Democratic senators +and members of the House that a story which Zebulon Vance, of +North Carolina, told went all over the country and still survives. +Vance, who had a large proportion of the citizens of North Carolina +on his waiting list, and could get none of them appointed, said +that the situation, which ought to be one of rejoicing at the +election of a president by his own party, was like that of a client +of his who had inherited a farm from his father. There were so +many difficulties about the title and getting possession of it +and delay, that the son said: "I almost wished father had not died." +</P> + +<P> +However, Mr. Cleveland, in his deliberate way did accomplish +the impossible. He largely regained favor with his party by +satisfying their demands, and at the same time so enlarged the +scope of civil-service requirements as to receive the commendation +of the two great leaders of the civil-service movement—George +William Curtis and Carl Schurz. +</P> + +<P> +President Cleveland entered upon his second term with greater +popularity in the country than most of his predecessors. When he +retired from office, it was practically by unanimous consent. +It is among the tragedies of public life that he lost entirely the +confidence of his party and, in a measure, of the whole people +by rendering to his country the greatest public service. +</P> + +<P> +A strike of the men on the railroads tied up transportation. +Railroads are the arteries of travel, commerce, and trade. To stop +them is to prevent the transportation of provisions or of coal, +to starve and freeze cities and communities. Cleveland used +the whole power of the federal government to keep free the +transportation on the railways and to punish as the enemies of the +whole people those who were trying to stop them. It was a lesson +which has been of incalculable value ever since in keeping open +these great highways. +</P> + +<P> +He forced through the repeal of the silver purchasing law by every +source and pressure and the unlimited use of patronage. His party +were almost unanimous for the silver standard and resented this +repeal as a crime, but it saved the country from general bankruptcy. +Except in the use of patronage to help his silver legislation, he +offended his party by improving the civil service and retaining +Theodore Roosevelt as head of the Civil Service Commission. +These crises required from the president an extraordinary degree +of courage and steadfastness. +</P> + +<P> +While Mr. Cleveland was in such unprecedented popular disfavor +when he retired to private life, his fame as president increases +through the years, and he is rapidly assuming foremost position +in the estimation of the people. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Cleveland had a peculiar style in his speeches and public +documents. It was criticised as labored and that of an essayist. +I asked him, after he had retired to private life, how he had +acquired it. He said his father was a clergyman and he had been +educated by him largely at home. His father was very particular +about his compositions and his English, so that he acquired a +ministerial style. The result of this was that whenever any of +the members of the local bar died, he was called upon to write +the obituary resolutions. +</P> + +<P> +To take a leap over intervening years: After Mr. Cleveland retired +from his second term I used to meet him very frequently on social +occasions and formal celebrations. He soon left the practice of +law and settled in Princeton, where he did great and useful service, +until he died, as trustee of the university and a lecturer before +the students. +</P> + +<P> +Riding in the same carriage with him in the great procession at +the funeral of General Sherman, he reminisced most interestingly +in regard to his experiences while president. Every little while +there would break out a cheer and then a shout in the crowd of +one of the old campaign cries: "Grover, Grover, four years more." +Mr. Cleveland remarked: "I noticed while president a certain +regularity and recrudescence of popular applause, and it was +the same in every place I visited." That cry, "Grover, Grover, +four years more!" would occur every third block, and during +our long ride the mathematical tradition was preserved. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XI. BENJAMIN HARRISON +</H3> + +<P> +The year 1888 was one of singular experience for me. I was working +very hard in my professional duties and paying no attention to +public affairs. +</P> + +<P> +The district conventions to send delegates to the national +convention at Chicago began electing their delegates and alternates, +and passing resolutions instructing them to vote for me as their +candidate for president. +</P> + +<P> +After several districts had thus acted I was asked to meet in +Whitelaw Reid's office in the Tribune Building Thomas C. Platt, +our State leader, and United States Senator Frank Hiscock. Platt +demanded to know why I was making this canvass without consulting +the organization or informing them. I told him I was doing nothing +whatever by letter, telegram, or interview; that I had seen no one, +and no one had been to see me. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Platt, who had been all his life accomplishing things through +the organization, was no believer in spontaneous uprisings, and +asked me frankly: "Are you a candidate?" I told him I was not, +because I did not believe I could be nominated with the present +condition of the public mind in regard to railways, and I was +president of one of the largest systems. +</P> + +<P> +Then it was suggested that I permit the Tribune, which was the +party organ, to state that I was not a candidate and did not want +to be. The next morning the Tribune had that fully explained. +The conventions kept on convening and instructing their delegates +the same way. +</P> + +<P> +Another conference was called, and then I was asked to make the +statement that if nominated I would not accept, and if elected +I would decline. I said to my conferees: "Gentlemen, there is +no American living big enough to say that. In the first place, +it is gross egotism to think such a thing might happen." The result +was that the organization accepted the situation. +</P> + +<P> +The only way that I can account for this unanimous action of the +party in its conventions in the congressional districts of the +State is the accumulative result of appreciation of unselfish +work for the party. Every fall, for a quarter of a century, I had +been on the platform in every part of the State, and according +to my means was a contributor to the State and local canvass. +During this period I had asked nothing and would accept nothing. +If I may apply so large a phrase to a matter so comparatively +unimportant, I would deny the often quoted maxim that "republics +are ungrateful." +</P> + +<P> +When the convention met there was an overwhelming sentiment for +Mr. Blaine, but his refusal was positive and absolute. I had +always been a warm supporter and friend of Mr. Blaine, and his +followers were very friendly to me. +</P> + +<P> +What were called "the Granger States," and especially Iowa, had +become very hostile to railway management and railway men. They +were passing laws which were practically confiscatory of railway +securities. The committees from those States visited all other +State delegations and spoke in bitter terms of my candidacy. The +strength of my candidacy was that New York was unanimously for +me, except for one vote from New York City, and no nominee could +hope to be elected unless he could carry New York. +</P> + +<P> +After receiving ninety-nine votes, I found that on the next ballot +my vote would be very largely increased, and decided to retire. +I called together the New York delegation and stated my position, +and the reason for it. A considerable debate took place. The +motion was made and unanimously carried that the four delegates +at large should meet and see if they could agree upon a candidate +who would command the support of the entire delegation of the +State. The object was, of course, to make the State, with its +larger number of delegates than any other commonwealth, a deciding +factor in the selection. +</P> + +<P> +The delegates at large were: Thomas C. Platt, Senator Frank Hiscock, +Warner Miller, and myself. When we met, Platt and Hiscock declared +for Senator Allison of Iowa. Warner Miller with equal warmth +announced that he was for John Sherman. +</P> + +<P> +A heated controversy arose between Mr. Platt and Mr. Miller, during +which Mr. Platt said that neither he nor any of his friends would +vote for Sherman if he was nominated. Senator Hiscock, who was +always a pacifier, interrupted them, saying: "Mr. Depew has said +nothing as yet. I suggest that we hear his views." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Platt and Mr. Miller responded to this suggestion and I +replied: "Gentlemen, New York has given to me its cordial and +practically unanimous support, and I have felt under the +circumstances that I should follow and not lead. The situation +which has grown out of this discussion here eliminates two +candidates. Without the aid of Senator Platt and his friends, +Mr. Sherman could not carry New York. Iowa has gone to the extreme +of radical legislation which threatens the investment in securities +of her railroads, and New York is such a capitalistic State that +no man identified with that legislation could carry a majority +of the vote of its people, and that makes Allison impossible. +There is one candidate here who at present apparently has no +chance, but who, nevertheless, seems to me to possess more popular +qualifications than any other, and that is General Benjamin Harrison, +of Indiana. I do not know him, never met him, but he rose from +the humblest beginnings until he became the leader of the bar +of his State. He enlisted in the Civil War as a second lieutenant, +and by conspicuous bravery and skill upon the battle-field came +out as brigadier-general. As United States senator he became +informed about federal affairs. His grandfather, President +William H. Harrison, had one of the most picturesque campaigns +in our history. There are enough survivors of that 'hard cider +and log cabin' canvass to make an attractive contribution on +the platform at every meeting, and thus add a certain historic +flavor to General Harrison's candidacy." +</P> + +<P> +After some discussion the other three agreed. We reported our +conclusion to the delegation, which by an overwhelming majority +assented to the conclusions of the four delegates at large. This +decision settled the question in the convention, and after a few +ballots General Harrison was nominated. New York was awarded +the vice-presidency and selected Levi P. Morton. +</P> + +<P> +During Harrison's administration I was absorbed in my duties as +president of the New York Central Railroad, and was seldom in +Washington. But soon after his inauguration he sent to me a +member of Congress from Indiana with a special message. This +congressman said: "I come from President Harrison, and he has +instructed me to offer you a place in his Cabinet. He is anxious +to have you in his official family." +</P> + +<P> +I told him that I was not prepared to enter public life, and while +I was exceedingly gratified by the offer, it was impossible for +me to accept. +</P> + +<P> +The congressman said: "I am a poor man, but cannot understand +how anybody can refuse to be member of the Cabinet of the President +of the United States. If such an offer was made to me, and the +conditions of our overruling Providence were that I and my family +should live in want and poverty for the rest of our lives, I would +accept without hesitation." +</P> + +<P> +I had met Benjamin Harrison as we passed through Indianapolis +on business during the canvass, for the first time. I was much +impressed with him, but his austerity appeared to those who called +upon him while present upon official business. I found him one +of the most genial and agreeable of men, and this impression was +intensified when I met him at the White House. At his own table +and family dinners he was one of the most charming of hosts. He +had, unfortunately, a repellent manner and a harsh voice. In meeting +those who came to him for official favors this made him one of +the most unpopular presidents with senators and members of the +House of Representatives. +</P> + +<P> +On the platform as a public speaker he had few equals. He was +most lucid and convincing, and had what few orators possess, which +was of special use to him in campaigning and touring the country +as president, the ability to make a fresh speech every day and +each a good one. It was a talent of presenting questions from +many angles, each of which illuminated his subject and captivated +his audience. It was said of him by a senator who was his friend, +and the remark is quoted by Senator Hoar, that if he spoke to +an audience of ten thousand people, he would make every one of +them his friend, but if he were introduced to each of them +afterwards, each would depart his enemy. I think that his manner, +which was so unfortunate, came from the fact that his career had been +one of battle, from his early struggles to his triumphant success. +</P> + +<P> +A short time before the national convention met in 1892 Senator +Frank Hiscock came to me and said that President Harrison had +requested him to ask me to lead his forces on the floor in the +convention. I said to him that I was a loyal organization man +and did not want to quarrel with our leader, Senator Platt. Then +he told me that he had seen Platt, who remarked that no one +could help Harrison, and that I would conduct the campaign in +better spirit than any one, and so he had no objection to my +accepting the position. There was one obstacle which I wished +removed. I was devoted to Mr. Blaine and not only was one of +his political supporters but very fond of him personally. Mr. Blaine +happened to be in the city, and I immediately called upon him. +His health was then very bad. +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. Blaine," I said to him, "if you are a candidate, you know +I will support you with the greatest of pleasure, but if not, then +I will accept the invitation of the president." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Blaine was most cordial. He said that he had no objections +whatever to my taking the commission, but he doubted if the +president could be renominated, and that he could not be re-elected +if nominated. Harrison had made an excellent president, but his +manner of treating people who came to him had filled the country +with bitter and powerful enemies, while his friends were very few. +</P> + +<P> +Then he mentioned several other possible candidates, but evidently +doubted the success of the Republican party in the election. In +regard to himself he said: "If I should accept the nomination I +could not endure the labors of the canvass and its excitements. +It would kill me." That diagnosis of his condition was correct and +was demonstrated by the fact that he died soon after the election, +but long before he could be inaugurated if elected. +</P> + +<P> +All organization leaders of the party were united against the +nomination of President Harrison. The leaders were Platt, Quay, +and Clarkson, who was also chairman of the national committee. +They were the greatest masters of organization and of its management +we ever had in politics, especially Platt and Quay. Their methods +were always secret, so I decided that the only hope of success +for President Harrison was in the greatest publicity. +</P> + +<P> +The position I had accepted soon became known, and I began to +give the fullest interviews, each one an argument for the +renomination of the president. I went to Chicago a few days +in advance of the convention, was met there by correspondents +of the press, some fifty of them, and gave them a talk in a body, +which made a broadside in the morning papers, each correspondent +treating it in his own way, as his own individual interview. +</P> + +<P> +This statement or, rather, argument, was intended to be read +and succeeded in being so by the delegates from everywhere who +were on their way to the convention and had to pass through +Chicago. The convention was held in Minneapolis. I received +from that city an invitation to address a gathering of New Yorkers +who had settled in the West to speak before two patriotic audiences, +and to make the address at the dedication of the great hall where +the convention was to meet. +</P> + +<P> +It was evident that before these engagements had been concluded, +every delegate would have attended some of these meetings, and, +therefore, with the relationship between a speaker and his audience, +I would be practically the only man in the convention who was +personally known to every member. This relationship was an +enormous benefit in conducting the canvass. +</P> + +<P> +The great organization leaders were difficult of access and carried +on their campaign through trusted members of each State delegation. +My rooms were wide open for everybody. On account of the conflicting +statements made by members of the State delegations, it was very +difficult to make an accurate and detailed list of those who were +for the president, and those who were for Mr. Blaine. It occurred +to me that it would help to call a meeting of the Harrison delegates. +Many thought it was hazardous, as it might develop a majority the +other way. +</P> + +<P> +The meeting was attended, however, by every delegate, those opposed +coming out of curiosity. Taking the chair, I asked some member +of each delegation to arise and state how many votes he believed +could be relied upon from his State. Of course the statement of each +delegate was often loudly challenged by others from his State who +were present. When the result was announced it showed a majority +of three for General Harrison. A veteran campaigner begged me +to announce it as fifty, but I refused. "No," I said, "the closeness +of the vote when there is every opportunity for manipulation would +carry conviction." +</P> + +<P> +An old gentleman who stood beside me had a gold-headed ebony +cane. I seized it and rapped it on the table with such force that +it broke in two and announced that the figures showed absolute +certainty of President Harrison's renomination. I doubt if there +was a reliable majority, but the announcement of this result +brought enough of those always anxious to get on the band-wagon +to make it certain. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after arriving home I received a letter from the owner of +the cane. He wrote: "I was very angry when you broke my cane. +It was a valued birthday present from my children. It is now +in a glass case in my library, and on the case is this label: 'This +cane nominated a president of the United States.'" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. McKinley, then Governor of Ohio, presided at the convention. +I stood close beside him when I made my speech for Harrison's +renomination. While thoroughly prepared, the speech was in a +way extemporaneous to meet calls or objections. In the midst +of a sentence McKinley said to me in a loud voice: "You are +making a remarkably fine speech." The remark threw me off my +balance as an opposition would never have done. I lost the +continuity and came near breaking down, but happily the applause +gave me time to get again upon the track. +</P> + +<P> +Among my colleagues in the New York delegation was James W. Husted. +General Husted was very ill and unable to leave his room during +the convention. He sent for me one morning and said: "I have +just had a call from Governor McKinley. He says that you have +the power to nominate him, and that Harrison cannot be nominated. +If you will direct the Harrison forces for him, he will be the next +president." +</P> + +<P> +I told Husted I was enlisted for the war and, while having a great +admiration for McKinley, it was impossible. +</P> + +<P> +Soon after arriving home I received an invitation from the president +to visit him at Washington. I took the night train, arriving there +in the morning. My appointment was to lunch with him. +</P> + +<P> +During the morning Stephen B. Elkins, then secretary of war, +called and asked me to take a walk. While we were walking he +told me that the president was going to offer me the secretaryship +of state, in succession to Mr. Blaine, and that I ought to accept. +He then led me to the State Department and pointed to the portraits +on the walls of the different secretaries, commencing with +Thomas Jefferson. Elkins said that to be in that list was a +greater distinction than to be on the walls of the White House, +because these men are of far greater eminence. +</P> + +<P> +After luncheon the president invited me into the Blue Room, and +with a great deal of emotion said: "You are the only man who +has ever unselfishly befriended me. It was largely through your +efforts that I became president, and I am greatly indebted to you +for my renomination. I have tried my best to show my appreciation +by asking you into my Cabinet and otherwise, but you have refused +everything I have heretofore offered. I now want to give you +the best I have, which is secretary of state. It is broken bread, +because if I am not re-elected it will be only till the 4th of March, +but if I am re-elected it will be for four years more. I personally +want you in my Cabinet." +</P> + +<P> +I told the president it was impossible for me to accept; that even +if I resigned my presidency of the railroad, coming directly +from that position would bring the railroad question, which was +very acute, into the canvass. He said he did not think there +was anything in that, but I realized that if he was defeated his +defeat would be charged to having made that mistake. +</P> + +<P> +He then said: "Well, how about it if I am re-elected?" I told +him that I would regard the appointment the greatest of honors, +and the associations the most pleasurable of a lifetime. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well," he said; "I will appoint Mr. John W. Foster, who +has been doing excellent service for the State Department, until +next 4th of March, and you can prepare to come here upon that date." +</P> + +<P> +The most painful thing that was connected with the canvass at +Minneapolis before the convention was the appearance of Mr. Blaine +as a candidate. He had resigned from the Cabinet and yielded +to the pressure of his friends to become a candidate. +</P> + +<P> +Notwithstanding my interview and what he had said, he sent no +word whatever to me, and personally I had no information and no +notification that his candidacy was authorized by himself. What +gave, however, much authority to the statement that he would accept +the nomination was the appearance of his son, Emmons, among those +who were endeavoring to bring it about. +</P> + +<P> +There has never been a statesman in our public life, except +Henry Clay, who had such devoted friends as Mr. Blaine. While +Henry Clay never reached the presidency and was fairly defeated +in his attempt, there is no doubt that Mr. Blaine was elected in +1884, and that notwithstanding the Burchard misfortune, he would +still have been a victor except for transparent frauds in New York. +</P> + +<P> +General Harrison was by far the ablest and profoundest lawyer +among our presidents. None of them equalled him as an orator. +His State papers were of a very high order. When history sums +up the men who have held the great place of president of the +United States, General Harrison will be among the foremost. +</P> + +<P> +He retired from office, like many of our presidents, a comparatively +poor man. After retirement he entered at once upon the practice +of his profession of the law and almost immediately became +recognized as one of the leaders of the American bar. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XII. JAMES G. BLAINE +</H3> + +<P> +I have spoken in every national canvass, beginning with 1856. +It has been an interesting experience to be on the same platform +as an associate speaker with nearly every man in the country who +had a national reputation. Most of them had but one speech, +which was very long, elaborately prepared, and so divided into +sections, each complete in itself, that the orator was equipped +for an address of any length, from fifteen minutes to four hours, +by selection or consolidation of these sections. Few of them +would trust themselves to extemporaneous speaking. The most +versatile and capable of those who could was James G. Blaine. +He was always ready, courted interruptions, and was brilliantly +effective. In a few sentences he had captured his audience and +held them enthralled. No public man in our country, except, +perhaps, Henry Clay, had such devoted following. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Blaine had another extraordinary gift, which is said to belong +only to kings; he never forgot any one. Years after an introduction +he would recall where he had first met the stranger and remember +his name. This compliment made that man Blaine's devoted friend +for life. +</P> + +<P> +I had an interesting experience of his readiness and versatility +when he ran for president in 1884. He asked me to introduce him +at the different stations, where he was to deliver long or short +addresses. After several of these occasions, he asked: "What's +the next station, Chauncey?" I answered: "Peekskill." "Well," +he said, "what is there about Peekskill?" "I was born there," +I answered. "Well," he said, rising, "I always thought that you +were born at Poughkeepsie." "No, Peekskill." Just then we were +running into the station, and, as the train stopped, I stepped +forward to introduce him to the great crowd which had gathered +there from a radius of fifty miles. He pushed me back in a very +dramatic way, and shouted: "Fellow citizens, allow me to make +the introduction here. As I have many times in the last quarter +of a century travelled up and down your beautiful Hudson River, +with its majestic scenery made famous by the genius of Washington +Irving, and upon the floating palaces not equalled anywhere else +in the world, or when the steamer has passed through this picturesque +bay and opposite your village, I have had emotions of tenderness and +loving memories, greater than those impressed by any other town, +because I have said to myself: 'There is the birthplace of one +of my best friends, Chauncey Depew.'" +</P> + +<P> +Local committees who desire to use the candidate to help the party +in their neighborhood and also their county tickets are invariably +most unreasonable and merciless in their demands upon the time +of the candidate. They know perfectly well that he has to speak +many times a day; that there is a limit to his strength and to +his vocal cords, and yet they will exact from him an effort which +would prevent his filling other engagements, if they possibly can. +This was notoriously the case during Mr. Blaine's trip through +the State of New York and afterwards through the country. The +strain upon him was unprecedented, and, very naturally, he at times +showed his irritation and some temper. +</P> + +<P> +The local committees would do their best with the railroad company +and with Blaine's managers in New York to prolong his stay and speech +at each station. He would be scheduled according to the importance +of the place for five, ten, fifteen, twenty, or thirty minutes. +</P> + +<P> +Before we reached Albany he asked me to accompany him to the end +of our line at Buffalo, and make the introduction as usual at the +stations. The committee would sometimes succeed in changing +the programme and make the stays longer at their several places. +Mr. Blaine's arrangement with me was that after he had decided +how long he would speak, I should fill up the time, whether it +was longer or shorter. That would often enlarge my speech, but +I was young and vigorous and had no responsibilities. +</P> + +<P> +I remember one committee, where the train was scheduled for ten +minutes, succeed in having it delayed an hour, and instead of +a brief address from the platform of the car, carried the +presidential party to a stand in the central square where many +thousands had gathered. In the first place, this city was not +on Mr. Blaine's schedule, and as it was late in the afternoon, +after a fatiguing day, he therefore told the committee peremptorily +that ten minutes was his limit. Then he said to me: "Chauncey, +you will have to fill out the hour." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Blaine's wonderful magnetism, the impression he made upon every +one, and his tactful flattery of local pride, did a great deal +to remove the prejudices against him, which were being fomented by +a propaganda of a "mugwump" committee in New York. This propaganda, +as is usually the case, assailed his personal integrity. +</P> + +<P> +Notwithstanding the predictions made at the time, he was nominated, +and it was subsequently repeated that he would not carry New York. +From my own experience of many years with the people of the State +and from the platform view-point, I felt confident that he would +have a majority in the election. +</P> + +<P> +It was a few days before the close of the canvass, when I was +in the western part of the State, I received an urgent telegram +from Mr. Blaine to join him on the train, which was to leave +the Grand Central Station in New York early next morning for his +tour of New England. Upon arrival I was met by a messenger, +who took me at once to Mr. Blaine's car, which started a few +minutes afterwards. +</P> + +<P> +There was an unusual excitement in the crowd, which was speedily +explained. The best account Mr. Blaine gave me himself in saying: +"I felt decidedly that everything was well in New York. It was +against my judgment to return here. Our national committee, +however, found that a large body of Protestant clergymen wanted +to meet me and extend their support. They thought this would +offset the charges made by the 'mugwump' committee. I did not +believe that any such recognition was necessary. However, their +demands for my return and to meet this body became so importunate +that I yielded my own judgment. +</P> + +<P> +"I was engaged in my room with the committee and other visitors +when I was summoned to the lobby of the hotel to meet the clergymen. +I had prepared no speech, in fact, had not thought up a reply. +When their spokesman, Reverend Doctor Burchard, began to address +me, my only hope was that he would continue long enough for me +to prepare an appropriate response. I had a very definite idea +of what he would say and so paid little attention to his speech. +In the evening the reporters began rushing in and wanted my opinion +of Doctor Burchard's statement that the main issue of the campaign +was 'Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion.' If I had heard him utter +these words, I would have answered at once, and that would have +been effective, but I am still in doubt as to what to say about it +now. The situation is very difficult, and almost anything I say +is likely to bitterly offend one side or the other. Now I want you +to do all the introductions and be beside me to-day as far as +possible. I have become doubtful about everybody and you are +always sure-footed." I have treasured that compliment ever since. +</P> + +<P> +As we rode through the streets of New Haven the Democrats had +placed men upon the tops of the houses on either side, and they +threw out in the air thousands of leaflets, charging Blaine with +having assented to the issue which Doctor Burchard had put out—"Rum, +Romanism, and Rebellion." They so filled the air that it +seemed a shower, and littered the streets. +</P> + +<P> +A distinguished Catholic prelate said to me: "We had to resent +an insult like that, and I estimate that the remark has changed +fifty thousand votes." I know personally of about five thousand +which were changed in our State, but still Blaine lost New York +and the presidency by a majority against him of only one thousand +one hundred and forty-nine votes. +</P> + +<P> +Whenever I visited Washington I always called upon Mr. Blaine. +The fascination of the statesman and his wonderful conversational +power made every visit an event to be remembered. On one occasion +he said to me: "Chauncey, I am in very low spirits to-day. I have +read over the first volume of my 'Twenty Years in Congress,' which +is just going to the printer, and destroyed it. I dictated the +whole of it, but I find that accuracy and elegance can only be had +at the end of a pen. I shall rewrite the memoirs in ink. In these +days composition by the typewriter or through the stenographer +is so common." There will be many who differ with Mr. Blaine. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XIII. WILLIAM McKINLEY +</H3> + +<P> +In the canvass of 1896 the Republican organization of the State +of New York decided, if possible, to have the national convention +nominate Levi P. Morton for president. Mr. Morton won popular +favor as vice-president, and the canvass for him looked hopeful. +But a new man of extraordinary force and ability came into this +campaign, and that man was Mark Hanna, of Ohio. Mr. Hanna was +one of the most successful of our business men. He had a rare +genius for organization, and possessed resourcefulness, courage, +and audacity. He was most practical and at the same time had +imagination and vision. While he had taken very little part in +public affairs, he had rather suddenly determined to make his +devoted friend, William McKinley, president of the United States. +</P> + +<P> +In a little while every State in the Union felt the force of +Mr. Hanna's efforts. He applied to politics the methods by which +he had so successfully advanced his large manufacturing interests. +McKinley clubs and McKinley local organizations sprang up everywhere +under the magic of Hanna's management. When the convention met +it was plain that McKinley's nomination was assured. +</P> + +<P> +The New York delegation, however, decided to present Morton's name +and submit his candidacy to a vote. I was selected to make a +nominating speech. If there is any hope, an orator on such an +occasion has inspiration. But if he knows he is beaten he cannot +put into his effort the fire necessary to impress an audience. +It is not possible to speak with force and effect unless you have +faith in your cause. +</P> + +<P> +After Mr. McKinley was nominated I moved that the nomination be +made unanimous. The convention called for speech and platform +so insistently that their call had to be obeyed. The following is +an account from a newspaper of that date of my impromptu speech. +The story which is mentioned in the speech was told to me as I was +ascending the platform by Senator Proctor of Vermont. +</P> + +<P> +"I am in the happy position now of making a speech for the man +who is going to be elected. (Laughter and applause.) It is +a great thing for an amateur, when his first nomination has failed, +to come in and second the man who has succeeded. New York is +here with no bitter feeling and with no disappointment. We +recognize that the waves have submerged us, but we have bobbed +up serenely. (Loud laughter.) It was a cannon from New York that +sounded first the news of McKinley's nomination. They said of +Governor Morton's father that he was a New England clergyman, who +brought up a family of ten children on three hundred dollars a year, +and was, notwithstanding, gifted in prayer. (Laughter.) It does +not make any difference how poor he may be, how out of work, +how ragged, how next door to a tramp anybody may be in the +United States to-night, he will be 'gifted in prayer' at the result +of this convention. (Cheers and laughter.) +</P> + +<P> +"There is a principle dear to the American heart. It is the +principle which moves American spindles, starts the industries, +and makes the wage-earners sought for instead of seeking employment. +That principle is embodied in McKinley. His personality explains +the nomination to-day. And his personality will carry into the +presidential chair the aspirations of the voters of America, of the +families of America, of the homes of America, protection to American +industry and America for Americans." (Cheers.) +</P> + +<P> +As every national convention, like every individual, has its +characteristics, the peculiar distinction of the Republican +convention of 1896 was its adoption of the gold standard of value. +An amazing and illuminating part of our political literature of +that time is the claim which various statesmen and publicists make +to the authorship of the gold plank in the platform. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Foraker, who was chairman of the committee on resolutions, +devotes a considerable part of his interesting autobiography +to the discussion of this question. He is very severe upon all +those who claim to have originated the idea. I have been asked +by several statesmen to enforce their claims to its authorship. +</P> + +<P> +The silver craze had not yet subsided. Bimetallism had strong +advocates and believers in our convention. I think even our +candidate was not fully convinced at that time of the wisdom +of the declaration. It went into the platform rather as a venture +than an article of faith, but to the surprise of both the journalists +and campaign orators, it turned out that the people had become +converted to the gold standard, and it proved to be the strongest +and most popular declaration of the convention. +</P> + +<P> +When the campaign opened the genius of Mark Hanna soon became +evident. He organized a campaign of education such as had never +been dreamed of, much less attempted. Travelling publicity agents, +with wagonloads of pamphlets, filled the highways and the byways, +and no home was so isolated that it did not receive its share. +Columns in the newspapers, especially the country papers, were +filled with articles written by experts, and the platform was never +so rich with public speakers. +</P> + +<P> +Such a campaign is irresistible. Its influence is felt by everybody; +its arguments become automatically and almost insensibly the +common language of the people. But the expense is so terrific +that it will never again be attempted. There was no corruption +or purchase of votes in Mr. Hanna's management. It was publicity +and again publicity, but it cost nearly five millions of dollars. +To reach the one hundred and ten million of people in the +United States in such a way would involve a sum so vast that +public opinion would never permit any approach to it. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. McKinley's front-porch campaign was a picturesque and +captivating feature. The candidate was a handsome man and an +eloquent speaker, with a cordial and sympathetic manner which +won everybody. Delegations from all parts of the country and +representing every phase of American life appeared at Mr. McKinley's +residence. His address to them was always appropriate and his +reception made the visitors his fast friends. +</P> + +<P> +I received a personal request to visit him, and on the occasion +he said to me: "In certain large agricultural sections there is +a very dangerous revolt in our party, owing to the bad conditions +among the farmers. Wheat and corn are selling below the cost +of production. I wish you would go down among them and make +speeches explaining the economic conditions which have produced +this result, and how we propose to and will remedy it." +</P> + +<P> +"Mr. McKinley," I said, "my position as a railroad president, +I am afraid, would antagonize them." +</P> + +<P> +"On the contrary, your very position will draw the largest +audiences and receive the greater attention." +</P> + +<P> +The result proved that he was correct. +</P> + +<P> +I recall one meeting in particular. There were thousands present, +all farmers. In the midst of my speech one man arose and said: +"Chauncey Depew, we appreciate your coming here, and we are very +anxious to hear you. Your speech is very charming and interesting, +but I want to put this to you personally. We here are suffering +from market conditions for the products of our farms. The prices +are so low that we have difficulty in meeting the interest on +our mortgages and paying our taxes, no matter how seriously we +economize. Now you are the president of one of the greatest +railroads in the country. It is reported that you are receiving +a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year. You are here in a +private car. Don't you think that the contrast between you and +us makes it difficult for us poor farmers to give you the welcome +which we would like?" +</P> + +<P> +I saw at once I had lost my audience. I then ventured upon a +statement of conditions which I have often tried and always +successfully. I said: "My friend, what you say about me is true. +Now, as to my career, I was born and brought up in a village +similar to the one which is near you here. My father gave me +my education and nothing else with which to begin life. As a +young lawyer I was looking for clients and not for office. I made +up my mind that there were no opportunities offered in the village, +but that the chances of success were in the service of corporations. +The result is that I have accomplished what you have described. +Now, my friend, I believe that you have a promising boy. I also +believe that to your pride and satisfaction he is going through +the neighboring college here, and that you intend on account +of his brightness and ability to make him a lawyer. When he is +admitted to the bar, do you expect him to try to do what I have +accomplished and make an independent position in life, or fail?" +</P> + +<P> +The farmer shouted: "Chauncey, you are all right. Go ahead +and keep it up." +</P> + +<P> +My arguments and presentation were no better than many another +speaker's, but, as Mr. McKinley predicted, they received an +attention and aroused a discussion, because of what the old farmer +had said, that no other campaigner could command. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. McKinley sent for me again and said: "Sentiment is a +wonderful force in politics. Mr. Bryan, my opponent, has made +a remarkable speaking tour through our State. He started in the +early morning from Cleveland with a speech. His train made many +stops on the way to Cincinnati, where he arrived in the evening, +and at each place he addressed large audiences, traversing the +State from one side to the other. His endurance and versatility +have made a great impression upon our people. To meet and +overcome that impression, I have asked you to come here and +repeat Bryan's effort. You are so much older than he is—I think +we may claim nearly twice his age—that if you can do it, and +I hope you can, that sentiment will be dissipated." +</P> + +<P> +I traversed Mr. Bryan's route, stopped at the same stations and +delivered speeches to similar audiences of about the same length. +On arriving in Cincinnati in the evening I was met by a committee, +the chairman of which said: "We have followed you all along from +Cleveland, where you started at seven o'clock this morning, and +it is fine. Now Mr. Bryan, when he arrived here, had no meeting. +We have seven thousand people in the Music Hall, and if you will +go there and speak five minutes it will make your trip a +phenomenal success." +</P> + +<P> +I went to the Music Hall, of course had a wonderful time and wild +ovation, and spoke for an hour. The next day I was none the worse +for this twelve hours' experience. +</P> + +<P> +President McKinley had spent most of his life in the House of +Representatives. He loved the associations and life of Congress. +The most erratic and uncertain of bodies is Congress to an executive +who does not understand its temper and characteristics. McKinley +was past master of this. Almost every president has been greatly +relieved when Congress adjourned, but Mr. McKinley often expressed +to me his wish that Congress would always be in session, as he +never was so happy as when he could be in daily contact with it. +His door was open at all times to a senator or a member of the +House of Representatives. If either failed to see him at least +once a week, the absentee usually received a message stating that +the president desired him to call. He was very keen in discovering +any irritation on the part of any senator or member about any +disappointment or fancied slight, and always most tactfully managed +to straighten the matter out. He was quite as attentive and as +particular with the opposition as with members of his own party. +</P> + +<P> +President McKinley had a wonderful way of dealing with office-seekers +and with their friends and supporters. A phrase of his became +part of the common language of the capital. It was: "My dear +fellow, I am most anxious to oblige you, but I am so situated +that I cannot give you what you want. I will, however, try to find +you something equally as good." The anxious caller for favors, +if he or his congressman failed to get the office desired, always +carried away a flower or a bouquet given by the president, with +a complimentary remark to be remembered. It soon came to be +understood among applicants for office that a desired consulship +in England could not be granted, but one of equal rank in +South Africa was possible. +</P> + +<P> +There were many good stories in the Senate of his tact in dealing +with the opposition. A Southern senator, who as a general had +made a distinguished record in the Civil War on the Confederate +side, was very resentful and would frequently remark to his friends +"that our president unfortunately is not a gentleman, and in his +ancestry is some very common blood." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. McKinley persuaded some of the senator's Southern colleagues +to bring him to the White House. He expressed his regret to +the senator that he should have offended him in any way and asked +what he had done. The senator replied: "You have appointed for +the town where my sister lives a nigger, and a bad nigger at that, +for postmaster, and my sister has to go to him for her letters +and stamps." The president arranged for the transfer of this +postmaster and the appointment of a man recommended by the senator. +The senator then went to his friends and said: "Have I remarked +to you at any time that our president was not a gentleman and +had somewhere in his ancestry very common blood? If I did I recall +the statement and apologize. Mr. McKinley is a perfect gentleman." +</P> + +<P> +All the measures which the president wished passed, unless they +were absolutely partisan, always received afterwards the support +of the Southern senator. +</P> + +<P> +I was in the Senate during a part of his term and nearly every day +at the White House, where his reception was so cordial and his +treatment of the matter presented so sympathetic that it was +a delight to go there, instead of being, as usual, one of the +most disagreeable tasks imposed upon a senator. +</P> + +<P> +He had a way of inviting one to a private conference and with +impressing you with its confidential character and the trust he +reposed in your advice and judgment which was most flattering. +</P> + +<P> +Entertainments at the White House were frequent, and he managed +to make each dinner an event to be most pleasantly remembered. +I think, while he was very courteous to everybody, he was more than +usually so to me because of an incident prior to his inauguration. +</P> + +<P> +A well-known journalist came to my office one day and said: "I am +just from Canton, where I have been several days with the president. +I discussed with him federal appointments—among others, the +mission to England, in which I am interested because my father is +an Englishman, and both my father and I are exceedingly anxious +to have you take the post, and Mr. McKinley authorized me to ask +you if you would accept the mission." +</P> + +<P> +The embassy to England presented peculiar attraction to me, because +I knew personally the Prince of Wales and most of the leading +English statesmen and public men. The journalist said that if +I accepted he would sound the press. This he did, and the response +was most flattering from journals of all political views. +</P> + +<P> +About the time of the inauguration Vice-President Hobart, who was +a cordial friend of mine, said to me: "There is something wrong +about you with the president. It is very serious, and you can +expect no recognition from the administration." I was wholly +at a loss to account for the matter and would not investigate +any further. Not long afterwards the vice-president came to me +and said: "I have found out the truth of that matter of yours +and have explained it satisfactorily to the president, who deeply +regrets that he was misled by a false report from a friend in +whom he had confidence." Soon after the president made me the +offer of the mission to Germany. I did not understand the language +and felt that I could be of little service there, and so declined. +</P> + +<P> +When President McKinley was lying seriously wounded at Buffalo +from the shot of the anarchist Czolgosz, I went there to see if +anything could be done for his comfort. For some time there was +hope he would recover, and that it would be better for him to go +to Washington. I made every arrangement to take him to the capital +if the doctors decided it could be done. But suddenly, as is +always the case with wounds of that kind, a crisis arrived in +which he died. +</P> + +<P> +Vice-President Roosevelt was camping in the Adirondacks. A message +reached him, and the next morning he arrived in Buffalo. The +Cabinet of Mr. McKinley decided that the vice-president should be +at once inaugurated as president. Colonel Roosevelt was a guest +at the house of Mr. Ainsley Wilcox. He invited me to witness his +inauguration, which occurred the same evening. It was a small +company gathered in the parlor of Mr. Wilcox's house. Elihu Root, +secretary of state, choking with emotion and in a voice full of tears, +made a speech which was a beautiful tribute to the dead president +and a clear statement of the necessity of immediate action to avoid +an interregnum in the government. John Raymond Hazel, United States +district judge, administered the oath, and the new president +delivered a brief and affecting answer to Mr. Root's address. +</P> + +<P> +This inauguration was in pathetic and simple contrast to that +which had preceded at the Capitol at Washington. Among the few +present was Senator Mark Hanna. He had been more instrumental +than any one in the United States in the selection of Mr. McKinley +for president and his triumphant election. Mr. McKinley put +absolute trust in Hanna, and Hanna was the most powerful personality +in the country. No two men in public life were ever so admirably +fitted for each other as President McKinley and Senator Hanna. +The day before the death of the president Hanna could look forward +to four years of increasing power and usefulness with the president +who had just been re-elected. But as he walked with me from +Mr. Wilcox's house that night, he felt keenly that he never could +have any such relation with Colonel Roosevelt. He was personally +exceedingly fond of Mr. McKinley, and to his grief at the death +of his friend was added a full apprehension of his changed position +in American public life. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XIV. THEODORE ROOSEVELT +</H3> + +<P> +The bullet of the assassin had ended fatally, and McKinley was +no more. Theodore Roosevelt, vice-president, became president. +Few recognized at the time there had come into the presidency +of the United States one of the most remarkable, capable, and +original men who ever occupied the White House. +</P> + +<P> +During the following seven years President Roosevelt not only +occupied but filled the stage of public affairs in the United States. +Even now, two years or more after his death, with the exception +of President Wilson, Roosevelt is the best known American in +the world. It is difficult to predict the future because of the +idealization which sometimes though rarely occurs in regard to +public men, but Colonel Roosevelt is rapidly taking a position +as third, with Washington and Lincoln as the other two. +</P> + +<P> +My relations with Colonel Roosevelt were always most interesting. +His father, who was a cordial friend of mine, was one of the +foremost citizens of New York. In all civic duties and many +philanthropies he occupied a first place. The public activities +of the father had great influence in forming the character and +directing the ambitions of his son. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Roosevelt entered public life very early and, as with +everything with him, always in a dramatic way. One of the +interesting characters of New York City was Frederick Gibbs, who +was an active politician and a district leader. Gibbs afterwards +became the national committeeman from New York on the Republican +national committee. When he died he left a collection of pictures +which, to the astonishment of everybody, showed that he was a +liberal and discriminating patron of art. +</P> + +<P> +Gibbs had a district difficult to manage, because, commencing +in the slums it ran up to Fifth Avenue. It was normally Democratic, +but he managed to keep his party alive and often to win, and +so gained the reputation that he was in league with Tammany. +He came to me one day and said: "Our organization has lost the +confidence of the 'highbrows.' They have not a great many votes, +but their names carry weight and their contributions are invaluable +in campaigns. To regain their confidence we are thinking of +nominating for member of the legislature young Theodore Roosevelt, +who has just returned from Harvard. What do you think of it?" +</P> + +<P> +Of course, I advocated it very warmly. "Well," he said, "we will +have a dinner at Delmonico's. It will be composed entirely of +'highbrows.' We wish you to make the principal speech, introducing +young Roosevelt, who, of course, will respond. I will not be at +the dinner, but I will be in the pantry." +</P> + +<P> +The dinner was a phenomenal success. About three hundred in +dress suits, white vests, and white neckties were discussing the +situation, saying: "Where did these stories and slanders originate +in regard to our district, about its being an annex of Tammany +and with Tammany affiliations? We are the district, and we all +know each other." +</P> + +<P> +Young Roosevelt, when he rose to speak, looked about eighteen +years old, though he was twenty-three. His speech was carefully +prepared, and he read it from a manuscript. It was remarkable +in the emphatic way in which he first stated the evils in the city, +State, and national governments, and how he would correct them +if he ever had the opportunity. It is a curious realization of +youthful aspirations that every one of those opportunities came +to him, and in each of them he made history and permanent fame. +</P> + +<P> +The term of office of Frank Black, Governor of the State of +New York, was about expiring. Black was a man of great ability +and courage. The people had voted nine millions of dollars to +improve the Erie Canal. There were persistent rumors of fraud +in the work. Governor Black ordered an investigation through an +able committee which he appointed. The committee discovered +that about a million dollars had been wasted or stolen. Black +at once took measures to recover the money if possible and to +prosecute the guilty. The opposition took advantage of this to +create the impression in the public mind of the corruption of the +Republican administration. The acute question was: "Should +Governor Black be renominated?" +</P> + +<P> +Colonel Roosevelt had just returned from Cuba, where he had won +great reputation in command of the Rough Riders, and he and his +command were in camp on Long Island. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Platt, the State leader, was accustomed to consult me, and +his confidence in my judgment was the greater from the fact that +he knew that I wanted nothing, while most of the people who +surrounded the leader were recipients of his favor, and either +the holders of offices or expecting some consideration. He asked +me to come and see him at Manhattan Beach. As usual, he entered +at once upon the question in hand by saying: "I am very much +troubled about the governorship. Frank Black has made an excellent +governor and did the right thing in ordering an investigation of +the Canal frauds, but the result of the investigation has been that +in discovering frauds the Democrats have been able to create +a popular impression that the whole State administration is guilty. +The political situation is very critical in any way. Benjamin Odell, +the chairman of our State committee, urges the nomination of +Colonel Roosevelt. As you know, Roosevelt is no friend of mine, and +I don't think very well of the suggestion. Now, what do you think?" +</P> + +<P> +I instantly replied: "Mr. Platt, I always look at a public question +from the view of the platform. I have been addressing audiences +ever since I became a voter, and my judgment of public opinion +and the views of the people are governed by how they take or will +take and act upon the questions presented. Now, if you nominate +Governor Black and I am addressing a large audience—and I certainly +will—the heckler in the audience will arise and interrupt me, +saying: 'Chauncey, we agree with what you say about the Grand +Old Party and all that, but how about the Canal steal?' I have +to explain that the amount stolen was only a million, and that +would be fatal. If Colonel Roosevelt is nominated, I can say to +the heckler with indignation and enthusiasm: 'I am mighty glad +you asked that question. We have nominated for governor a man +who has demonstrated in public office and on the battlefield that +he is a fighter for the right, and always victorious. If he is +selected, you know and we all know from his demonstrated +characteristics, courage and ability, that every thief will be +caught and punished, and every dollar that can be found restored +to the public treasury.' Then I will follow the colonel leading his +Rough Riders up San Juan Hill and ask the band to play the +'Star-Spangled Banner.'" +</P> + +<P> +Platt said very impulsively: "Roosevelt will be nominated." +</P> + +<P> +When the State convention met to nominate a State ticket, I was +selected to present the name of Colonel Roosevelt as a candidate +for governor. I have done that a great many times in conventions, +but have never had such a response. As I went on reciting the +achievements of Roosevelt, his career, his accomplishments, and +his great promise, the convention went wild with enthusiasm. +It was plain that no mistake had been made in selecting him as +the candidate. +</P> + +<P> +During the campaign he made one of the most picturesque canvasses +the State has ever experienced. He was accompanied in his travels +by a large staff of orators, but easily dominated the situation +and carried the audience with him. He was greatly amused at a +meeting where one of his Rough Riders, who was in the company, +insisted upon making a speech. The Rough Rider said: "My friends +and fellow citizens, my colonel was a great soldier. He will make +a great governor. He always put us boys in battle where we would be +killed if there was a chance, and that is what he will do with you." +</P> + +<P> +Roosevelt as governor was, as always, most original. New York +was an organization State, with Mr. Platt as leader, and with +county leaders of unusual ability and strength. Governors had +been accustomed to rely upon the organization both for advice +and support. Roosevelt could not bear any kind of control. He +sought advice in every direction and then made up his mind. This +brought him often in conflict with local leaders and sometimes +with the general organization. +</P> + +<P> +On one occasion the State chairman, who was always accustomed +to be in Albany during the closing day of the legislature, to prevent +in the haste and confusion, characteristic of legislation at this +time, the passage of bad or unpopular measures, bade the governor +good-by at midnight, as the legislature was to adjourn the following +day with the understanding that lawmaking was practically over. +</P> + +<P> +A large real-estate delegation arrived the next morning, with +the usual desire to relieve real-estate from taxation by putting +it somewhere else. They came with a proposition to place new +burdens upon public utilities. It was too late to formulate and +introduce a measure on a question so important, but there was +a bill which had been in the legislature most of the session and +never received serious consideration. The governor sent an +emergency message to the legislature, which had remaining only +one hour of life to pass that bill. +</P> + +<P> +Next day the tremendous interest in public utilities was +panic-stricken because the bill was so crude that it amounted +to confiscation. The governor, when applied to, said: "Yes, +I know that the bill is very crude and unfit to become a law, but +legislation on this subject is absolutely necessary. I will do +this: I have thirty days before I must make up my mind to sign +the bill, or let it become a law without my signature. Within +that thirty days I will call the legislature together again. Then +you can prepare and submit to me a proper bill, and if we can +agree upon it, I will present it to the legislature. If the +legislature passes that measure I will sign it, but if it does +not, I will let the present measure, bad as it is, become a law." +</P> + +<P> +The result of the threat was that a very good and timely act was +presented in regard to the taxation of public utilities, a measure +which largely increased municipal and State revenues. I know +of no governor in my time who would have had the originality and +the audacity to accomplish what he desired by such drastic operation. +</P> + +<P> +Roosevelt's administration was high-minded and patriotic. But by +his exercise of independent judgment and frequently by doing +things without consulting the leaders, State or local, he became +exceedingly unpopular with the organization. It was evident that +it would be very difficult to renominate him. It was also evident +that on account of his popularity with the people, if he failed +in the renomination, the party would be beaten. So it was unanimously +decided to put him on the national ticket as vice-president. +</P> + +<P> +The governor resisted this with all his passionate energy. He +liked the governorship. He thought there were many things which +he could do in another term, and he believed and so stated that +the vice-presidency was a tomb. He thought that nobody could be +resurrected when once buried in that sarcophagus. +</P> + +<P> +The national Republican convention of 1900 was a ratification +meeting. President McKinley's administration had been exceedingly +popular. The convention met practically to indorse McKinley's +public acts and renominate him for another term. The only doubtful +question was the vice-presidency. There was a general accord +of sentiment in favor of Governor Roosevelt, which was only +blocked by his persistent refusal. +</P> + +<P> +Roosevelt and I were both delegates at large, and that position +gave him greater opportunity to emphasize his disinclination. +A very intimate friend of his called upon me and begged that +I would use all my influence to prevent the colonel's nomination. +This friend said to me: "The governor's situation, officially and +personally, makes it impossible for him to go to Washington. On +the official side are his unfinished legislation and the new +legislation greatly needed by the State, which will add enormously +to his reputation and pave the way for his future. He has very +little means. As governor his salary is ample. The Executive Mansion +is free, with many contributory advantages, and the schools of +Albany admirable for the education of his six children. While in +Washington the salary of vice-president is wholly inadequate to +support the dignity of the position, and it is the end of a young +man of a most promising career." +</P> + +<P> +I knew what the friend did not know, and it was that Mr. Roosevelt +could not be governor again. I was so warmly attached to him and +so anxious for his future that I felt it was my duty to force his +nomination if possible. +</P> + +<P> +Governor Odell was chairman of the delegation for all convention +purposes, but in the distribution of honors I was made the presiding +officer at its meetings. The delegation met to consider the +vice-presidency. Several very eloquent speeches were made in +favor of Mr. Roosevelt, but in an emphatic address he declined +the nomination. He then received a unanimous vote, but again +declined. A delegate then arose and suggested that he reconsider +his determination, and several others joined most earnestly in +this request. Roosevelt was deeply affected, but, nevertheless, +firmly declined. +</P> + +<P> +I knew there was a member of the delegation who had canvassed it +to secure the honor in case Roosevelt became impossible, and that +the next motion would be the nomination of this aspirant. So I +abruptly declared the meeting adjourned. I did this in the hope +that during the night, with the pressure brought to bear upon him, +the colonel would change his mind. In the morning Mr. Roosevelt +surrendered his convictions and agreed to accept the nomination. +</P> + +<P> +In every convention there is a large number of men prominent in +their several delegations who wish to secure general attention +and publicity. As there were no disputes as to either candidate +or platform, these gentlemen all became anxious to make speeches +favoring the candidates, McKinley and Roosevelt. There were so +many of these speeches which, of course, were largely repetitions, +that the convention became wearied and impatient. The last few +were not heard at all on account of the confusion and impatience +of the delegates. While one orator was droning away, a delegation +from a Western State came over to me and said: "We in the extreme +West have never heard you speak, and won't you oblige us by +taking the platform?" +</P> + +<P> +I answered: "The audience will not stand another address." +Roosevelt, who sat right in front of me, then remarked: "Yes, they +will from you. These speeches have pretty nearly killed the ticket, +and if it keeps up, the election is over, and McKinley and I are +dead." He then seized me and almost threw me on the platform. +</P> + +<P> +The novelty of the situation, which was grasped by the delegates, +commanded attention. I recalled what Mr. Lincoln had once said +to me, defending his frequent use of anecdotes, and this is what +he said: "Plain people, take them as you find them, are more +easily influenced through the medium of a broad and humorous +illustration than in any other way." +</P> + +<P> +I had heard a new story, a rare thing, and began with the narration +of it. Alongside the chairman sat Senator Thurston. He was +a fine speaker, very ornate and highly rhetorical. He never +indulged in humor or unbent his dignity and formality. I heard +him say in a sepulchral voice to the chairman: "Great God, sir, +the dignity and solemnity of this most important and historical +occasion is to be ruined by a story." Happily the story was a +success and gave the wearied audience two opportunities to hear +my speech. Their laughter was internal relief, and it was giving +the external relief of changing their positions for new and more +restful ones. +</P> + +<P> +My friend, John M. Thurston, came to Philadelphia with a most +elaborate and excellent oration. Sitting in the audience on three +different occasions, I heard it with as much pleasure the last +time as I had the first. +</P> + +<P> +When Mr. Roosevelt as vice-president came to preside over the +Senate, it was soon evident that he would not be a success. His +talents were executive and administrative. The position of the +presiding officer of the United States Senate is at once easy and +difficult. The Senate desires impartiality, equable temper, and +knowledge of parliamentary law from its presiding officer. But it +will not submit to any attempt on the part of the presiding officer +to direct or advise it, and will instantly resent any arbitrary +ruling. Of course, Mr. Roosevelt presided only at a few meetings +before the final adjournment. When Congress met again he was +President of the United States. +</P> + +<P> +Senators and members soon found that there was a change at the +White House. No two men were ever so radically different in every +respect as McKinley and Roosevelt. Roosevelt loved to see the +people in a mass and rarely cared for private or confidential +interviews. He was most hospitable and constantly bringing visitors +to luncheon when the morning meetings in the executive offices had +closed, and he had not had a full opportunity to hear or see them. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Hanna was accustomed to have a few of his colleagues of +the Senate dine with him frequently, in order to consult on more +effective action upon pending measures. President Roosevelt, +who knew everything that was going on, often burst into Hanna's +house after dinner and with the utmost frankness submitted the +problems which had arisen at the White House, and upon which he +wished advice or, if not advice, support—more frequently support. +</P> + +<P> +Any one who attended the morning conferences, where he saw senators +and members of the House, and the public, was quite sure to be +entertained. I remember on one occasion I had been requested by +several friends of his, men of influence and prominence in New York, +to ask for the appointment of minister to a foreign government for +a journalist of some eminence. When I entered the Cabinet room +it was crowded, and the president knew that I was far from well, +so he at once called my name, asked how I was and what I wanted. +I told him that I had to leave Washington that day on the advice +of my doctor for a rest, and what I wanted was to present the name +of a gentleman for appointment as a minister, if I could see +him for five minutes. +</P> + +<P> +The president exclaimed: "We have no secrets here. Tell it +right out." I then stated the case. He asked who was behind +the applicant. I told him. Then he said, "Yes, that's all right," +to each one until I mentioned also the staff of the gentleman's +newspaper, which was one of the most prominent and powerful in +the country but a merciless critic of the president. He shouted +at once: "That settles it. Nothing which that paper wishes will +receive any consideration from me." Singularly enough, the paper +subsequently became one of his ardent advocates and supporters. +</P> + +<P> +On another occasion I was entering his private office as another +senator was coming out of the Cabinet room, which was filled. +He called out: "Senator Depew, do you know that man going out?" +I answered: "Yes, he is a colleague of mine in the Senate." +"Well," he shouted, "he is a crook." His judgment subsequently +proved correct. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Roosevelt and his wife were all their lives in the social life +of the old families of New York who were admitted leaders. They +carried to the White House the culture and conventions of what +is called the best society of the great capitals of the world. +This experience and education came to a couple who were most +democratic in their views. They loved to see people and met and +entertained every one with delightful hospitality. +</P> + +<P> +Roosevelt was a marvel of many-sidedness. Besides being an +executive as governor of a great State and administrator as +civil-service commissioner and police commissioner of New York, +he was an author of popular books and a field naturalist of rare +acquirements. He was also a wonderful athlete. I often had +occasion to see him upon urgent matters, and was summoned to his +gymnasium, where he was having a boxing match with a well-known +pugilist, and getting the better of his antagonist, or else +launching at his fencing master. The athletics would cease, to +be resumed as soon as he had in his quick and direct way disposed +of what I presented. +</P> + +<P> +Horseback riding was a favorite exercise with him, and his experience +on his Western ranch and in the army had made him one of the best +riders in the world. The foreign diplomats in Washington, with +their education that their first duty was to be in close touch with +the chief magistrate, whether czar, queen, king, or president, +found their training unequal to keeping close to President Roosevelt, +except one, and he told me with great pleasure that though a poor +rider he joined the president in his horseback morning excursions. +Sometimes, he said, when they came to a very steep, high, and +rough hill the president would shout, "Let us climb to the top," +and the diplomat would struggle over the stones, the underbrush +and gullies, and return to his horse with torn garments after +sliding down the hill. At another time, when on the banks of +the Potomac, where the waters were raging rapids the president +said, "We will go to that island in the middle of the river," and +immediately plunge in. The diplomat followed and reached the +island after wading and swimming, and with great difficulty returned +with sufficient strength to reach home. He had an attack of +pneumonia from this unusual exposure, but thereafter was the envy +and admiration of his colleagues and increased the confidence of +his own government by this intimacy with the president. +</P> + +<P> +The president's dinners and luncheons were unique because of his +universal acquaintance with literary and scientific people. There +were generally some of them present. His infectious enthusiasm +and hearty cordiality drew out the best points of each guest. +I was present at a large dinner one evening when an instance +occurred which greatly amused him. There were some forty guests. +When they were seated, the president noticed four vacant chairs. +He sent one of his aides to ascertain the trouble. The aide +discovered an elderly senator standing with his wife, and another +senator and a lady looking very disconsolate. The aged senator +refused to take out a lady as his card directed or leave his wife +to a colleague. He said to the president's aide, who told him +that dinner was waiting and what he had to do: "When I eat I eat +with my wife, or I don't eat at all." The old gentleman had his way. +</P> + +<P> +The president had one story which he told often and with much glee. +While he was on the ranch the neighbors had caught a horse thief +and hung him. They soon discovered that they had made a mistake +and hung the wrong man. The most diplomatic among the ranchers +was selected to take the body home and break the news gently to +his wife. The cowboy ambassador asked the wife: "Are you the +wife of ——?" She answered "Yes." "Well," said the ambassador, +"you are mistaken. You are his widow. I have his body in the +wagon. You need not feel bad about it, because we hung him +thinking he was the horse thief. We soon after found that he was +innocent. The joke is on us." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Roosevelt was intensely human and rarely tried to conceal +his feelings. He was to address the New York State Fair at +Syracuse. The management invited me as a United States Senator +from New York to be present. There were at least twenty thousand +on the fair ground, and Mr. Roosevelt read his speech, which he +had elaborately prepared, detailing his scheme for harmonizing +the relations between labor and capital. The speech was long and +very able and intended for publication all over the country. But +his audience, who were farmers, were not much interested in the +subject. Besides, they had been wearied wandering around the +grounds and doing the exhibits, waiting for the meeting to begin. +I know of nothing so wearisome to mind and body as to spend hours +going through the exhibits of a great fair. When the president +finished, the audience began calling for me. I was known practically +to every one of them from my long career on the platform. +</P> + +<P> +Knowing Roosevelt as I did, I was determined not to speak, but +the fair management and the audience would not be denied. I paid +the proper compliments to the president, and then, knowing that +humor was the only possible thing with such a tired crowd, I had +a rollicking good time with them. They entered into the spirit of +the fun and responded in a most uproarious way. I heard Roosevelt +turn to the president of the fair and say very angrily: "You +promised me, sir, that there would be no other speaker." +</P> + +<P> +When I met the president that evening at a large dinner given +by Senator Frank Hiscock, he greeted me with the utmost cordiality. +He was in fine form, and early in the dinner took entire charge +of the discussion. For three hours he talked most interestingly, +and no one else contributed a word. Nevertheless, we all enjoyed +the evening, and not the least the president himself. +</P> + +<P> +I used to wonder how he found time, with his great activities and +engagements, to read so much. Publishers frequently send me +new books. If I thought they would interest him I mentioned +the work to him, but invariably he had already read it. +</P> + +<P> +When my first term as senator expired and the question of my +re-election was before the legislature, President Roosevelt gave +me his most cordial and hearty support. +</P> + +<P> +Events to his credit as president, which will be monuments in +history, are extraordinary in number and importance. To mention +only a few: He placed the Monroe Doctrine before European +governments upon an impregnable basis by his defiance to the +German Kaiser, when he refused to accept arbitration and was +determined to make war on Venezuela. The president cabled: +"Admiral Dewey with the Atlantic Fleet sails to-morrow." And +the Kaiser accepted arbitration. Raissuli, the Moroccan bandit, +who had seized and held for ransom an American citizen named +Perdicaris, gave up his captive on receipt of this cable: +"Perdicaris alive or Raissuli dead." He settled the war between +Russia and Japan and won the Nobel prize for peace. +</P> + +<P> +Roosevelt built the Panama Canal when other efforts had failed +for five hundred years. As senator from his own State, I was in +constant consultation with him while he was urging legislation +necessary to secure the concession for the construction of the +canal. The difficulties to be overcome in both Houses seemed +insurmountable, and would have been so except for the marvellous +resourcefulness and power of the president. +</P> + +<P> +When the Republican convention met in 1908, I was again delegate +at large. It was a Roosevelt convention and crazy to have him +renominated. It believed that he could overcome the popular +feeling against a third term. Roosevelt did not think so. He +believed that in order to make a third term palatable there must +be an interval of another and different administration. When +the convention found that his decision was unalterably not to +accept the nomination himself, it was prepared to accept any one +he might advise. He selected his secretary of war and most +intimate friend, William Howard Taft. Taft had a delightful +personality, and won distinction upon the bench, and had proved +an admirable administrator as governor of the Philippine Islands. +After Mr. Taft's election the president, in order that the new +president and his administration might not be embarrassed by his +presence and prestige, went on a two years' trip abroad. +</P> + +<P> +During that trip he was more in the popular mind at home and +abroad than almost any one in the world. If he reviewed the German +army with the Kaiser, the press was full of the common characteristics +and differences between the two men and of the unprecedented +event of the guest giving advice to the Kaiser. +</P> + +<P> +When he visited England he told in a public speech of his experience +in Egypt, and recommended to the English Government that, if they +expected to continue to govern Egypt, to begin to govern it. +</P> + +<P> +All France was aghast and then hilarious when, in an address before +the faculties of Sorbonne, he struck at once at the weak point of +the future and power of France, and that was race suicide. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XV. UNITED STATES SENATE +</H3> + +<P> +My twelve years in the Senate were among the happiest of my life. +The Senate has long enjoyed the reputation of being the best club +in the world, but it is more than that. My old friend, +Senator Bacon, of Georgia, often said that he preferred the +position of senator to that of either President or Chief Justice +of the United States. There is independence in a term of six years +which is of enormous value to the legislative work of the senator. +The member of the House, who is compelled to go before his +district every two years, must spend most of his time looking +after his re-election. Then the Senate, being a smaller body, +the associations are very close and intimate. I do not intend +to go into discussion of the measures which occupied the attention +of the Senate during my time. They are a part of the history +of the world. The value of a work of this kind, if it has any +value, is in personal incidents. +</P> + +<P> +One of the most delightful associations of a lifetime personally +and politically, was that with Vice-President James S. Sherman. +During the twenty-two years he was in the House of Representatives +he rarely was in the City of New York without coming to see me. +He became the best parliamentarian in Congress, and was generally +called to the chair when the House met in committee of the whole. +He was intimately familiar with every political movement in +Washington, and he had a rare talent for discriminatory description, +both of events and analysis of the leading characters in the +Washington drama. He was one of the wisest of the advisers of +the organization of his party, both national and State. +</P> + +<P> +When President Roosevelt had selected Mr. Taft as his successor +he made no indication as to the vice-presidency. Of course, the +nomination of Mr. Taft under such conditions was a foregone +conclusion, and when the convention met it was practically +unanimous for Roosevelt's choice. Who was the best man to nominate +for vice-president in order to strengthen the ticket embarassed +the managers of the Taft campaign. The Republican congressmen +who were at the convention were practically unanimous for Sherman, +and their leader was Uncle Joe Cannon. We from New York found +the Taft managers discussing candidates from every doubtful State. +We finally convinced them that New York was the most important, but +they had gone so far with State candidates that it became a serious +question how to get rid of them without offending their States. +</P> + +<P> +The method adopted by one of the leading managers was both adroit +and hazardous. He would call up a candidate on the telephone and +say to him: "The friends of Mr. Taft are very favorable to you for +vice-president. Will you accept the nomination?" The candidate +would hesitate and begin to explain his ambitions, his career and +its possibilities, and the matter which he would have to consider. +Before the prospective candidate had finished, the manager would +say, "Very sorry, deeply regret," and put up the telephone. +</P> + +<P> +When the nomination was made these gentlemen who might have +succeeded would come around to the manager and say impatiently +and indignantly: "I was all right. Why did you cut me off?" +However, those gentlemen have had their compensation. Whenever you +meet one of them he will say to you: "I was offered the +vice-presidency with Taft but was so situated that I could not accept." +</P> + +<P> +One evening during the convention a wind and rain storm drove +everybody indoors. The great lobby of Congress Hall was crowded, +and most of them were delegates. Suddenly there was a loud call +for a speech, and some husky and athletic citizen seized and +lifted me on to a chair. After a story and a joke, which put the +crowd into a receptive mood, I made what was practically a +nominating speech for Sherman. The response was intense and +unanimous. When I came down from a high flight as to the ability +and popularity to the human qualities of "Sunny Jim," I found +"Sunny Jim" such a taking characterization, and it was echoed +and re-echoed. I do not claim that speech nominated Sherman, +only that nearly everybody who was present became a most vociferous +advocate for Sherman for vice-president. +</P> + +<P> +The position of vice-president is one of the most difficult in our +government. Unless the president requests his advice or assistance, +he has no public function except presiding over the Senate. No +president ever called the vice-president into his councils. +McKinley came nearest to it during his administration, with Hobart, +but did not keep it up. +</P> + +<P> +President Harding has made a precedent for the future by inviting +Vice-President Coolidge to attend all Cabinet meetings. The +vice-president has accepted and meets regularly with the Cabinet. +</P> + +<P> +Sherman had one advantage over other vice-presidents in having +been for nearly a quarter of a century a leader in Congress. Few, +if any, who ever held that office have been so popular with the +Senate and so tactful and influential when they undertook the very +difficult task of influencing the action of a Senate, very jealous +of its prerogatives and easily made resentful and hostile. +</P> + +<P> +Among my colleagues in the Senate were several remarkable men. +They had great ability, extraordinary capacity for legislation, +and, though not great orators, possessed the rare faculty of +pressing their points home in short and effective speeches. Among +them was Senator Frye, of Maine. He was for many years chairman +of the great committee on commerce. Whatever we had of a merchant +marine was largely due to his persistent efforts. He saved the +government scores of millions in that most difficult task of pruning +the River and Harbor Bill. He possessed the absolute confidence +of both parties, and was the only senator who could generally carry +the Senate with him for or against a measure. While wise and +the possessor of the largest measure of common sense, yet he was +one of the most simple-minded of men. I mean by this that he had +no guile and suspected none in others. Whatever was uppermost +in his mind came out. These characteristics made him one of the +most delightful of companions and one of the most harmonious +men to work with on a committee. +</P> + +<P> +Clement A. Griscom, the most prominent American ship owner and +director, was very fond of Senator Frye. Griscom entertained +delightfully at his country home near Philadelphia. He told me +that at one time Senator Frye was his guest over a week-end. +To meet the senator at dinner on Saturday evening, he had invited +great bankers, lawyers, and captains of industry of Philadelphia. +Their conversation ran from enterprises and combinations involving +successful industries and exploitations to individual fortunes +and how they were accumulated. The atmosphere was heavy with +millions and billions. Suddenly Griscom turned to Senator Frye +and said: "I know that our successful friends here would not only +be glad to hear but would learn much if you would tell us of your +career." "It is not much to tell," said Senator Frye, "especially +after these stories which are like chapters from the 'Arabian Nights.' +I was very successful as a young lawyer and rising to a leading +practice and head of the bar of my State when I was offered +an election to the House of Representatives. I felt that it would +be a permanent career and that there was no money in it. I +consulted my wife and told her that it meant giving up all prospects +of accumulating a fortune or independence even, but it was my +ambition, and I believed I could perform valuable service to +the public, and that as a career its general usefulness would far +surpass any success at the bar. My wife agreed with me cordially +and said that she would economize on her part to any extent required. +</P> + +<P> +"So," the senator continued, "I have been nearly thirty years in +Congress, part of this time in the House and the rest in the Senate. +I have been able on my salary to meet our modest requirements +and educate our children. I have never been in debt but once. Of +course, we had to calculate closely and set aside sufficient +to meet our extra expenses in Washington and our ordinary one +at home. We came out a little ahead every year but one. That +year the president very unexpectedly called an extra session, +and for the first time in twenty years I was in debt to our landlord +in Washington." +</P> + +<P> +Griscom told me that this simple narrative of a statesman of +national reputation seemed to make the monumental achievements +of his millionaire guests of little account. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Frye's genial personality and vivid conversation made +him a welcome guest at all entertainments in Washington. There +was a lady at the capital at that time who entertained a great deal +and was very popular on her own account, but she always began +the conversation with the gentleman who took her out by narrating +how she won her husband. I said one day to Senator Frye: "There +will be a notable gathering at So-and-So's dinner to-night. Are +you going?" He answered: "Yes, I will be there; but it has been +my lot to escort to dinner this lady"—naming her—"thirteen times +this winter. She has told me thirteen times the story of her +courtship. If it is my luck to be assigned to her to-night, and +she starts that story, I shall leave the table and the house +and go home." +</P> + +<P> +Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, was once called by Senator Quay +the schoolmaster of the Senate. As the head of the finance +committee he had commanding influence, and with his skill in +legislation and intimate knowledge of the rules he was the leader +whenever he chose to lead. This he always did when the policy +he desired or the measure he was promoting had a majority, and +the opposition resorted to obstructive tactics. As there is no +restriction on debate in the Senate, or was none at my time, the +only way the minority could defeat the majority was by talking +the bill to death. I never knew this method to be used successfully +but once, because in the trial of endurance the greater number +wins. The only successful talk against time was by Senator Carter, +of Montana. Carter was a capital debater. He was invaluable at +periods when the discussion had become very bitter and personal. +Then in his most suave way he would soothe the angry elements +and bring the Senate back to a calm consideration of the question. +When he arose on such occasions, the usual remark among those +who still kept their heads was: "Carter will now bring out his +oil can and pour oil upon the troubled waters"—and it usually +proved effective. +</P> + +<P> +Senator George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, seemed to be a revival +of what we pictured in imagination as the statesmen who framed +the Constitution of the United States, or the senators who sat +with Webster, Clay, and Calhoun. He was a man of lofty ideals +and devotion to public service. He gave to each subject on which +he spoke an elevation and dignity that lifted it out of ordinary +senatorial discussions. He had met and knew intimately most +of the historical characters in our public life for fifty years, +and was one of the most entertaining and instructive conversationalists +whom I ever met. +</P> + +<P> +On the other hand, Senator Benjamin Tillman, of South Carolina, +who was an ardent admirer of Senator Hoar, was his opposite in +every way. Tillman and I became very good friends, though at +first he was exceedingly hostile. He hated everything which +I represented. With all his roughness, and at the beginning +his brutality, he had a singular streak of sentiment. +</P> + +<P> +I addressed the first dinner of the Gridiron Club at its organization +and have been their guest many times since. The Gridiron Club +is an association of the newspaper correspondents at Washington, +and their dinners several times a year are looked forward to with +the utmost interest and enjoyed by everybody privileged to attend. +</P> + +<P> +The Gridiron Club planned an excursion to Charleston, S. C., that +city having extended to them an invitation. They invited me to +go with them and also Senator Tillman. Tillman refused to be +introduced to me because I was chairman of the board of directors +of the New York Central Railroad, and he hated my associations +and associates. We had a wonderful welcome from the most hospitable +of cities, the most beautifully located City of Charleston. On +the many excursions, luncheons, and gatherings, I was put forward +to do the speaking, which amounted to several efforts a day during +our three days' visit. The Gridiron stunt for Charleston was very +audacious. There were many speakers, of course, including +Senator Tillman, who hated Charleston and the Charlestonians, +because he regarded them as aristocrats and told them so. There +were many invited to speak who left their dinners untasted while +they devoted themselves to looking over their manuscripts, and +whose names were read in the list at the end of the dinner, but +their speeches were never called for. +</P> + +<P> +On our way home we stopped for luncheon at a place outside of +Charleston. During the luncheon an earthquake shook the table +and rattled the plates. I was called upon to make the farewell +address for the Gridiron Club to the State of South Carolina. +Of course the earthquake and its possibilities gave an opportunity +for pathos as well as humor, and Tillman was deeply affected. +When we were on the train he came to me and with great emotion +grasped my hand and said: "Chauncey Depew, I was mistaken about +you. You are a damn good fellow." And we were good friends +until he died. +</P> + +<P> +I asked Tillman to what he owed his phenomenal rise and strength +in the conservative State of South Carolina. He answered: "We +in our State were governed by a class during the colonial period +and afterwards until the end of the Civil War. They owned large +plantations, hundreds of thousands of negroes, were educated +for public life, represented our State admirably, and did great +service to the country. They were aristocrats and paid little +attention to us poor farmers, who constituted the majority of +the people. The only difference between us was that they had +been colonels or generals in the Revolutionary War, or delegates +to the Continental Congress or the Constitutional Convention, while +we had been privates, corporals, or sergeants. They generally +owned a thousand slaves, and we had from ten to thirty. I made +up my mind that we should have a share of the honors, and they +laughed at me. I organized the majority and put the old families +out of business, and we became and are the rulers of the State." +</P> + +<P> +Among the most brilliant debaters of any legislative body were +Senators Joseph W. Bailey, of Texas, and John C. Spooner, of +Wisconsin. They would have adorned and given distinction to any +legislative body in the world. Senator Albert J. Beveridge, of +Indiana, and Senator Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio, were speakers +of a very high type. The Senate still has the statesmanship, +eloquence, scholarship, vision, and culture of Senator Lodge, +of Massachusetts. +</P> + +<P> +One of the wonders of the Senate was Senator W. M. Crane, of +Massachusetts. He never made a speech. I do not remember that +he ever made a motion. Yet he was the most influential member +of that body. His wisdom, tact, sound judgment, encyclopaedic +knowledge of public affairs and of public men made him an authority. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Hanna, who was a business man pure and simple, and wholly +unfamiliar with legislative ways, developed into a speaker of +remarkable force and influence. At the same time, on the social +side, with his frequent entertainments, he did more for the measures +in which he was interested. They were mainly, of course, of a +financial and economic character. +</P> + +<P> +One of the characters of the Senate, and one of the upheavals +of the Populist movement was Senator Jeff. Davis, of Arkansas. +Davis was loudly, vociferously, and clamorously a friend of the +people. Precisely what he did to benefit the people was never +very clear, but if we must take his word for it, he was the only +friend the people had. Among his efforts to help the people was +to denounce big business of all kinds and anything which gave large +employment or had great capital. I think that in his own mind +the ideal state would have been made of small landowners and +an occasional lawyer. He himself was a lawyer. +</P> + +<P> +One day he attacked me, as I was sitting there listening to him, +in a most vicious way, as the representative of big corporations, +especially railroads, and one of the leading men in the worst +city in the world, New York, and as the associate of bankers and +capitalists. When he finished Senator Crane went over to his seat +and told him that he had made a great mistake, warned him that +he had gone so far that I might be dangerous to him personally, +but in addition to that, with my ridicule and humor, I would make +him the laughing-stock of the Senate and of the country. Jeff, +greatly alarmed, waddled over to my seat and said: "Senator Depew, +I hope you did not take seriously what I said. I did not mean +anything against you. I won't do it again, but I thought that you +would not care, because it won't hurt you, and it does help me +out in Arkansas." I replied: "Jeff, old man, if it helps you, +do it as often as you like." Needless to say, he did not repeat. +</P> + +<P> +I have always been deeply interested in the preservation of the +forests and a warm advocate of forest preservers. I made a study +of the situation of the Appalachian Mountains, where the lumberman +was doing his worst, and millions of acres of fertile soil from the +denuded hills were being swept by the floods into the ocean every +year. I made a report from my committee for the purchase of this +preserve, affecting, as it did, eight States, and supported it +in a speech. Senator Eugene Hale, a Senate leader of controlling +influence, had been generally opposed to this legislation. He +became interested, and, when I had finished my speech, came over +to me and said: "I never gave much attention to this subject. +You have convinced me and this bill should be passed at once, +and I will make the motion." Several senators from the States +affected asked for delay in order that they might deliver speeches +for local consumption. The psychological moment passed and that +legislation could not be revived until ten years afterwards, and +then in a seriously modified form. +</P> + +<P> +I worked very hard for the American mercantile marine. A subsidy +of four million dollars a year in mail contracts would have been +sufficient, in addition to the earnings of the ships, to have given +us lines to South and Central America, Australia, and Asia. +</P> + +<P> +Shakespeare's famous statement that a rose by any other name +would smell as sweet has exceptions. In the psychology of the +American mind the word subsidy is fatal to any measure. After +the most careful investigation, while I was in the Senate, I +verified this statement, that a mail subsidy of four millions +a year would give to the United States a mercantile marine which +would open new trade routes for our commerce. This contribution +would enable the ship-owners to meet the losses which made it +impossible for them to compete with the ships of other countries, +some having subsidies and all under cheaper expenses of operation. +It would not all be a contribution because part of it was a +legitimate charge for carrying the mails. The word subsidy, +however, could be relied upon to start a flood of fiery oratory, +charging that the people of the United States were to be taxed +to pour money into the pockets of speculators in New York and +financial crooks in Wall Street. +</P> + +<P> +We have now created a mercantile marine through the Shipping Board +which is the wonder and amazement of the world. It has cost about +five hundred millions. Part of it is junk already, and a part +available is run at immense loss, owing to discriminatory laws. +Recently a bill was presented to Congress for something like sixty +millions of dollars to make up the losses in the operations of our +mercantile marine for the year. While a subsidy of four millions +under private management would have been a success but was vetoed +as a crime, the sixty millions are hailed as a patriotic contribution +to public necessity. +</P> + +<P> +A river and harbor bill of from thirty to fifty millions of dollars +was eagerly anticipated and enthusiastically supported. It was +known to be a give and take, a swap and exchange, where a few +indispensable improvements had to carry a large number of dredgings +of streams, creeks, and bayous, which never could be made navigable. +Many millions a year were thrown away in these river and harbor +bills, but four millions a year to restore the American mercantile +marine aroused a flood of indignant eloquence, fierce protest, +and wild denunciation of capitalists, who would build and own +ships, and it was always fatal to the mercantile marine. +</P> + +<P> +Happily the war has, among its benefits, demonstrated to the +interior and mountain States that a merchant marine is as necessary +to the United States as its navy, and that we cannot hope to expand +and retain our trade unless we have the ships. +</P> + +<P> +I remember one year when the river and harbor bill came up for +passage on the day before final adjournment. The hour had been +fixed by both Houses, and, therefore, could not be extended by +one House. The administration was afraid of the bill because of +the many indefensible extravagances there were in it. At the +same time, it had so many political possibilities that the president +was afraid to veto it. Senator Carter was always a loyal +administration man, and so he was put forward to talk the bill +to death. He kept it up without yielding the floor for thirteen +hours, and until the hour of adjournment made action upon the +measure impossible. +</P> + +<P> +I sat there all night long, watching this remarkable effort. The +usual obstructor soon uses up all his own material and then sends +pages of irrelevant matter to the desk for the clerk to read, or +he reads himself from the pages of the Record, or from books, +but Carter stuck to his text. He was a man of wit and humor. +Many items in the river and harbor bill furnished him with an +opportunity of showing how creeks and trout streams were to be +turned by the magic of the money of the Treasury into navigable +rivers, and inaccessible ponds were to be dredged into harbors +to float the navies of the world. +</P> + +<P> +The speech was very rich in anecdotes and delightful in its success +by an adroit attack of tempting a supporter of the measure into +aiding the filibuster by indignantly denying the charge which +Carter had made against him. By this method Carter would get +a rest by the folly of his opponent. The Senate was full and +the galleries were crowded during the whole night, and when the +gavel of the vice-president announced that no further debate was +admissible and the time for adjournment had arrived, and began +to make his farewell speech, Carter took his seat amidst the wreck +of millions and the hopes of the exploiters, and the Treasury +of the United States had been saved by an unexpected champion. +</P> + +<P> +The country does not appreciate the tremendous power of the +committees, as legislative business constantly increases with +almost geometrical progression. The legislation of the country +is handled almost entirely in committees. It requires a possible +revolution to overcome the hostility of a committee, even if the +House and the country are otherwise minded. Some men whose names +do not appear at all in the Congressional Record, and seldom in +the newspapers, have a certain talent for drudgery and detail +which is very rare, and when added to shrewdness and knowledge +of human nature makes such a senator or representative a force +to be reckoned with on committees. Such a man is able to hold +up almost anything. +</P> + +<P> +I found during my Washington life the enormous importance of its +social side. Here are several hundred men in the two Houses of +Congress, far above the average in intelligence, force of character, +and ability to accomplish things. Otherwise they would not have +been elected. They are very isolated and enjoy far beyond those +who have the opportunity of club life, social attentions. At dinner +the real character of the guest comes out, and he is most responsive +to these attentions. Mrs. Depew and I gave a great many dinners, +to our intense enjoyment and, I might say, education. By this +method I learned to know in a way more intimate than otherwise +would have been possible many of the most interesting characters +I have ever met. +</P> + +<P> +Something must be done, and that speedily, to bridge the widening +chasm between the Executive and the Congress. Our experience +with President Wilson has demonstrated this. As a self-centred +autocrat, confident of himself and suspicious of others, hostile to +advice or discussion, he became the absolute master of the Congress +while his party was in the majority. +</P> + +<P> +The Congress, instead of being a co-ordinate branch, was really +in session only to accept, adopt, and put into laws the imperious +will of the president. When, however, the majority changed, there +being no confidence between the executive and the legislative +branch of the government, the necessary procedure was almost +paralyzed. The president was unyielding and the Congress insisted +upon the recognition of its constitutional rights. Even if the +president is, as McKinley was, in close and frequent touch with +the Senate and the House of Representatives, the relation is +temporary and unequal, and not what it ought to be, automatic. +</P> + +<P> +Happily we have started a budget system; but the Cabinet should +have seats on the floor of the Houses, and authority to answer +questions and participate in debates. Unless our system was +radically changed, we could not adopt the English plan of selecting +the members of the Cabinet entirely from the Senate and the House. +But we could have an administration always in close touch with +the Congress if the Cabinet members were in attendance when matters +affecting their several departments were under discussion and action. +</P> + +<P> +I heard Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, who was one of the shrewdest and +ablest legislators of our generation, say that if business methods +were applied to the business of the government in a way in which +he could do it, there would be a saving of three hundred millions +of dollars a year. We are, since the Great War, facing +appropriations of five or six billions of dollars a year. I think +the saving of three hundred millions suggested by Senator Aldrich +could be increased in proportion to the vast increase in appropriations. +</P> + +<P> +There has been much discussion about restricting unlimited debates +in the Senate and adopting a rigid closure rule. My own recollection +is that during my twelve years unlimited discussion defeated no +good measure, but talked many bad ones to death. There is a curious +feature in legislative discussion, and that is the way in which +senators who have accustomed themselves to speak every day on +each question apparently increase their vocabulary as their ideas +evaporate. Two senators in my time, who could be relied upon +to talk smoothly as the placid waters of a running brook for an +hour or more every day, had the singular faculty of apparently +saying much of importance while really developing no ideas. +In order to understand them, while the Senate would become empty +by its members going to their committee rooms, I would be a patient +listener. I finally gave that up because, though endowed with +reasonable intelligence and an intense desire for knowledge, +I never could grasp what they were driving at. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XVI. AMBASSADORS AND MINISTERS +</H3> + +<P> +The United States has always been admirably represented at the +Court of St. James. I consider it as a rare privilege and a +delightful memory that I have known well these distinguished +ambassadors and ministers who served during my time. I was not +in England while Charles Francis Adams was a minister, but his +work during the Civil War created intense interest in America. +It is admitted that he prevented Great Britain from taking such +action as would have prolonged the war and endangered the purpose +which Mr. Lincoln was trying to accomplish, namely, the preservation +of the Union. His curt answer to Lord John Russell, "This means +war," changed the policy of the British Government. +</P> + +<P> +James Russell Lowell met every requirement of the position, but, +more than that, his works had been read and admired in England +before his appointment. Literary England welcomed him with open +arms, and official England soon became impressed with his diplomatic +ability. He was one of the finest after-dinner speakers, and that +brought him in contact with the best of English public life. He +told me an amusing instance. As soon as he was appointed, everybody +who expected to meet him sent to the book stores and purchased +his works. Among them, of course, was the "Biglow Papers." One +lady asked him if he had brought Mrs. Biglow with him. +</P> + +<P> +The secretary of the embassy, William J. Hoppin, was a very +accomplished gentleman. He had been president of the Union +League Club, and I knew him very well. I called one day at +the embassy with an American living in Europe to ask for a favor +for this fellow countryman. The embassy was overwhelmed with +Americans asking favors, so Hoppin, without looking at me or +waiting for the request, at once brought out his formula for sliding +his visitors on an inclined plane into the street. He said: "Every +American—and there are thousands of them—who comes to London +visits the embassy. They all want to be invited to Buckingham +Palace or to have cards to the House of Lords or the House of +Commons. Our privileges in that respect are very few, so few that +we can satisfy hardly anybody. Why Americans, when there is so +much to see in this old country from which our ancestry came, and +with whose literature we are so familiar, should want to try to get +into Buckingham Palace or the Houses of Parliament is incomprehensible. +There is a very admirable cattle show at Reading. I have a few +tickets and will give them to you, gentlemen, gladly. You will +find the show exceedingly interesting." +</P> + +<P> +I took the tickets, but if there is anything of which I am not a +qualified judge, it is prize cattle. That night, at a large dinner +given by a well-known English host, my friend Hoppin was present, +and at once greeted me with warm cordiality. Of course, he had +no recollections of the morning meeting. Our host, as usual when +a new American is present, wanted to know if I had any fresh +American stories, and I told with some exaggeration and embroidery +the story of the Reading cattle show. Dear old Hoppin was +considerably embarrassed at the chafing he received, but took it +in good part, and thereafter the embassy was entirely at my service. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Edward J. Phelps was an extraordinary success. He was a great +lawyer, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the +United States told me that there was no one who appeared before +that Court whose arguments were more satisfactory and convincing +than those of Mr. Phelps. He had the rare distinction of being a +frequent guest at the Benchers' dinners in London. One of the +English judges told me that at a Benchers' dinner the judges were +discussing a novel point which had arisen in one of the cases +recently before them. He said that in the discussion in which +Mr. Phelps was asked to participate, the view which the United States +minister presented was so forcible that the decision, which had +been practically agreed upon, was changed to meet Mr. Phelps's +view. I was at several of Mr. Phelps's dinners. They were +remarkable gatherings of the best in almost every department of +English life. +</P> + +<P> +At one of his dinners I had a delightful talk with Browning, +the poet. Browning told me that as a young man he was several +times a guest at the famous breakfasts of the poet and banker, +Samuel Rogers. Rogers, he said, was most arbitrary at these +breakfasts with his guests, and rebuked him severely for venturing +beyond the limits within which he thought a young poet should +be confined. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Browning said that nothing gratified him so much as the +popularity of his works in the United States. He was especially +pleased and also embarrassed by our Browning societies, of which +there seemed to be a great many over here. They sent him papers +which were read by members of the societies, interpreting his poems. +These American friends discovered meanings which had never occurred +to him, and were to him an entirely novel view of his own +productions. He also mentioned that every one sent him presents +and souvenirs, all of them as appreciations and some as suggestions +and help. Among these were several cases of American wine. He +appreciated the purpose of the gifts, but the fluid did not +appeal to him. +</P> + +<P> +He told me he was a guest at one time at the dinners given to +the Shah of Persia. This monarch was a barbarian, but the +British Foreign Office had asked and extended to him every possible +courtesy, because of the struggle then going on as to whether +Great Britain or France or Russia should have the better part of +Persia. France and Russia had entertained him with lavish +military displays and other governmental functions, which a +democratic country like Great Britain could not duplicate. So +the Foreign Office asked all who had great houses in London or +in the country, and were lavish entertainers, to do everything they +could for the Shah. +</P> + +<P> +Browning was present at a great dinner given for the Shah at +Stafford House, the home of the Duke of Sutherland, and the finest +palace in London. Every guest was asked, in order to impress +the Shah, to come in all the decorations to which they were entitled. +The result was that the peers came in their robes, which they +otherwise would not have thought of wearing on such an occasion, +and all others in the costumes of honor significant of their rank. +Browning said he had received a degree at Oxford and that entitled +him to a scarlet cloak. He was so outranked, because the guests +were placed according to rank, that he sat at the foot of the +table. The Shah said to his host: "Who is that distinguished +gentleman in the scarlet cloak at the other end of the table?" +The host answered: "That is one of our greatest poets." "That +is no place for a poet," remarked the Shah; "bring him up here +and let him sit next to me." So at the royal command the poet +took the seat of honor. The Shah said to Browning: "I am mighty +glad to have you near me, for I am a poet myself." +</P> + +<P> +It was at this dinner that Browning heard the Shah say to the +Prince of Wales, who sat at the right of the Shah: "This is a +wonderful palace. Is it royal?" The Prince answered: "No, it +belongs to one of our great noblemen, the Duke of Sutherland." +"Well," said the Shah, "let me give you a point. When one of my +noblemen or subjects gets rich enough to own a palace like this, +I cut off his head and take his fortune." +</P> + +<P> +A very beautiful English lady told me that she was at +Ferdinand Rothschild's, where the Shah was being entertained. +In order to minimize his acquisitive talents, the wonderful treasures +of Mr. Rothschild's house had been hidden. The Shah asked for +an introduction to this lady and said to her: "You are the most +beautiful woman I have seen since I have been in England. I must +take you home with me." "But," she said, "Your Majesty, I am +married." "Well," he replied, "bring your husband along. When +we get to Teheran, my capital, I will take care of him." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Phelps's talent as a speaker was quite unknown to his countrymen +before he went abroad. While he was a minister he made several +notable addresses, which aroused a great deal of interest and +admiration in Great Britain. He was equally happy in formal +orations and in the field of after-dinner speeches. Mrs. Phelps +had such a phenomenal success socially that, when her husband +was recalled and they left England, the ladies of both the great +parties united, and through Lady Rosebery, the leader of the +Liberal, and Lady Salisbury, of the Conservative, women, paid her +a very unusual and complimentary tribute. +</P> + +<P> +During John Hay's term as United States minister to Great Britain +my visits to England were very delightful. Hay was one of the +most charming men in public life of his period. He had won great +success in journalism, as an author, and in public service. At +his house in London one would meet almost everybody worth while +in English literary, public, and social life. +</P> + +<P> +In the hours of conversation with him, when I was posting him on +the latest developments in America, his comments upon the leading +characters of the time were most racy and witty. Many of them +would have embalmed a statesman, if the epigram had been preserved, +like a fly in amber. He had officially a very difficult task +during the Spanish War. The sympathies of all European governments +were with Spain. This was especially true of the Kaiser and the +German Government. It was Mr. Hay's task to keep Great Britain +neutral and prevent her joining the general alliance to help Spain, +which some of the continental governments were fomenting. +</P> + +<P> +Happily, Mr. Balfour, the British foreign minister, was cordially +and openly our friend. He prevented this combination against +the United States. +</P> + +<P> +During part of my term as a senator John Hay was secretary of state. +To visit his office and have a discussion on current affairs was +an event to be remembered. He made a prediction, which was the +result of his own difficulties with the Senate, that on account of +the two-thirds majority necessary for the ratification of a treaty, +no important treaty sent to the Senate by the president would ever +again be ratified. Happily this gloomy view has not turned out +to be entirely correct. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Hay saved China, in the settlement of the indemnities arising +out of the Boxer trouble, from the greed of the great powers of +Europe. One of his greatest achievements was in proclaiming the +open door for China and securing the acquiescence of the great +powers. It was a bluff on his part, because he never could have +had the active support of the United States, but he made his +proposition with a confidence which carried the belief that he +had no doubt on that subject. He was fortunately dealing with +governments who did not understand the United States and do not +now. With them, when a foreign minister makes a serious statement +of policy, it is understood that he has behind him the whole +military, naval, and financial support of his government. But with +us it is a long road and a very rocky one, before action so serious, +with consequences so great, can receive the approval of the +war-making power in Congress. +</P> + +<P> +I called on Hay one morning just as Cassini, the Russian ambassador, +was leaving. Cassini was one of the shrewdest and ablest of +diplomats in the Russian service. It was said that for twelve +years he had got the better of all the delegations at Pekin and +controlled that extraordinary ruler of China, the dowager queen. +Cassini told me that from his intimate associations with her he +had formed the opinion that she was quite equal to Catherine of +Russia, whom he regarded as the greatest woman sovereign who +ever lived. +</P> + +<P> +Hay said to me: "I have just had a very long and very remarkable +discussion with Cassini. He is a revelation in the way of secret +diplomacy. He brought to me the voluminous instructions to him +of his government on our open-door policy. After we had gone +over them carefully, he closed his portfolio and, pushing it aside, +said: 'Now, Mr. Secretary, listen to Cassini.' He immediately +presented an exactly opposite policy from the one in the +instructions, and a policy entirely favorable to us, and said: +'That is what my government will do.'" It was a great loss to +Russian diplomacy when he died so early. +</P> + +<P> +As senator I did all in my power to bring about the appointment +of Whitelaw Reid as ambassador to Great Britain. He and I had +been friends ever since his beginning in journalism in New York +many years before. Reid was then the owner and editor of the +New York Tribune, and one of the most brilliant journalists in the +country. He was also an excellent public speaker. His long and +intimate contact with public affairs and intimacy with public men +ideally fitted him for the appointment. He had already served +with great credit as ambassador to France. +</P> + +<P> +The compensation of our representatives abroad always has been +and still is entirely inadequate to enable them to maintain, in +comparison with the representatives of other governments, the +dignity of their own country. All the other great powers at +the principal capitals maintain fine residences for their ambassadors, +which also is the embassy. Our Congress, except within the last +few years, has always refused to make this provision. The salary +which we pay is scarcely ever more than one-third the amount paid +by European governments in similar service. +</P> + +<P> +I worked hard while in the Senate to improve this situation because +of my intimate knowledge of the question. When I first began +the effort I found there was very strong belief that the whole +foreign service was an unnecessary expense. When Mr. Roosevelt +first became president, and I had to see him frequently about +diplomatic appointments, I learned that this was his view. He said +to me: "This foreign business of the government, now that the +cable is perfected, can be carried on between our State Department +and the chancellery of any government in the world. Nevertheless, +I am in favor of keeping up the diplomatic service. All the old +nations have various methods of rewarding distinguished public +servants. The only one we have is the diplomatic service. So when +I appoint a man ambassador or minister, I believe that I am giving +him a decoration, and the reason I change ambassadors and ministers +is that I want as many as possible to possess it." +</P> + +<P> +The longer Mr. Roosevelt remained president, and the closer he +came to our foreign relations, the more he appreciated the value +of the personal contact and intimate knowledge on the spot of +an American ambassador or minister. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Reid entertained more lavishly and hospitably than any +ambassador in England ever had, both at his London house and at +his estate in the country. He appreciated the growing necessity +to the peace of the world and the progress of civilization of +closer union of English-speaking peoples. At his beautiful and +delightful entertainments Americans came in contact with Englishmen +under conditions most favorable for the appreciation by each of +the other. The charm of Mr. and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid's hospitality +was so genuine, so cordial, and so universal, that to be their +guest was an event for Americans visiting England. There is no +capital in the world where hospitality counts for so much as in +London, and no country where the house-party brings people together +under such favorable conditions. Both the city and the country +homes of Mr. and Mrs. Reid were universities of international +good-feeling. Mr. Reid, on the official side, admirably represented +his country and had the most intimate relations with the governing +powers of Great Britain. +</P> + +<P> +I recall with the keenest pleasure how much my old friend, +Joseph H. Choate, did to make each one of my visits to London +during his term full of the most charming and valuable recollections. +His dinners felt the magnetism of his presence, and he showed +especial skill in having, to meet his American guests, just the +famous men in London life whom the American desired to know. +</P> + +<P> +Choate was a fine conversationalist, a wit and a humorist of +a high order. His audacity won great triumphs, but if exercised +by a man less endowed would have brought him continuously into +trouble. He had the faculty, the art, of so directing conversation +that at his entertainments everybody had a good time, and an +invitation always was highly prized. He was appreciated most +highly by the English bench and bar. They recognized him as the +leader of his profession in the United States. They elected him +a Bencher of the Middle Temple, the first American to receive that +honor after an interval of one hundred and fifty years. Choate's +witticisms and repartees became the social currency of dinner-tables +in London and week-end parties in the country. +</P> + +<P> +Choate paid little attention to conventionalities, which count for +so much and are so rigidly enforced, especially in royal circles. +I had frequently been at receptions, garden-parties, and other +entertainments at Buckingham Palace in the time of Queen Victoria +and also of King Edward. At an evening reception the diplomats +representing all the countries in the world stand in a solemn row, +according to rank and length of service. They are covered with +decorations and gold lace. The weight of the gold lace on some +of the uniforms of the minor powers is as great as if it were a +coat of armor. Mr. Choate, under regulations of our diplomatic +service, could only appear in an ordinary dress suit. +</P> + +<P> +While the diplomats stand in solemn array, the king and queen +go along the line and greet each one with appropriate remarks. +Nobody but an ambassador and minister gets into that brilliant +circle. On one occasion Mr. Choate saw me standing with the other +guests outside the charmed circle and immediately left the diplomats, +came to me, and said: "I am sure you would like to have a talk +with the queen." He went up to Her Majesty, stated the case and +who I was, and the proposition was most graciously received. +I think the royalties were pleased to have a break in the formal +etiquette. Mr. Choate treated the occasion, so far as I was +concerned, as if it had been a reception in New York or Salem, +and a distinguished guest wanted to meet the hosts. The gold-laced +and bejewelled and highly decorated diplomatic circle was paralyzed. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Choate's delightful personality and original conversational +powers made him a favorite guest everywhere, but he also carried +to the platform the distinction which had won for him the reputation +of being one of the finest orators in the United States. +</P> + +<P> +Choate asked at one time when I was almost nightly making speeches +at some entertainment: "How do you do it?" I told him I was +risking whatever reputation I had on account of very limited +preparation, that I did not let these speeches interfere at all +with my business, but that they were all prepared after I had +arrived home from my office late in the afternoon. Sometimes +they came easy, and I reached the dinner in time; at other times +they were more difficult, and I did not arrive till the speaking +had begun. Then he said: "I enjoy making these after-dinner +addresses more than any other work. It is a perfect delight for +me to speak to such an audience, but I have not the gift of quick +and easy preparation. I accept comparatively few of the constant +invitations I receive, because when I have to make such a speech +I take a corner in the car in the morning going to my office, +exclude all the intruding public with a newspaper and think all +the way down. I continue the same process on my way home in +the evening, and it takes about three days of this absorption and +exclusiveness, with some time in the evenings, to get an address +with which I am satisfied." +</P> + +<P> +The delicious humor of these efforts of Mr. Choate and the wonderful +way in which he could expose a current delusion, or what he thought +was one, and produce an impression not only on his audience but +on the whole community, when his speech was printed in the +newspapers, was a kind of effort which necessarily required +preparation. In all the many times I heard him, both at home and +abroad, he never had a failure and sometimes made a sensation. +</P> + +<P> +Among the many interesting characters whom I met on shipboard +was Emory Storrs, a famous Chicago lawyer. Storrs was a genius +of rare talent as an advocator. He also on occasions would make +a most successful speech, but his efforts were unequal. At one +session of the National Bar Association he carried off all honors +at their banquet. Of course, they wanted him the next year, but +then he failed entirely to meet their expectations.. Storrs was +one of the most successful advocates at the criminal bar, especially +in murder cases. He rarely failed to get an acquittal for his +client. He told me many interesting stories of his experiences. +He had a wide circuit, owing to his reputation, and tried cases +far distant from home. +</P> + +<P> +I remember one of his experiences in an out-of-the-way county of +Arkansas. The hotel where they all stopped was very primitive, +and he had the same table with the judge. The most attractive +offer for breakfast by the landlady was buckwheat-cakes. She +appeared with a jug of molasses and said to the judge: "Will you +have a trickle or a dab?" The judge answered: "A dab." She then +ran her fingers around the jug and slapped a huge amount of molasses +on the judge's cakes. Storrs said: "I think I prefer a trickle." +Whereupon she dipped her fingers again in the jug and let the +drops fall from them on Storrs's cakes. The landlady was +disappointed because her cakes were unpopular with such +distinguished gentlemen. +</P> + +<P> +Once Storrs was going abroad on the same ship with me on a sort +of semi-diplomatic mission. He was deeply read in English literature +and, as far as a stranger could be, familiar with the places made +famous in English and foreign classics. +</P> + +<P> +He was one of the factors, as chairman of the Illinois delegation, +of the conditions which made possible the nomination of Garfield +and Arthur. In the following presidential campaign he took an +active and very useful part. Then he brought all the influences +that he could use, and they were many, to bear upon President Arthur +to make him attorney-general. Arthur was a strict formalist and +could not tolerate the thought of having such an eccentric genius +in his Cabinet. Storrs was not only disappointed but hurt that +Arthur declined to appoint him. +</P> + +<P> +To make him happy his rich clients—and he had many of them—raised +a handsome purse and urged him to make a European trip. Then +the president added to the pleasure of his journey by giving him +an appointment as a sort of roving diplomat, with special duties +relating to the acute trouble then existing in regard to the +admission of American cattle into Great Britain. They were barred +because of a supposed infectious disease. +</P> + +<P> +Storrs's weakness was neckties. He told me that he had three +hundred and sixty-five, a new one for every day. He would come +on deck every morning, display his fresh necktie, and receive +a compliment upon its color and appropriateness, and then take +from his pocket a huge water-proof envelope. From this he would +unroll his parchment appointment as a diplomat, and the letters +he had to almost every one of distinction in Europe. On the last +day, going through the same ceremony, he said to me: "I am not +showing you these things out of vanity, but to impress upon you +the one thing I most want to accomplish in London. I desire to +compel James Russell Lowell, our minister, to give me a dinner." +</P> + +<P> +Probably no man in the world could be selected so antipathetic +to Lowell as Emory Storrs. Mr. Lowell told me that he was annoyed +that the president should have sent an interloper to meddle with +negotiations which he had in successful progress to a satisfactory +conclusion. So he invited Storrs to dinner, and then Storrs took +no further interest in his diplomatic mission. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Lowell told me that he asked Storrs to name whoever he wanted +to invite. He supposed from his general analysis of the man that +Storrs would want the entire royal family. He was delighted to +find that the selection was confined entirely to authors, artists, +and scientists. +</P> + +<P> +On my return trip Mr. Storrs was again a fellow passenger. He +was very enthusiastic over the places of historic interest he had +visited, and eloquent and graphic in descriptions of them and of +his own intense feelings when he came in contact with things he +had dreamed of most of his life. +</P> + +<P> +"But," he said, "I will tell you of my greatest adventure. I was +in the picture-gallery at Dresden, and in that small room where +hangs Raphael's 'Madonna.' I was standing before this wonderful +masterpiece of divine inspiration when I felt the room crowded. +I discovered that the visitors were all Americans and all looking +at me. I said to them: 'Ladies and gentlemen, you are here in +the presence of the most wonderful picture ever painted. If you +study it, you can see that there is little doubt but with all his +genius Raphael in this work had inspiration from above, and yet +you, as Americans, instead of availing yourselves of the rarest +of opportunities, have your eyes bent on me. I am only a Chicago +lawyer wearing a Chicago-made suit of clothes.' +</P> + +<P> +"A gentleman stepped forward and said: 'Mr. Storrs, on behalf +of your countrymen and countrywomen present, I wish to say that +you are of more interest to us than all the works of Raphael put +together, because we understand that James Russell Lowell, +United States Minister to Great Britain, gave you a dinner.'" +</P> + +<P> +One other incident in my acquaintance with Mr. Storrs was original. +I heard the story of it both from him and Lord Coleridge, and they +did not differ materially. Lord Coleridge, Chief Justice of England, +was a most welcome visitor when he came to the United States. +He received invitations from the State Bar Associations everywhere +to accept their hospitality. I conducted him on part of his trip +and found him one of the most able and delightful of men. He was +a very fine speaker, more in our way than the English, and made +a first-class impression upon all the audiences he addressed. +</P> + +<P> +At Chicago Lord Coleridge was entertained by the Bar Association +of the State of Illinois. Storrs, who was an eminent member of +the bar of that State, came to him and said: "Now, Lord Coleridge, +you have been entertained by the Bar Association. I want you +to know the real men of the West, the captains of industry who +have created this city, built our railroads, and made the Great West +what it is." Coleridge replied that he did not want to go outside +bar associations, and he could not think of making another speech +in Chicago. Storrs assured him it would be purely a private affair +and no speeches permitted. +</P> + +<P> +The dinner was very late, but when they sat down Lord Coleridge +noticed a distinguished-looking gentleman, instead of eating his +dinner, correcting a manuscript. He said: "Mr. Storrs, I understood +there was to be no speaking." "Well," said Storrs, "you can't get +Americans together unless some one takes the floor. That man +with the manuscript is General and Senator John A. Logan, one of +our most distinguished citizens." Just then a reporter came up +to Storrs and said: "Mr. Storrs, we have the slips of your speech +in our office, and it is now set up with the laughter and applause +in their proper places. The editor sent me up to see if you wanted +to add anything." Of course Lord Coleridge was in for it and had +to make another speech. +</P> + +<P> +The cause of the lateness of the dinner is the most original +incident that I know of in historic banquets. Storrs received +great fees and had a large income, but was very careless about +his business matters. One of his creditors obtained a judgment +against him. The lawyer for this creditor was a guest at this +dinner and asked the landlord of the hotel if the dinner had been +paid for in advance. The landlord answered in the affirmative, +and so the lawyer telephoned to the sheriff, and had the dinner +levied upon. The sheriff refused to allow it to be served until +the judgment was satisfied. There were at least a hundred millions +of dollars represented among the guests, packers, elevator men, +real-estate operators, and grain operators, but millionaires +and multimillionaires in dress suits at a banquet never have any +money on their persons. So it was an hour or more before the +sheriff was satisfied. Lord Coleridge was intensely amused and +related the adventure with great glee. +</P> + +<P> +Several years afterwards Lord Coleridge had some difficulty in +his family which came into the courts of England. I do not remember +just what it was all about, but Storrs, in reading the gossip which +came across the cable, decided against the chief justice. +Lord Coleridge told me he received from Storrs a cable reading +something like this: "I have seen in our papers about your attitude +in the suit now pending. I therefore inform you that as far as +possible I withdraw the courtesies which I extended to you in +Chicago." In this unique way Storrs cancelled the dinner which +was given and seized by the sheriff years ago. +</P> + +<P> +I met Storrs many times, and he was always not only charming but +fascinating. He was very witty, full of anecdotes, and told a +story with dramatic effect. Except for his eccentricities he might +have taken the highest place in his profession. As it was, he +acquired such fame that an admirer has written a very good +biography of him. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XVII. GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK STATE +</H3> + +<P> +There is nothing more interesting than to see the beginning of a +controversy which makes history. It is my good fortune to have +been either a spectator or a participant on several occasions. +</P> + +<P> +William M. Tweed was at the height of his power. He was the master +of New York City, and controlled the legislature of the State. +The rapid growth and expansion of New York City had necessitated +a new charter, or very radical improvements in the existing one. +Tweed, as chairman of the Senate committee on cities, had staged +a large and spectacular hearing at the State Capitol at Albany. +It was attended by a large body of representative citizens from +the metropolis. Some spoke for civic and commercial bodies, and +there were also other prominent men who were interested. Everybody +interested in public affairs in Albany at the time attended. Not +only was there a large gathering of legislators, but there were +also in the audience judges, lawyers, and politicians from all +parts of the State. +</P> + +<P> +After hearing from the Chamber of Commerce and various reform +organizations, Mr. Samuel J. Tilden came forward with a complete +charter. It was soon evident that he was better prepared and +informed on the subject than any one present. He knew intimately +the weaknesses of the present charter, and had thought out with +great care and wisdom what was needed in new legislation. +</P> + +<P> +From the contemptuous way in which Senator Tweed treated Mr. Tilden, +scouted his plans, and ridiculed his propositions, it was evident +that the whole scheme had been staged as a State-wide spectacle +to humiliate and end the political career of Samuel J. Tilden. +</P> + +<P> +In answer to Tilden's protest against this treatment, Tweed loudly +informed him that he represented no one but himself, that he had +neither influence nor standing in the city, that he was an +intermeddler with things that did not concern him, and a +general nuisance. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Tilden turned ashy white, and showed evidences of suppressed +rage and vindictiveness more intense than I ever saw in any one +before, and abruptly left the hearing. +</P> + +<P> +I knew Mr. Tilden very well, and from contact with him in railroad +matters had formed a high opinion of his ability and acquirements. +He had a keen, analytic mind, tireless industry, and a faculty +for clarifying difficulties and untangling apparently impossible +problems to a degree that amounted to genius. +</P> + +<P> +In reference to what had happened, I said to a friend: "Mr. Tweed +must be very confident of his position and of his record, for he +has deliberately defied and invited the attacks of a relentless +and merciless opponent by every insult which could wound the +pride and incite the hatred of the man so ridiculed and abused. +Mr. Tilden is a great lawyer. He has made a phenomenal success +financially, he has powerful associates in financial and business +circles, and is master of his time for any purpose to which he +chooses to apply it." +</P> + +<P> +It was not long before one of the most remarkable and exhaustive +investigations ever conducted by an individual into public records, +books, ledgers, bank-accounts, and contracts, revealed to the +public the whole system of governing the city. This master mind +solved the problems so that they were plain to the average citizen +as the simplest sum in arithmetic, or that two and two make four. +</P> + +<P> +The result was the destruction of the power of Tweed and his +associates, of their prosecution and conviction, and of the +elevation of Samuel J. Tilden to a State and national figure of +the first importance. He not only became in the public mind a +leader of reforms in government, municipal, State, and national, +but embodied in the popular imagination REFORM ITSELF. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Tilden carried this same indefatigable industry and power +of organization into a canvass for governor. His agencies reached +not only the counties and towns, but the election districts of the +State. He called into existence a new power in politics—the young +men. The old leaders were generally against him, but he discovered +in every locality ambitious, resourceful, and courageous youngsters +and made them his lieutenants. This unparalleled preparation made +him the master of his party and the governor of the State. +</P> + +<P> +After the election he invited me to come and see him at the +Executive Mansion in Albany, and in the course of the conversation +he said: "In your speeches in the campaign against me you were +absolutely fair, and as a fair and open-minded opponent I want to +have a frank talk. I am governor of the State, elected upon an +issue which is purely local. The Democratic party is at present +without principles or any definite issue on which to appeal to +the public. If I am to continue in power we must find an issue. +The Erie Canal is not only a State affair, but a national one. +Its early construction opened the great Northwest, and it was for +years the only outlet to the seaboard. The public not only in +the State of New York, but in the West, believes that there has +been, and is, corruption in the construction and management of +the Canal. This great waterway requires continuing contracts for +continuing repairs, and the people believe that these contracts +are given to favorites, and that the work is either not performed +at all or is badly done. I believe that matter ought to be looked +into and the result will largely justify the suspicion prevalent +in the public mind. I want your judgment on the question and +what will be the effect upon me." +</P> + +<P> +I then frankly answered him: "Governor, there is no doubt it will +be a popular movement, but you know that the Canal contractors +control the machinery of your party, and I cannot tell what the +effect of that may be upon what you desire, which is a second term." +</P> + +<P> +"Those contractors," he said, "are good Democrats, and their +ability to secure the contracts depends upon Democratic supremacy. +A prosecution against them has been tried so often that they have +little fear of either civil or criminal actions, and I think they +will accept the issue as the only one which will keep their party +in power." +</P> + +<P> +It is a part of the history of the time that he made the issue so +interesting that he became a national figure of the first importance +and afterwards the candidate of his party for President of the +United States. Not only that, but he so impressed the people +that popular judgment is still divided as to whether or not he was +rightfully elected president. +</P> + +<P> +Once I was coming from the West after a tour of inspection, and +when we left Albany the conductor told me that Governor Tilden +was on the train. I immediately called and found him very +uncomfortable, because he said he was troubled with boils. I +invited him into the larger compartment which I had, and made +him as comfortable as possible. His conversation immediately +turned upon the second term and he asked what I, as a Republican, +thought of his prospects as the result of his administration. We +had hardly entered upon the subject when a very excited gentleman +burst into the compartment and said: "Governor, I have been +looking for you everywhere. I went to your office at the Capitol +and to the Executive Mansion, but learned you were here and barely +caught the train. You know who I am." (The governor knew he +was mayor of a city.) "I want to see you confidentially." +</P> + +<P> +The governor said to him: "I have entire confidence in my +Republican friend here. You can trust him. Go on." +</P> + +<P> +I knew the mayor very well, and under ordinary conditions he would +have insisted on the interview with the governor being private +and personal. But he was so excited and bursting with rage that +he went right on. The mayor fairly shouted: "It is the station +agent of the New York Central Railroad in our city of whom I +complain. He is active in politics and controls the Democratic +organization in our county. He is working to prevent myself and +my friends and even ex-Governor Seymour from being delegates +to the national convention. It is to the interest of our party, +in fact, I may say, the salvation of our party in our county that +this New York Central agent be either removed or silenced, and +I want you to see Mr. Vanderbilt on the subject." +</P> + +<P> +The governor sympathized with the mayor and dismissed him. Then +in a quizzical way he asked me: "Do you know this agent?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," I answered. +</P> + +<P> +"What do you think of him?" +</P> + +<P> +"I know nothing about his political activities," I answered, "but he +is one of the most efficient employees of the company in the State." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said the governor, "I am glad to hear you say so. He was +down to see me the other night; in fact, I sent for him, and I +formed a very high opinion of his judgment and ability." +</P> + +<P> +As a matter of fact, the governor had selected him to accomplish +this very result which the mayor had said would ruin the party in +the county. +</P> + +<P> +When the New York Democratic delegation left the city for the +Democratic national convention they had engaged a special train +to leave from the Grand Central Station. I went down to see that +the arrangements were perfected for its movement. It was a +hilarious crowd, and the sides of the cars were strung with Tilden +banners. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Tilden was there also to see them off. After bidding good-by +to the leaders, and with a whispered conference with each, the +mass of delegates and especially reporters, of whom there was a +crowd, wished to engage him in conversation. He spied me and +immediately hurried me into one of the alcoves, apparently for +a private conversation. The crowd, of course, gathered around, +anxious to know what it was all about. He asked me a few questions +about the health of my family and then added: "Don't leave me. +I want to avoid all these people, and we will talk until the train +is off and the crowd disperses." +</P> + +<P> +Life was a burden for me the rest of the day and evening, made +so by the newspaper men and Democratic politicians trying to find +out what the mysterious chief had revealed to me in the alcove of +the Grand Central. +</P> + +<P> +I was very much gratified when meeting him after the fierce battles +for the presidency were over, to have him grasp me by the hand +and say: "You were about the only one who treated me absolutely +fairly during the campaign." +</P> + +<P> +I love little incidents about great men. Mr. Tilden was intensely +human and a great man. +</P> + +<P> +Doctor Buckley, who was at the head of the Methodist Book Concern +in New York, and one of the most delightful of men, told me that +there came into his office one day a Methodist preacher from one +of the mining districts of Pennsylvania, who said to him: "My church +burned down. We had no insurance. We are poor people, and, +therefore, I have come to New York to raise money to rebuild it." +</P> + +<P> +The doctor told him that New York was overrun from all parts of +the country with applicants for help, and that he thought he would +have great difficulty in his undertaking. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," the preacher said, "I am going to see Mr. Tilden." +</P> + +<P> +Doctor Buckley could not persuade him that his mission was next +to impossible, and so this rural clergyman started for Gramercy Park. +When he returned he told the doctor of his experience. +</P> + +<P> +"I rang the bell," he said, "and when the door was opened I saw +Governor Tilden coming down the stairs. I rushed in and told him +hastily who I was before the man at the door could stop me, and +he invited me into his library. I stated my mission, and he said +he was so overwhelmed with applications that he did not think he +could do anything. 'But, governor,' I said, 'my case differs from +all others. My congregation is composed of miners, honest, +hardworking people. They have hitherto been Republicans on the +protection issue, but they were so impressed by you as a great +reformer that they all voted for you in the last election.' The +governor said: 'Tell that story again.' So I started again to +tell him about my church, but he interrupted me, saying: 'Not that, +but about the election.' So I told him again about their having, +on account of their admiration for him as a reformer, turned from +the Republican party and voted the Democratic ticket. Then the +governor said: 'Well, I think you have a most meritorious case, +and so I will give you all I have.'" +</P> + +<P> +Doctor Buckley interrupted him hastily, saying: "Great heavens, +are you going to build a cathedral?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the clergyman; "all he had in his pocket was two +dollars and fifty cents." +</P> + +<P> +Governor Tilden had many followers and friends whose admiration +for him amounted almost to adoration. They believed him capable +of everything, and they were among the most intelligent and able men +of the country. +</P> + +<P> +John Bigelow, journalist, author, and diplomat, was always sounding +his greatness, both with tongue and pen. Abram S. Hewitt was an +equally enthusiastic friend and admirer. Both of these gentlemen, +the latter especially, were, I think, abler than Mr. Tilden, but +did not have his hypnotic power. +</P> + +<P> +I was dining one night with Mr. Hewitt, whose dinners were always +events to be remembered, when Mr. Tilden became the subject of +discussion. After incidents illustrating his manifold distinctions +had been narrated, Mr. Hewitt said that Mr. Tilden was the only one +in America and outside of royalties in Europe who had some +blue-labelled Johannisberger. This famous wine from the vineyards +of Prince Metternich on the Rhine was at that time reported to be +absorbed by the royal families of Europe. +</P> + +<P> +Our host said: "The bouquet of this wonderful beverage is unusually +penetrating and diffusing, and a proof is that one night at a dinner +in the summer, with the windows all open, the guests noticed this +peculiar aroma in the air. I said to them that Governor Tilden had +opened a bottle of his Johannisberger." +</P> + +<P> +The governor's residence was on the other side of Gramercy Park +from Mr. Hewitt's. The matter was so extraordinary that everybody +at the table went across the park, and when they were admitted +they found the governor in his library enjoying his bottle of +blue-labelled Johannisberger. +</P> + +<P> +When Mr. Tilden was elected governor, my friend, General Husted, +was speaker of the assembly, which was largely Republican. The +governor asked General Husted to come down in the evening, because +he wanted to consult him about the improvements and alterations +necessary for the Executive Mansion, and to have the speaker secure +the appropriation. During the discussion the governor placed +before the speaker a bottle of rare whiskey, with the usual +accompaniments. In front of the governor was a bottle of his +Johannisberger and a small liqueur glass, a little larger than +a thimble, from which the governor would from time to time taste +a drop of this rare and exquisite fluid. The general, after a +while, could not restrain his curiosity any longer and said: +"Governor, what is that you are drinking?" +</P> + +<P> +The governor explained its value and the almost utter impossibility +of securing any. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, governor," said Speaker Husted, "I never saw any before +and I think I will try it." He seized the bottle, emptied it in +his goblet and announced to the astonished executive that he was +quite right in his estimate of its excellence. +</P> + +<P> +The governor lost a bottle of his most cherished treasure but +received from the Republican legislature all the appropriation +he desired for the Executive Mansion. +</P> + +<P> +It has been my good fortune to know well the governors of our +State of New York, commencing with Edmund D. Morgan. With many +of them I was on terms of close intimacy. I have already spoken of +Governors Seymour, Fenton, Dix, Tilden, Cleveland, and Roosevelt. +It might be better to confine my memory to those who have joined +the majority. +</P> + +<P> +Lucius Robinson was an excellent executive of the business type, +as also were Alonzo B. Cornell and Levi P. Morton. Frank S. Black +was in many ways original. He was an excellent governor, but +very different from the usual routine. In the Spanish-American War +he had a definite idea that the National Guard of our State should +not go into the service of the United States as regiments, but +as individual volunteers. The Seventh Regiment, which was the +crack organization of the Guard, was severely criticised because +they did not volunteer. They refused to go except as the Seventh +Regiment, and their enemies continued to assail them as tin soldiers. +</P> + +<P> +General Louis Fitzgerald and Colonel Appleton came to me very +much disturbed by this condition. General Russell A. Alger, +secretary of war, was an intimate friend of mine, and I went to +Washington and saw him and the president on the acute condition +affecting the reputation of the Seventh Regiment. +</P> + +<P> +General Alger said: "We are about to make a desperate assault +upon the fortifications of Havana. Of course there will be many +casualties and the fighting most severe. Will the Seventh join +that expedition?" +</P> + +<P> +The answer of General Fitzgerald and Colonel Appleton was emphatic +that the Seventh would march with full ranks on the shortest possible +notice. Governor Black would not change his view of how the +National Guard should go, and so the Seventh was never called. +It seems only proper that I should make a record of this patriotic +proposition made by this organization. +</P> + +<P> +Governor Black developed after he became governor, and especially +after he had retired from office, into a very effective orator. +He had a fine presence and an excellent delivery. He was fond +of preparing epigrams, and became a master in this sort of literature. +When he had occasion to deliver an address, it would be almost +wholly made up of these detached gems, each perfect in itself. +The only other of our American orators who cultivated successfully +this style of speech was Senator John J. Ingalls, of Kansas. It is +a style very difficult to attain or to make successful. +</P> + +<P> +David B. Hill was an extraordinary man in many ways. He was +governor for three terms and United States senator for one. His +whole life was politics. He was a trained lawyer and an excellent +one, but his heart and soul was in party control, winning popular +elections, and the art of governing. He consolidated the rural +elements of his party so effectively that he compelled Tammany Hall +to submit to his leadership and to recognize him as its master. +</P> + +<P> +For many years, and winning in every contest, Governor Hill +controlled the organization and the policies of the Democratic +party of the State of New York. In a plain way he was an effective +speaker, but in no sense an orator. He contested with Cleveland +for the presidency, but in that case ran against a stronger and +bigger personality than he had ever encountered, and lost. He +rose far above the average and made his mark upon the politics +of his State and upon the United States Senate while he was a member. +</P> + +<P> +Levi P. Morton brought to the governorship business ability which +had made him one of the great merchants and foremost bankers. +As Governor of the State of New York, United States Minister to +France, Congressman, and Vice-President of the United States, +he filled every position with grace, dignity, and ability. A +lovable personality made him most popular. +</P> + +<P> +Roswell P. Flower, after a successful career as a banker, developed +political ambitions. He had a faculty of making friends, and had +hosts of them. He was congressman and then governor. While +the Democratic organization was hostile to him, he was of the +Mark Hanna type and carried his successful business methods into +the canvass for the nomination and the campaign for the election +and was successful. +</P> + +<P> +Passing through Albany while he was governor, I stopped over to +pay my respects. I was very fond of him personally. When I rang +the door-bell of the Executive Mansion and inquired for the +governor, the servant said: "The governor is very ill and can +see nobody." Then I asked him to tell the governor, when he was +able to receive a message, that Chauncey Depew called and expressed +his deep regret for his illness. Suddenly the governor popped +out from the parlor and seized me by the hand and said: "Chauncey, +come in. I was never so glad to see anybody in my life." +</P> + +<P> +He told me the legislature had adjourned and left on his hands +several thousands of thirty-days bills—that is, bills on which +he had thirty days to sign or veto, or let them become laws by +not rejecting them. So he had to deny himself to everybody to +get the leisure to read them over and form decisions. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know, Chauncey," he said, "this is a new business to me. +Most of these bills are on subjects which I never have examined, +studied, or thought about. It is very difficult to form a wise +judgment, and I want to do in each case just what is right." For +the moment he became silent, seemingly absorbed by anxious thoughts +about these bills. Then suddenly he exclaimed: "By the way, +Chauncey, you've done a great deal of thinking in your life, and +I never have done any except on business. Does intense thinking +affect you as it does me, by upsetting your stomach and making +you throw up?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, governor," I answered; "if it did I fear I would be in a +chronic state of indigestion." +</P> + +<P> +While he was governor he canvassed the State in a private car +and made many speeches. In a plain, homely man-to-man talk he +was very effective on the platform. His train stopped at a station +in a Republican community where there were few Democrats, while +I was addressing a Republican meeting in the village. When I had +finished my speech I said to the crowd, which was a large one: +"Governor Flower is at the station, and as I passed he had very +few people listening to him. Let us all go over and give him +an audience." +</P> + +<P> +The proposition was received with cheers. I went ahead, got in +at the other end of the governor's car from the one where he was +speaking from the platform. As this Republican crowd began to +pour in, it was evident as I stood behind him without his knowing +of my presence, that he was highly delighted. He shouted: "Fellow +citizens, I told you they were coming. They are coming from the +mountains, from the hills, and from the valleys. It is the +stampede from the Republican party and into our ranks and for +our ticket. This is the happiest evidence I have received of +the popularity of our cause and the success of our ticket." +</P> + +<P> +Standing behind him, I made a signal for cheers, which was heartily +responded to, and the governor, turning around, saw the joke, +grasped me cordially by the hand, and the whole crowd, including +the veteran and hardened Democrats on the car, joined in the hilarity +of the occasion. +</P> + +<P> +He came to me when he was running for the second time for Congress, +and said that some of the people of his district were anxious for +me to deliver an address for one of their pet charities, and that +the meeting would be held in Harlem, naming the evening. I told +him I would go. He came for me in his carriage, and I said: +"Governor, please do not talk to me on the way up. I was so busy +that I have had no time since I left my office this afternoon to +prepare this address, and I want every minute while we are riding +to the meeting." +</P> + +<P> +The meeting was a large one. The governor took the chair and +introduced me in this original way: "Ladies and gentlemen," he +said, "I want to say about Chauncey Depew, whom I am now going +to introduce to you as the lecturer of the evening, that he is no +Demosthenes, because he can beat Demosthenes out of sight. He +prepared his speech in the carriage in which I was bringing him +up here, and he don't have, like the old Greek, to chew pebble-stones +in order to make a speech." +</P> + +<P> +Governor Flower in a conservative way was a successful trader +in the stock market. When he felt he had a sure point he would +share it with a few friends. He took special delight in helping +in this way men who had little means and no knowledge of the art +of moneymaking. There were a great many benefited by his bounty. +</P> + +<P> +I was dining one night with the Gridiron Club at Washington, and +before me was a plate of radishes. The newspaper man next to me +asked if I would object to having the radishes removed. +</P> + +<P> +I said: "There is no odor or perfume from them. What is the +matter with the radishes?" +</P> + +<P> +After they were taken away he told me his story. "Governor Flower," +he said, "was very kind to me, as he invariably was to all newspaper +men. He asked me one day how much I had saved in my twenty years +in journalism. I told him ten thousand dollars. He said: 'That +is not enough for so long a period. Let me have the money.' So +I handed over to him my bank-account. In a few weeks he told me +that my ten thousand dollars had become twenty, and I could have +them if I wished. I said: 'No, you are doing far better than I +could. Keep it.' In about a month or more my account had grown +to thirty thousand dollars. Then the governor on a very hot day +went fishing somewhere off the Long Island coast. He was a very +large, heavy man, became overheated, and on his return drank a +lot of ice-water and ate a bunch of radishes. He died that +afternoon. There was a panic in the stocks which were his favorites +the next day, and they fell out of sight. The result was that I +lost my fortune of ten thousand dollars and also my profit of +twenty. Since then the sight of a radish makes me sick." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XVIII. FIFTY-SIX YEARS WITH THE NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY +</H3> + +<P> +Heredity has much to do with a man's career. The village of +Peekskill-on-the-Hudson, about forty miles from New York, was +in the early days the market-town of a large section of the +surrounding country, extending over to the State of Connecticut. +It was a farming region, and its products destined for New York City +were shipped by sloops on the Hudson from the wharfs at Peekskill, +and the return voyage brought back the merchandise required by +the country. +</P> + +<P> +My father and his brother owned the majority of the sloops engaged +in this, at that time, almost the only transportation. The sloops +were succeeded by steamboats in which my people were also +interested. When Commodore Vanderbilt entered into active rivalry +with the other steamboat lines between New York and Albany, the +competition became very serious. Newer and faster boats were +rapidly built. These racers would reach the Bay of Peekskill in +the late afternoon, and the younger population of the village would +be on the banks of the river, enthusiastically applauding their +favorites. Among well-known boats whose names and achievements +excited as much interest and aroused as much partisanship and +sporting spirit as do now famous race-horses or baseball champions, +were the following: Mary Powell, Dean Richmond, The Alida, and +The Hendrick Hudson. +</P> + +<P> +I remember as if it were yesterday when the Hudson River Railroad +had reached Peekskill, and the event was locally celebrated. The +people came in as to a county fair from fifty miles around. When +the locomotive steamed into the station many of those present had +never seen one. The engineer was continuously blowing his whistle +to emphasize the great event. This produced much consternation +and confusion among the horses, as all farmers were there with +their families in carriages or wagons. +</P> + +<P> +I recall one team of young horses which were driven to frenzy; +their owner was unable to control them, but he kept them on the +road while they ran away with a wild dash over the hills. In +telling this story, as illustrating how recent is railway development +in the United States, at a dinner abroad, I stated that as far +as I knew and believed, those horses were so frightened that +they could not be stopped and were still running. A very successful +and serious-minded captain of industry among the guests sternly +rebuked me by saying: "Sir, that is impossible; horses were never +born that could run for twenty-five years without stopping." +American exaggeration was not so well known among our friends on +the other side then as it is now. +</P> + +<P> +As we boys of the village were gathered on the banks of the Hudson +cheering our favorite steamers, or watching with eager interest +the movements of the trains, a frequent discussion would be about +our ambitions in life. Every young fellow would state a dream +which he hoped but never expected to be realized. I was charged +by my companions with having the greatest imagination and with +painting more pictures in the skies than any of them. This was +because I stated that in politics, for I was a great admirer of +William H. Seward, then senator from New York, I expected to be +a United States senator, and in business, because then the largest +figure in the business world was Commodore Vanderbilt, I hoped +to become president of the Hudson River Railroad. It is one of +the strangest incidents of what seemed the wild imaginings of a +village boy that in the course of long years both these expectations +were realized. +</P> + +<P> +When I entered the service of the railroad on the first of January, +1866, the Vanderbilt system consisted of the Hudson River and +Harlem Railroads, the Harlem ending at Chatham, 128 miles, and +the Hudson River at Albany, 140 miles long. The Vanderbilt system +now covers 20,000 miles. The total railway mileage of the whole +United States at that time was 36,000, and now it is 261,000 miles. +</P> + +<P> +My connection with the New York Central Railroad covers practically +the whole period of railway construction, expansion, and development +in the United States. It is a singular evidence of the rapidity +of our country's growth and of the way which that growth has +steadily followed the rails, that all this development of States, +of villages growing into cities, of scattered communities becoming +great manufacturing centres, of an internal commerce reaching +proportions where it has greater volume than the foreign interchanges +of the whole world, has come about during a period covered by +the official career of a railroad man who is still in the service: +an attorney in 1866, a vice-president in 1882, president in 1885, +chairman of the board of directors in 1899, and still holds that office. +</P> + +<P> +There is no such record in the country for continuous service with +one company, which during the whole period has been controlled by +one family. This service of more than half a century has been in +every way satisfactory. It is a pleasure to see the fourth +generation, inheriting the ability of the father, grandfather, and +great-grandfather, still active in the management. +</P> + +<P> +I want to say that in thus linking my long relationship with the +railroads to this marvellous development, I do not claim to have +been better than the railway officers who during this time have +performed their duties to the best of their ability. I wish also +to pay tribute to the men of original genius, of vision and daring, +to whom so much is due in the expansion and improvement of the +American railway systems. +</P> + +<P> +Commodore Vanderbilt was one of the most remarkable men our +country has produced. He was endowed with wonderful foresight, +grasp of difficult situations, ability to see opportunities before +others, to solve serious problems, and the courage of his +convictions. He had little education or early advantages, but +was eminently successful in everything he undertook. As a boy on +Staten Island he foresaw that upon transportation depended the +settlement, growth, and prosperity of this nation. He began with +a small boat running across the harbor from Staten Island to +New York. Very early in his career he acquired a steamboat and +in a few years was master of Long Island Sound. He then extended +his operations to the Hudson River and speedily acquired the +dominating ownership in boats competing between New York and Albany. +</P> + +<P> +When gold was discovered in California he started a line on the +Atlantic side of the Isthmus of Darien and secured from the +government of Nicaragua the privilege of crossing the Isthmus +for a transportation system through its territory, and then +established a line of steamers on the Pacific to San Francisco. +In a short time the old-established lines, both on the Atlantic +and the Pacific, were compelled to sell out to him. Then he +entered the transatlantic trade, with steamers to Europe. +</P> + +<P> +With that vision which is a gift and cannot be accounted for, he +decided that the transportation work of the future was on land +and in railroads. He abandoned the sea, and his first enterprise +was the purchase of the New York and Harlem Railroad, which was +only one hundred and twenty-eight miles long. The road was bankrupt +and its road-bed and equipment going from bad to worse. The +commodore reconstructed the line, re-equipped it, and by making +it serviceable to its territory increased its traffic and turned +its business from deficiency into profit. This was in 1864. +The commodore became president, and his son, William H. Vanderbilt, +vice-president. He saw that the extension of the Harlem was not +advisable, and so secured the Hudson River Railroad, running from +New York to Albany, and became its president in 1865. It was +a few months after this when he and his son invited me to become +a member of their staff. +</P> + +<P> +The station of the Harlem Railroad in the city of New York was +at that time at Fourth Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street, and that of +the Hudson River Railroad at Chambers Street, near the North River. +</P> + +<P> +In a few years William H. Vanderbilt purchased the ground for the +Harlem Railroad Company, where is now located the Grand Central +Terminal, and by the acquisition by the New York Central and +Hudson River Railroad of the Harlem Railroad the trains of the +New York Central were brought around into the Grand Central Station. +</P> + +<P> +In 1867, two years after Mr. Vanderbilt had acquired the +Hudson River Railroad, he secured the control of the New York +Central, which ran from Albany to Buffalo. This control was +continued through the Lake Shore on one side of the lakes and +the Michigan Central on the other to Chicago. Subsequently the +Vanderbilt System was extended to Cincinnati and St. Louis. It +was thus in immediate connection with the West and Northwest +centering in Chicago, and the Southwest at Cincinnati and St. Louis. +By close connection and affiliation with the Chicago and Northwestern +Railway Company, the Vanderbilt system was extended beyond +to Mississippi. I became director in the New York Central in +1874 and in the Chicago and Northwestern in 1877. +</P> + +<P> +It has been my good fortune to meet with more or less intimacy +many of the remarkable men in every department of life, but I think +Commodore Vanderbilt was the most original. I had been well +acquainted for some years both with the commodore and his son, +William H. When I became attorney my relations were more intimate +than those usually existing. I was in daily consultation with the +commodore during the ten years prior to his death, and with his +son from 1866 to 1885, when he died. +</P> + +<P> +The commodore was constantly, because of his wealth and power, +importuned by people who wished to interest him in their schemes. +Most of the great and progressive enterprises of his time were +presented to him. He would listen patiently, ask a few questions, +and in a short time grasp the whole subject. Then with wonderful +quickness and unerring judgment he would render his decision. +No one knew by what process he arrived at these conclusions. +They seemed to be the results as much of inspiration as of insight. +</P> + +<P> +The Civil War closed in 1865, and one of its lessons had been +the necessity for more railroads. The country had discovered +that without transportation its vast and fertile territories could +neither be populated nor made productive. Every mile of railroad +carried settlers, opened farms and increased the national resources +and wealth. The economical and critical conditions of the country, +owing to the expansion of the currency and banking conditions, +facilitated and encouraged vast schemes of railroad construction. +This and a wild speculation resulted in the panic of 1873. Nearly +the whole country went bankrupt. The recovery was rapid, and +the constructive talent of the Republic saw that the restoration of +credit and prosperity must be led by railway solvency. In August, +1874, Commodore Vanderbilt invited the representatives of the +other and competitive lines to a conference at Saratoga. Owing, +however, to the jealousies and hostilities of the period, only the +New York Central, the Pennsylvania, and the Erie railways were +represented. +</P> + +<P> +The eastern railway situation was then dominated by Commodore +Vanderbilt, Colonel Thomas A. Scott, of the Pennsylvania, and +John W. Garrett, of the Baltimore and Ohio. Both Scott and Garrett +were original men and empire builders. There was neither +governmental nor State regulation. The head of a railway system +had practically unlimited power in the operation of his road. +The people were so anxious for the construction of railways that +they offered every possible inducement to capital. The result was +a great deal of unprofitable construction and immense losses to +the promoters. +</P> + +<P> +These able men saw that there was no possibility of railway +construction, operation, and efficiency, with a continuance of +unrestricted competition. It has taken from 1874 until 1920 to +educate the railway men, the shippers, and the government to a +realization of the fact that transportation facilities required +for the public necessities can only be had by the freest operations +and the strictest government regulations; that the solution of +the problem is a system so automatic that public arbitration shall +decide the justice of the demands of labor, and rates be advanced +to meet the decision, and that public authority also shall take +into consideration the other factors of increased expenses and +adequate facilities for the railroads, and that maintenance and +the highest efficiency must be preserved and also necessary +extensions. To satisfy and attract capital there must be the +assurance of a reasonable return upon the investment. +</P> + +<P> +The meeting called by Commodore Vanderbilt in 1874, at Saratoga, +was an epoch-making event. We must remember the railway management +of the country was in the absolute control of about four men, two +of whom were also largest owners of the lines they managed. +Fierce competition and cutting of rates brought on utter +demoralization among shippers, who could not calculate on the cost +of transportation, and great favoritism to localities and individuals +by irresponsible freight agents who controlled the rates. Under +these influences railway earnings were fluctuating and uncertain. +Improvements were delayed and the people on the weaker lines +threatened with bankruptcy. +</P> + +<P> +Public opinion, however, believed this wild competition to be the +only remedy for admitted railway evils. As an illustration of +the change of public opinion and the better understanding of +the railway problems, this occurred in the month of October, 1920. +A committee of shippers and producers representing the farmers, +manufacturers, and business men along a great railway system +came to see the manager of the railroad and said to him: "We have +been all wrong in the past. Our effort has always been for lower +rates, regardless of the necessities of the railways. We have +tried to get them by seeking bids from competing lines for our +shipments and by appealing to the Interstate Commerce Commission. +The expenses of the railroads have been increased by demands of +labor, by constantly rising prices and cost of rails, cars, +terminals, and facilities, but we have been against allowing the +railroads to meet this increased cost of operation by adequate +advances in rates. We now see that this course was starving the +railroads, and we are suffering for want of cars and locomotives +to move our traffic and terminals to care for it. We are also +suffering because the old treatment of the railroads has frightened +capital so that the roads cannot get money to maintain their lines +and make necessary improvements to meet the demands of business. +We know now that rates make very little difference, because they +can be absorbed in our business. What we must have is facilities +to transport our products, and we want to help the railroads to get +money and credit, and again we emphasize our whole trouble is +want of cars, locomotives, and terminal facilities." +</P> + +<P> +Happily, public opinion was reflected in the last Congress in the +passage of the Cummins-Esch bill, which is the most enlightened +and adaptable legislation of the last quarter of a century. +</P> + +<P> +To return to the conference at Saratoga, the New York Central, +the Pennsylvania, and the Erie came to the conclusion that they +must have the co-operation of the Baltimore and Ohio. As +Mr. Garrett, president and controlling owner of that road, would +not come to the conference, the members decided that the emergency +was so great that they must go to him. This was probably the most +disagreeable thing Commodore Vanderbilt ever did. The marvellous +success of his wonderful life had been won by fighting and defeating +competitors. The peril was so great that they went as associates, +and the visit interested the whole country and so enlarged +Mr. Garrett's opinion of his power that he rejected their offer +and said he would act independently. A railway war immediately +followed, and in a short time bankruptcy threatened all lines, +and none more than the Baltimore and Ohio. +</P> + +<P> +The trunk lines then got together and entered into an agreement +to stabilize rates and carry them into effect. They appointed +as commissioner Mr. Albert Fink, one of the ablest railway men +of that time. Mr. Fink's administration was successful, but the +rivalries and jealousies of the lines and the frequent breaking +of agreements were too much for one man. +</P> + +<P> +The presidents and general managers of all the railroads east of +Chicago then met and formed an association, and this association +was a legislative body without any legal authority to enforce its +decrees. It had, however, two effects: the disputes which arose +were publicly discussed, and the merits of each side so completely +demonstrated that the decision of the association came to be +accepted as just and right. Then the verdict of the association +had behind it the whole investment and banking community and the +press. The weight of this was sufficient to compel obedience to +its decisions by the most rebellious member. No executive could +continue to hold his position while endeavoring to break up +the association. +</P> + +<P> +It is one of the most gratifying events of my life that my associates +in this great and powerful association elected me their president, +and I continued in office until the Supreme Court in a momentous +decision declared that the railroads came under the provision of +the Sherman Anti-Trust Law and dissolved these associations in +the East, West, and South. +</P> + +<P> +It was a liberal education of the railway problems to meet the +men who became members of this association. Most of them left +an indelible impression upon the railway conditions of the time +and of the railway policies of the future. All were executives +of great ability and several rare constructive geniuses. +</P> + +<P> +In our system there was John Newell, president of the Lake Shore +and Michigan Southern, a most capable and efficient manager. +Henry B. Ledyard, president of the Michigan Central, was admirably +trained for the great responsibilities which he administered so +well. There was William Bliss, president of the Boston and Albany, +who had built up a line to be one of the strongest of the +New England group. +</P> + +<P> +Melville E. Ingalls, president of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, +Chicago and St. Louis, had combined various weak and bankrupt +roads and made them an efficient organization. He had also +rehabilitated and put in useful working and paying condition the +Chesapeake and Ohio. +</P> + +<P> +Ingalls told me a very good story of himself. He had left the +village in Maine, where he was born, and after graduation from +college and admission to the bar had settled in Boston. To protect +the interests of his clients he had moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, +and rescued railroad properties in which they were interested. +When his success was complete and he had under his control a large +and successfully working railway system, he made a visit to +his birthplace. +</P> + +<P> +One evening he went down to the store where the village congress +was assembled, sitting on the barrels and the counter. They +welcomed him very cordially, and then an inquisitive farmer said +to him: "Melville, it is reported around here that you are getting +a salary of nigh unto ten thousand dollars a year." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Ingalls, who was getting several times that amount, modestly +admitted the ten, which was a prodigious sum in that rural +neighborhood. Whereupon the old farmer voiced the local sentiment +by saying: "Well, Melville that shows what cheek and circumstances +can do for a man." +</P> + +<P> +I recall an incident connected with one of the ablest of the +executives in our system. One day we had a conference of rival +interests, and many executives were there in the effort to secure +an adjustment. For this purpose we had an arbitrator. After a +most exhausting day in the battle of wits and experience for +advantages, I arrived home used up, but after a half-hour's sleep +I awoke refreshed and, consulting my diary, found I was down for +a speech at a banquet at Delmonico's that night. +</P> + +<P> +I arrived late, the intervening time being devoted to intensive +and rapid preparation. I was called early. The speech attracted +attention and occupied a column in the morning's papers. I was +in bed at eleven o'clock and had between seven and eight hours' +refreshing sleep. +</P> + +<P> +On arriving at our meeting-place the next morning, one of the +best-known presidents took me aside and said: "Chauncey, by +making speeches such as you did last night you are losing the +confidence of the people. They say you cannot prepare such +speeches and give proper attention to your business." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," I said to him, "my friend, did I lose anything before the +arbitrator yesterday?" +</P> + +<P> +He answered very angrily: "No, you gained entirely too much." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," I then said, "I am very fresh this morning. But what did +you do last night?" +</P> + +<P> +He answered that he was so exhausted that he went to Delmonico's +and ordered the best dinner possible. Then he went on to say: +"A friend told me a little game was going on up-stairs, and in +a close room filled with tobacco smoke I played poker until two +o'clock and drank several high-balls. The result is, I think we +better postpone this meeting, for I do not feel like doing +anything to-day." +</P> + +<P> +"My dear friend," I said, "you will get the credit of giving your +whole time to business, while I am by doing what refreshes my mind +discredited, because it gets in the papers. I shall keep my +method regardless of consequences." +</P> + +<P> +He kept his, and although much younger than myself died years ago. +</P> + +<P> +George B. Roberts, president of the Pennsylvania, was a very wise +executive and of all-around ability. Frank Thompson, vice-president +and afterwards president of the same road, was one of the ablest +operating officers of his time and a most delightful personality. +Mr. A. J. Cassatt was a great engineer and possessed rare foresight +and vision. He brought the Pennsylvania into New York City through +a tunnel under the Hudson River, continued the tunnel across the +city to the East River and then under the river to connect with the +Long Island, which he had acquired for his system. +</P> + +<P> +D. W. Caldwell, president of the New York, Chicago, and St. Louis, +added to railway ability wit and humor. He told a good story on +Mr. George Roberts. Caldwell was at one time division superintendent +under President Roberts. He had obtained permission to build a new +station-house, in whose plan and equipment he was deeply interested. +It was Mr. Roberts's habit, by way of showing his subordinates +that he was fully aware of their doings, to either add or take away +something from their projects. +</P> + +<P> +Caldwell prepared a station-house according to his ideas, and, +to prevent Roberts from making any essential changes he added +an unnecessary bay window to the front of the passengers' room. +Roberts carefully examined the plans and said: "Remove that bay +window," and then approved the plan, and Caldwell had what +he wanted. +</P> + +<P> +Caldwell used to tell of another occasion when on a Western line +he had over him a very severe and harsh disciplinarian as president. +This president was a violent prohibitionist and had heard that +Caldwell was a bonvivant. He sent for Caldwell to discipline or +discharge him. After a long and tiresome journey Caldwell arrived +at the president's house. His first greeting was: "Mr. Caldwell, +do you drink?" +</P> + +<P> +Caldwell, wholly unsuspicious, answered: "Thank you, Mr. President, +I am awfully tired and will take a little rye." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. E. B. Thomas, president of the Lehigh Valley, was a valuable +member of the association. The Baltimore and Ohio, as usual, had +its president, Mr. Charles F. Mayer, accompanied by an able staff. +The Erie was represented by one of the most capable and genial +of its many presidents, Mr. John King. +</P> + +<P> +King was a capital story-teller, and among them I remember this +one: At one time he was general manager of the Baltimore and Ohio +under John W. Garrett. In order to raise money for his projected +extensions, Garrett had gone to Europe. The times were financially +very difficult. Johns Hopkins, the famous philanthropist, died. +His immortal monument is the Johns Hopkins University and Medical +School. Everybody in Baltimore attended the funeral. Among the +leading persons present was another John King, a banker, who was +Hopkins's executor. A messenger-boy rushed in with a cable for +John King, and handed it to John King, the executor, who sat at +the head of the mourners. He read it and then passed it along +so that each one could read it until it reached John King, of the +Baltimore and Ohio, who sat at the foot of the line. The cable +read as follows: "Present my sympathies to the family and my high +appreciation of Mr. Johns Hopkins, and borrow from the executor +all you can at five per cent. Garrett." +</P> + +<P> +Commodore Vanderbilt was succeeded in the presidency by his son, +William H. Vanderbilt, who was then past forty years old and had +been a successful farmer on Staten Island. He was active in +neighborhood affairs and in politics. This brought him in close +contact with the people and was of invaluable benefit to him when +he became president of a great railroad corporation. He also +acquired familiarity in railway management as a director of one +on Staten Island. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. William H. Vanderbilt was a man of great ability, and his +education made him in many ways an abler man than his father +for the new conditions he had to meet. But, like many a capable +son of a famous father, he did not receive the credit which was +due him because of the overshadowing reputation of the commodore. +Nevertheless, on several occasions he exhibited the highest +executive qualities. +</P> + +<P> +One of the great questions of the time was the duty of railroads +to the cities in which they terminated, and the decision of the +roads south of New York to have lower rates to Philadelphia and +Baltimore. New York felt so secure in the strength of its unrivalled +harbor and superior shipping facilities that the merchants and +financiers were not alarmed. Very soon, however, there was such +a diversion of freight from New York as to threaten very seriously +its export trade and the superiority of its port. The commercial +leaders of the city called upon Mr. Vanderbilt, who after the +conference said to them: "I will act in perfect harmony with you +and will see that the New York Central Railroad protects New York City +regardless of the effect upon its finances." The city representatives +said: "That is very fine, and we will stand together." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Vanderbilt immediately issued a statement that the rates to +the seaboard should be the same to all ports, and that the +New York Central would meet the lowest rates to any port by +putting the same in effect on its own lines. The result was +the greatest railroad war since railroads began to compete. +Rates fell fifty per cent, and it was a question of the survival +of the fittest. Commerce returned to New York, and the competing +railroads, to avoid bankruptcy, got together and formed the +Trunk Line Association. +</P> + +<P> +New York City has not always remembered how intimately bound is +its prosperity with that of the great railroad whose terminal is +within its city limits. Mr. Vanderbilt found that the railroad and +its management were fiercely assailed in the press, in the +legislature, and in municipal councils. He became convinced that +no matter how wise or just or fair the railroad might be in the +interests of every community and every business which were so +dependent upon its transportation, the public would not submit to +any great line being owned by one man. The Vanderbilt promptness +in arriving at a decision was immediately shown. He called upon +Mr. Pierpont Morgan, and through him a syndicate, which Morgan +formed, took and sold the greater part of Mr. Vanderbilt's +New York Central stock. The result was that the New York Central +from that time was owned by the public. It is a tribute to the +justice and fairness of the Vanderbilt management that though the +management has been submitted every year since to a stockholders' +vote, there has practically never been any opposition to a +continuance of the Vanderbilt policy and management. +</P> + +<P> +Among the most important of the many problems during Mr. Vanderbilt's +presidency was the question of railway commissions, both in national +and State governments. In my professional capacity of general +counsel, and in common with representatives of other railroads, +I delivered argumentative addresses against them. The discussions +converted me, and I became convinced of their necessity. The +rapidly growing importance of railway transportation had created +the public opinion that railway management should be under the +control and supervision of some public body; that all passengers +or shippers, or those whose land was taken for construction and +development, should have an appeal from the decision of the railway +managers to the government through a government commission. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as I was convinced that commissions were necessary for +the protection of both the public and the railroads, I presented +this view to Mr. Vanderbilt. The idea was contrary to his education, +training, and opinion. It seemed to me that it was either a +commission or government ownership, and that the commission, if +strengthened as a judicial body, would be as much of a protection +to the bond and stock holders and the investing public as to the +general public and the employees. Mr. Vanderbilt, always +open-minded, adopted this view and supported the commission system +and favored legislation in its behalf. +</P> + +<P> +In 1883 Mr. Vanderbilt decided, on account of illness, to retire +from the presidency, and Mr. James H. Rutter was elected his +successor. Mr. Rutter was the ablest freight manager in the +country, but his health gave way under the exactions of executive +duties, and I acted largely for him during his years of service. +He died early in 1885, and I was elected president. +</P> + +<P> +The war with the West Shore had been on for several years, with +disastrous results to both companies. The Ontario and Western, +which had large terminal facilities near Jersey City on the west +side of the Hudson, ran for fifty miles along the river before +turning into the interior. At its reorganization it had ten millions +of cash in the treasury. With this as a basis, its directors +decided to organize a new railroad, to be called the West Shore, +and parallel the New York Central through its entire length to +Buffalo. As the New York Central efficiently served this whole +territory, the only business the West Shore could get must be +taken away from the Central. To attract this business it offered +at all stations lower rates. To retain and hold its business the +New York Central met those rates at all points so that financially +the West Shore went into the hands of a receiver. +</P> + +<P> +The New York Central was sustained because of its superior +facilities and connections and established roadway and equipment. +But all new and necessary construction was abandoned, maintenance +was neglected, and equipment run down under forced reduction of +expenses. +</P> + +<P> +I had very friendly personal relations with the managers and +officers of the West Shore, and immediately presented to them +a plan for the absorption of their line, instead of continuing +the struggle until absolute exhaustion. Mr. Vanderbilt approved +of the plan, as did the financial interests represented by +Mr. Pierpont Morgan. +</P> + +<P> +By the reorganization and consolidation of the two companies the +New York Central began gradually to establish its efficiency and +to work on necessary improvements. As evidence of the growth +of the railway business of the country, the New York Central +proper has added since the reorganization an enormous amount of +increased trackage, and has practically rebuilt, as a necessary +second line, the West Shore and used fully its very large terminal +facilities on the Jersey side of the Hudson. +</P> + +<P> +During his active life Mr. Vanderbilt was very often importuned +to buy a New York daily newspaper. He was personally bitterly +assailed and his property put in peril by attacks in the press. +He always rejected the proposition to buy one. "If," he said, +"I owned a newspaper, I would have all the others united in +attacking me, and they would ruin me, but by being utterly out of +the journalistic field, I find that taking the press as a whole +I am fairly well treated. I do not believe any great interest +dealing with the public can afford to have an organ." +</P> + +<P> +Colonel Scott, of the Pennsylvania, thought otherwise, but the +result of his experiment demonstrated the accuracy of Mr. Vanderbilt's +judgment. Scott selected as editor of the New York World one of +the most brilliant journalistic writers of his time, William H. Hurlburt. +When it became known, however, that the World belonged to +Colonel Scott, Hurlburt's genius could not save it. The circulation +ran down to a minimum, the advertising followed suit, and the +paper was losing enormously every month. Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, +with the rare insight and foresight which distinguished him, saw +what could be made of the World, with its privileges in the +Associated Press, and so he paid Scott the amount he had originally +invested, and took over and made a phenomenal success of this +bankrupt and apparently hopeless enterprise. +</P> + +<P> +I tried during my presidency to make the New York Central popular +with the public without impairing its efficiency. The proof of the +success of this was that without any effort on my part and against +my published wishes the New York delegation in the national +Republican convention in 1888, with unprecedented unanimity +presented me as New York's candidate for president. I retired +from the contest because of the intense hostility to railroad men +in the Western States. Those States could not understand how +this hostility, which they had to railroads and everybody connected +with them, had disappeared in the great State of New York. +</P> + +<P> +During my presidency the labor question was very acute and strikes, +one after another, common. The universal method of meeting the +demands of labor at that time was to have a committee of employees +or a leader present the grievances to the division superintendent +or the superintendent of motive power. These officers were +arbitrary and hostile, as the demands, if acceded to, led to an +increase of expenses which would make them unpopular with the +management. They had a difficult position. The employees often +came to the conclusion that the only way for them to compel the +attention of the higher officers and directors was to strike. +</P> + +<P> +Against the judgment of my associates in the railway management +I decided to open my doors to any individual or committee of the +company. At first I was overwhelmed with petty grievances, but +when the men understood that their cases would be immediately heard +and acted upon, they decided among themselves not to bring to me +any matters unless they regarded them of vital importance. In +this way many of the former irritations, which led ultimately to +serious results, no longer appeared. +</P> + +<P> +I had no trouble with labor unions, and found their representatives +in heart-to-heart talks very generally reasonable. Mr. Arthur, +chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, had many of +the qualities of a statesman. He built up his organization to be +the strongest of its kind among the labor unions. I enjoyed his +confidence and friendship for many years. +</P> + +<P> +There never was but one strike on the New York Central during +my administration, and that one occurred while I was absent in +Europe. Its origin and sequel were somewhat dramatic. I had +nearly broken down by overwork, and the directors advised me to +take an absolute rest and a trip abroad. +</P> + +<P> +I sent word over the line that I wanted everything settled before +leaving, and to go without care. A large committee appeared in +my office a few mornings after. To my surprise there was a +representative from every branch of the service, passenger and +freight conductors, brakemen, shopmen, yardmen, switchmen, and +so forth. These had always come through their local unions. +I rapidly took up and adjusted what each one of the representatives +of his order claimed, and then a man said: "I represent the +locomotive engineers." +</P> + +<P> +My response was: "You have no business here, and I will have +nothing to do with you. I will see no one of the locomotive +engineers, except their accredited chief officer." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," he said, "Mr. President, there is a new condition on +the road, a new order of labor called the Knights of Labor. We +are going to absorb all the other unions and have only one. The +only obstacle in the way is the locomotive engineers, who refuse +to give up their brotherhood and come in with us, but if you will +recognize us only, that will force them to join. Now, the Brotherhood +intends to present a demand very soon, and if you will recognize +our order, the Knights of Labor, and not the Brotherhood of +Locomotive Engineers, we will take care of what they demand and +all others from every department for two years, and you can take +your trip to Europe in perfect peace of mind. If you do not do +this there will be trouble." +</P> + +<P> +I declined to deal with them as representatives of the Brotherhood +of Locomotive Engineers. Then their spokesman said: "As this +is so serious to you, we will give you to-night to think it over +and come back in the morning." +</P> + +<P> +I immediately sent for the superintendent of motive power and +directed him to have posted by telegraph in every roundhouse that +the request of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, of which +this committee had told me, had been granted. The next morning +the committee returned, and their leader said: "Well, Mr. President, +you have beaten us and we are going home." +</P> + +<P> +Then I appealed to them, saying: "I am a pretty badly broken-up +man. The doctors tell me that if I can have three months without +care I will be as good as ever. You must admit that I have at +all times been absolutely square with you and tried to adjust +fairly the matters you have brought to me. Now, will you take +care of me while I am absent?" +</P> + +<P> +They answered unanimously: "Mr. President, we will, and you can +be confident there will be no trouble on the New York Central while +you are away." +</P> + +<P> +I sailed with my mind free from anxiety, hopeful and happy, leaving +word to send me no cables or letters. After a visit to the +Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau in Upper Bavaria, I went into the +Austrian Tyrol. One night, at a hotel in Innsbruck, Mr. Graves, +a very enterprising reporter of a New York paper, suddenly burst +into my room and said: "I have been chasing you all over Europe +for an interview on the strike on the New York Central." This +was my first information of the strike. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as I had left New York and was on the ocean, the young +and ambitious officers who were at the head of the operations of +the railroad and disapproved of my method of dealing with the +employees, discharged every member of the committee who had +called upon me. Of course, this was immediately followed by a +sympathetic outburst in their behalf, and the sympathizers were +also discharged. Then the whole road was tied up by a universal +strike. After millions had been lost in revenue by the railroad +and in wages by the men, the strike was settled, as usual, by a +compromise, but it gave to the Knights of Labor the control, except +as to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The early settlement +of the strike was largely due to the loyalty and courage of +the Brotherhood. +</P> + +<P> +During my presidency I was much criticised by the public, but +never by the directors of the company, because of my activities +in politics and on the platform. For some time, when the duties +of my office became most onerous, and I was in the habit of working +all day and far into the night, I discovered that this concentrated +attention to my railroad problems and intense and continuous +application to their solution was not only impairing my efficiency +but my health. As I was not a sport, and never had time for games +or horses, I decided to try a theory, which was that one's daily +duties occupied certain cells of the brain while the others +remained idle; that the active cells became tired by overwork +while others lost their power in a measure by idleness; that if, +after a reasonable use of the working cells, you would engage +in some other intellectual occupation, it would furnish as much +relief or recreation as outdoor exercise of any kind. I had a +natural facility for quick and easy preparation for public speaking, +and so adopted that as my recreation. The result proved entirely +successful. +</P> + +<P> +After a hard day's work, on coming home late in the afternoon, +I accustomed myself to take a short nap of about fifteen minutes. +Then I would look over my tablets to see if any engagement was +on to speak in the evening, and, if so, the preparation of the +speech might be easy, or, if difficult, cause me to be late at +dinner. These speeches were made several times a week, and mainly +at banquets on closing of the sessions of conventions of trade +organizations of the country. The reciprocal favors and friendship +of these delegates transferred to the New York Central a large +amount of competitive business. +</P> + +<P> +While I was active in politics I issued strict orders that every +employee should have the same liberty, and that any attempt on +the part of their superior officers to influence or direct the +political action of a subordinate would be cause for dismissal. +This became so well known that the following incident, which was +not uncommon, will show the result. +</P> + +<P> +As I was taking the train the morning after having made a political +speech at Utica, the yardmaster, an Irishman, greeted me very +cordially and then said: "We were all up to hear ye last night, +boss, but this year we are agin ye." +</P> + +<P> +The position which this activity gave me in my own party, and the +fact that, unlike most employers, I protected the employees in +their liberty and political action, gave me immense help in +protecting the company from raids and raiders. +</P> + +<P> +We had a restaurant in the station at Utica which had deteriorated. +The situation was called to my attention in order to have the evils +corrected by the receipt of the following letter from an indignant +passenger: "Dear Mr. President: You are the finest after-dinner +speaker in the world. I would give a great deal to hear the speech +you would make after you had dined in the restaurant in your +station at Utica." +</P> + +<P> +After thirteen years of service as president I was elected chairman of +the board of directors. Mr. Samuel R. Callaway succeeded me as +president, and on his resignation was succeeded by Mr. William H. Newman, +and upon his resignation Mr. W. C. Brown became president. +Following Mr. Brown, Mr. Alfred H. Smith was elected and is still +in office. All these officers were able and did excellent service, +but I want to pay special tribute to Mr. Smith. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Smith is one of the ablest operating officers of his time. +When the United States Government took over the railroads he was +made regional director of the government for railroads in this +territory. He received the highest commendation from the government +and from the owners of the railroads for the admirable way in +which he had maintained them and their efficiency during the +government control. +</P> + +<P> +On the surrender of the railroads by the government, Mr. Smith was +welcomed back by his directors to the presidency of the New York Central. +The splendid condition of the Central and its allied lines is +largely due to him. During his service as regional director the +difficult task of the presidency of the New York Central was very +ably performed by Mr. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Though the +youngest among the executive officers of the railroads of the +country, he was at the same time one of the best. +</P> + +<P> +Among the efficient officers who have served the New York Central +during the time I have been with the company, I remember many on +account of their worth and individuality. H. Walter Webb came +into the railway service from an active business career. With +rare intelligence and industry he rapidly rose in the organization +and was a very capable and efficient officer. There was +Theo. Voorhees, the general superintendent, an unusually young +man for such a responsible position. He was a graduate of +Troy Polytechnical School and a very able operating officer. +Having gone directly from the college to a responsible position, +he naturally did not understand or know how to handle men until +after long experience. He showed that want of experience in a +very drastic way in the strike of 1892 and its settlement. Being +very arbitrary, he had his own standards. For instance, I was +appealed to by many old brakemen and conductors whom he had +discharged. I mention one particularly, who had been on the road +for twenty-five years. Voorhees's answer to me was: "These old +employees are devoted to Toucey, my predecessor, and for efficient +work I must have loyalty to me." +</P> + +<P> +I reversed his order and told him I would begin to discharge, if +necessary, the latest appointments, including himself, keeping +the older men in the service who had proved their loyalty to the +company by the performance of their duties. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Voorhees became afterwards vice-president and then president +of the Philadelphia and Reading. With experience added to his +splendid equipment and unusual ability he became one of the best +executives in the country. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. John M. Toucey, who had come up from the bottom to be general +superintendent and general manager, was a hard student. His close +contact with his fellow employees gave him wonderful control over +men. He supplemented his practical experience by hard study and +was very well educated. Though self-taught, he had no confidence +in the graduates of the professional schools. +</P> + +<P> +In selecting an assistant, one of them told me that Toucey subjected +him to a rigid examination and then said: "What is your +railroad career?" +</P> + +<P> +"I began at the bottom," answered the assistant, "and have filled +every office on my old road up to division superintendent, which +I have held for so many years." +</P> + +<P> +"That is very fine," said Toucey, "but are you a graduate of the +Troy Technical School?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Of the Stevens Tech.?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Of Massachusetts Tech.?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Then you are engaged," said Toucey. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Toucey was well up-to-date, and differed from a superintendent +on another road in which I was a director. The suburban business +of that line had increased very rapidly, but there were not enough +trains or cars to accommodate the passengers. The overcrowding +caused many serious discomforts. I had the superintendent called +before the board of directors, and said to him: "Why don't you +immediately put on more trains and cars?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, Mr. Depew," he answered, "what would be the use? They are +settling so fast along the line that the people would fill them up +and overcrowd them just as before." +</P> + +<P> +I was going over the line on an important tour at one time with +G. H. Burroughs, superintendent of the Western Division. We were +on his pony engine, with seats at the front, alongside the boiler, +so that we could look directly on the track. Burroughs sat on +one side and I on the other. He kept on commenting aloud by way +of dictating to his stenographer, who sat behind him, and praise +and criticism followed rapidly. I heard him utter in his monotonous +way: "Switch misplaced, we will all be in hell in a minute," and +then a second afterwards continue: "We jumped the switch and +are on the track again. Discharge that switchman." +</P> + +<P> +Major Zenas Priest was for fifty years a division superintendent. +It was a delightful experience to go with him over his division. +He knew everybody along the line, was general confidant in their +family troubles and arbiter in neighborhood disputes. He knew +personally every employee and his characteristics and domestic +situation. The wives were generally helping him to keep their +husbands from making trouble. To show his control and efficiency, +he was always predicting labor troubles and demonstrating that +the reason they did not occur was because of the way in which +he handled the situation. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. C. M. Bissell was a very efficient superintendent, and for +a long time in charge of the Harlem Railroad. He told me this +incident. We decided to put in effect as a check upon the +conductors a system by which a conductor, when a fare was paid +on the train, must tear from a book a receipt which he gave to +the passenger, and mark the amount on the stub from which the +receipt was torn. Soon after a committee of conductors called +upon Mr. Bissell and asked for an increase of pay. "Why," Bissell +asked, "boys, why do you ask for that now?" +</P> + +<P> +After a rather embarrassing pause the oldest conductor said: +"Mr. Bissell, you have been a conductor yourself." +</P> + +<P> +This half century and six years during which I have been in the +service of the New York Central Railroad has been a time of +unusual pleasure and remarkably free from friction or trouble. +In this intimate association with the railroad managers of the +United States I have found the choicest friendships and the most +enduring. The railroad manager is rarely a large stockholder, +but he is a most devoted and efficient officer of his company. +He gives to its service, for the public, the employees, the +investors, and the company, all that there is in him. In too many +instances, because these officers do not get relief from their labor +by variation of their work, they die exhausted before their time. +</P> + +<P> +The story graphically told by one of the oldest and ablest of +railroad men, Mr. Marvin Hughitt, for a long time president and +now chairman of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway, illustrates +what the railroad does for the country. Twenty-five years ago the +Northwestern extended its lines through Northern Iowa. Mr. Hughitt +drove over the proposed extension on a buckboard. The country +was sparsely settled because the farmers could not get their +products to market, and the land was selling at six dollars per acre. +</P> + +<P> +In a quarter of a century prosperous villages and cities had grown +up along the line, and farms were selling at over three hundred +dollars per acre. While this enormous profit from six dollars +per acre to over three hundred has come to the settlers who held +on to their farms because of the possibilities produced by the +railroad, the people whose capital built the road must remain +satisfied with a moderate return by way of dividend and interest, +and without any enhancement of their capital, but those investors +should be protected by the State and the people to whom their +capital expenditures have been such an enormous benefit. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XIX. RECOLLECTIONS FROM ABROAD +</H3> + +<P> +I know of nothing more delightful for a well-read American than +to visit the scenes in Great Britain with which he has become +familiar in his reading. No matter how rapidly he may travel, +if he goes over the places made memorable by Sir Walter Scott +in the "Waverley Novels," and in his poems, he will have had +impressions, thrills, and educational results which will be a +pleasure for the rest of his life. The same is true of an ardent +admirer of Dickens or of Thackeray, in following the footsteps +of their heroes and heroines. I gained a liberal education and +lived over again the reading and studies of a lifetime in my visits +to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. I also had much the +same experience of vivifying and spiritualizing my library in +France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Holland. +</P> + +<P> +London is always most hospitable and socially the most delightful +of cities. While Mr. Gladstone was prime minister and more in +the eyes of the world than any statesman of any country, a dinner +was given to him with the special object of having me meet him. +The ladies and gentlemen at the dinner were all people of note. +Among them were two American bishops. The arrangement made by +the host and hostess was that when the ladies left the dining-room +I should take the place made vacant alongside Mr. Gladstone, but +one of the American bishops, who in his younger days was a famous +athlete, made a flying leap for that chair and no sooner landed +than he at once proposed to Mr. Gladstone this startling question: +"As the bishop of the old Catholic Church in Germany does not +recognize the authority of the pope, how can he receive absolution?"—and +some other abstruse theological questions. This at once +aroused Mr. Gladstone, who, when once started, was stopped with +difficulty, and there was no pause until the host announced that +the gentlemen should join the ladies. I made it a point at the +next dinner given for me to meet Mr. Gladstone that there should +be no American bishops present. +</P> + +<P> +At another time, upon arriving at my hotel in London from New York, +I found a note from Lord Rosebery saying that Mr. Gladstone was +dining with Lady Rosebery and himself that evening, and there +would be no other guests, and inviting me to come. I arrived early +and found Mr. Gladstone already there. While the custom in London +society then was for the guests to be late, Mr. Gladstone was +always from fifteen minutes to half an hour in advance of the time +set by his invitation. He greeted me with great cordiality, and +at once what were known as the Gladstone tentacles were fastened +on me for information. It was a peculiarity with the grand old +man that he extracted from a stranger practically all the man knew, +and the information was immediately assimilated in his wonderful +mind. He became undoubtedly the best-informed man on more subjects +than anybody in the world. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gladstone said to me: "It has been raining here for forty days. +What is the average rainfall in the United States and in New York?" +If there was any subject about which I knew less than another, it +was the meteorological conditions in America. He then continued +with great glee: "Our friend, Lord Rosebery, has everything and +knows everything, so it is almost impossible to find for him +something new. Great books are common, but I have succeeded +in my explorations among antiquarian shops in discovering the most +idiotic book that ever was written. It was by an old lord mayor of +London, who filled a volume with his experiences in an excursion +on the Thames, which is the daily experience of every Englishman." +To the disappointment of Mr. Gladstone, Lord Rosebery also had +that book. The evening was a memorable one for me. +</P> + +<P> +After a most charming time and dinner, while Lord Rosebery went +off to meet an engagement to speak at a meeting of colonial +representatives, Lady Rosebery took Mr. Gladstone and myself +to the opera at Covent Garden. There was a critical debate on +in the House of Commons, and the whips were running in to inform +him of the progress of the battle and to get instructions from +the great leader. +</P> + +<P> +During the entr'actes Mr. Gladstone most interestingly talked of +his sixty years' experience of the opera. He knew all the great +operas of that period, and criticised with wonderful skill the +composers and their characteristics. He gave a word picture of +all the great artists who had appeared on the English stage and +the merits and demerits of each. A stranger listening to him would +have said that a veteran musical critic, who had devoted his life +to that and nothing else, was reminiscing. He said that thirty +years before the manager of Covent Garden had raised the pitch, +that this had become so difficult that most of the artists, to reach +it, used the tremolo, and that the tremolo had taken away from him +the exquisite pleasure which he formerly had in listening to an opera. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gladstone was at that time the unquestionable master of the +House of Commons and its foremost orator. I unfortunately never +heard him at his best, but whether the question was of greater +or lesser importance, the appearance of Mr. Gladstone at once +lifted it above ordinary discussion to high debate. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gladstone asked many questions about large fortunes in the +United States, was curious about the methods of their accumulation, +and whether they survived in succeeding generations. He wanted +to know all about the reputed richest man among them. I told him +I did not know the amount of his wealth, but that it was at least +one hundred millions of dollars. +</P> + +<P> +"How invested?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +I answered: "All in fluid securities which could be turned into +cash in a short time." +</P> + +<P> +He became excited at that and said: "Such a man is dangerous +not only to his own country but to the world. With that amount +of ready money he could upset the exchanges and paralyze the +borrowing power of nations." +</P> + +<P> +"But," I said, "you have enormous fortunes," and mentioned the +Duke of Westminster. +</P> + +<P> +"I know every pound of Westminster's wealth," he said. "It is in +lands which he cannot sell, and burdened with settlements of +generations and obligations which cannot be avoided." +</P> + +<P> +"How about the Rothschilds?" I asked. +</P> + +<P> +"Their fortunes," he answered, "are divided among the firms in +London, Paris, Vienna, and Frankfort, and it would be impossible +for them to be combined and used to unsettle the markets of the +world. But Mr. —— could do this and prevent governments from +meeting their obligations." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gladstone had no hostility to great fortunes, however large, +unless so invested as to be immediately available by a single +man for speculation. But fortunes larger than that of one hundred +millions have since been acquired, and their management is so +conservative that they are brakes and safeguards against unreasoning +panics. The majority of them have been used for public benefit. +The most conspicuous instances are the Rockefeller Foundation, +the Carnegie Endowment, and the Frick Creation. +</P> + +<P> +Henry Labouchere told me a delightful story of Mr. Gladstone's +first meeting with Robert T. Lincoln, when he arrived in London +as American minister. Mr. Lincoln became in a short time after +his arrival one of the most popular of the distinguished list of +American representatives to Great Britain. He was especially noted +for the charm of his conversation. Labouchere said that Mr. Gladstone +told him that he was very anxious to meet Mr. Lincoln, both because +he was the new minister from the United States and because of his +great father, President Lincoln. Labouchere arranged for a dinner +at his house, which was an hour in the country from Mr. Gladstone's +city residence. Mrs. Gladstone made Mr. Labouchere promise, as +a condition for permitting her husband to go, that Mr. Gladstone +should be back inside of his home at ten o'clock. +</P> + +<P> +The dinner had no sooner started than some question arose which +not only interested but excited Mr. Gladstone. He at once entered +upon an eloquent monologue on the subject. There was no possibility +of interruption by any one, and Mr. Lincoln had no chance whatever +to interpose a remark. When the clock was nearing eleven Labouchere +interrupted this torrent of talk by saying: "Mr. Gladstone, it is +now eleven; it is an hour's ride to London, and I promised +Mrs. Gladstone to have you back at ten." When they were seated +in the carriage Labouchere said to Mr. Gladstone: "Well, you +have passed an evening with Mr. Lincoln; what do you think of him?" +He replied: "Mr. Lincoln is a charming personality, but he does +not seem to have much conversation." +</P> + +<P> +Among the very able men whom I met in London was Joseph Chamberlain. +When I first met him he was one of Mr. Gladstone's trusted +lieutenants. He was a capital speaker, a close and incisive +debater, and a shrewd politician. When he broke with Mr. Gladstone, +he retained his hold on his constituency and continued to be a +leader in the opposite party. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Chamberlain told me that in a critical debate in the +House of Commons, when the government was in danger, Mr. Gladstone, +who alone could save the situation, suddenly disappeared. Every +known resort of his was searched to find him. Mr. Chamberlain, +recollecting Mr. Gladstone's interest in a certain subject, drove +to the house of the lady whose authority on that subject +Mr. Gladstone highly respected. He found him submitting to the +lady for her criticism and correction some of Watts's hymns, +which he had translated into Italian. +</P> + +<P> +The British Government sent Mr. Chamberlain to America, and he +had many public receptions given him by our mercantile and other +bodies. On account of his separating from Mr. Gladstone on +Home Rule, he met with a great deal of hostility here from the Irish. +I was present at a public dinner where the interruptions and +hostile demonstrations were very pronounced. But Mr. Chamberlain +won his audience by his skill and fighting qualities. +</P> + +<P> +I gave him a dinner at my house and had a number of representative +men to meet him. He made the occasion exceedingly interesting +by presenting views of domestic conditions in England and +international ones with this country, which were quite new to us. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Chamberlain was a guest on the Teutonic at the famous review +of the British navy celebrating Queen Victoria's jubilee, where +I had the pleasure of again meeting him. He had recently married +Miss Endicott, the charming daughter of our secretary of war, and +everybody appreciated that it was a British statesman's honeymoon. +</P> + +<P> +He gave me a dinner in London, at which were present a large +company, and two subjects came under very acute discussion. There +had been a recent marriage in high English society, where there +were wonderful pedigree and relationships on both sides, but no +money. It finally developed, however, that under family settlements +the young couple might have fifteen hundred pounds a year, or +seven thousand five hundred dollars. The decision was unanimous +that they could get along very well and maintain their position on +this sum and be able to reciprocate reasonably the attentions they +would receive. Nothing could better illustrate the terrific +increase in the cost of living than the contrast between then and now. +</P> + +<P> +Some one of the guests at the dinner said that the Americans by +the introduction of slang were ruining the English language. +Mr. James Russell Lowell had come evidently prepared for this +controversy. He said that American slang was the common language +of that part of England from which the Pilgrims sailed, and that it +had been preserved in certain parts of the United States, notably +northern New England. He then produced an old book, a sort of +dictionary of that period, and proved his case. It was a surprise +to everybody to know that American slang was really classic English, +and still spoken in the remoter parts of Massachusetts and +New Hampshire, though no longer in use in England. +</P> + +<P> +The period of Mr. Gladstone's reign as prime minister was one of +the most interesting for an American visitor who had the privilege +of knowing him and the eminent men who formed his Cabinet. The +ladies of the Cabinet entertained lavishly and superbly. A great +favorite at these social gatherings was Miss Margot Tennant, +afterwards Mrs. Asquith. Her youth, her wit, her originality and +audacity made every function a success which was graced by +her presence. +</P> + +<P> +The bitterness towards Mr. Gladstone of the opposition party +surpassed anything I have met in American politics, except during +the Civil War. At dinners and receptions given me by my friends +of the Tory party I was supposed as an American to be friendly to +Mr. Gladstone and Home Rule. I do not know whether this was +the reason or whether it was usual, but on such occasions the +denunciation of Mr. Gladstone as a traitor and the hope of living +to see him executed was very frequent. +</P> + +<P> +I remember one important public man who was largely interested +and a good deal of a power in Canadian and American railroads. +He asked a friend of mine to arrange for me to meet him. I found +him a most agreeable man and very accurately informed on the +railway situation in Canada and the United States. He was +preparing for a visit, and so wanted me to fill any gaps there +might be in his knowledge of the situation. +</P> + +<P> +Apropos of the political situation at the time, he suddenly asked +me what was the attitude of the people of the United States towards +Mr. Gladstone and his Home Rule bill. I told him they were +practically unanimous in favor of the bill, and that Mr. Gladstone +was the most popular Englishman in the United States. He at once +flew into a violent rage, the rarest thing in the world for an +Englishman, and lost control of his temper to such a degree that +I thought the easiest way to dam the flood of his denunciation +was to plead another engagement and retire from the field. I met +him frequently afterwards, especially when he came to the +United States, but carefully avoided his pet animosity. +</P> + +<P> +One year, in the height of the crisis of Mr. Gladstone's effort +to pass the Home Rule bill, a member of his Cabinet said to me: +"We of the Cabinet are by no means unanimous in believing in +Mr. Gladstone's effort, but he is the greatest power in our country. +The people implicitly believe in him and we are helping all we can." +</P> + +<P> +It is well known that one after another broke away from him in +time. The same Cabinet minister continued: "Mr. Gladstone has +gone to the extreme limit in concessions made in his Home Rule +bill, and he can carry the English, Scotch, and Welsh members. +But every time the Irish seem to be satisfied, they make a new +demand and a greater one. Unless this stops and the present bill +is accepted, the whole scheme will break down. Many of the Irish +members are supported by contributions from America. Their +occupation is politics. If Home Rule should be adopted the serious +people of Ireland, whose economic interests are at stake, might +come to the front and take all representative offices themselves. +We have come to the conclusion that enough of the Irish members +to defeat the bill do not want Home Rule on any conditions. +I know it is a custom when you arrive home every year that your +friends meet you down the Bay and give you a reception. Then you +give an interview of your impressions over here, and that interview +is printed as widely in this country as in the United States. Now +I wish you would do this: At the reception put in your own way +what I have told you, and especially emphasize that Mr. Gladstone +is imperilling his political career and whole future for the sake +of what he believes would be justice to Ireland. He cannot go +any further and hold his English, Scotch, and Welsh constituencies. +He believes that he can pass the present bill and start Ireland on +a career of Home Rule if he can receive the support of the Irish +members. The Americans who believe in Mr. Gladstone and are all +honest Home Rulers will think this is an indirect message from +himself, and it would be if it were prudent for Mr. Gladstone to +send the message." +</P> + +<P> +On my return to New York I did as requested. The story was +published and commented on everywhere, and whether it was due +to American insistence or not, I do not know, but shortly after +Mr. Gladstone succeeded in carrying his Home Rule bill through the +House of Commons, but it was defeated by the Conservatives in the +House of Lords. +</P> + +<P> +His Irish policy is a tribute to Mr. Gladstone's judgment and +foresight, because in the light and conditions of to-day it is +perfectly plain that if the Gladstone measure had been adopted +at that time, the Irish question would not now be the most difficult +and dangerous in British politics. +</P> + +<P> +I had many talks with Mr. Parnell and made many speeches in his +behalf and later for Mr. Redmond. I asked him on one occasion +if the Irish desired complete independence and the formation of +an independent government. He answered: "No, we want Home Rule, +but to retain our connection in a way with the British Empire. +The military, naval, and civil service of the British Empire gives +great opportunities for our young men. Ireland in proportion to +its population is more largely represented in these departments +of the British Government than either England, Scotland, or Wales." +</P> + +<P> +Incidental to the division in Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet, which had +not at this time broken out, was the great vogue which a story of +mine had. I was dining with Earl Spencer. He had been lord +lieutenant of Ireland and was very popular. His wife especially +had been as great a success as the vice-regent. He was called +the Red Earl because of his flowing auburn beard. He was a very +serious man, devoted to the public service and exceedingly capable. +He almost adored Gladstone and grieved over the growing opposition +in the Cabinet. +</P> + +<P> +The guests at the dinner were all Gladstonians and lamenting these +differences and full of apprehension they might result in a split +in the party. The earl asked me if we ever had such conditions +in the United States. I answered: "Yes." Mr. Blaine, at that +time at the head of President Harrison's Cabinet as secretary +of state, had very serious differences with his chief, and the +people wondered why he remained. Mr. Blaine told me this story +apropos of the situation: The author of a play invited a friend +of his to witness the first production and sent him a complimentary +ticket. During the first act there were signs of disapproval, +which during the second act broke out into a riot. An excited +man sitting alongside the guest of the playwright said: "Stranger, +are you blind or deaf, or do you approve of the play?" The guest +replied: "My friend, my sentiments and opinion in regard to this +play do not differ from yours and the rest, but I am here on a +free ticket. If you will wait a little while till I go out and +buy a ticket, I will come back and help you raise hell." +</P> + +<P> +The most brilliant member of Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet and one of +the most accomplished, versatile, and eloquent men in Great Britain +was Lord Rosebery. I saw much of him when he was foreign minister +and also after he became prime minister. Lord Rosebery was not +only a great debater on political questions, he was also the most +scholarly orator of his country on educational, literary, and +patriotic subjects. He gathered about him always the people +whom a stranger pre-eminently desired to meet. +</P> + +<P> +I recall one of my week-end visits to his home at Mentmore, which +is one of the most delightful of my reminiscences abroad. He had +taken down there the leaders of his party. The dinner lasted, the +guests all being men, except Lady Rosebery, who presided, until +after twelve o'clock. Every one privileged to be there felt that +those four hours had passed more quickly and entertainingly than +any in their experience. +</P> + +<P> +It was a beautiful moonlight night and the very best of English +weather, and we adjourned to the terrace. There were recalled +personal experiences, incidents of travel from men who had been +all over the world and in critical situations in many lands, +diplomatic secrets revealing crises seriously threatening European +wars, and how these had been averted, alliances made and territories +acquired, adventures of thrilling interest and personal episodes +surpassing fiction. The company reluctantly separated when the +rising sun admonished them that the night had passed. +</P> + +<P> +It has been my good fortune to be the guest of eminent men in +many lands and on occasions of memorable interest, but the rarest +privilege for any one was to be the guest of Lord Rosebery, either +at his city house or one of his country residences. The wonderful +charm of the host, his tact with his guests, his talent for drawing +people out and making them appear at their best, linger in their +memories as red-letter days and nights of their lives. +</P> + +<P> +All Americans took great interest in the career of Lord Randolph +Churchill. His wife was one of the most beautiful and popular +women in English society, and an American. I knew her father, +Leonard Jerome, very well. He was a successful banker and a highly +educated and cultured gentleman. His brother, William Jerome, +was for a long time the best story-teller and one of the wittiest +of New Yorkers. +</P> + +<P> +Lord Randolph Churchill advanced very rapidly in British politics +and became not only one of the most brilliant debaters but one +of the leaders of the House of Commons. On one of my visits abroad +I received an invitation from the Churchills to visit them at their +country place. When I arrived I found that they occupied a castle +built in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and in which few modern +alterations had been made. It was historically a very unique and +interesting structure. Additions had been made to it by succeeding +generations, each being another house with its own methods of +ingress and egress. Lord Randolph said: "I welcome you to my +ancestral home, which I have rented for three months." +</P> + +<P> +Though this temporary residence was very ancient, yet its +hospitalities were dispensed by one of the most up-to-date and +progressive couples in the kingdom. In the intimacy of a +house-party, not too large, one could enjoy the versatility, +the charm, the wide information, the keen political acumen of +this accomplished and magnetic British statesman. It was +unfortunate for his country that from overwork he broke down so +early in life. +</P> + +<P> +No one during his period could surpass Baron Alfred Rothschild as +host. His dinners in town, followed by exquisite musicales, were +the social events of every season. He was, however, most attractive +at his superb place in the country. A week-end with him there met +the best traditions of English hospitality. In the party were sure +to be men and women of distinction, and just the ones whom an +American had read about and was anxious to meet. +</P> + +<P> +Baron Rothschild was a famous musician and an ardent lover of +music. He had at his country place a wonderfully trained orchestra +of expert musicians. In the theatre he gave concerts for the +enjoyment of his guests, and led the orchestra himself. Among +the company was sure to be one or more of the most famous artists +from the opera at Covent Garden, and from these experts his own +leadership and the performance of his perfectly trained company +received unstinted praise and applause. Baron Rothschild had the +art so necessary for the enjoyment of his guests of getting +together the right people. He never risked the harmony of his +house by inviting antagonists. +</P> + +<P> +Lord Rothschild, the head of the house, differed entirely from +his amiable and accomplished brother. While he also entertained, +his mind was engrossed in business and affairs. I had a conference +with him at the time of the Spanish-American War, which might have +been of historical importance. He asked me to come and see him +in the Rothschild banking-house, where the traditions of a century +are preserved and unchanged. He said to me: "We have been for +a long time the bankers of Spain. We feel the responsibility for +their securities, which we have placed upon the market. The +United States is so all-powerful in its resources and spirit that +it can crush Spain. This we desire to avert. Spain, though weak +and poor compared to the United States, has nevertheless the +proudest people in the world, and it is a question of Spanish +pride we have to deal with." +</P> + +<P> +In answering him I said: "Lord Rothschild, it seems to me that +if you had any proposition you should take it to Mr. John Hay, +our accomplished minister." +</P> + +<P> +"No," he said; "then it would become a matter of diplomacy and +publicity. Now the Spanish Government is willing to comply with +every demand the United States can make. The government is willing +to grant absolute independence to Cuba, or what it would prefer, +a self-governing colony, with relations like that of Canada to +Great Britain. Spain is willing to give to the United States +Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands, but she must know beforehand +if these terms will be accepted before making the offer because +if an offer so great as this and involving such a loss of territory +and prestige should be rejected by the United States there would +be a revolution in Spain which might overthrow not only the +government but the monarchy. What would be regarded as an insult +would be resented by every Spaniard to the bitter end. That is +why I have asked you to come and wish you to submit this proposition +to your president. Of course, I remain in a position, if there +should be any publicity about it, to deny the whole thing." +</P> + +<P> +The proposition unfortunately came too late, and Mr. McKinley could +not stop the war. It was well known in Washington that he was +exceedingly averse to hostilities and believed the difficulties +could be satisfactorily settled by diplomacy, but the people were +aroused to such an extent that they were determined not only to free +Cuba but to punish those who were oppressing the Cubans. +</P> + +<P> +One incident which received little publicity at the time was in +all probability the match which fired the magazine. One of the +ablest and most level-headed members of the Senate was Senator +Redfield Proctor, of Vermont. The solidity of his character and +acquirements and his known sense and conservatism made him a +power in Congress, and he had the confidence of the people. He +visited Cuba and wrote a report in which he detailed as an +eyewitness the atrocities which the government and the soldiers +were perpetrating. He read this report to Mr. McKinley and +Senator Hanna. They both said: "Senator Proctor, if you read +that to the Senate, our negotiations end and war is inevitable." +</P> + +<P> +The president requested the senator to delay reporting to the +Senate. The excitement and interest in that body were never more +unanimous and intense. I doubt if any senator could have resisted +this rare opportunity not only to be the centre of the stage but +to occupy the whole platform. Senator Proctor made his report +and the country was aflame. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +One summer I arrived in London and was suffering from a fearful +attack of muscular rheumatism. I knew perfectly well that I had +brought it on myself by overwork. I had suffered several attacks +before, but this one was so acute that I consulted Sir Henry Thompson, +at that time the acknowledged head of the British medical +profession. He made a thorough examination and with most +satisfactory result as to every organ. "With your perfect +constitution," he said, "this attack is abnormal. Now tell me of +your day and every day at home. Begin with breakfast." +</P> + +<P> +"I breakfast at a quarter of eight," I said. +</P> + +<P> +"Then," continued the doctor, "give me the whole day." +</P> + +<P> +"I arrive at my office," I said, "at nine. Being president of +a great railway company, there is a large correspondence to be +disposed of. I see the heads of the different departments and +get in touch with every branch of the business. Then I meet +committees of chambers of commerce or shippers, or of employees +who have a grievance, and all this will occupy me until five +o'clock, when I go home. I take a very short lunch, often at +my desk, to save time. On arriving home I take a nap of ten or +fifteen minutes, and then look over my engagements for the evening. +If it is a speech, which will probably happen four evenings in a +week, I prepare in the next hour and then deliver it at some public +banquet or hall. If I have accepted a formal address or, as we +call them in America, orations, it is ground out on odd evenings, +Sunday afternoon and night." +</P> + +<P> +The doctor turned to me abruptly and said: "You ought to be dead. +Now, you have the most perfect constitution and less impaired than +any I have examined at your time of life. If you will follow the +directions which I give you, you can be perfectly well and sound +at the age of one hundred. If you continue your present life until +seventy, you will have a nervous breakdown, and thereafter become +a nuisance to yourself and everybody else. I advise absolute rest +at a remote place in Switzerland. There you will receive no +newspapers, and you will hear nothing from the outside world. +You will meet there only English who are seeking health, and they +will not speak to you. Devote your day to walking over the +mountains, adding to your tramp as your strength increases, and +lie for hours on the bank of a quiet stream there, and be intensely +interested as you throw pebbles into it to see how wide you can +make the circles from the spot where the pebble strikes the water." +</P> + +<P> +I thought I understood my temperament better than the doctor, and +that any rest for me was not solitude but entire change of +occupation. So I remained in London and lunched and dined out +every day for several weeks, with a week-end over every Sunday. +In other ways, however, I adopted the doctor's directions and not +only returned home cured, but have been free from rheumatism +ever since. +</P> + +<P> +I was in London at both the queen's fiftieth anniversary of her +reign and her jubilee. The reverence and love the English people +had for Queen Victoria was a wonderful exhibition of her wisdom +as a sovereign and of her charm and character as a woman. The +sixty years of her reign were a wonderful epoch in the growth of +her empire and in its relations to the world. +</P> + +<P> +Once I said to a member of the Cabinet, who, as minister of +foreign affairs had been brought in close contact with the queen: +"I am very much impressed with the regard which the people have +for Queen Victoria. What is her special function in your scheme +of government?" +</P> + +<P> +"She is invaluable," he answered, "to every prime minister and +the Cabinet. The prime minister, after the close of the debate +in the House of Commons every night, writes the queen a full +report of what has occurred at that session. This has been going +on for more than half a century. The queen reads these accounts +carefully and has a most retentive memory. If these communications +of the prime ministers were ever available to the public, they +would present a remarkable contrast of the minds and the methods +of different prime ministers and especially those two extreme +opposites, Gladstone and Disraeli. The queen did not like Gladstone, +because she said he always preached, but she had an intense +admiration for Disraeli, who threw into his nightly memoranda all +his skill not only as a statesman, but a novelist. The queen also +has been consulted during all these years on every crisis, domestic +or foreign, and every matter of Cabinet importance. The result +is that she is an encyclopaedia. Very often there will be a dispute +with some of the great powers or lesser ones, which is rapidly +growing to serious proportions. We can find no report of its +beginning. The queen, however, will remember just when the +difficulty began, and why it was pushed aside and not settled, +and who were the principal actors in the negotiations. With that +data we often arrive at a satisfactory settlement." +</P> + +<P> +I remember one garden-party at Buckingham Palace. The day was +perfect and the attendance phenomenally large and distinguished. +While there were places on the grounds where a luncheon was served, +the guests neglected these places and gathered about a large tent +where the royalties had their refreshments. It was an intense +curiosity, not so much to see their sovereign eat and drink, as +to improve the opportunity to reverently gaze upon her at close +range. The queen called various people whom she knew from this +circle of onlookers for a familiar talk. +</P> + +<P> +When the luncheon was served the attendant produced an immense +napkin, which she spread over herself, almost from her neck to +the bottom of her dress. A charming English lady, who stood beside +me, said: "I know you are laughing at the economy of our Queen." +</P> + +<P> +"On the contrary," I said, "I am admiring an example of carefulness +and thrift which, if it could be universally known, would be of +as great benefit in the United States as in Great Britain." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," she continued, "I do wish that the dear old lady was not +quite so careful." +</P> + +<P> +At a period when the lives of the continental rulers were in great +peril from revolutionists and assassins, the queen on both her +fiftieth anniversary and her jubilee rode in an open carriage +through many miles of London streets, with millions of spectators +on either side pressing closely upon the procession, and there was +never a thought that she was in the slightest danger. She was +fearless herself, but she had on the triple armor of the overmastering +love and veneration of the whole people. Americans remembered +that in the crisis of our Civil War it was the influence of the +queen, more than any other, which prevented Great Britain +recognizing the Southern Confederacy. +</P> + +<P> +Among the incidents of her jubilee was the greatest naval +demonstration ever known. The fleets of Great Britain were summoned +from all parts of the globe and anchored in a long and imposing +line in the English Channel. Mr. Ismay, at that time the head +of the White Star Line, took the Teutonic, which had just been +built and was not yet in regular commission, as his private yacht. +He had on board a notable company, representing the best, both +of men and women, of English life. He was the most generous of +hosts, and every care taken for the individual comfort of his +guests. In the intimacy for several days of such an excursion +we all became very well acquainted. There were speeches at +the dinners and dances afterwards on the deck for the younger +people. The war-ships were illuminated at night by electric +lights, and the launch of the Teutonic took us down one lane and +up another through the long lines of these formidable defenders +of Great Britain. +</P> + +<P> +One day there was great excitement when a war-ship steamed into +our midst and it was announced that it was the German emperor's. +Even as early as that he excited in the English mind both curiosity +and apprehension. One of the frequent questions put to me, both +then and for years afterwards at English dinners, was: "What do +you think of the German emperor?" +</P> + +<P> +Shortly after his arrival he came on to the Teutonic with the +Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII. The prince knew +many of the company and was most cordial all around. The emperor +was absorbed in an investigation of this new ship and her +possibilities both in the mercantile marine and as a cruiser. +I heard him say to the captain: "How are you armed?" The captain +told him that among his equipment he had a new invention, a +quick-firing gun. The emperor was immediately greatly excited. +He examined the gun and questioned its qualities and possibilities +until he was master of every detail. Then he turned to one of +his officers and gave a quick order that the gun should be +immediately investigated and all that were required should be +provided for Germany. +</P> + +<P> +I heard a picturesque story from a member of the court, of +Queen Victoria's interest in all public affairs. There was then, +as there is generally in European relations, some talk of war. +The queen was staying at her castle at Osborne on the Isle of Wight. +He said she drove alone down to the shore one night and sat there +a long time looking at this great fleet, which was the main +protection of her empire and her people. It would be interesting +if one could know what were her thoughts, her fears, and her hopes. +</P> + +<P> +The queen was constantly assisting the government in the maintenance +of friendly relations with foreign powers by entertaining their +representatives at Windsor Castle. When General Grant, after +he retired from the presidency, made his trip around the world, +the question which disturbed our American minister, when General Grant +arrived in London, was how he could be properly received and +recognized. Of course, under our usage, he had become a private +citizen, and was no more entitled to official recognition than any +other citizen. This was well known in the diplomatic circles. +When the ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries in London +were appealed to, they unanimously said that as they represented +their sovereigns they could not yield precedence to General Grant, +but he must sit at the foot of the table. The Prince of Wales +solved this question with his usual tact and wisdom. Under the +recognized usage at any entertainment, the Prince of Wales can +select some person as his special guest to sit at his right, and, +therefore, precede everybody else. The prince made this suggestion +to our minister and performed this courteous act at all functions +given to General Grant. Queen Victoria supplemented this by +extending the same invitation to General and Mrs. Grant to dine +and spend the night with her at Windsor Castle, which was extended +only to visiting royalty. +</P> + +<P> +I remember that the Army of the Potomac was holding its annual +meeting and commemoration at one of our cities when the cable +announced that General Grant was being entertained by Queen Victoria +at Windsor Castle. The conventions of diplomacy, which requires +all communications to pass through the ambassador of one's country +to the foreign minister of another country before it can reach the +sovereign were not known to these old soldiers, so they cabled +a warm message to General Grant, care of Queen Victoria, +Windsor Castle, England. +</P> + +<P> +One of the most delightful bits of humor in my recollections of +journalistic enterprise was an editorial by a Mr. Alden, one +of the editors of the New York Times. Mr. Alden described with +great particularity, as if giving the details of the occurrence, +that the messenger-boy arrived at Windsor Castle during the night +and rang the front door-bell; that Her Majesty called out of the +window in quite American style, "Who is there?" and the messenger-boy +shouted, "Cable for General Grant. Is he staying at this house?" +I can only give a suggestion of Alden's fun, which shook the +whole country. +</P> + +<P> +One of the court officers said to me during the jubilee: "Royalties +are here from every country, and among those who have come over +is Liliuokalani, Queen of the Hawaiian Islands. She is as insistent +of her royal rights as the Emperor of Germany. We have consented +that she should be a guest at a dinner of our queen and spend +the night at Windsor Castle. We have settled her place among +the royalties in the procession through London and offered her +the hussars as her guard of honor. She insists, however, that +she shall have the same as the other kings, a company of the +guards. Having recognized her, we are obliged to yield." The +same officer told me that at the dinner the dusky queen said to +Queen Victoria: "Your Majesty, I am a blood relative of yours." +</P> + +<P> +"How so?" was the queen's astonished answer. +</P> + +<P> +"Why," said Liliuokalani, "my grandfather ate your Captain Cook." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +One of the most interesting of the many distinguished men who +were either guests on the Teutonic or visited us was Admiral Lord +Charles Beresford. He was a typical sailor of the highest class +and very versatile. He made a good speech, either social or +political, and was a delightful companion on all occasions. He +had remarkable adventures all over the world, and was a word +painter of artistic power. He knew America well and was very +sympathetic with our ideals. I met him many times in many relations +and always with increasing regard and esteem. +</P> + +<P> +I was entertained by Lord Beresford once in the most original way. +He had a country place about an hour from London and invited me +to come down on a Sunday afternoon and meet some friends. It was +a delightful garden-party on an ideal English summer day. He +pressed me to stay for dinner, saying: "There will be a few friends +coming, whom I am anxious for you to know." +</P> + +<P> +The friends kept coming, and after a while Lady Beresford said +to him: "We have set all the tables we have and the dining-room +and the adjoining room can hold. How many have you invited?" +</P> + +<P> +The admiral answered: "I cannot remember, but if we delay the +dinner until a quarter of nine, I am sure they will all be here." +</P> + +<P> +When we sat down we numbered over fifty. Lord Charles's abounding +and irresistible hospitality had included everybody whom he had met +the day before. +</P> + +<P> +The butler came to Lord Charles shortly after we sat down and +said: "My lord, it is Sunday night, and the shops are all closed. +We can add nothing to what we have in the house, and the soup +has given out." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said this admirable strategist, "commence with those for +whom you have no soup with the fish. When the fish gives out, +start right on with the next course, and so to the close of the +dinner. In that way everybody will get something." +</P> + +<P> +After a while the butler again approached the admiral and said: +"My lord, the champagne is all gone." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Lord Charles, "start in on cider." +</P> + +<P> +It was a merry company, and they all caught on to the situation. +The result was one of the most hilarious, enjoyable, and original +entertainments of my life. It lasted late, and everybody with +absolute sincerity declared he or she had had the best time ever. +</P> + +<P> +I was asked to meet Lord John Fisher, in a way a rival of +Lord Beresford. Both were exceedingly able and brilliant officers +and men of achievement, but they were absolutely unlike; one had +all the characteristics of the Celt and the other of the Saxon. +</P> + +<P> +One of the most interesting things in Lord Fisher's talk, especially +in view of later developments, was his description of the +discoveries and annexations to the British Empire, made by the +British navy. In regard to this he said: "The British navy had +been acquiring positions of strategic importance to the safety and +growth of the empire from time immemorial, and some fool of a +prime minister on a pure matter of sentiment is always giving away +to our possible enemies one or the other of these advantageous +positions." He referred especially to Heligoland, the gift of +which to Germany had taken place not long before. If Heligoland, +fortified like Gibraltar, had remained in the possession of the +British Government, Germany would not have ventured upon the late war. +</P> + +<P> +Lord Fisher exemplified what I have often met with in men who have +won eminent distinction in some career, whose great desire was +to have fame in another and entirely different one. Apparently +he wished his friends and those he met to believe that he was +the best storyteller in the world; that he had the largest stock +of original anecdotes and told them better than anybody else. +I found that he was exceedingly impatient and irritable when any +one else started the inevitable "that reminds me," and he was +intolerant with the story the other was trying to tell. But I +discovered, also, that most of his stories, though told with great +enthusiasm, were very familiar, or, as we Americans would +say, "chestnuts." +</P> + +<P> +During my summer vacations I spent two weeks or more at Homburg, +the German watering-place. It was at that time the most interesting +resort on the continent. The Prince of Wales, afterwards +King Edward VII, was always there, and his sister, the Dowager +Empress of Germany, had her castle within a few miles. It was +said that there was a quorum of both Houses of Parliament in +Homburg while the prince was there, but his presence also drew +representatives from every department of English life, the bench +and the bar, writers of eminence of both sexes, distinguished +artists, and people famous on both the dramatic and the operatic +stage. The prince, with keen discrimination, had these interesting +people always about him. There were also social leaders, whose +entertainments were famous in London, who did their best to add +to the pleasure of the visit of the prince. I met him frequently +and was often his guest at his luncheons and dinners. He fell +in at once in the Homburg way. +</P> + +<P> +The routine of the cure was to be at the springs every morning +at seven o'clock, to take a glass of water, walk half an hour +with some agreeable companion, and repeat this until three glasses +had been consumed. Then breakfast, and after that the great +bathing-house at eleven o'clock. The bathing-house was a +meeting-place for everybody. Another meeting-place was the open-air +concerts in the afternoon. In the evening came the formal dinners +and some entertainment afterwards. +</P> + +<P> +Both for luncheon and dinner the prince always had quite a large +company. He was a host of great charm, tact, and character. He +had a talent of drawing out the best there was in those about his +table, and especially of making the occasion very agreeable for +a stranger. Any one at his entertainments always carried away +either in the people he met or the things that were said, or both, +permanent recollections. +</P> + +<P> +I do not think the prince bothered about domestic questions. He +was very observant of the limitations and restrictions which the +English Government imposes upon royalty. He was, however, very +keen upon his country's foreign relations. In the peace of Europe +he was an important factor, being so closely allied with the imperial +houses of Germany and Russia. There is no doubt that he prevented +the German Emperor from acquiring a dangerous control over the +Czar. He was very fixed and determined to maintain and increase +friendly relations between the United States and Great Britain. +He succeeded, after many varied and long-continued efforts, in +doing away with the prejudices and hostilities of the French +towards the English, an accomplishment of infinite value to his +country in these later years. +</P> + +<P> +I was told that the prince required very little sleep, that he +retired to bed late and was an early riser. I was awakened one +night by his equerry calling me up, saying the prince was on +the terrace of the Kursaal and wanted to see me. The lights were +all out, everybody had gone, and he was sitting alone at a table +illuminated by a single candle. What he desired was to discuss +American affairs and become more familiar with our public men, +our ideals, our policies, and especially any causes which could +possibly be removed of irritation between his own country and +ours. This discussion lasted till daylight. +</P> + +<P> +Meeting him on the street one day, he stopped and asked me to +step aside into an opening there was in the hedge. He seemed +laboring under considerable excitement, and said: "Why do the +people in the United States want to break up the British Empire?" +</P> + +<P> +I knew he referred to the Home Rule bill for Ireland, which was +then agitating Parliament and the country, and also the frequent +demonstrations in its favor which were occurring in the United States. +</P> + +<P> +I said to him: "Sir, I do not believe there is a single American +who has any thought of breaking up the British Empire. We are +wedded to the federal principle of independent States, which are +sovereign in their local affairs and home matters, but on +everything you call imperial the United States is supreme. To +vindicate this principle we fought a Civil War, in which we lost +more lives, spent more money, destroyed more property, and incurred +more debt than any contest of modern time. The success of the +government has been so complete that the States which were in +rebellion and their people are quite as loyal to the general +government as those who fought to preserve it. The prosperity +of the country, with this question settled, has exceeded the bounds +of imagination. So Americans think of your trouble with Ireland +in terms of our federated States and believe that all your +difficulties could be adjusted in the same way." +</P> + +<P> +We had a long discussion in which he asked innumerable questions, +and never referred to the subject again. I heard afterwards among +my English friends that he who had been most hostile was becoming +a Home Ruler. +</P> + +<P> +At another time he wanted to know why our government had treated +the British ambassador, Lord Sackville West, so badly and ruined +his career. The Sackville West incident was already forgotten, +though it was the liveliest question of its time. +</P> + +<P> +Cleveland was president and a candidate for re-election. +Sackville West was the British ambassador. A little company of +shrewd Republican politicians in California thought if they could +get an admission that the British Government was interfering in +our election in favor of Cleveland, it would be a fine asset in +the campaign, and so they wrote to Lord Sackville West, telling +him they were Englishmen who had become naturalized American +citizens. In voting they were anxious to vote for the side which +would be best for their native land; would he kindly and very +confidentially advise them whether to support the Democratic or +the Republican ticket. Sackville West swallowed the bait without +investigation, and wrote them a letter advising them to vote the +Democratic ticket. +</P> + +<P> +There never had been such consternation in diplomatic circles in +Washington. Of course, Mr. Cleveland and his supporters had to +get out from under the situation as quickly and gracefully as possible. +</P> + +<P> +The administration instantly demanded that the British Government +should recall Lord Sackville West, which was done, and he was +repudiated for his activity in American politics. It was curious +that the prince had apparently never been fully informed of +the facts, but had been misled by Sackville West's explanation, +and the prince was always loyal to a friend. +</P> + +<P> +One year Mr. James G. Blaine visited Homburg, and the prince +at once invited him to luncheon. Blaine's retort to a question +delighted every American in the place. One of the guests was +the then Duke of Manchester, an old man and a great Tory. When +the duke grasped that Blaine was a leading American and had been +a candidate for the presidency of the United States, all his old +Toryism was aroused, and he was back in the days of George III. +To the horror of the prince, the duke said to Mr. Blaine: "The most +outrageous thing in all history was your rebellion and separation +from the best government on earth." He said much more before +the prince could stop him. +</P> + +<P> +Blaine, with that grace and tact for which he was so famous, +smilingly said: "Well, your Grace, if George III had had the sense, +tact, and winning qualities of his great-grandson, our host, it is +just possible that we might now be a self-governing colony in +the British Empire." +</P> + +<P> +The answer relieved the situation and immensely pleased the host. +Lord Rosebery once said in a speech that, with the tremendous +growth in every element of greatness of the United States, if the +American colonies had remained in the British Empire, with their +preponderating influence and prestige, the capital of Great Britain +might have been moved to New York and Buckingham Palace rebuilt +in Central Park. +</P> + +<P> +At another dinner one of the guests of the prince suddenly shot +at me across the table the startling question: "Do you know +certain American heiresses"—naming them—"now visiting London?" +</P> + +<P> +I answered "Yes"—naming one especially, a very beautiful and +accomplished girl who was quite the most popular debutante of +the London season. +</P> + +<P> +"How much has she?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +I named the millions which she would probably inherit. "But," +I added, "before you marry an American heiress, you better be sure +that she can say the Lord's Prayer." +</P> + +<P> +He said with great indignation that he would be astonished if any +American girl could be recognized in English society who had been +so badly brought up that she was not familiar with the Lord's Prayer. +</P> + +<P> +"All of them are," I replied, "but few heiresses, unless they have +come into their inheritance and can say 'Our Father, who art in +heaven,' will inherit much, because American fathers are very +speculative." +</P> + +<P> +He continued to express his astonishment at this lack of religious +training in an American family, while the prince enjoyed the joke +so much that I was fearful in his convulsive laughter he would have +a fit of apoplexy. +</P> + +<P> +Once, at a dinner given by the prince, an old lady of very high +rank and leading position said suddenly to me, and in a way which +aroused the attention of the whole company: "Is it true that +divorces are very common in America?" +</P> + +<P> +I knew that a denial by me would not convince her or any others +who shared in this belief, then very common in Europe. Of course, +the prince knew better. I saw from his expression that he wished +me to take advantage of the opportunity. I made up my mind quickly +that the best way to meet this belief was by an exaggeration which +would show its absurdity. +</P> + +<P> +Having once started, the imaginative situation grew beyond my +anticipation. I answered: "Yes, divorces are so common with us +that the government has set aside one of our forty-odd States for +this special purpose. It is the principal business of the authorities. +Most of these actions for divorce take place at the capital, which +is always crowded with great numbers of people from all parts of +the country seeking relief from their marital obligations." +</P> + +<P> +"Did you ever visit that capital?" asked the prince. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, several times," I answered, "but not for divorce. My domestic +relations have always been very happy, but it is also a famous +health resort, and I went there for the cure." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell us about your visit," said the prince. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," I continued, "it was out of season when I was first there, +so the only amusement or public occasions of interest were +prayer-meetings." +</P> + +<P> +The old lady asked excitedly: "Share meetings?" She had been +a large and unfortunate investor in American stocks. +</P> + +<P> +I relieved her by saying: "No, not share meetings, but religious +prayer-meetings. I remember one evening that the gentleman who +sat beside me turned suddenly to his wife and said: 'We must get +out of here at once; the air is too close.' 'Why, no,' she said; +'the windows are all open and the breeze is fresh.' 'Yes,' he +quickly remarked, 'but next to you are your two predecessors from +whom I was divorced, and that makes the air too close for me.'" +</P> + +<P> +The old lady exclaimed: "What a frightful condition!" +</P> + +<P> +"Tell us more," said the prince. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," I continued, "one day the mayor of the city invited me +to accompany him to the station, as the divorce train was about +to arrive. I found at the station a judge and one of the court +attendants. The attendant had a large package of divorce decrees +to which the seal of the court had been attached, and also the +signature of the judge. They only required to have the name of +the party desiring divorce inserted. Alongside the judge stood +a clergyman of the Established Church in full robes of his sacred +office. When the passengers had all left the cars, the conductor +jumped on to one of the car platforms and shouted to the crowd: +'All those who desire divorce will go before the judge and make +their application.' +</P> + +<P> +"When they had all been released by the court the conductor again +called out: 'All those who have been accompanied by their partners, +or where both have been to-day released from their former husbands +and wives to be remarried, will go before the rector.' He married +them in a body, whereupon they all resumed their places on the +train. The blowing of the whistle and the ringing of the bell on +the locomotive was the music of their first, second, or third +honeymoon journey." +</P> + +<P> +The old lady threw up her hands in horror and cried: "Such an +impious civilization must come speedily not only to spiritual and +moral destruction, but chaos." +</P> + +<P> +Most of the company saw what an amazing caricature the whole story +was and received it with great hilarity. The effect of it was to +end, for that circle, at least, and their friends, a serious +discussion of the universality of American divorces. +</P> + +<P> +The prince was always an eager sportsman and a very chivalric +one. At the time of one of the races at Cowes he became very +indignant at the conduct of an American yachtsman who had entered +his boat. It was charged by the other competitors that this +American yachtsman violated all the unwritten laws of the contest. +</P> + +<P> +After the race the prince said to me: "A yacht is a gentleman's +home, whether it is racing or sailing about for pleasure. The +owner of this yacht, to make her lighter and give her a better +chance, removed all the furniture and stripped her bare. He even +went so far, I am told, that when he found the steward had left +his stateroom a tooth-brush, he threw it out of the port window." +</P> + +<P> +It will be seen from these few anecdotes how intensely human was +the Prince of Wales. He did much for his country, both as prince +and king, and filled in a wise and able way the functions of his +office. Certainly no official did quite so much for the peace of +Europe during his time, and no royalty ever did more to make the +throne popular with the people. I heard him speak at both formal +and informal occasions, and his addresses were always tactful +and wise. +</P> + +<P> +While at Homburg we used to enjoy the delightful excursions to +Nauheim, the famous nerve-cure place. I met there at one time +a peculiar type of Americans, quite common in former years. They +were young men who, having inherited fortunes sufficient for their +needs, had no ambitions. After a strenuous social life at home +and in Europe, they became hypochondriacs and were chasing cures +for their imaginary ills from one resort to another. +</P> + +<P> +One of them, who had reached middle life, had, of course, become +in his own opinion a confirmed invalid. I asked him: "What +brought you here? You look very well." +</P> + +<P> +"That is just my trouble," he answered. "I look very well and +so get no sympathy, but my nervous system is so out of order that +it only takes a slight shock to completely disarrange it. For +instance, the cause of my present trouble. I was dining in Paris +at the house of a famous hostess, and a distinguished company +was present. The only three Americans were two ladies and myself. +I was placed between them. You know one of these ladies, while +a great leader at home, uses very emphatic language when she is +irritated. The dinner, like most French dinners, with many +courses, was unusually long. Suddenly this lady, leaning over +me, said to her sister: 'Damn it, Fan, will this dinner never end?' +The whole table was shocked and my nerves were completely shattered." +The great war, as I think, exterminated this entire tribe. +</P> + +<P> +I was delighted to find at Nauheim my old friends, Mark Twain and +the Reverend Doctor Joseph Twichell, of Hartford, Conn. Doctor +Twichell was Mark Twain's pastor at home. He was in college with +me at Yale, and I was also associated with him in the governing +corporation of Yale University. He was one of the finest wits +and remarkable humorists of his time. Wit and humor were with +him spontaneous, and he bubbled over with them. Mark Twain's +faculties in that line were more labored and had to be worked out. +Doctor Twichell often furnished in the rough the jewels which +afterwards in Mark Twain's workshop became perfect gems. +</P> + +<P> +I invited them to come over and spend the day and dine with me +in the evening at Homburg. Mark Twain at that time had the +reputation in England of being the greatest living wit and humorist. +It soon spread over Homburg that he was in town and was to dine +with me in the evening, and requests came pouring in to be invited. +I kept enlarging my table at the Kursaal, with these requests, +until the management said they could go no farther. I placed +Mark Twain alongside Lady Cork, one of the most brilliant women +in England. In the course of years of acquaintance I had met +Mark Twain under many conditions. He was very uncertain in a +social gathering. Sometimes he would be the life of the occasion +and make it one to be long remembered, but generally he contributed +nothing. At this dinner, whenever he showed the slightest sign +of making a remark, there was dead silence, but the remark did +not come. He had a charming time, and so did Lady Cork, but the +rest of the company heard nothing from the great humorist, and +they were greatly disappointed. +</P> + +<P> +The next morning Mark Twain came down to the springs in his +tramping-suit, which had fairly covered the continent. I introduced +him to the Prince of Wales, and he was charmed with him in their +hour of walk and talk. At dinner that evening the prince said +to me: "I would have invited Mark Twain this evening, if I thought +he had with him any dinner clothes." +</P> + +<P> +"At my dinner last night," I said, "he met every conventional +requirement." +</P> + +<P> +"Then," continued the prince, "I would be much obliged if you +would get him for dinner with me to-morrow evening." +</P> + +<P> +It was very much the same company as had dined with the prince +the night before. Again Twain was for a long time a complete +disappointment. I knew scores of good things of his and tried +my best to start him off, but without success. The prince, who +was unusually adroit and tactful in drawing a distinguished guest +out, also failed. When the dinner was over, however, and we had +reached the cigars, Mark Twain started in telling a story in his +most captivating way. His peculiar drawl, his habit in emphasizing +the points by shaking his bushy hair, made him a dramatic narrator. +He never had greater success. Even the veteran Mark himself was +astonished at the uproarious laughter which greeted almost every +sentence and was overwhelming when he closed. +</P> + +<P> +There are millions of stories in the world, and several hundred +of them good ones. No one knew more of them than Mark Twain, +and yet out of this vast collection he selected the one which +I had told the night before to the same company. The laughter +and enjoyment were not at the story, but because the English had, +as they thought, caught me in retailing to them from Mark Twain's +repertoire one of his stories. It so happened that it was a story +which I had heard as happening upon our railroad in one of my +tours of inspection. I had told it in a speech, and it had been +generally copied in the American newspapers. Mark Twain's +reputation as the greatest living humorist caused that crowd to +doubt the originality of my stories. +</P> + +<P> +Mark had declined the cigars, but the prince was so delighted that +he offered him one of the highly prized selection from his own +case. This drew from him a story, which I have not seen in any +of his books. I have read Mark Twain always with the greatest +pleasure. His books of travel have been to me a source of endless +interest, and his "Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc" is the +best representation of the saint and heroine that I know. +</P> + +<P> +When the prince offered him the cigar, Mark said: "No, prince, +I never smoke. I have the reputation in Hartford, Conn., of +furnishing at my entertainments the worst of cigars. When I was +going abroad, and as I would be away for several years, I gave +a reception and invited all my friends. I had the governor of +the State of Connecticut and the judges of the highest courts, +and the most distinguished members of the legislature. I had +the leading clergymen and other citizens, and also the president +and faculty of Yale University and Trinity College. +</P> + +<P> +"At three o'clock in the afternoon my butler, who is a colored +man, Pompey by name, came to me and said: 'Mr. Clemens, we have +no cigars.' Just then a pedler's wagon stopped at the gate. In +England they call them cheap jacks. I hailed the merchant and +said: 'What have you in your wagon?' 'Well,' he answered, 'I have +some Gobelin tapestries, Sevres china, and Japanese cloisonne +vases, and a few old masters.' Then I said to him: 'I do not +want any of those, but have you cigars, and how much?' The pedler +answered: 'Yes, sir, I have some excellent cigars, which I will +sell you at seventeen cents a barrel.' I have to explain that +a cent is an English farthing. Then I told him to roll a barrel in." +</P> + +<P> +"It was a great occasion, one of the greatest we ever had in the +old State of Connecticut," continued Mark, "but I noticed that +the guests left unusually early after supper. The next morning +I asked the butler why they left so early. 'Well,' he said, +'Mr. Clemens, everybody enjoyed the supper, and they were all +having a good time until I gave them the cigars. After the gentleman +had taken three puffs, he said: "Pomp, you infernal nigger, get +me my hat and coat quick." When I went out, my stone walk, which +was one hundred yards long from the front door to the gate, was +just paved with those cigars.'" This specimen of American +exaggeration told in Mark Twain's original way made a great hit. +</P> + +<P> +I met Mark Twain at a theatrical supper in London given by +Sir Henry Irving. It was just after his publishing firm had failed +so disastrously. It was a notable company of men of letters, +playwrights, and artists. Poor Mark was broken in health and +spirits. He tried to make a speech, and a humorous one, but it +saddened the whole company. +</P> + +<P> +I met him again after he had made the money on his remarkable +lecture tour around the world, with which he met and paid all his +debts. It was an achievement worthy of the famous effort of +Sir Walter Scott. Jubilant, triumphant, and free, Mark Twain that +night was the hero never forgotten by any one privileged to +be present. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +One year, after strenuous work and unusual difficulties, which, +however, had been successfully met, I was completely exhausted. +I was advised to take a short trip to Europe, and, as usual, the +four weeks' change of air and occupation was a complete cure. +I decided to include Rome in my itinerary, though I felt that my +visit would be something like the experience of Phineas Fogg, who +did the whole of Europe and saw all there was of it in ten days. +</P> + +<P> +When I arrived in the Eternal City, my itinerary gave me four days +there. I wanted to see everything and also to meet, if possible, +one of the greatest of popes, Leo XIII. I was armed only with a +letter from my accomplished and distinguished friend, Archbishop +Corrigan. I secured the best-known guide, who informed me that +my efforts to see the sights within my limited time would be +impossible. Nevertheless, the incentive of an extra large commission +dependent upon distances covered and sights seen, led to my going +through the streets behind the best team of horses in Rome and +pursued by policemen and dogs, and the horses urged on by a driver +frantic for reward, and a guide who professionally and financially +was doing the stunt of his life. It was astounding how much ground +was really covered in the city of antiquities and art by this +devotion to speed and under competent guidance. +</P> + +<P> +When I asked to see the pope, I was informed that his health was +not good and audiences had been suspended. I wrote a letter +to the cardinal-secretary, enclosing Archbishop Corrigan's letter, +and stated my anxiety to meet His Holiness and the limited time +I had. A few hours afterwards I received a letter from the cardinal +stating that the Holy Father appreciated the circumstances, and +would be very glad to welcome me in private audience at eleven +o'clock the next morning. +</P> + +<P> +When I arrived at the Vatican I was received as a distinguished +visitor. The papal guards were turned out, and I was finally +ushered into the room of Cardinal Merry del Val. He was a young +man then and an accomplished diplomat, and most intimately informed +on all questions of current interest. Literature, music, drama, +political conditions in Europe were among his accomplishments. +He said the usual formula when a stranger is presented to the pope +is for the guest to kneel and kiss his ring. The pope has decided +that all this will be omitted in your case. He will receive you +exactly as an eminent foreigner calling by appointment upon the +President of the United States. +</P> + +<P> +When I was ushered into the presence of the pope he left his +throne, came forward, grasped me cordially by the hand, and welcomed +me in a very charming way. He was not a well man, and his bloodless +countenance was as white and pallid as his robes. This was all +relieved, however, by the brilliancy of his wonderful eyes. +</P> + +<P> +After a few preliminary remarks he plunged into the questions in +which he was deeply interested. He feared the spread of communism +and vividly described its efforts to destroy the church, ruin +religion, extirpate faith, and predicted that if successful it +would destroy civilization. +</P> + +<P> +I told him that I was deeply interested in the encyclical he had +recently issued to reconcile or make more harmonious the relations +between capital and labor. He commenced speaking upon that +subject, and in a few minutes I saw that I was to be privileged +to hear an address from one who as priest and bishop had been +one of the most eloquent orators of the age. In his excitement he +leaned forward, grasping the arms of the throne, the color returned +to his cheeks, his eyes flashed, his voice was vibrant, and I was +the audience, the entranced audience of the best speech I ever +heard upon the question of labor and capital. +</P> + +<P> +I was fearful on account of his health, that the exertion might be +too great, and so arose to leave. He again said to me, and taking +my hand: "I know all about you and am very grateful to you that +in your official capacity as president of the New York Central +Railroad you are treating so fairly the Catholics. I know that +among your employees twenty-eight thousand are of the Catholic +faith, and not one of them has ever known any discrimination +because of their belief, but all of them have equal opportunities +with the others for the rewards of their profession and protection +in their employment." +</P> + +<P> +The next day he sent a special messenger for a renewal of the +conversation, but unhappily I had left Rome the night before. +</P> + +<P> +During my stay in Rome of four days I had visited most of its +antiquities, its famous churches, and spent several hours in the +Vatican gallery. Our American minister, one of the most accomplished +of our diplomats, Mr. William Potter, had also given me a dinner, +where I was privileged to meet many celebrities of the time. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Among English statesmen I found in Lord Salisbury an impressive +figure. In a long conversation I had with him at the Foreign Office +he talked with great freedom on the relations between the +United States and Great Britain. He was exceedingly anxious that +friendly conditions should continue and became most cordial. +</P> + +<P> +The frequent disposition on the part of American politicians to +issue a challenge or create eruptions disturbed him. I think he +was in doubt when President Cleveland made his peremptory demands +on the Venezuela boundary question if the president recognized +their serious importance, both for the present and the future. He, +however, reluctantly yielded to the arbitration, won a complete +victory, and was satisfied that such irritating questions were +mainly political and for election purposes, and had better be met +in a conciliatory spirit. +</P> + +<P> +I remember a garden-party at Hatfield House, the historical home +of the Cecils, given in honor of King Victor Emmanuel III, who +had recently come to the throne. Lord Salisbury was of gigantic +proportions physically, while the king was undersized. The contrast +between the two was very striking, especially when they were in +animated conversation—the giant prime minister talking down to +His Majesty, and he with animated gestures talking up to the premier. +</P> + +<P> +It is not too great a stretch of imagination, when one knows how +traditional interviews and conversations between European rulers +affect their relations, present and future, to find in that +entertainment and conference that the seed there was sown for +the entrance of Italy, at one of the crises of the Great War, on +the side of the Allies and against Germany, to whom she was bound +by the Triple Alliance. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gladstone said to me at one time: "I have recently met a most +interesting countryman of yours. He is one of the best-informed +and able men of any country whom I have had the pleasure of talking +with for a long time, and he is in London now. I wish you would +tell me all about him." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gladstone could not recall his name. As there were a number +of American congressmen in London, I asked: "Was he a congressman?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," he answered; "he had a more important office." +</P> + +<P> +I then remembered that DeWitt Clinton, when a United States senator, +resigned to become mayor of the City of New York. On that +inspiration I asked: "Mayor of the City of New York?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that is it," Mr. Gladstone answered. +</P> + +<P> +I then told him that it was Abram S. Hewitt, and gave him a +description of Mr. Hewitt's career. Mr. Gladstone was most +enthusiastic about him. +</P> + +<P> +It was my fortune to know Mr. Hewitt very well for many years. +He richly merited Mr. Gladstone's encomium. He was one of the +most versatile and able Americans in public or private life during +his time. His father was an English tenant-farmer who moved with +his family to the United States. Mr. Hewitt received a liberal +education and became a great success both in business and public +life. He was much more than a business man, mayor of New York, +or a congressman—he was public-spirited and a wise reformer. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Hewitt told me two interesting incidents in his career. When +he visited England he was received with many and flattering +attentions. Among his invitations was a week-end to the home +of the nobleman upon whose estates his father had been a +tenant-farmer. When Mr. Hewitt told the nobleman, who was +entertaining him as a distinguished American, about his father's +former relations as one of his tenants, the nobleman said: "Your +father made a great mistake in giving up his farm and emigrating +to the United States. He should have remained here." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Hewitt said: "But, my lord, so far as I am concerned I do +not think so." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked his lordship. +</P> + +<P> +"Because," answered Mr. Hewitt, "then I could never have been a +guest on equal terms in your house." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Hewitt was one of the foremost iron founders and steel +manufacturers of the country. At the time of our Civil War our +government was very short of guns, and we were unable to manufacture +them because we did not know the secret of gun-metal. +</P> + +<P> +The government sent Mr. Hewitt abroad to purchase guns. The English +gunmakers at once saw the trouble he was in and took advantage +of it. They demanded prices several times greater than they were +asking from other customers, and refused to give him any information +about the manufacture of gun-metal. +</P> + +<P> +After he had made the contract, with all its exorbitant conditions, +he went to his hotel and invited the foreman of each department +of the factory to meet him. They all came. Mr. Hewitt explained +to them his mission, and found that they were sympathetic with +Mr. Lincoln and his administration and the Union cause. Then he +told them of the trouble he had had with their employers, and the +hard terms which they had imposed. He asked them then all about +the manufacture of gun-metal. Each one of the foremen was very +clear and explicit as to his part, and so when they had all spoken, +Mr. Hewitt, with his expert knowledge of the business, knew all +the secrets of the manufacture of gun-metal, which he, of course, +gave to the government at Washington for use in their several +arsenals and shops. +</P> + +<P> +"Now," he said to his guests, "you have done me a great favor. +I will return it. Your company is obliged by the contract to +deliver this immense order within a limited time. They are going +to make an enormous amount of money out of it. You strike and +demand what you think is right, and you will get it immediately." +</P> + +<P> +The gun company made a huge profit but had to share some of it +with their workers. It was an early instance of the introduction +of profit-sharing, which has now become common all over the world. +</P> + +<P> +One of the most interesting Englishmen, whom I saw much of both +in London and in the United States, was Sir Henry Irving. The world +of art, drama, and history owes much to him for his revival of +Shakespeare. Irving was a genius in his profession, and in private +life perfectly delightful. +</P> + +<P> +He gave me a dinner and it was, like everything he did, original. +Instead of the usual formal entertainment, he had the dinner at +one of the old royal castles in the country, which had become a +very exclusive hotel. He carried us out there in coaches. +</P> + +<P> +The company of authors, playwrights, and men of affairs made the +entertainment late and the evening memorable. Returning home +on the top of the coach, the full moon would appear and reappear, +but was generally under a cloud. Irving remarked: "I do much +better with that old moon in my theatre. I make it shine or +obscure it with clouds, as the occasion requires." +</P> + +<P> +I received a note from him at the time of his last visit to the +United States, in which he said that a friend from the western part +of the country was giving him a dinner at Delmonico's to precede +his sailing in the early morning on his voyage home. The company +was to be large and all good friends, and he had the positive +assurance that there would be no speaking, and wished I would come. +</P> + +<P> +The dinner was everything that could be desired. The company was +a wonderful one of distinguished representatives of American life. +The hours passed along rapidly and joyously, as many of these +original men contributed story, racy adventure, or song. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly the host arose and said: "Gentlemen, we have with us +to-night—" Of course, that meant an introductory speech about +Irving and a reply from the guest. Irving turned to me, and in +his deepest and most tragic Macbeth voice said: "God damn his +soul to hell!" However, he rose to the occasion, and an hour or +so afterwards, when everybody else had spoken, not satisfied with +his first effort, he arose and made a much better and longer +speech. He was an admirable after-dinner speaker as well as +an unusual actor. His wonderful presentations, not only of +Shakespeare's but of other dramas, did very much for the stage +both in his own country and in ours. +</P> + +<P> +Those who heard him only in his last year had no conception of +him in his prime. In his later years he fell into the fault, so +common with public speakers and actors, of running words together +and failing to articulate clearly. I have known a fine speech and +a superior sermon and a great part in a play ruined because of +the failure to articulate clearly. The audience could not follow +the speaker and so lost interest. +</P> + +<P> +Sir Henry told me a delightful story about Disraeli. A young +relative of Irving's took orders and became a clergyman in the +Established Church. At the request of Irving, Disraeli appointed +this young man one of the curates at Windsor. +</P> + +<P> +One day the clergyman came to Irving in great distress and said: +"The unexpected has happened. Every one has dropped out, and +I have been ordered to preach on Sunday." +</P> + +<P> +Irving took him to see Disraeli for advice. The prime minister +said to the young clergyman: "If you preach thirty minutes, +Her Majesty will be bored. If you preach fifteen minutes, +Her Majesty will be pleased. If you preach ten minutes, Her Majesty +will be delighted." +</P> + +<P> +"But," said the young clergyman, "my lord, what can a preacher +possibly say in only ten minutes?" +</P> + +<P> +"That," answered the statesman, "will be a matter of indifference +to Her Majesty." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Sir Frederick Leighton, the eminent English artist, and at one time +president of the Royal Academy, was one of the most charming men +of his time. His reminiscences were delightful and told with rare +dramatic effect. I remember a vivid description which he gave me +of the wedding of one of the British royalties with a German +princess. Sir Frederick was one of the large and distinguished +delegation which accompanied the prince. +</P> + +<P> +The principality of the bride's father had been shorn of territory, +power, and revenue during the centuries. Nevertheless, at the +time of the wedding he maintained a ministry, the same as in the +Middle Ages, and a miniature army. Palaces, built centuries +before, housed the Cabinet. +</P> + +<P> +The minister of foreign affairs came to Sir Frederick and unbosomed +himself of his troubles. He said: "According to the usual +procedure I ought to give a ball in honor of the union of our house +with the royal family of England. My palace is large enough, but +my salary is only eight hundred a year, and the expense would eat +up the whole of it." +</P> + +<P> +Sir Frederick said: "Your Excellency can overcome the difficulty +in an original way. The state band can furnish the music, and +that will cost nothing. When the time comes for the banquet, +usher the guests with due ceremony to a repast of beer and pretzels." +</P> + +<P> +The minister followed the instructions. The whole party appreciated +the situation, and the minister was accredited with the most +brilliant and successful ball the old capital had known for a century. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +For several years one of the most interesting men in Europe was +the Duke d'Aumale, son of Louis Philippe. He was a statesman +and a soldier of ability and a social factor of the first rank. +He alone of the French royalty was relieved from the decree of +perpetual banishment and permitted to return to France and enjoy +his estates. In recognition of this he gave his famous chateau +and property at Chantilly to the French Academy. The gift was +valued at ten millions of dollars. In the chateau at Chantilly +is a wonderful collection of works of art. +</P> + +<P> +I remember at one dinner, where the duke was the guest of honor, +those present, including the host, were mostly new creations in +the British peerage. After the conversation had continued for +some time upon the fact that a majority of the House of Lords had +been raised to the peerage during the reign of Queen Victoria, +those present began to try and prove that on account of their +ancient lineage they were exempt from the rule of parvenu peers. +The duke was very tolerant with this discussion and, as always, +the soul of politeness. +</P> + +<P> +The host said: "Your Royal Highness, could you oblige us with +a sketch of your ancestry?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, certainly," answered the duke; "it is very brief. My family, +the Philippes, are descendants from AEneas of Troy, and AEneas +was the son of Venus." The mushrooms seemed smaller than even +the garden variety. +</P> + +<P> +The duke was talking to me at one time very interestingly about the +visit of his father to America. At the time of the French Revolution +his father had to flee for his life and came to the United States. +He was entertained at Mount Vernon by Washington. He told me +that after his father became King of France, he would often +hesitate, or refuse to do something or write something which his +ministers desired. The king's answer always was: "When I visited +that greatest man of all the world, General Washington, at his +home, I asked him at one time: 'General, is it not possible that +in your long and wonderful career as a soldier and statesman that +you have made mistakes?' The general answered: 'I have never +done anything which I cared to recall or said anything which I would +not repeat,' and the king would say: 'I cannot do that or sign +that, because if I do I cannot say for myself what General Washington +said of himself.'" +</P> + +<P> +The duke asked me to spend a week-end with him at Chantilly, and +it is one of the regrets of my life that I was unable to accept. +</P> + +<P> +I happened to be in London on two successive Sundays. On the first +I went to Westminster Abbey to hear Canon Farrar preach. The +sermon was worthy of its wonderful setting. Westminster Abbey is +one of the most inspiring edifices in the world. The orator has to +reach a high plane to be worthy of its pulpit. I have heard many +dull discourses there because the surroundings refuse to harmonize +with mediocrity. The sermon of Canon Farrar was classic. It +could easily have taken a place among the gems of English +literature. It seemed to me to meet whatever criticism the eminent +dead, buried in that old mausoleum, might have of these modern +utterances. I left the Abbey spiritually and mentally elated. +</P> + +<P> +The next Sunday I went to hear Charles Spurgeon. It was a wonderful +contrast. Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle was a very plain +structure of immense proportions but with admirable acoustics. +There was none of the historic enshrining the church, which is +the glory of Westminster Abbey, no church vestments or ceremonials. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Spurgeon, a plain, stocky-looking man, came out on the platform +dressed in an ordinary garb of black coat, vest, and trousers. +It was a vast audience of what might be called middle-class people. +Mr. Spurgeon's sermon was a plain, direct, and exceedingly forcible +appeal to their judgment and emotions. There was no attempt at +rhetoric, but hard, hammerlike blows. As he rose in his indignation +and denunciation of some current evils, and illustrated his +argument with the Old Testament examples of the punishment of +sinners, the audience became greatly excited. One of the officers +of the church, in whose pew I sat, groaned aloud and gripped his +hands so that the nails left their mark. Others around him were +in the same frame of mind and spirit. +</P> + +<P> +I saw there and then that the men who fought with Cromwell and won +the battle of Naseby had in modern England plenty of descendants. +They had changed only in outward deference to modern usages and +conditions. If there had been occasion, Mr. Spurgeon could have +led them for any sacrifice to what they believed to be right. +I felt the power of that suppressed feeling—I would not say +fanaticism, but intense conscientiousness—which occasionally +in elections greatly surprises English politicians. +</P> + +<P> +Canon Farrar's sermon easily takes its place among the selected +books of the library. Spurgeon's address was straight from the +shoulder, blow for blow, for the needs of the hour. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +One of the novel incidents of the generous hospitality which I +enjoyed every year in London was a dinner at the Athenaeum Club +given to me by one of the members of the government at that time. +He was a gentleman of high rank and political importance. There +were twenty-six at the dinner, and it was a representative gathering. +</P> + +<P> +At the conclusion our host made a very cordial speech on more +intimate relations between the United States and Great Britain, +and then in a complimentary phrase introduced me, saying: "I hope +you will speak freely and without limit." +</P> + +<P> +I was encouraged by a most sympathetic audience and had a good +time during my effort. No one else was called upon. My host was +complimentary and said: "Your speech was so satisfactory that +I thought best not to have any more." +</P> + +<P> +Some time afterwards he said to me: "Many of my friends had heard +of you but never heard you, so I made up my mind to give them +the opportunity, and what was really a purely social affair for +every other guest, I turned into an international occasion just +to draw you out. However, the fraud, if it was a fraud, was an +eminent success." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +No one in England did more for Americans than Sir Henry Lucy. +Every American knew all about him, because of his reputation, and +particularly because he was the author of that most interesting +column in Punch called the "Essence of Parliament." +</P> + +<P> +At his luncheons he gathered eminent men in public life and in +the literary and journalistic activities of Great Britain. These +luncheons were most informal, and under the hospitable genius +of Lucy the guests became on intimate terms. There was no table +in London where so many racy stories and sometimes valuable +historical reminiscences could be heard. +</P> + +<P> +To be a guest at one of Sir Lucy's luncheons was for an American +to meet on familiar terms with distinguished men whom he knew all +about and was most anxious to see and hear. +</P> + +<P> +At a large dinner I had a pleasant encounter with Sir Henry. +In order to meet another engagement, he tried to slip quietly +out while I was speaking. I caught sight of his retreating figure +and called loudly the refrain of the familiar song, "Linger longer, +Lucy." The shout of the crowd brought Sir Henry back, and the +other entertainment lost a guest. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +In several of my visits to London I went to see not only places +of interest but also houses and streets made famous in English +literature. In one of my many trips to St. Paul's Cathedral I was +looking at the tomb of the Duke of Wellington in the crypt and +also at the modest tomb of Cruikshank, the artist, near by. +</P> + +<P> +The superintendent asked me who I was and many questions about +America, and then said: "Many Americans come here, but the most +remarkable of them all was Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll. He was +very inquisitive and wanted to know all about Wellington's tomb. +I told him that the duke's body was first put in a wooden coffin, +and this was incased in steel; that this had made for it a position +in a stone weighing twenty tons and over that was a huge stone +weighing forty tons. He gave me a slap on the back which sent +me flying quite a distance and exclaimed: 'Old man, you have +got him safe. If he ever escapes cable at my expense to +Robert G. Ingersoll, Peoria, Illinois, U. S. A.'" +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +I had an opportunity to know that the war by Germany against France +and England was a surprise to both countries. While in London +during part of June, 1914, I met Cabinet ministers and members +of Parliament, and their whole thought and anxiety were concentrated +on the threatened revolution in Ireland. +</P> + +<P> +The Cabinet had asked the king to intervene and he had called +representatives of all parties to meet him at Buckingham Palace. +After many consultations he declared settlement or compromise were +impossible. The situation was so critical that it absorbed the +attention of the government, the press, and the public. +</P> + +<P> +About the first of July I was in Paris and found the French worried +about their finances and the increase in their military expenses +which were reaching threatening figures. The syndicate of French +bankers were seriously alarmed. There was no suspicion of German +purpose and preparations for attack. +</P> + +<P> +While in Geneva a few weeks afterwards I became alarmed by letters +from relatives in Germany who were socially intimate with people +holding very important positions in the government and the army, +and their apprehensions from what their German friends told them +and what they saw led to their joining us in Switzerland. +</P> + +<P> +One day the Swiss refused to take foreign money or to make exchange +for Swiss, or to cash letters of credit or bank checks. I immediately +concluded that the Swiss bankers knew of or suspected Germany's +hostile intentions, and with only two hours, and two families +with their trunks to pack, we managed to reach and secure +accommodations on the regular train for Paris. There was nothing +unusual either at the railroad station or in the city. +</P> + +<P> +One of the amusing incidents which are my life-preservers occurred +at the station. Two elderly English spinsters were excitedly +discussing the currency trouble. One of them smoothed out a bank +of England note and said to her sister: "There, Sarah, is a bank +of England note which has been good as gold all over the world +since Christ came to earth, and these Swiss pigs won't take it." +</P> + +<P> +I told this incident afterwards to a banker in London. He said +they were very ignorant women, there were no bank of England notes +at that time. +</P> + +<P> +German hostility developed so rapidly that our train was the last +which left Switzerland for France for nearly two months. We were +due in Paris at ten o'clock in the evening, but did not arrive until +the next morning because of the mobilization of French recruits. +</P> + +<P> +The excitement in Paris was intense. A French statesman said +to me: "We are doing our best to avoid war. Our troops are kept +ten kilometres from the frontier, but the Germans have crossed +and seized strategic points. They will hear nothing and accept +nothing and are determined to crush us if they can." +</P> + +<P> +From all ranks of the people was heard: "We will fight to the +last man, but we are outnumbered and will be destroyed unless +England helps. Will England help? Will England help?" I have +been through several crises but never witnessed nor felt such +a reaction to ecstatic joy as occurred when Great Britain joined +France. +</P> + +<P> +The restrictions on leaving Paris required time, patience, and +all the resources of our Embassy to get us out of France. The +helpfulness, resourcefulness, and untiring efforts of our Ambassador, +Myron T. Herrick, won the gratitude of all Americans whom the war +had interned on the continent and who must get home. +</P> + +<P> +There was a remarkable change in England. When we left in July +there was almost hysteria over the threatening civil war. In October +the people were calm though involved in the greatest war in their +history. They did not minimize the magnitude of the struggle, or +the sacrifices it would require. There was a characteristic grim +determination to see the crisis through, regardless of cost. +Cabinet ministers whom I met thought the war would last three years. +</P> + +<P> +The constant appeal to me, as to other Americans, was, "When will +you join us? If we fail it is your turn next. It is autocracy and +militarism against civilization, liberty, and representative +government for the whole world." +</P> + +<P> +We had a perilous and anxious voyage home and found few grasping +the situation or working to be prepared for the inevitable, except +Theodore Roosevelt and General Wood. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XX. ORATORS AND CAMPAIGN SPEAKERS +</H3> + +<P> +During my college days at Yale Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison, +and Henry Ward Beecher were frequent lecturers, and generally +on the slavery question. I have heard most of the great orators +of the world, but none of them produced such an immediate and +lasting effect upon their audience as Wendell Phillips. He was +the finest type of a cultured New Englander. He was the recipient +of the best education possible in his time and with independent +means which enabled him to pursue his studies and career. Besides, +he was one of the handsomest men I ever saw upon the platform, +and in his inspired moments met one's imaginative conception +of a Greek god. +</P> + +<P> +Phillips rarely made a gesture or spoke above the conversational, +but his musical voice reached the remotest comers of the hall. +The eager audience, fearful of losing a word, would bend forward +with open mouths as well as attentive ears. It was always a +hostile audience at the beginning of Mr. Phillips's address, but +before the end he swayed them to applause, tears, or laughter, +as a skilled performer upon a perfect instrument. His subject +was nearly always slavery, his views very extreme and for immediate +abolition, but at that time he had a very small following. +Nevertheless, his speeches, especially because of the riots and +controversies they caused, set people thinking, and largely +increased the hostility to slavery, especially to its extension. +</P> + +<P> +I met Mr. Phillips one evening, after a lecture, at the house of +Professor Goodrich. He was most courtly and considerate to students +and invited questions. While I was charmed, even captivated, by +his eloquence, I had at that time very little sympathy with his +views. I said to him: "Mr. Phillips, your attack to-night upon +Caleb Cushing, one of the most eminent and able public men in +the country, was very vitriolic and most destructive of character +and reputation. It seems so foreign to all I know of you that, +if you will pardon me, I would like to know why you did it." He +answered: "I have found that people, as a rule, are not interested +in principles or their discussions. They are so absorbed in their +personal affairs that they do very little thinking upon matters +outside their business or vocation. They embody a principle in +some public man in whom they have faith, and so that man stands +for a great body of truth or falsehood, and may be exceedingly +dangerous because a large following connects the measure with +the man, and, therefore, if I can destroy the man who represents a +vicious principle I have destroyed the principle." It did not strike +me favorably at the time, nor does it now. Nevertheless, in politics +and in the battles of politics it represents a dynamic truth. +</P> + +<P> +The perfect preparation of a speech was, in Wendell Phillip's +view, that one in which the mental operations were assisted in +no way by outside aid. Only two or three times in his life did +he prepare with pen and paper an address, and he felt that these +speeches were the poorest of his efforts. He was constantly +studying the art of oratory. In his daily walks or in his library +metaphors and similes were suggested, which he tucked away in +his memory, and he even studied action as he watched the muscular +movements of men whom he saw in public places. He believed that +a perfect speech could be prepared only after intense mental +concentration. Of course the mind must first be fortified by such +reading as provided facts. Having thus saturated his mind with +information, he would frequently lie extended for hours upon his +sofa, with eyes closed, making mental arrangements for the address. +In fact, he used to write his speeches mentally, as Victor Hugo +is said to have written some of his poems. A speech thus prepared, +Phillips thought, was always at the command of the speaker. It +might vary upon every delivery, and could be altered to meet +emergencies with the audience, but would always be practically +the same. +</P> + +<P> +This method of preparation explains what has been a mystery to +many persons. The several reports of Phillips's lecture on +"The Lost Arts" differ in phraseology and even in arrangement. +Mr. Phillips did not read his speeches in print, and, therefore, +never revised one. He was firmly of the belief that the printed +thought and the spoken thought should be expressed in different +form, and that the master of one form could not be the master +of the other. +</P> + +<P> +I met many young men like myself in the canvass of 1856, and also +made many acquaintances of great value in after-life. It was +difficult for the older stump speakers to change the addresses +they had been delivering for years, so that the young orators, +with their fresh enthusiasm, their intense earnestness and undoubting +faith, were more popular with the audiences, who were keenly alive +to the issues raised then by the new Republican party. +</P> + +<P> +The Republican party was composed of Whigs and anti-slavery +Democrats. In this first campaign the old-timers among the Whigs +and the Democrats could not get over their long antagonism and +distrusted each other. The young men, whether their ancestry was +Democratic or Whig, were the amalgam which rapidly fused all +elements, so that the party presented a united front in the campaign +four years afterwards when Mr. Lincoln was elected. +</P> + +<P> +In the course of that campaign I had as fellow speakers many times +on the platform statesmen of national reputation. These gentlemen, +with few exceptions, made heavy, ponderous, and platitudinous +speeches. If they ever had possessed humor they were afraid of it. +The crowd, however, would invariably desert the statesman for +the speaker who could give them amusement with instruction. The +elder statesmen said by way of advice: "While the people want +to be amused, they have no faith in a man or woman with wit or +anecdote. When it comes to the election of men to conduct public +affairs, they invariably prefer serious men." There is no doubt +that a reputation for wit has seriously impaired the prospects +of many of the ablest men in the country. +</P> + +<P> +The only exception to this rule was Abraham Lincoln. But when +he ran for president the first time he was comparatively unknown +outside his State of Illinois. The campaign managers in their +literature put forward only his serious speeches, which were very +remarkable, especially the one he delivered in Cooper Union, +New York, which deeply impressed the thoughtful men of the East. +He could safely tell stories and jokes after he had demonstrated +his greatness as president. Then the people regarded his +story-telling as the necessary relief and relaxation of an +overburdened and overworked public servant. But before he had +demonstrated his genius as an executive, they would probably have +regarded these same traits as evidences of frivolity, unfitting +the possessor for great and grave responsibilities. +</P> + +<P> +I had a very interesting talk on the subject with General Garfield, +when he was running for president. He very kindly said to me: +"You have every qualification for success in public life; you might +get anywhere and to the highest places except for your humor. +I know its great value to a speaker before an audience, but it is +dangerous at the polls. When I began in politics, soon after +graduation, I found I had a keen sense of humor, and that made +me the most sought-after of all our neighborhood speakers, but +I also soon discovered it was seriously impairing the public +opinion of me for responsible positions, so I decided to cut it +out. It was very difficult, but I have succeeded so thoroughly +that I can no longer tell a story or appreciate the point of one +when it is told to me. Had I followed my natural bent I should +not now be the candidate of my party for President of the +United States." +</P> + +<P> +The reason so few men are humorists is that they are very shy of +humor. My own observations in studying the lives and works of +our public men demonstrate how thoroughly committed to this idea +they have been. There is not a joke, nor a mot, nor a scintilla +of humor irradiating the Revolutionary statesmen. There is a +stilted dignity about their utterances which shows that they were +always posing in heroic attitudes. If they lived and moved in +family, social, and club life, as we understand it, the gloom of +their companionship accounts for the enjoyment which their +contemporaries took in the three hours' sermons then common from +the pulpit. +</P> + +<P> +As we leave the period of Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, and +the Adamses, we find no humor in the next generation. The only +relief from the tedium of argument and exhaustless logic is found +in the savage sarcasm of John Randolph, which was neither wit +nor humor. +</P> + +<P> +A witty illustration or an apt story will accomplish more than +columns of argument. The old-time audience demanded a speech +of not less than two hours' duration and expected three. The +audience of to-day grows restive after the first hour, and is +better pleased with forty minutes. It prefers epigrams to arguments +and humor to rhetoric. It is still true, however, that the press +presents to readers from a speaker who indulges in humor only +the funny part of his effort, and he is in serious danger of +receiving no credit for ability in the discussion of great questions, +no matter how conspicuous that ability may be. The question is +always presented to a frequent speaker whether he shall win the +applause of the audience and lose the flattering opinion of the +critics, or bore his audience and be complimented by readers +for wisdom. +</P> + +<P> +When I look back over sixty-five years on the platform in public +speaking, and the success of different methods before audiences, +political, literary, business, or a legislative committee, or a +legislature itself, and especially when I consider my own pleasure +in the efforts, the results and compensations have been far greater +than the attainment of any office. For, after all, a man might +be dull and a bore to himself and others for a lifetime and have +the reputation of being a serious thinker and a solid citizen, +and yet never reach the presidency. +</P> + +<P> +It was always a delight to listen to George W. Curtis. He was +a finished orator of the classic type, but not of the Demosthenian +order. His fine personal appearance, his well-modulated and +far-reaching voice, and his refined manner at once won the favor +of his audience. He was a splendid type of the scholar in politics. +In preparing a speech he took as much pains as he did with a +volume which he was about to publish. +</P> + +<P> +I accepted under great pressure the invitation to deliver the +oration at the unveiling of the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty in +New York harbor, because the time was so short, only a few days. +Mr. Curtis said to me afterwards: "I was very much surprised that +you accepted that invitation. I declined it because there was only +a month left before the unveiling. I invariably refuse an invitation +for an important address unless I can have three months. I take +one month to look up authorities and carefully prepare it and then +lay it on the shelf for a month. During that period, while you +are paying no attention to the matter, your mind is unconsciously +at work upon it. When you resume correcting your manuscript you +find that in many things about which you thought well you have +changed your mind. Leisurely corrections and additions will +perfect the address." +</P> + +<P> +As my orations and speeches have always been the by-product of +spare evenings and Sundays taken from an intensely active and busy +life, if I had followed any of these examples my twelve volumes of +speeches would never have seen the light of day. +</P> + +<P> +One of the greatest orators of his generation, and I might say of +ours, was Robert G. Ingersoll. I was privileged to meet +Colonel Ingersoll many times, and on several occasions to be +a speaker on the same platform. The zenith of his fame was reached +by his "plumed-knight" speech, nominating James G. Blaine for +president at the national Republican convention in 1876. It was +the testimony of all the delegates that if the vote could have +been taken immediately at the conclusion of the speech, Mr. Blaine +would have been elected. +</P> + +<P> +Colonel Ingersoll carried off the oratorical honors that campaign +in a series of speeches, covering the whole country. I say a +series of speeches; he really had but one, which was the most +effective campaign address I ever heard, but which he delivered +over and over again, and every time with phenomenal success, +a success the like of which I have never known. He delivered it +to an immense audience in New York, and swept them off their feet. +He repeated this triumph the next day at an open-air meeting in +Wall Street, and again the next day at a great gathering in +New Jersey. The newspapers printed the speech in full every day +after its delivery, as if it had been a new and first utterance +of the great orator. +</P> + +<P> +I spoke with him several times when he was one of the speakers +after an important dinner. It was a rare treat to hear him. The +effort apparently was impromptu, and that added to its effect upon +his auditors. That it was thoroughly prepared I found by hearing +it several times, always unchanged and always producing the same +thrilling effect. +</P> + +<P> +He spoke one night at Cooper Institute at a celebration by the +colored people of Mr. Lincoln's proclamation emancipating them +from slavery. As usual he was master of the occasion and of his +audience. He was then delivering a series of addresses attacking +the Bible. His mind was full of that subject, and apparently he +could not help assailing the faith of the negroes by asking, if +there was a God of justice and mercy, why did he leave them so +long in slavery or permit them ever to be slaves. +</P> + +<P> +To an emotional audience like the one before him it was a most +dangerous attack upon faith. I was so fond of the colonel and +such an intense admirer of him, I hated to controvert him, but +felt it was necessary to do so. The religious fervor which is so +intense with the colored people, made it comparatively easy to +restore their faith, if it had been weakened, and to bring them +to a recognition of the fact that their blessings had all come +from God. +</P> + +<P> +Probably the most brilliant speaker of the period immediately +preceding the Civil War was Thomas Corwin, of Ohio. We have +on the platform in these times no speaker of his type. He had +remarkable influence whenever he participated in debate in the +House of Representatives. On the stump or hustings he would draw +audiences away from Henry Clay or any of the famous speakers of +the time. I sometimes wonder if our more experienced and more +generally educated audiences of to-day would be swayed by Corwin's +methods. He had to the highest degree every element of effective +speech. He could put his audience in tears or hilarious laughter, +or arouse cheers. He told more stories and told them better than +any one else, and indulged freely in what is called Fourth of July +exaggeration. He would relieve a logical presentation which was +superb and unanswerable by a rhetorical flight of fancy, or by +infectious humor. Near the close of his life he spoke near +New York, and his great reputation drew to the meeting the +representatives of the metropolitan press. He swept the audience +off their feet, but the comment of the journals was very critical +and unfavorable, both of the speech and the orator. It was an +illustration of what I have often met with: of a speech which was +exactly the right thing for the occasion and crowd, but lost its +effect in publication. Corwin's humor barred his path to great +office, and he saw many ordinary men advance ahead of him. +</P> + +<P> +The most potent factor in the destruction of his enemies and +buttressing his own cause was his inimitable wit and humor. In +broad statesmanship, solid requirements, and effective eloquence, +he stood above the successful mediocrity of his time—the Buchanans +and the Polks, the Franklin Pierces and the Winfield Scotts—like +a star of the first magnitude above the Milky Way. But in later +years he thought the failure to reach the supreme recognition to +which he was entitled was due to his humor having created the +impression in the minds of his countrymen that he was not a serious +person. +</P> + +<P> +Wayne MacVeagh was a very interesting and original speaker. He +had a finished and cultured style and a very attractive delivery. +He was past master of sarcasm as well as of burning eloquence on +patriotic themes. When I was a freshman at Yale he was a senior. +I heard him very often at our debating society, the Linonian, where +he gave promise of his future success. His father-in-law was +Simon Cameron, secretary of war, and he was one of the party which +went with Mr. Lincoln to Gettysburg and heard Lincoln's famous +address. He told me that it did not produce much impression at +the time, and it was long after before the country woke up to its +surpassing excellence, and he did not believe the story still +current that Mr. Lincoln wrote it on an envelope while on the train +to Gettysburg. +</P> + +<P> +MacVeagh became one of the leaders of the American bar and was +at one time attorney-general of the United States. He was successful +as a diplomat as minister to Turkey and to Italy. +</P> + +<P> +I heard him on many occasions and spoke with him on many after-dinner +platforms. As an after-dinner speaker he was always at his best +if some one attacked him, because he had a very quick temper. He +got off on me a witticism which had considerable vogue at the time. +When I was elected president of the New York Central Railroad, +the Yale Association of New York gave me a dinner. It was largely +attended by distinguished Yale graduates from different parts of +the country. MacVeagh was one of the speakers. In the course of +his speech he said: "I was alarmed when I found that our friend +Chauncey had been elected president of the most unpopular railroad +there is in the country. But rest assured, my friends, that he +will change the situation, and before his administration is closed +make it the most popular of our railroad corporations, because +he will bring the stock within the reach of the poorest citizen +of the land." The stock was then at the lowest point in its history +on account of its life-and-death fight with the West Shore Railroad, +and so, of course, the reverse of my friend MacVeagh's prediction +was not difficult. +</P> + +<P> +One of the greatest and most remarkable orators of his time was +Henry Ward Beecher. I never met his equal in readiness and +versatility. His vitality was infectious. He was a big, healthy, +vigorous man with the physique of an athlete, and his intellectual +fire and vigor corresponded with his physical strength. There +seemed to be no limit to his ideas, anecdotes, illustrations, and +incidents. He had a fervid imagination and wonderful power of +assimilation and reproduction and the most observant of eyes. He +was drawing material constantly from the forests, the flowers, +the gardens, and the domestic animals in the fields and in the +house, and using them most effectively in his sermons and speeches. +An intimate friend of mine, a country doctor and great admirer of +Mr. Beecher, became a subscriber to the weekly paper in which was +printed his Sunday sermon, and carefully guarded a file of them +which he made. He not only wanted to read the sermons of his +favorite preacher, but he believed him to have infinite variety, +and was constantly examining the efforts of his idol to see if +he could not find an illustration, anecdote, or idea repeated. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Beecher seemed to be teeming with ideas all the time, almost +to the point of bursting. While most orators are relying upon +their libraries and their commonplace book, and their friends for +material, he apparently found more in every twenty-four hours than +he could use. His sermons every Sunday appeared in the press. +He lectured frequently; several times a week he delivered +after-dinner speeches, and during such intervals as he had he +made popular addresses, spoke at meetings on municipal and general +reform, and on patriotic occasions. One of the most effective, +and for the time one of the most eloquent addresses I ever heard +in my life was the one he delivered at the funeral of Horace Greeley. +</P> + +<P> +When the sentiment in England in favor of the the South in our +Civil War seemed to be growing to a point where Great Britain +might recognize the Southern Confederacy, Mr. Lincoln asked +Mr. Beecher to go over and present the Union side. Those speeches +of Mr. Beecher, a stranger in a strange country, to hostile +audiences, were probably as extraordinary an evidence of oratorical +power as was ever known. He captured audiences, he overcame +the hostility of persistent disturbers of the meetings, and with +his ready wit overwhelmed the heckler. +</P> + +<P> +At one of the great meetings, when the sentiment was rapidly +changing from hostility to favor, a man arose and asked Mr. Beecher: +"If you people of the North are so strong and your cause is so +good, why after all these years of fighting have you not licked +the South?" Mr. Beecher's instant and most audacious reply was: +"If the Southerners were Englishmen we would have licked them." +With the English love of fair play, the retort was accepted with cheers. +</P> + +<P> +While other orators were preparing, he seemed to be seeking +occasions for talking and drawing from an overflowing reservoir. +Frequently he would spend an hour with a crowd of admirers, just +talking to them on any subject which might be uppermost in his +mind. I knew an authoress who was always present at these +gatherings, who took copious notes and reproduced them with great +fidelity. There were circles of Beecher worshippers in many towns +and in many States. This authoress used to come to New Haven +in my senior year at Yale, and in a circle of Beecher admirers, +which I was permitted to attend, would reproduce these informal +talks of Mr. Beecher. He was the most ready orator, and with his +almost feminine sympathies and emotional nature would add immensely +to his formal speech by ideas which would occur to him in the heat +of delivery, or with comment upon conversations which he had heard +on the way to church or meeting. +</P> + +<P> +I happened to be on a train with him on an all-day journey, and +he never ceased talking in the most interesting and effective way, +and pouring out from his rich and inexhaustible stores with +remarkable lucidity and eloquence his views upon current topics, +as well as upon recent literature, art, and world movements. +</P> + +<P> +Beecher's famous trial on charges made by Theodore Tilton against +him on relations with Tilton's wife engrossed the attention of the +world. The charge was a shock to the religious and moral sense +of countless millions of people. When the trial was over the +public was practically convinced of Mr. Beecher's innocence. The +jury, however, disagreed, a few holding out against him. The case +was never again brought to trial. The trial lasted six months. +</P> + +<P> +One evening when I was in Peekskill I went from our old homestead +into the crowded part of the village, to be with old friends. +I saw there a large crowd and also the village military and fire +companies. I asked what it was all about, and was informed that +the whole town was going out to Mr. Beecher's house, which was +about one and one-half miles from the village, to join in a +demonstration for his vindication. I took step with one of the +companies to which I belonged when I was a boy, and marched out +with the crowd. +</P> + +<P> +The president of the village and leading citizens, one after +another, mounted the platform, which was the piazza of Mr. Beecher's +house, and expressed their confidence in him and the confidence +of his neighbors, the villagers. Then Mr. Beecher said to me: +"You were born in this town and are known all over the country. +If you feel like saying something it would travel far." Of course, +I was very glad of the opportunity because I believed in him. +In the course of my speech I told a story which had wonderful +vogue. I said: "Mr. Lincoln told me of an experience he had in +his early practice when he was defending a man who had been +accused of a vicious assault upon a neighbor. There were no +witnesses, and under the laws of evidence at that time the accused +could not testify. So the complainant had it all his own way. +The only opportunity Mr. Lincoln had to help his client was to +break down the accuser on a cross-examination. Mr. Lincoln said +he saw that the accuser was a boastful and bumptious man, and so +asked him: 'How much ground was there over which you and my client +fought?' The witness answered proudly: 'Six acres, Mr. Lincoln.' +'Well,' said Lincoln, 'don't you think this was a mighty small +crop of fight to raise on such a large farm?' Mr. Lincoln said +the judge laughed and so did the district attorney and the jury, +and his client was acquitted." +</P> + +<P> +The appositeness was in the six acres of ground of the Lincoln +trial and of the six months of the Beecher trial. As this was a +new story of Lincoln's, which had never been printed, and as it +related to the trial of the most famous of preachers on the worst +of charges that could be made against a preacher, the story was +printed all over the country, and from friends and consular agents +who sent me clippings I found was copied in almost every country +in the world. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Beecher was one of the few preachers who was both most effective +in the pulpit and, if possible, more eloquent upon the platform. +When there was a moral issue involved he would address political +audiences. In one campaign his speeches were more widely printed +than those of any of the senators, members of the House, or +governors who spoke. I remember one illustration of his about +his dog, Noble, barking for hours at the hole from which a squirrel +had departed, and was enjoying the music sitting calmly in the +crotch of a tree. The illustration caught the fancy of the country +and turned the laugh upon the opposition. +</P> + +<P> +Hugh J. Hastings, at one time editor and proprietor of the +Albany Knickerbocker, and subsequently of the New York Commercial +Advertiser, was full of valuable reminiscences. He began life +in journalism as a very young man under Thurlow Weed. This +association made him a Whig. Very few Irishmen belonged to that +party. Hastings was a born politician and organized an Irish Whig +club. He told me that he worshipped Daniel Webster. +</P> + +<P> +Webster, he said, once stopped over at Albany while passing through +the State, and became a guest of one of Albany's leading citizens +and its most generous host and entertainer. The gentleman gave +in Webster's honor a large dinner at which were present all the +notables of the capital. +</P> + +<P> +Hastings organized a procession which grew to enormous proportions +by the time it reached the residence where Mr. Webster was dining. +When the guests came out, it was evident, according to Hastings, +that they had been dining too well. This was not singular, because +then no dinner was perfect in Albany unless there were thirteen +courses and thirteen different kinds of wine, and the whole closed +up with the famous Regency rum, which had been secured by Albany +bon-vivants before the insurrection in the West Indies had stopped +its manufacture. There was a kick in it which, if there had been +no other brands preceding, was fatal to all except the strongest +heads. I tested its powers myself when I was in office in Albany +fifty-odd years ago. +</P> + +<P> +Hastings said that when Webster began his speech he was as near +his idol as possible and stood right in front of him. When the +statesman made a gesture to emphasize a sentence he lost his hold +on the balustrade and pitched forward. The young Irishman was +equal to the occasion, and interposed an athletic arm, which +prevented Mr. Webster from falling, and held him until he had +finished his address. The fact that he could continue his address +under such conditions increased, if that was possible, the admiration +of young Hastings. Webster was one of the few men who, when drunk +all over, had a sober head. +</P> + +<P> +The speech was very effective, not only to that audience, but, +as reported, all over the country. Hastings was sent for and +escorted to the dining-room, where the guests had reassembled. +Webster grasped him by the hand, and in his most Jovian way +exclaimed: "Young man, you prevented me from disgracing myself. +I thank you and will never forget you." Hastings reported his +feelings as such that if he had died that night he had received +of life all it had which was worth living for. +</P> + +<P> +I do not know what were Mr. Webster's drinking habits, but the +popular reports in regard to them had a very injurious effect upon +young men and especially young lawyers. It was the universal +conversation that Webster was unable to do his best work and have +his mind at its highest efficiency except under the influence of +copious drafts of brandy. Many a young lawyer believing this +drank to excess, not because he loved alcohol, but because he +believed its use might make him a second Webster. +</P> + +<P> +Having lived in that atmosphere, I tried the experiment myself. +Happily for me, I discovered how utterly false it is. I tried +the hard liquors, brandy, whiskey, and gin, and then the wines. +I found that all had a depressing and deadening effect upon the +mind, but that there was a certain exhilaration, though not a +healthy one, in champagne. I also discovered, and found the same +was true with every one else, that the mind works best and produces +the more satisfactory results without any alcohol whatever. +</P> + +<P> +I doubt if any speaker, unless he has become dependent upon +stimulants, can use them before making an important effort without +having his mental machinery more or less clogged. I know it is +reported that Addison, whose English has been the model of succeeding +generations, in writing his best essays wore the carpet out while +walking between sentences from the sideboard where the brandy +was to his writing-table. But they had heroic constitutions and +iron-clad digestive apparatus in those times, which have not been +transmitted to their descendants. +</P> + +<P> +I heard another story of Webster from Horace F. Clarke, a famous +lawyer of New York, and a great friend of his. Mr. Clarke said +that he had a case involving very large interests before the +chancellor. He discovered that Mr. Webster was at the Astor House, +and called upon him. Mr. Webster told him that his public and +professional engagements were overwhelming, and that it was +impossible for him to take up anything new. Clarke put a thousand +dollars on the table and pleaded with Mr. Webster to accept a +retainer. Clarke said that Webster looked longingly at the money, +saying: "Young man, you cannot imagine, and I have no words which +can express how much I need that money, but it is impossible. +However, let me see your brief." Webster read it over and then +said to Clarke: "You will not win on that brief, but if you will +incorporate this, I think your case is all right." Clarke said +that when he presented the brief and made his argument before +the chancellor, the chancellor decided in his favor, wholly on +the suggestion made by Mr. Webster. An eminent lawyer told me +that studying Mr. Webster's arguments before the Supreme Court +and the decisions made in those cases he discovered very often +that the opinion of the court followed the reasoning of this +marvellous advocate. +</P> + +<P> +Henry J. Raymond told me the following story of Mr. William H. Seward. +He said that one morning a messenger came to his office (Raymond +at that time was editor of the New York Times) and said that +Mr. Seward was at the Astor House and wanted to see me. When I +arrived Mr. Seward said: "I am on my way to my home at Auburn, +where I am expected to deliver a speech for the whole country in +explanation and defense of our administration. [Johnson was +president.] When I am ready I will wire you, and then send me +one of your best reporters." About two weeks afterwards Mr. Raymond +received this cryptic telegram from Mr. Seward: "Send me the man +of whom I spoke." +</P> + +<P> +When the reporter returned he said to Mr. Raymond: "When I arrived +at Auburn I expected that a great meeting had been advertised, but +there were no handbills, notices, or anything in the local papers, +so I went up to Mr. Seward's house. He said to me: 'I am very +glad to see you. Have you your pencil and note-book? If so, we +will make a speech.' After the dictation Mr. Seward said: 'Please +write that out on every third line, so as to leave room for +corrections, and bring it back to me in the morning.' When I gave +the copy to Mr. Seward, he took it and kept it during the day, +and when I returned in the evening the vacant space had been +filled with corrections and new matter. Mr. Seward said to me: +'Now make me a clean copy as corrected.' When I returned with +the corrected copy he remarked: 'I think you and I made a very +poor speech. Let us try it again.' The same process was repeated +a second time, and this corrected copy of the speech was delivered +in part to a few friends who were called into Mr. Seward's library +for the occasion. The next morning these headlines appeared in +all the leading papers in the country: 'GREAT SPEECH ON BEHALF +OF THE ADMINISTRATION BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT A BIG MASS +MEETING AT AUBURN, N. Y.'" +</P> + +<P> +In the career of a statesman a phrase will often make or unmake +his future. In the height of the slavery excitement and while +the enforcement of the fugitive-slave law was arousing the greatest +indignation in the North, Mr. Seward delivered a speech at +Rochester, N. Y., which stirred the country. In that speech, +while paying due deference to the Constitution and the laws, he +very solemnly declared that "there is a higher law." Mr. Seward +sometimes called attention to his position by an oracular utterance +which he left the people to interpret. This phrase, "the higher +law," became of first-class importance, both in Congress, in the +press, and on the platform. On the one side, it was denounced as +treason and anarchy. On the other side, it was the call of +conscience and of the New Testament's teaching of the rights of +man. It was one of the causes of his defeat for the presidency. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, afterwards vice-president, +was in great demand. He was clear in his historical statements +and emphatic in his expression of views. If he had any apprehension +of humor he never showed it in his speeches. His career had been +very picturesque from unskilled laborer to the Senate and the +vice-presidency. The impression he gave was of an example of +American opportunity, and he was more impressive and influential +by his personality and history than by what he said. +</P> + +<P> +One of the most picturesque and popular stump speakers was +Daniel S. Dickinson. He had been a United States senator and +party leader, and was a national figure. His venerable appearance +gave force to his oratory. He seemed to be of great age, but was +remarkably vigorous. His speeches were made up of epigrams which +were quotable and effective. He jumped rapidly from argument to +anecdote and was vitriolic in attack. +</P> + +<P> +I had an interesting experience with Mr. Dickinson when running +for secretary of state in 1863. The drawing card for that year, +and the most sought-after and popular for campaign speaking, was +Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts. He had a series of appointments +in New York State, but on account of some emergency cancelled them +all. The national and State committees selected me to fill his +appointments. The most unsatisfactory and disagreeable job in +the world is to meet the appointments of a popular speaker. The +expectations of the audience have been aroused to a degree by +propaganda advertising the genius and accomplishments of the +expected speaker. The substitute cannot meet those expectations, +and an angry crowd holds him responsible for their disappointment. +</P> + +<P> +When I left the train at the station I was in the midst of a +mass-meeting of several counties at Deposit, N. Y. A large +committee, profusely decorated with campaign badges, were on the +platform to welcome the distinguished war governor of Massachusetts. +I did not meet physically their expectations of an impressive +statesman of dignified presence, wearing a Prince Albert suit +and a top hat. I had been long campaigning, my soft hat was +disreputable, and I had added a large shawl to my campaigning +equipment. Besides that, I was only twenty-eight and looked much +younger. The committee expected at least sixty. Finally the +chairman rushed up to me and said: "You were on the train. Did +you see Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts?" I answered him: +"Governor Andrew is not coming; he has cancelled all his engagements, +and I have been sent to take his place." The chairman gasped and +then exclaimed: "My God!" He very excitedly summoned his fellow +members of the committee and said to them: "Gentlemen, Governor +Andrew is not coming, but the State committee has sent THIS," +pointing to me. I was the party candidate as secretary of state, +and at the head of the ticket, but nobody asked me who I was, nor +did I tell them. I was left severely alone. +</P> + +<P> +Some time after, the chairman of the committee came to me and +said: "Young fellow, we won't be hard on you, but the State +committee has done this once before. We were promised a very +popular speaker well known among us, but in his place they sent +the damnedest fool who ever stood before an audience. However, +we have sent to Binghamton for Daniel S. Dickinson, and he will +be here in a short time and save our big mass-meeting." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Dickinson came and delivered a typical speech; every sentence +was a bombshell and its explosion very effective. He had the +privilege of age, and told a story which I would not have dared +to tell, the audience being half women. He said: "Those +constitutional lawyers, who are proclaiming that all Mr. Lincoln's +acts are unconstitutional, don't know any law. They remind me +of a doctor we have up in Binghamton, who has a large practice +because of his fine appearance, his big words, and gold-headed +cane. He was called to see a young lad who was sitting on his +grandmother's lap. After looking at the boy's tongue and feeling +his pulse, he rested his head in deep thought for a while on his +gold-headed cane and then said: 'Madam, this boy has such +difficulties with the epiglottis and such inflamed larynx that +we will have to apply phlebotomy.' The old lady clasped the boy +frantically to her bosom and cried: 'For heaven's sake, doctor, +what on earth can ail the boy that you are going to put all that +on his bottom?'" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Dickinson introduced me as the head of the State ticket. My +speech proved a success, and the chairman paid me the handsome +compliment of saying: "We are glad they sent you instead of +Governor Andrew." +</P> + +<P> +One of the most effective of our campaign speakers was General Bruce, +of Syracuse, N. Y. The general had practically only one speech, +which was full of picturesque illustrations, striking anecdotes, +and highly wrought-up periods of patriotic exaltation. He delivered +this speech, with necessary variations, through many campaigns. +I was with the general, who was Canal commissioner when I was +secretary of state, on our official tour on the Canal. +</P> + +<P> +One night the general said to me: "Mr. Blank, who has a great +reputation, is speaking in a neighboring town, and I am going to +hear him." He came back enraged and unhappy. In telling me about +it, he said: "That infernal thief delivered my speech word for +word, and better than I can do it myself. I am too old to get up +another one, and, as I love to speak, I am very unhappy." +</P> + +<P> +This illustrated one of the accidents to which a campaign speaker +is liable. The man who stole the general's speech afterwards +played the same trick on me. He came into our State from New England +with a great reputation. He was a very fine elocutionist, of +excellent presence and manner, but utterly incapable of original +thought. He could not prepare a speech of any kind. However, +he had a phenomenal memory. He could listen to a speech made +by another and repeat it perfectly. His attractive appearance, +good voice, and fine elocution made the speech a great success. +Several orators told me that when they found their efforts a failure +they asked for the cause, and discovered that this man had delivered +their speeches a few nights before, and the audience, of course, +thought the last speaker was a fraud and a thief. +</P> + +<P> +General Bruce told me a good campaign story of Senator James W. Nye, +of Nevada. Nye was a prominent lawyer of western New York, and +the most eloquent and witty member of the bar of that section, +and also the most popular campaign speaker. He moved to Nevada +and so impressed the people of that young State that he was elected +United States senator. In the Senate he became a notable figure. +</P> + +<P> +Nye and General Bruce were sent by the national committee to +canvass New England. Nye had become senatorial in his oratory, +with much more dignity and elevation of style than before. He +began his first speech at Bridgeport, Conn., in this way: "Fellow +citizens, I have come three thousand miles from my mountain home, +three thousand feet above the level of the sea, to discuss with +you these vital questions for the safety of our republic." The +next night, at New Haven, he said: "I have come from my mountain +home, five thousand feet above the level of the sea, to discuss +with you these vital questions of the safety of our republic." +Bruce interrupted him, saying: "Why, senator, it was only three +thousand feet last night." Nye turned savagely on Bruce: "Bruce, +you go to the devil!" Resuming with the audience, he remarked +very impressively: "As I was saying, fellow citizens, I have +come from my mountain home, ten thousand feet above the level +of the sea, to, etc." +</P> + +<P> +A story which illustrates and enforces the argument helps a political +speech, and it is often the only part of the speech which is +remembered. I have often heard people say to me: "I heard you +speak thirty, forty, or fifty years ago, and this is the story +you told." Sometimes, however, the story may prove a boomerang +in the most unexpected way. +</P> + +<P> +For many years, when I spoke in northern New York I was always +met at the Syracuse station by a superintendent of the Lackawanna +Railroad with a special train filled with friends. He carried +me up to my destination and brought me back in the morning. It +was his great day of the year, and during the trip he was full +of reminiscences, and mainly of the confidences reposed in him +by the president of the road, my old and valued friend, Samuel Sloan. +</P> + +<P> +One fall he failed to appear, and there was no special train to +meet me. I was told by friends that the reason was his wife had +died and he was in mourning. The morning after the meeting I +started to call upon him, but was informed that he was very hostile +and would not see me. I was not going to lose an old friend like +that and went up to his office. As soon as I entered, he said: +"Go away, I don't want to see you again." I appealed to him, +saying: "I cannot lose so good a friend as you. If there is +anything I have done or said, I will do everything in my power +to make it right." He turned on me sharply and with great emotion +told this story: "My wife and I lived in loving harmony for over +thirty years, and when she died recently I was heartbroken. The +whole town was sympathetic; most of the business houses closed +during the hour of the funeral. I had arranged to have ministers +whom my wife admired, and with them selected passages of scriptures +and hymns to which she was devoted. A new minister in town was +invited by the others to participate, and without my knowledge. +I looked over the congregation, all Mary's friends. I listened +to the services, which Mary herself would have chosen, and said +to Mary's spirit, which I knew to be hovering about: 'We are all +paying you a loving tribute.' Then the new minister had for his +part the announcement and reading of a hymn. At the last Republican +convention at Saratoga, in order to illustrate the condition of +the Democratic party, you told a story about a boy walking among +the children's graves in the old cemetery at Peekskill, eating +green apples and whistling 'Nearer, my God, to Thee.' The new +minister gave that hymn, 'Nearer, my God, to Thee.' Your story +came up in my mind, and I burst out laughing. I disgraced myself, +insulted the memory of Mary, and I never want to see you again." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXI. NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTIONS +</H3> + +<P> +When the Republican convention met in 1912 I was again a delegate. +In my fifty-six years of national conventions I never had such an +intensely disagreeable experience. I felt it my duty to support +President Taft for renomination. I thought he had earned it by +his excellent administration. I had many ties with him, beginning +with our associations as graduates of Yale, and held for him a +most cordial regard. I was swayed by my old and unabated love +for Roosevelt. In that compromise and harmony were impossible. +I saw that, with the control of the organization and of the +convention on the side of Mr. Taft, and with the wild support for +Roosevelt of the delegates from the States which could be relied +upon to give Republican majorities, the nomination of either +would be sure defeat. +</P> + +<P> +I was again a delegate to the Republican convention of 1916. +The party was united. Progressives and conservatives were acting +together, and the convention was in the happiest of moods. It was +generally understood that Justice Hughes would be nominated if +he could be induced to resign from the Supreme Court and accept. +The presiding officer of the convention was Senator Warren G. Harding. +He made a very acceptable keynote speech. His fine appearance, +his fairness, justice, and good temper as presiding officer +captured the convention. There was a universal sentiment that if +Hughes declined the party could do no better than to nominate +Senator Harding. It was this impression among the delegates, many +of whom were also members of the convention of 1920, which led +to the selection as the convention's candidate for president of +Warren G. Harding. +</P> + +<P> +My good mother was a Presbyterian and a good Calvinist. She +believed and impressed upon me the certainty of special Providence. +It is hard for a Republican to think that the election of +Woodrow Wilson was a special Providence, but if our candidate, +Mr. Hughes, had been elected he would have had a hostile Democratic +majority in Congress. +</P> + +<P> +When the United States went into the war, as it must have done, +the president would have been handicapped by this pacifist Congress. +The draft would have been refused, without which our army of +four millions could not have been raised. The autocratic measures +necessary for the conduct of the war would have been denied. +With the conflict between the executive and Congress, our position +would have been impossible and indefensible. +</P> + +<P> +I had a personal experience in the convention. Chairman Harding +sent one of the secretaries to me with a message that there was +an interval of about an hour when the convention would have nothing +to do. It was during such a period the crank had his opportunity +and the situation was dangerous, and he wished me to come to +the platform and fill as much of that hour as possible. I refused +on the ground that I was wholly unprepared, and it would be madness +to attempt to speak to fourteen thousand people in the hall and +a hundred million outside. +</P> + +<P> +A few minutes afterwards Governor Whitman, chairman of the New York +delegation, came to me and said: "You must be drafted. The +chairman will create some business to give you fifteen minutes +to think up your speech." I spurred my gray matter as never before, +and was then introduced and spoke for forty-five minutes. I was +past eighty-two. The speech was a success, but when I returned +to my seat I remembered what General Garfield had so earnestly +said to me: "You are the only man of national reputation who +will speak without preparation. Unless you peremptorily and +decisively stop yielding you will some day make such a failure +as to destroy the reputation of a lifetime." +</P> + +<P> +In a letter President Harding has this to say in reference to +the occasion: "Just about a year ago (1916) it was my privilege +as chairman of the Republican convention at Chicago to call upon +you for an address. There was a hiatus which called for a speech, +and you so wonderfully met the difficult requirements that I sat +in fascinated admiration and have been ready ever since to pay +you unstinted tribute. You were ever eloquent in your more active +years, but I count you the old man eloquent and incomparable in +your eighties. May many more helpful and happy years be yours." +</P> + +<P> +I was again a delegate to the convention in June, 1920. The +Republicans had been for eight years out of office during +Mr. Wilson's two terms. The delegates were exceedingly anxious +to make no mistake and have no friction in the campaign. +</P> + +<P> +The two leading candidates, General Wood and Governor Lowden, +had nearly equal strength and were supported by most enthusiastic +admirers and advocates. As the balloting continued the rivalry +and feeling grew between their friends. It became necessary to +harmonize the situation and it was generally believed that this +could be best done by selecting Senator Warren G. Harding. +</P> + +<P> +Very few conventions have a dramatic surprise, but the nomination +of Governor Coolidge, of Massachusetts, for vice-president came +about in a very picturesque way. He had been named for president +among the others, and the speech in his behalf by Speaker +Frederick H. Gillett was an excellent one. Somehow the convention +did not seem to grasp all that the governor stood for and how +strong he was with each delegate. When the nominations for +vice-president were called for, Senator Medill McCormick presented +Senator Lenroot, of Wisconsin, in an excellent speech. There +were also very good addresses on behalf of the Governor of Kansas +and others. +</P> + +<P> +When the balloting was about to start, a delegate from Oregon +who was in the rear of the hall arose and said: "Mr. Chairman." +The chairman said: "The gentleman from Oregon." The Oregon +delegate, in a far-reaching voice, shouted: "Mr. Chairman, +I nominate for vice-president Calvin Coolidge, a one-hundred-per-cent +American." The convention went off its feet with a whoop and +Coolidge was nominated hands down. +</P> + +<P> +I again had a personal experience. The committee on resolutions, +not being prepared to report, there was that interval of no +business which is the despair of presiding officers of conventions. +The crowd suddenly began calling for me. While, of course, I had +thought much on the subject, I had not expected to be called upon +and had no prepared speech. Happily, fifteen thousand faces and +fifteen thousand voices giving uproarious welcome both steadied +and inspired me. Though I was past eighty-six years of age, my +voice was in as good condition as at forty, and was practically +the only one which did fill that vast auditorium. The press of +the country featured the effort next day in a way which was +most gratifying. +</P> + +<P> +Among the thousands who greeted me on the streets and in the +hotel lobbies with congratulations and efforts to say something +agreeable and complimentary, I selected one compliment as unique. +He was an enthusiast. "Chauncey Depew," he said, "I have for +over twenty years wanted to shake hands with you. Your speech +was a wonder. I was half a mile off, way up under the roof, and +heard every word of it, and it was the only one I was able to hear. +That you should do this in your eighty-seventh year is a miracle. +But then my father was a miracle. On his eighty-fifth birthday he +was in just as good shape as you are to-day, and a week afterwards +he was dead." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXII. JOURNALISTS AND FINANCIERS +</H3> + +<P> +In reminiscences of my journalistic friends I do not include many +of the most valued who are still living. Of those who have passed +away one of the most faithful and devoted was Edward H. Butler, +editor and proprietor of the Buffalo Evening News. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Butler began at the bottom as a newspaper man and very early +and rapidly climbed to the top. He secured control of the +Evening News and soon made one of the most, if not the most, +widely circulated, influential, and prosperous papers of western +New York. Personally and through his paper he was for many years +my devoted friend. To those he loved he had an unbounded fidelity +and generosity. He possessed keen insight and kept thoroughly +abreast of public affairs was a journalist of high order. +</P> + +<P> +It was my privilege to know Charles A. Dana very well. I first +met him when he was on the New York Tribune and closely allied +with Horace Greeley. He made the New York Sun one of the brightest, +most original, and most quoted newspapers in the United States. +His high culture, wonderful command of English, and refined taste +gave to the Sun a high literary position, and at the same time +his audacity and criticism made him a terror to those with whom +he differed, and his editorials the delight of a reader. +</P> + +<P> +Personally Mr. Dana was one of the most attractive and charming +of men. As assistant secretary of war during Lincoln's administration +he came in intimate contact with all the public men of that period, +and as a journalist his study was invaded and he received most +graciously men and women famous in every department of intellectual +activity. His reminiscences were wonderful and his characterizations +remarkable. He might have published an autobiography of rare value +and interest. +</P> + +<P> +When the elder James Gordon Bennett died the newspaper world +recognized the loss of one of the most remarkable and successful +of journalists and publishers. His son had won reputation in the +field of sport, but his contemporaries doubted his ability to +maintain, much less increase, the sphere of the New York Herald. +But young Bennett soon displayed rare originality and enterprise. +He made his newspaper one of national and international importance. +By bringing out an edition in Paris he conferred a boon upon +Americans abroad. For many years there was little news from the +United States in foreign newspapers, but Americans crazy for news +from home found it in the Paris edition of the New York Herald. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bennett was a good friend of mine for half a century. He was +delightful company, with his grasp of world affairs and picturesque +presentation of them. A President of the United States who wished +to change the hostile attitude of the Herald towards his +administration and himself asked me to interview Mr. Bennett. +The editor was courteous, frank, but implacable. But some time +afterwards the Herald became a cordial supporter of the president. +The interview and its subsequent result displayed a characteristic +of Bennett. He would not recognize that his judgment or action +could be influenced, but his mind was so open and fair that when +convinced that he was wrong he would in his own way and at his +own time do the right thing. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Bennett did me once an essential service. It was at the time +when I was a candidate for re-election to the United States Senate. +I cabled him in Paris and asked that he would look into the situation +through his confidential friends, reporters, and employees, and +if he found the situation warranted his taking a position to do so. +Of course the Herald was an independent and not a party journal +and rarely took sides. But not long afterwards, editorially and +reportorially, the emphatic endorsement of the Herald came, and +positive prediction of success, and were of great help. He was +one of my groomsmen at my wedding in 1901. +</P> + +<P> +Among the thousands of stories which appear and disappear like +butterflies, it is a curious question what vogue and circulation +one can have over others. By an accident I broke one of the +tendons of my heel and was laid up in my house for some time, +unable to walk. The surgeon fixed the bandage in place by a +liquid cement which soon solidified like glass. +</P> + +<P> +Julian Ralph, a brilliant young newspaper reporter, wrote a long +story in the New York Sun about a wonderful glass leg, which had +been substituted for the natural one and did better work. The +story had universal publication not only in the United States +but abroad, and interested scientists and surgeons. My mail grew +to enormous proportions with letters from eager inquirers wanting +to know all the particulars. The multitude of unfortunates who +had lost their legs or were dissatisfied with artificial ones wrote +to me to find out where these wonderful glass legs could be obtained. +</P> + +<P> +The glass-leg story nearly killed me, but it gave Ralph such a +reputation that he was advanced to positions both at home and +abroad, where his literary genius and imagination won him many +honors, but he never repeated his success with my glass leg. +</P> + +<P> +I suppose, having been more than half a century in close contact +with matters of interest to the public, or officially in positions +where I was a party to corporate activities or movements which +might affect the market, I have been more interviewed than any +one living and seen more reporters. No reporter has ever abused +the confidence I reposed in him. He always appreciated what I +told him, even to the verge of indiscretion, and knew what was +proper for him to reveal and what was not for publication. In the +critical situations which often occurred in railway controversies, +this cordial relationship with reporters was of great value in +getting our side before the public. +</P> + +<P> +One reporter especially, a space writer, managed for a long time +to get from me one-half to a column nearly every day, sometimes +appearing as interviews and at other times under the general +phrase: "It has been learned from a reliable source." +</P> + +<P> +I recall a personal incident out of the ordinary. I was awakened +one stormy winter night by a reporter who was well known to me, +a young man of unusual promise. I met him in dressing gown and +slippers in my library. There he told me that his wife was ill, +and to save her life the doctor informed him that he must send +her West to a sanitarium. +</P> + +<P> +"I have no money," he continued, "and will not borrow nor beg, +but you must give me a story I can sell." +</P> + +<P> +We discussed various matters which a paper would like to have, +and finally I gave him a veiled but still intelligible story, +which we both knew the papers were anxious to get. He told me +afterwards that he sold the interview for enough to meet his +present needs and his wife's journey. Some time after he entered +Wall Street and made a success. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +I have known well nearly all the phenomenally successful business +men of my time. It is a popular idea that luck or chance had much +to do with their careers. This is a mistake. All of them had +vision not possessed by their fellows. They could see opportunities +where others took the opposite view, and they had the courage of +their convictions. They had standards of their own which they +lived up to, and these standards differed widely from the ethical +ideas of the majority. +</P> + +<P> +Russell Sage, who died in the eighties, had to his credit an estate +which amounted to a million dollars for every year of his life. +He was not always a money-maker, but he was educated in the art +as a banker, was diverted into politics, elected to Congress, and +became a very useful member of that body. When politics changed +and he was defeated, he came to New York and speedily found his +place among the survival of the fittest. Mr. Sage could see before +others when bad times would be followed by better ones and +securities rise in value, and he also saw before others when +disasters would follow prosperity. Relying upon his own judgment, +he became a winner, whether the market went up or down. +</P> + +<P> +I met Mr. Sage frequently and enjoyed his quick and keen appreciation +of men and things. Of course, I knew that he cultivated me because +he thought that from my official position he might possibly gain +information which he could use in the market. I never received +any points from him, or acted upon any of his suggestions. I think +the reason why I am in excellent health and vigor in my eighty-eighth +year is largely due to the fact that the points or suggestions of +great financiers never interested me. I have known thousands who +were ruined by them. The financier who gives advice may mean well +as to the securities which he confidentially tells about, but an +unexpected financial storm may make all prophecies worthless, +except for those who have capital to tide it over. +</P> + +<P> +One of the most certain opportunities for fortune was to buy Erie +after Commodore Vanderbilt had secured every share and the shorts +were selling wildly what they did not have and could not get. An +issue of fraudulent and unauthorized stock suddenly flooded the +market and thousands were ruined. +</P> + +<P> +As Mr. Sage's wealth increased, the generous and public-spirited +impulses which were his underlying characteristics, became entirely +obscured by the craze for accumulation. His wife, to whom he was +devotedly attached, was, fortunately for him, one of the most +generous, philanthropic, and open-minded of women. She was most +loyal to the Emma Willard School at Troy, N. Y., from which she +graduated. Mrs. Sage wrote me a note at one time, saying: "Mr. Sage +has promised to build and give to the Willard School a building +which will cost one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and he +wants you to deliver the address at the laying of the corner-stone." +I wrote back that I was so overwhelmed with business that it was +impossible for me to accept. She replied: "Russell vows he will +not give a dollar unless you promise to deliver the address. This +is the first effort in his life at liberal giving. Don't you +think he ought to be encouraged?" I immediately accepted. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Sage was a Mayflower descendant. At one of the anniversaries +of the society she invited me to be her guest and to make a speech. +She had quite a large company at her table. When the champagne +corks began to explode all around us, she asked what I thought she +ought to do. I answered: "As the rest are doing." Mr. Sage +vigorously protested that it was a useless and wasteful expense. +However, Mrs. Sage gave the order, and Mr. Sage and two objecting +gentlemen at the table were the most liberal participants of her +hospitality. The inspiration of the phizz brought Sage to his +feet, though not on the programme. He talked until the committee +of arrangements succeeded in persuading him that the company +was entirely satisfied. +</P> + +<P> +Jay Gould told me a story of Sage. The market had gone against +him and left him under great obligations. The shock sent Sage +to bed, and he declared that he was ruined. Mr. Gould and +Mr. Cyrus W. Field became alarmed for his life and went to see +him. They found him broken-hearted and in a serious condition. +Gould said to him: "Sage, I will assume all your obligations and +give you so many millions of dollars if you will transfer to me +the cash you have in banks, trust, and safe-deposit companies, +and you keep all your securities and all your real estate." The +proposition proved to be the shock necessary to counteract Sage's +panic and save his life. He shouted, "I won't do it!" jumped out +of bed, met all his obligations and turned defeat into a victory. +</P> + +<P> +Sage could not personally give away his fortune, so he left it +all, without reservations, to his wife. The world is better and +happier by her wise distribution of his accumulations. +</P> + +<P> +One of Mr. Sage's lawyers was an intimate friend of mine, and he +told me this story. Sage had been persuaded by his fellow directors +in the Western Union Telegraph Company to make a will. As he was +attorney for the company, Sage came to him to draw it. +</P> + +<P> +The lawyer began to write: "I, Russell Sage, of the City of +New York, being of sound mind" . . . (Sage interrupted him in +his quick way by saying, "Nobody will dispute that") "do publish +and devise this to be my last will and testament as follows: +First, I direct that all my just debts will be paid." . . . +("That's easy," said Sage, "because I haven't any.") "Also my +funeral expenses and testamentary expenses." ("Make the funeral +simple. I dislike display and ostentation, and especially at +funerals," said Sage.) "Next," said the lawyer, "I give, devise, +and bequeath" . . . (Sage shouted: "I won't do it! I won't do it!" +and left the office.) +</P> + +<P> +Nothing is so absorbing as the life of Wall Street. It is more +abused, misunderstood, and envied than any place in the country. +Wall Street means that the sharpest wits from every State in the +Union, and many from South America and Europe, are competing with +each other for the great prizes of development, exploitation, +and speculation. +</P> + +<P> +I remember a Wall Street man who was of wide reading and high +culture, and yet devoted to both the operation and romance of +the Street. He rushed into my room one night at Lucerne in +Switzerland and said: "I have just arrived from Greece and have +been out of touch with everything for six weeks. I am starving for +news of the market." +</P> + +<P> +I enlightened him as well as I could, and then he remarked: "Do +you know, while in Athens our little party stood on the Acropolis +admiring the Parthenon, and one enthusiastic Grecian exclaimed: +'There is the wonder of the world. For three thousand years its +perfection has baffled and taught the genius of every generation. +It can be copied, but never yet has been equalled. Surely, +notwithstanding your love of New York and devotion to the ticker, +you must admire the Parthenon.' I answered him, if I could be +transported at this minute to Fifth Avenue and Broadway and could +look up at the Flatiron Building, I would give the money to +rebuild that old ruin." +</P> + +<P> +While conditions in the United States because of the World War +are serious, they are so much better than in the years following +the close of the Civil War, that we who have had the double +experience can be greatly encouraged. Then one-half of our country +was devastated, its industries destroyed or paralyzed; now we are +united and stronger in every way. Then we had a paper currency +and dangerous inflation, now we are on a gold standard and with +an excellent banking and credit system. The development of our +resources and wonderful inventions and discoveries since the +Civil War place us in the foremost position to enter upon world +commerce when all other nations have come as they must to +co-operation and co-ordination upon lines for the preservation +of peace and the promotion of international prosperity. +</P> + +<P> +Many incidents personal to me occur which illustrate conditions +following the close of the war between the States. I knew very +rich men who became paupers, and strong institutions and corporations +which went into bankruptcy. I was in the Union Trust Company of +New York when our financial circles were stunned by the closing +of its doors following the closing of the New York Stock Exchange. +</P> + +<P> +One of my clients was Mr. Augustus Schell, one of the ablest and +most successful of financiers and public-spirited citizens. The +panic had ruined him. As we left the Union Trust Company he had +his hat over his eyes, and his head was buried in the upturned +collar of his coat. When opposite Trinity Church he said: +"Mr. Depew, after being a rich man for over forty years, it is +hard to walk under a poor man's hat." When we reached the +Astor House a complete reaction had occurred. His collar was +turned down, his head came out confident and aggressive, his hat +had shifted to the back of his head and on a rakish angle. The +hopeful citizen fairly shouted: "Mr. Depew, the world has always +gone around, it always will go around." He managed with the aid +of Commodore Vanderbilt to save his assets from sacrifice. In +a few years they recovered normal value, and Mr. Schell with his +fortune intact found "the world had gone around" and he was +on top again. +</P> + +<P> +I have often felt the inspiration of Mr. Schell's confidence and +hope and have frequently lifted others out of the depths of despair +by narrating the story and emphasizing the motto "The world always +has gone around, the world always will go around." +</P> + +<P> +Illustrating the wild speculative spirit of one financial period, +and the eagerness with which speculators grasped at what they +thought points, the following is one of my many experiences. +</P> + +<P> +Running down Wall Street one day because I was late for an important +meeting, a well-known speculator stopped me and shouted: "What +about Erie?" I threw him off impatiently, saying, "Damn Erie!" +and rushed on. I knew nothing about Erie speculatively and was +irritated at being still further delayed for my meeting. +</P> + +<P> +Sometime afterwards I received a note from him in which he said: +"I never can be grateful enough for the point you gave me on Erie. +I made on it the biggest kill of my life." +</P> + +<P> +I have often had quoted to me that sentence about "fortune comes +to one but once, and if rejected never returns." When I declined +President Harrison's offer of the position of secretary of state +in his Cabinet, I had on my desk a large number of telegrams +signed by distinguished names and having only that quotation. +There are many instances in the lives of successful men where +they have repeatedly declined Dame Fortune's gift, and yet she +has finally rewarded them according to their desires. I am inclined +to think that the fickle lady is not always mortally offended by +a refusal. I believe that there come in the life of almost everybody +several opportunities, and few have the judgment to wisely decide +what to decline and what to accept. +</P> + +<P> +In 1876 Gardner Hubbard was an officer in the United States railway +mail service. As this connection with the government was one of +my duties in the New York Central, we met frequently. One day +he said to me: "My son-in-law, Professor Bell, has made what +I think a wonderful invention. It is a talking telegraph. We +need ten thousand dollars, and I will give you one-sixth interest +for that amount of money." +</P> + +<P> +I was very much impressed with Mr. Hubbard's description of the +possibilities of Professor Bell's invention. Before accepting, +however, I called upon my friend, Mr. William Orton, president +of the Western Union Telegraph Company. Orton had the reputation +of being the best-informed and most accomplished electrical expert +in the country. He said to me: "There is nothing in this patent +whatever, nor is there anything in the scheme itself, except as +a toy. If the device has any value, the Western Union owns a +prior patent called the Gray's patent, which makes the Bell +device worthless." +</P> + +<P> +When I returned to Mr. Hubbard he again convinced me, and I would +have made the investment, except that Mr. Orton called at my house +that night and said to me: "I know you cannot afford to lose +ten thousand dollars, which you certainly will if you put it in +the Bell patent. I have been so worried about it that contrary +to my usual custom I have come, if possible, to make you promise +to drop it." This I did. +</P> + +<P> +The Bell patent was sustained in the courts against the Gray, +and the telephone system became immediately popular and profitable. +It spread rapidly all over the country, and innumerable local +companies were organized, and with large interests for the privilege +to the parent company. +</P> + +<P> +I rarely ever part with anything, and I may say that principle +has brought me so many losses and so many gains that I am as yet, +in my eighty-eighth year, undecided whether it is a good rule or +not. However, if I had accepted my friend Mr. Hubbard's offer, it +would have changed my whole course of life. With the dividends, +year after year, and the increasing capital, I would have netted +by to-day at least one hundred million dollars. I have no regrets. +I know my make-up, with its love for the social side of life and +its good things, and for good times with good fellows. I also +know the necessity of activity and work. I am quite sure that +with this necessity removed and ambition smothered, I should +long ago have been in my grave and lost many years of a life which +has been full of happiness and satisfaction. +</P> + +<P> +My great weakness has been indorsing notes. A friend comes and +appeals to you. If you are of a sympathetic nature and very fond +of him, if you have no money to loan him, it is so easy to put +your name on the back of a note. Of course, it is rarely paid at +maturity, because your friend's judgment was wrong, and so the note +is renewed and the amount increased. When finally you wake up +to the fact that if you do not stop you are certain to be ruined, +your friend fails when the notes mature, and you have lost the +results of many years of thrift and saving, and also your friend. +</P> + +<P> +I declined to marry until I had fifty thousand dollars. The happy +day arrived, and I felt the fortunes of my family secure. My +father-in-law and his son became embarrassed in their business, +and, naturally, I indorsed their notes. A few years afterwards +my father-in-law died, his business went bankrupt, I lost my +fifty thousand dollars and found myself considerably in debt. As +an illustration of my dear mother's belief that all misfortunes +are sent for one's good, it so happened that the necessity of +meeting and recovering from this disaster led to extraordinary +exertions, which probably, except under the necessity, I never +would have made. The efforts were successful. +</P> + +<P> +Horace Greeley never could resist an appeal to indorse a note. +They were hardly ever paid, and Mr. Greeley was the loser. I met +him one time, soon after he had been a very severe sufferer from +his mistaken kindness. He said to me with great emphasis: +"Chauncey, I want you to do me a great favor. I want you to have +a bill put through the legislature, and see that it becomes a law, +making it a felony and punishable with imprisonment for life for +any man to put his name by way of indorsement on the back of +another man's paper." +</P> + +<P> +Dear old Greeley kept the practice up until he died, and the law +was never passed. There was one instance, which I had something +to do with, where the father of a young man, through whom Mr. Greeley +lost a great deal of money by indorsing notes, arranged after +Mr. Greeley's death to have the full amount of the loss paid to +Mr. Greeley's heirs. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXIII. ACTORS AND MEN OF LETTERS +</H3> + +<P> +One cannot speak of Sir Henry Irving without recalling the wonderful +charm and genius of his leading lady, Ellen Terry. She never +failed to be worthy of sharing in Irving's triumphs. Her remarkable +adaptability to the different characters and grasp of their +characteristics made her one of the best exemplifiers of Shakespeare +of her time. She was equally good in the great characters of other +playwrights. Her effectiveness was increased by an unusual ability +to shed tears and natural tears. I was invited behind the scenes +one evening when she had produced a great impression upon the +audience in a very pathetic part. I asked her how she did what +no one else was ever able to do. +</P> + +<P> +"Why," she answered, "it is so simple when you are portraying ——" +(mentioning the character), "and such a crisis arises in your +life, that naturally and immediately the tears begin to flow." +So they did when she was illustrating the part for me. +</P> + +<P> +It was a privilege to hear Edwin Booth as Richelieu and Hamlet. +I have witnessed all the great actors of my time in those characters. +None of them equalled Edwin Booth. For a number of years he was +exiled from the stage because his brother, Wilkes Booth, was +the assassin of President Lincoln. His admirers in New York felt +that it was a misfortune for dramatic art that so consummate an +artist should be compelled to remain in private life. In order +to break the spell they united and invited Mr. Booth to give a +performance at one of the larger theatres. The house, of course, +was carefully ticketed with selected guests. +</P> + +<P> +The older Mrs. John Jacob Astor, a most accomplished and cultured +lady and one of the acknowledged leaders of New York society, +gave Mr. Booth a dinner in honor of the event. The gathering +represented the most eminent talent of New York in every department +of the great city's activities. Of course, Mr. Booth had the seat +of honor at the right of the hostess. On the left was a distinguished +man who had been a Cabinet minister and a diplomat. During the +dinner Mr. Evarts said to me: "I have known so and so all our +active lives. He has been a great success in everything he has +undertaken, and the wonder of it is that if there was ever an +opportunity for him to say or do the wrong thing he never failed." +</P> + +<P> +Curiously enough, the conversation at the dinner ran upon men +outliving their usefulness and reputations. Several instances +were cited where a man from the height of his fame gradually +lived on and lived out his reputation. Whereupon our diplomat, +with his fatal facility for saying the wrong thing, broke in by +remarking in a strident voice: "The most remarkable instance of a +man dying at the right time for his reputation was Abraham Lincoln." +Then he went on to explain how he would have probably lost his +place in history through the mistakes of his second term. Nobody +heard anything beyond the words "Abraham Lincoln." Fortunately +for the evening and the great embarrassment of Mr. Booth, the tact +of Mrs. Astor changed the subject and saved the occasion. +</P> + +<P> +Of all my actor friends none was more delightful either on the +stage or in private life than Joseph Jefferson. He early appealed +to me because of his Rip Van Winkle. I was always devoted to +Washington Irving and to the Hudson River. All the traditions +which have given a romantic touch to different points on that +river came from Irving's pen. In the days of my youth the influence +of Irving upon those who were fortunate enough to have been born +upon the banks of the Hudson was very great in every way. +</P> + +<P> +As I met Jefferson quite frequently, I recall two of his many +charming stories. He said he thought at one time that it would +be a fine idea to play Rip Van Winkle at the village of Catskill, +around which place was located the story of his hero. His manager +selected the supernumeraries from among the farmer boys of the +neighborhood. At the point of the play where Rip wakes up and +finds the lively ghosts of the Hendrick Hudson crew playing bowls +in the mountains, he says to each one of them, who all look and +are dressed alike: "Are you his brother?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the young farmer who impersonated one of the ghosts, +"Mr. Jefferson, I never saw one of these people before." As ghosts +are supposed to be silent, this interruption nearly broke up +the performance. +</P> + +<P> +During the Spanish-American War I came on the same train with +Mr. Jefferson from Washington. The interest all over the country +at that time was the remarkable victory of Admiral Dewey over the +Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila. People wondered how Dewey +could sink every Spanish ship and never be hit once himself. +Jefferson said in his quaint way: "Everybody, including the +secretary of the navy and several admirals, asked me how that could +have happened. I told them the problem might be one which naval +officers could not solve, but it was very simple for an actor. The +failure of the Spanish admiral was entirely due to his not having +rehearsed. Success is impossible without frequent rehearsals." +</P> + +<P> +Returning for a moment to Washington Irving, one of the most +interesting spots near New York is his old home, Wolfert's Roost, +and also the old church at Tarrytown where he worshipped, and +of which he was an officer for many years. The ivy which partially +covers the church was given to Mr. Irving by Sir Walter Scott, +from Abbotsford. At the time when the most famous of British +reviewers wrote, "Whoever read or reads an American book?" +Sir Walter Scott announced the merit and coming fame of +Washington Irving. But, as Rip Van Winkle says, when he returns +after twenty years to his native village, "how soon we are forgot." +</P> + +<P> +There was a dinner given in New York to celebrate the hundredth +anniversary of Washington Irving's birth. I was one of the speakers. +In an adjoining room was a company of young and very successful +brokers, whose triumphs in the market were the envy of speculative +America. While I was speaking they came into the room. When +I had finished, the host at the brokers' dinner called me out and +said: "We were much interested in your speech. This Irving you +talked about must be a remarkable man. What is the dinner about?" +</P> + +<P> +I answered him that it was in celebration of the hundredth +anniversary of the birth of Washington Irving. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," he said, pointing to an old gentleman who had sat beside +me on the speakers' platform, "it is astonishing how vigorous he +looks at that advanced age." +</P> + +<P> +It was my good fortune to hear often and know personally +Richard Mansfield. He was very successful in many parts, but +his presentation of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was wonderful. +At one time he came to me with a well-thought-out scheme for +a national theatre in New York, which would be amply endowed and +be the home of the highest art in the dramatic profession, and +at the same time the finest school in the world. He wanted me +to draw together a committee of the leading financiers of the +country and, if possible, to impress them so that they would +subscribe the millions necessary for carrying out his ideas. +I was too busy a man to undertake so difficult a project. +</P> + +<P> +One of the colored porters in the Wagner Palace Car service, who +was always with me on my tours of inspection over the railroad, +told me an amusing story of Mr. Mansfield's devotion to his art. +He was acting as porter on Mansfield's car, when he was making +a tour of the country. This porter was an exceedingly intelligent +man. He appreciated Mansfield's achievements and played up to +his humor in using him as a foil while always acting. When they +were in a station William never left the car, but remained on guard +for the protection of its valuable contents. +</P> + +<P> +After a play at Kansas City Mansfield came into the car very late +and said: "William, where is my manager?" +</P> + +<P> +"Gone to bed, sir, and so have the other members of the company," +answered William. +</P> + +<P> +Then in his most impressive way Mansfield said: "William, they +fear me. By the way, were you down at the depot to-night when +the audience from the suburbs were returning to take their trains +home?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir," answered William, though he had not been out of the car. +</P> + +<P> +"Did you hear any remarks made about my play?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, sir." +</P> + +<P> +"Can you give me an instance?" +</P> + +<P> +"Certainly," replied William; "one gentleman remarked that he +had been to the theatre all his life, but that your acting to-night +was the most rotten thing he had ever heard or seen." +</P> + +<P> +"William," shouted Mansfield, "get my Winchester and find that man." +</P> + +<P> +So Mansfield and William went out among the crowds, and when +William saw a big, aggressive-looking fellow who he thought would +stand up and fight, he said: "There he is." +</P> + +<P> +Mansfield immediately walked up to the man, covered him with his +rifle, and shouted: "Hold up your hands, you wretch, and take +back immediately the insulting remark you made about my play +and acting and apologize." +</P> + +<P> +The man said: "Why, Mr. Mansfield, somebody has been lying to +you about me. Your performance to-night was the best thing I ever +saw in my life." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said Mansfield, shouldering his rifle, and added in +the most tragic tone: "William, lead the way back to the car." +</P> + +<P> +Among the most interesting memories of old New Yorkers are the +suppers which Mr. Augustin Daly gave on the one hundredth performance +of a play. Like everything which Daly did, the entertainment was +perfect. A frequent and honored guest on these occasions was +General Sherman, who was then retired from the army and living +in New York. Sherman was a military genius but a great deal more. +He was one of the most sensitive men in the world. Of course, +the attraction at these suppers was Miss Rehan, Daly's leading +lady. Her personal charm, her velvet voice, and her inimitable +coquetry made every guest anxious to be her escort. She would +pretend to be in doubt whether to accept the attentions of +General Sherman or myself, but when the general began to display +considerable irritation, the brow of Mars was smoothed and the +warrior made happy by a gracious acceptance of his arm. +</P> + +<P> +On one of these occasions I heard the best after-dinner speech +of my life. The speaker was one of the most beautiful women +in the country, Miss Fanny Davenport. That night she seemed +to be inspired, and her eloquence, her wit, her humor, her sparkling +genius, together with the impression of her amazing beauty were +very effective. +</P> + +<P> +P. T. Barnum, the showman, was a many-sided and interesting +character. I saw much of him as he rented from the Harlem Railroad +Company the Madison Square Garden, year after year. Barnum never +has had an equal in his profession and was an excellent business +man. In a broad way he was a man of affairs, and with his vast +fund of anecdotes and reminiscences very entertaining socially. +</P> + +<P> +An Englishman of note came to me with a letter of introduction, +and I asked him whom he would like to meet. He said: "I think +principally Mr. P. T. Barnum." I told this to Barnum, who knew +all about him, and said: "As a gentleman, he knows how to meet me." +When I informed my English friend, he expressed his regret and +at once sent Barnum his card and an invitation for dinner. At the +dinner Barnum easily carried off the honors with his wonderful +fund of unusual adventures. +</P> + +<P> +My first contact with Mr. Barnum occurred many years before, when +I was a boy up in Peekskill. At that time he had a museum and +a show in a building at the corner of Ann Street and Broadway, +opposite the old Astor House. By skilful advertising he kept +people all over the country expecting something new and wonderful +and anxious to visit his show. +</P> + +<P> +There had been an Indian massacre on the Western plains. The +particulars filled the newspapers and led to action by the government +in retaliation. Barnum advertised that he had succeeded in +securing the Sioux warriors whom the government had captured, +and who would re-enact every day the bloody battle in which they +were victorious. +</P> + +<P> +It was one of the hottest afternoons in August when I appeared +there from the country. The Indians were on the top floor, under +the roof. The performance was sufficiently blood-curdling to +satisfy the most exacting reader of a penny-dreadful. After +the performance, when the audience left, I was too fascinated +to go, and remained in the rear of the hall, gazing at these +dreadful savages. One of them took off his head-gear, dropped +his tomahawk and scalping-knife, and said in the broadest Irish +to his neighbor: "Moike, if this weather don't cool off, I will +be nothing but a grease spot." This was among the many illusions +which have been dissipated for me in a long life. Notwithstanding +that, I still have faith, and dearly love to be fooled, but not +to have the fraud exposed. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Wyndham, the celebrated English actor, was playing one night in +New York. He saw me in the audience and sent a messenger inviting +me to meet him at supper at the Hoffman House. After the theatre +I went to the hotel, asked at the desk in what room the theatrical +supper was, and found there Bronson Howard, the playwright, and +some others. I told them the object of my search, and Mr. Howard +said: "You are just in the right place." +</P> + +<P> +The English actor came later, and also a large number of other +guests. I was very much surprised and flattered at being made +practically the guest of honor. In the usual and inevitable +after-dinner speeches I joined enthusiastically in the prospects +of American contributions to drama and especially the genius of +Bronson Howard. +</P> + +<P> +It developed afterwards that the actors' dinner was set for several +nights later, and that I was not invited or expected to this +entertainment, which was given by Mr. Howard to my actor friend, +but by concert of action between the playwright and the actor, +the whole affair was turned into a dinner to me. Broadway was +delighted at the joke, but did not have a better time over it than I did. +</P> + +<P> +The supper parties after the play which Wyndham gave were among +the most enjoyable entertainments in London. His guests represented +the best in society, government, art, literature, and drama. His +dining-room was built and furnished like the cabin of a yacht and +the illusion was so complete that sensitive guests said they felt +the rolling of the sea. +</P> + +<P> +One evening he said to me: "I expect a countryman of yours, +a charming fellow, but, poor devil, he has only one hundred and +fifty thousand pounds a year. He is still young, and all the +managing mothers are after him for their daughters." +</P> + +<P> +When the prosperous American with an income of three-quarters +of a million arrived, I needed no introduction. I knew him very +well and about his affairs. He had culture, was widely travelled, +was both musical and artistic, and his fad was intimacy with +prominent people. His dinners were perfection and invitations +were eagerly sought. On the plea of delicate health he remained +a brief period in the height of the season in London and Paris. +But during those few weeks he gave all that could be done by lavish +wealth and perfect taste, and did it on an income of twenty +thousand dollars a year. +</P> + +<P> +Most of the year he lived modestly in the mountains of Switzerland +or in Eastern travel, but was a welcome guest of the most important +people in many lands. The only deceit about it, if it was a +deceit, was that he never went out of his way to deny his vast +wealth, and as he never asked for anything there was no occasion +to publish his inventory. The pursuing mothers and daughters +never succeeded, before his flight, in leading him far enough to ask +for a show-down. +</P> + +<P> +Many times during my visits to Europe I have been besieged to know +the income of a countryman. On account of the belief over there +in the generality of enormous American fortunes, it is not difficult +to create the impression of immense wealth. While the man would +have to make a statement and give references, the lady's story +is seldom questioned. I have known some hundreds and thousands +of dollars become in the credulous eyes of suitors as many millions, +and a few millions become multimillions. In several instances +the statements of the lady were accepted as she achieved her ambition. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +For a tired man who has grown stale with years of unremitting work +I know of no relief and recuperation equal to taking a steamer +and crossing the ocean to Europe. I did this for a few weeks +in midsummer many times and always with splendid and most refreshing +results. With fortunate introductions, I became acquainted with +many of the leading men of other countries, and this was a +liberal education. +</P> + +<P> +There is invariably a concert for charities to help the sailors +on every ship. I had many amusing experiences in presiding on +these occasions. I remember once we were having a rough night +of it, and one of our artists, a famous singer, who had made a +successful tour of the United States, was a little woman and +her husband a giant. He came to me during the performance and +said: "My wife is awfully seasick, but she wants to sing, and +I want her to. In the intervals of her illness she is in pretty +good shape for a little while. If you will stop everything when +you see me coming in with her, she will do her part." +</P> + +<P> +I saw him rushing into the saloon with his wife in his arms, and +immediately announced her for the next number. She made a great +triumph, but at the proper moment was caught up by her husband +and carried again to the deck. He said to me afterwards: "My wife +was not at her best last night, because there is a peculiarity +about seasickness and singers; the lower notes in which she is +most effective are not at such times available or in working order." +</P> + +<P> +Augustin Daly did a great service to the theatre by his wonderful +genius as a manager. He discovered talent everywhere and encouraged +it. He trained his company with the skill of a master, and produced +in his theatres here and in London a series of wonderful plays. He +did not permit his artists to take part, as a rule, in these concerts +on the ship, but it so happened that on one occasion we celebrated +the Fourth of July. I went to Mr. Daly and asked him if he would +not as an American take the management of the whole celebration. +This appealed to him, and he selected the best talent from his +company. Among them was Ada Rehan. I knew Miss Rehan when she +was in the stock company at Albany in her early days. With +Mr. Daly, who discovered her, she soon developed into a star of +the first magnitude. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Daly persisted on my presiding and introducing the artists, +and also delivering the Fourth of July oration. The celebration +was so successful in the saloon that Mr. Daly had it repeated +the next night in the second cabin, and the night after that in +the steerage. The steerage did its best, and was clothed in +the finest things which it was carrying back to astonish the old +folks in the old country, and its enthusiasm was greater, if +possible, than the welcome which had greeted the artists among +the first and second cabin passengers. +</P> + +<P> +After Miss Rehan had recited her part and been encored and encored, +I found her in tears. I said: "Miss Rehan, your triumph has been +so great that it should be laughter." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," she said, "but it is so pathetic to see these people who +probably never before met with the highest art." +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Among the many eminent English men of letters who at one time +came to the United States was Matthew Arnold. The American lecture +promoters were active in securing these gentlemen, and the American +audiences were most appreciative. Many came with letters of +introduction to me. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Arnold was a great poet, critic, and writer, and an eminent +professor at Oxford University and well-known to our people. +His first address was at Chickering Hall to a crowded house. +Beyond the first few rows no one could hear him. Explaining this +he said to me: "My trouble is that my lectures at the university +are given in small halls and to limited audiences." I advised +him that before going any farther he should secure an elocutionist +and accustom himself to large halls, otherwise his tour would be +a disappointment. +</P> + +<P> +He gave me an amusing account of his instructor selecting +Chickering Hall, where he had failed, and making him repeat his +lecture, while the instructor kept a progressive movement farther +and farther from the stage until he reached the rear seats, when +he said he was satisfied. It is a tribute to the versatility of +this great author that he learned his lesson so well that his +subsequent lectures in different parts of the country were very +successful. +</P> + +<P> +Once Mr. Arnold said to me: "The lectures which I have prepared +are for university audiences, to which I am accustomed. I have +asked my American manager to put me only in university towns, but +I wish you would look over my engagements." +</P> + +<P> +Having done this, I remarked: "Managers are looking for large +and profitable audiences. There is no university or college in +any of these towns, though one of them has an inebriate home and +another an insane asylum. However, both of these cities have +a cultured population. Your noisiest and probably most appreciative +audience will be at the one which is a large railroad terminal. +Our railroad people are up-to-date." +</P> + +<P> +I saw Mr. Arnold on his return from his tour. The description +he gave of his adventures was very picturesque and the income +had been exceedingly satisfactory and beyond expectation. +</P> + +<P> +Describing the peculiarities of the chairmen who introduced him, +he mentioned one of them who said: "Ladies and gentlemen, next +week we will have in our course the most famous magician there +is in the world, and the week after, I am happy to say, we shall +be honored by the presence of a great opera-singer, a wonderful +artist. For this evening it is my pleasure to introduce to you +that distinguished English journalist Mr. Edwin Arnold." Mr. Arnold +began his lecture with a vigorous denial that he was Edwin Arnold, +whom I judged he did not consider in his class. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Arnold received in New York and in the larger cities which +he visited the highest social attention from the leading families. +I met him several times and found that he never could be reconciled +to our two most famous dishes—terrapin and canvasback duck—the +duck nearly raw. He said indignantly to one hostess, who chided +him for his neglect of the canvasback: "Madam, when your ancestors +left England two hundred and fifty years ago, the English of that +time were accustomed to eat their meat raw; now they cook it." +To which the lady answered: "I am not familiar with the customs +of my ancestors, but I know that I pay my chef, who cooked the +duck, three hundred dollars a month." +</P> + +<P> +We were all very fond of Thackeray. He did not have the general +popularity of Charles Dickens, nor did he possess Dickens's dramatic +power, but he had a large and enthusiastic following among our +people. It was an intellectual treat and revelation to listen +to him. That wonderful head of his seemed to be an enormous and +perennial fountain of wit and wisdom. +</P> + +<P> +They had a good story of him at the Century Club, which is our +Athenaeum, that when taken there after a lecture by his friends +they gave him the usual Centurion supper of those days: saddlerock +oysters. The saddlerock of that time was nearly as large as +a dinner-plate. Thackeray said to his host: "What do I do with +this animal?" +</P> + +<P> +The host answered: "We Americans swallow them whole." +</P> + +<P> +Thackeray, always equal to the demand of American hospitality, +closed his eyes and swallowed the oyster, and the oyster went +down. When he had recovered he remarked: "I feel as if I had +swallowed a live baby." +</P> + +<P> +We have been excited at different times to an absorbing extent +by the stories of explorers. None were more generally read than +the adventures of the famous missionary, David Livingstone, +in Africa. When Livingstone was lost the whole world saluted +Henry M. Stanley as he started upon his famous journey to find him. +Stanley's adventures, his perils and escapes, had their final +success in finding Livingstone. The story enraptured and thrilled +every one. The British Government knighted him, and when he +returned to the United States he was Sir Henry Stanley. He was +accompanied by his wife, a beautiful and accomplished woman, and +received with open arms. +</P> + +<P> +I met Sir Henry many times at private and public entertainments +and found him always most interesting. The Lotos Club gave him +one of its most famous dinners, famous to those invited and to +those who spoke. +</P> + +<P> +It was arranged that he should begin his lecture tour of the +United States in New York. At the request of Sir Henry and his +committee I presided and introduced him at the Metropolitan +Opera House. The great auditorium was crowded to suffocation +and the audience one of the finest and most sympathetic. +</P> + +<P> +We knew little at that time of Central Africa and its people, and +the curiosity was intense to hear from Sir Henry a personal and +intimate account of his wonderful discoveries and experiences. +He thought that as his African life was so familiar to him, it must +be the same to everybody else. As a result, instead of a thriller +he gave a commonplace talk on some literary subject which bored +the audience and cast a cloud over a lecture tour which promised +to be one of the most successful. Of course Sir Henry's effort +disappointed his audience the more because their indifference +and indignation depressed him, and he did not do justice to himself +or the uninteresting subject which he had selected. He never again +made the same mistake, and the tour was highly remunerative. +</P> + +<P> +For nearly a generation there was no subject which so interested +the American people as the adventures of explorers. I met many +of them, eulogized them in speeches at banquets given in their +honor. The people everywhere were open-eyed, open-eared, and +open-mouthed in their welcome and eagerness to hear them. +</P> + +<P> +It is a commentary upon the fickleness of popular favor that the +time was so short before these universal favorites dropped out +of popular attention and recollection. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +XXIV. SOCIETIES AND PUBLIC BANQUETS +</H3> + +<P> +The most unique experience in my life has been the dinners given +to me by the Montauk Club of Brooklyn on my birthday. The Montauk +is a social club of high standing, whose members are of professional +and business life and different political and religious faiths. +</P> + +<P> +Thirty years ago Mr. Charles A. Moore was president of the club. +He was a prominent manufacturer and a gentleman of wide influence +in political and social circles. Mr. McKinley offered him the +position of secretary of the navy, which Mr. Moore declined. He +came to me one day with a committee from the club, and said: +"The Montauk wishes to celebrate your birthday. We know that it +is on the 23d of April, and that you have two distinguished +colleagues who also have the 23d as their birthday—Shakespeare +and St. George. We do not care to include them, but desire only +to celebrate yours." +</P> + +<P> +The club has continued these celebrations for thirty years by +an annual dinner. The ceremonial of the occasion is a reception, +then dinner, and, after an introduction by the president, a speech +by myself. To make a new speech every year which will be of +interest to those present and those who read it, is not easy. +</P> + +<P> +These festivities had a fortunate beginning. In thinking over +what I should talk about at the first dinner, I decided to get +some fun out of the municipality of Brooklyn by a picturesque +description of its municipal conditions. It was charged in the +newspapers that there had been serious graft in some public +improvements which had been condoned by the authorities and excused +by an act of the legislature. It had also been charged that the +Common Council had been giving away valuable franchises to their +favorites. Of course, this presented a fine field of contrast +between ancient and modern times. In ancient times grateful +citizens erected statues to eminent men who had deserved well of +their country in military or civic life, but Brooklyn had improved +upon the ancient model through the grant of public utilities. +The speech caused a riot after the dinner as to its propriety, +many taking the ground that it was a criticism, and, therefore, +inappropriate to the occasion. However, the affair illustrated +a common experience of mine that unexpected results will sometimes +flow from a bit of humor, if the humor has concealed in it a stick +of dynamite. +</P> + +<P> +The Brooklyn pulpit, which is the most progressive in the world, +took the matter up and aroused public discussion on municipal +affairs. The result was the formation of a committee of one hundred +citizens to investigate municipal conditions. They found that +while the mayor and some other officials were high-toned and +admirable officers, yet the general administration of the city +government had in the course of years become so bad that there +should be a general reformation. The reform movement was successful; +it spread over to New York and there again succeeded, and the +movement for municipal reform became general in the country. +</P> + +<P> +The next anniversary dinner attracted an audience larger than +the capacity of the club, and every one of the thirty has been +an eminent success. For many years the affair has received wide +publicity in the United States, and has sometimes been reported +in foreign newspapers. I remember being in London with the late +Lieutenant-Governor Woodruff, when we saw these head-lines at +a news-stand on the Strand: "Speech by Chauncey Depew at his +birthday dinner at the Montauk Club, Brooklyn." During this nearly +third of a century the membership of the club has changed, sons +having succeeded fathers and new members have been admitted, but +the celebration seems to grow in interest. +</P> + +<P> +During the last fourteen years the president of the club has been +Mr. William H. English. He has done so much for the organization +in every way that the members would like to have him as their +executive officer for life. Mr. English is a splendid type of +the American who is eminently successful in his chosen career, +and yet has outside interest for the benefit of the public. Modest +to a degree and avoiding publicity, he nevertheless is the motive +power of many movements progressive and charitable. +</P> + +<P> +Twenty-four years ago a company of public-spirited women in the +city of Des Moines, Iowa, organized a club. They named it after +me. For nearly a quarter of a century it has been an important +factor in the civic life of Des Moines. It has with courage, +intelligence, and independence done excellent work. At the time +of its organization there were few if any such organizations in +the country, and it may claim the position of pioneer in women's +activity in public affairs. +</P> + +<P> +Happily free from the internal difficulties and disputes which so +often wreck voluntary associations, the Chauncey Depew Club is +stronger than ever. It looks forward with confidence to a successful +celebration of its quarter of a century. +</P> + +<P> +I have never been able to visit the club, but have had with it +frequent and most agreeable correspondence. It always remembers +my birthday in the most gratifying way. I am grateful to its +members for bestowing upon me one of the most pleasurable compliments +of my life. +</P> + +<P> +A public dinner is a fine form of testimonial. I have had many +in my life, celebrating other things than my birthday. One of +the most notable was given me by the citizens of Chicago in +recognition of my efforts to make their great Columbian exhibition +a success. Justice John M. Harlan presided, and distinguished +men were present from different parts of the country and representing +great interests. Probably the speech which excited the most +comment was a radical attack of Andrew Carnegie on the government +of Great Britain, in submitting to the authority of a king or a +queen. Canada was represented by some of the high officials of +that self-governing colony. The Canadians are more loyal to the +English form of government than are the English themselves. My +peppery Scotch friend aroused a Canadian official, who returned +his assault with vigor and interest. +</P> + +<P> +It is a very valuable experience for an American to attend the +annual banquet of the American Chamber of Commerce in Paris. +The French Government recognizes the affair by having a company +of their most picturesquely uniformed soldiers standing guard both +inside and outside the hall. The highest officials of the French +Government always attend and make speeches. The American Ambassador +replies in a speech partly in English, and, if he is sufficiently +equipped, partly in French. General Horace Porter and Henry White +were equally happy both in their native language and in that of +the French. The French statesmen, however, were so fond of +Myron T. Herrick that they apparently not only grasped his cordiality +but understood perfectly his eloquence. The honor has several +times been assigned to me of making the American speech in +unadulterated American. The French may not have understood, but +with their quick apprehension the applause or laughter of the +Americans was instantly succeeded by equal manifestations on +the part of the French. +</P> + +<P> +Among the many things which we have inherited from our English +ancestry are public dinners and after-dinner speeches. The public +dinner is of importance in Great Britain and utilized for every +occasion. It is to the government the platform where the ministers +can lay frankly before the country matters which they could not +develop in the House of Commons. Through the dinner speech they +open the way and arouse public attention for measures which they +intend to propose to Parliament, and in this way bring the pressure +of public opinion to their support. +</P> + +<P> +In the same way every guild and trade have their festive functions +with serious purpose, and so have religious, philanthropic, economic, +and sociological movements. We have gone quite far in this +direction, but have not perfected the system as they have on the +other side. I have been making after-dinner speeches for sixty +years to all sorts and conditions of people, and on almost every +conceivable subject. I have found these occasions of great value +because under the good-fellowship of the occasion an unpopular +truth can be sugar-coated with humor and received with applause, +while in the processes of digestion the next day it is working with +the audience and through the press in the way the pill was intended. +A popular audience will forgive almost anything with which they +do not agree, if the humorous way in which it is put tickles +their risibilities. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Gladstone was very fine at the lord mayor's dinner at Guild Hall, +where the prime minister develops his policies. So it was with +Lord Salisbury and Balfour, but the prince of after-dinner speakers +in England is Lord Rosebery. He has the humor, the wit, and the +artistic touch which fascinates and enraptures his audience. +</P> + +<P> +I have met in our country all the men of my time who have won fame +in this branch of public address. The most remarkable in +effectiveness and inspiration was Henry Ward Beecher. A banquet +was always a success if it could have among its speakers +William M. Evarts, Joseph H. Choate, James S. Brady, Judge John R. Brady, +General Horace Porter, or Robert G. Ingersoll. +</P> + +<P> +After General Grant settled in New York he was frequently a guest +at public dinners and always produced an impression by simple, +direct, and effective oratory. +</P> + +<P> +General Sherman, on the other hand, was an orator as well as a +fighter. He never seemed to be prepared, but out of the occasion +would give soldierly, graphic, and picturesque presentations of +thought and description. +</P> + +<P> +Not to have heard on these occasions Robert G. Ingersoll was to +have missed being for the evening under the spell of a magician. +I have been frequently asked if I could remember occasions of this +kind which were of more than ordinary interest. +</P> + +<P> +After-dinner oratory, while most attractive at the time, is +evanescent, but some incidents are interesting in memory. At +the time of Queen Victoria's jubilee I was present where a +representative of Canada was called upon for a speech. With the +exception of the Canadian and myself the hosts and guests were +all English. My Canadian friend enlarged upon the wonders of his +country. A statement of its marvels did not seem sufficient for +him unless it was augmented by comparisons with other countries +to the glory of Canada, and so he compared Canada with the +United States. Canada had better and more enduring institutions, +she had a more virile, intelligent, and progressive population, +and she had protected herself, as the United States did not, +against undesirable immigration, and in everything which constituted +an up-to-date, progressive, healthy, and hopeful commonwealth she +was far in advance of the United States. +</P> + +<P> +I was called upon immediately afterwards and said I would agree +with the distinguished gentleman from Canada that in one thing +at least Canada was superior to the United States, and it was +that she had far more land, but it was mostly ice. I regret to +remember that my Canadian friend lost his temper. +</P> + +<P> +One of the historical dinners of New York, which no one will forget +who was there, was just after the close of the Civil War, or, as +my dear old friend, Colonel Watterson, called it, "The War between +the States." The principal guests were General Sherman and +Henry W. Grady of Atlanta, Ga. General Sherman, in his speech, +described the triumphant return of the Union Army to Washington, +its review by the President, and then its officers and men returning +to private life and resuming their activities and industries as +citizens. It was a word-picture of wonderful and startling +picturesqueness and power and stirred an audience, composed +largely of veterans who had been participants both in the battles +and in the parades, to the highest degree of enthusiasm. Mr. Grady +followed. He was a young man with rare oratorical gifts. He +described the return of the Confederate soldiers to their homes +after the surrender at Appomattox. They had been four years +fighting and marching. They were ragged and poor. They returned +to homes and farms, many of which had been devastated. They had +no capital, and rarely animals or farming utensils necessary to +begin again. But with superb courage, not only on their own part +but with the assistance of their wives, sisters, and daughters, +they made the desert land flourish and resurrected the country. +</P> + +<P> +This remarkable description of Grady, which I only outline, came +as a counterpart to the triumphant epic of General Sherman. The +effect was electric, and beyond almost any that have ever occurred +in New York or anywhere, and Grady sprang into international fame. +</P> + +<P> +Joseph H. Choate was a most dangerous fellow speaker to his +associates who spoke before him. I had with him many encounters +during fifty years, and many times enjoyed being the sufferer by +his wit and humor. On one occasion Choate won the honors of the +evening by an unexpected attack. There is a village in western +New York which is named after me. The enterprising inhabitants, +boring for what might be under the surface of their ground, +discovered natural gas. According to American fashion, they +immediately organized a company and issued a prospectus for the +sale of the stock. The prospectus fell into the hands of Mr. Choate. +With great glee he read it and then with emphasis the name of +the company: "The Depew Natural Gas Company, Limited," and waving +the prospectus at me shouted: "Why limited?" +</P> + +<P> +There have been two occasions in Mr. Choate's after-dinner speeches +much commented upon both in this country and abroad. As I was +present on both evenings, it seems the facts ought to be accurately +stated. The annual dinner of the "Friendly Sons of St. Patrick" +occurred during one of the years when the Home Rule question was +most acute in England and actively discussed here. At the same +time our Irish fellow citizens, with their talent for public life, +had captured all the offices in New York City. They had the mayor, +the majority of the Board of Aldermen, and a large majority of +the judges. When Mr. Choate spoke he took up the Home Rule +question, and, without indicating his own views, said substantially: +"We Yankees used to be able to govern ourselves, but you Irish +have come here and taken the government away from us. You have +our entire city administration in your hands, and you do with us +as you like. We are deprived of Home Rule. Now what you are +clamoring for both at home and abroad is Home Rule for Ireland. +With such demonstrated ability in capturing the greatest city on +the western continent, and one of the greatest in the world, why +don't you go back to Ireland and make, as you would, Home Rule +there a success?" +</P> + +<P> +I was called a few minutes afterwards to a conference of the +leading Irishmen present. I was an honorary member of that society, +and they were in a high state of indignation. The more radical +thought that Mr. Choate's speech should be resented at once. +However, those who appreciated its humor averted hostile action, +but Mr. Choate was never invited to an Irish banquet again. +</P> + +<P> +The second historical occasion was when the Scotch honored their +patron Saint, St. Andrew. The attendance was greater than ever +before, and the interest more intense because the Earl of Aberdeen +was present. The earl was at that time Governor-General of Canada, +but to the Scotchmen he was much more than that, because he was +the chief of the Clan Gordon. The earl came to the dinner in full +Highland costume. Lady Aberdeen and the ladies of the vice-regal +court were in the gallery. I sat next to the earl and Choate sat +next to me. Choate said: "Chauncey, are Aberdeen's legs bare?" +I looked under the table-cloth and discovered that they were +naturally so because of his costume. I answered: "Choate, they are." +</P> + +<P> +I thought nothing of it until Choate began his speech, in which +he said: "I was not fully informed by the committee of the +importance of the occasion. I did not know that the Earl of Aberdeen +was to be here as a guest of honor. I was especially and +unfortunately ignorant that he was coming in the full panoply of +his great office as chief of Clan Gordon. If I had known that +I would have left my trousers at home." +</P> + +<P> +Aberdeen enjoyed it, the ladies in the gallery were amused, but +the Scotch were mad, and Choate lost invitations to future Scotch dinners. +</P> + +<P> +Few appreciate the lure of the metropolis. It attracts the +successful to win greater success with its larger opportunities. +It has resistless charm with the ambitious and the enterprising. +New York, with its suburbs, which are really a part of itself, +is the largest city in the world. It is the only true cosmopolitan +one. It has more Irish than any city in Ireland, more Germans +and Italians than any except the largest cities in Germany or +Italy. It has more Southerners than are gathered in any place +in any Southern State, and the same is true of Westerners and +those from the Pacific coast and New England, except in Chicago, +San Francisco, or Boston. There is also a large contingent from +the West Indies, South America, and Canada. +</P> + +<P> +The people who make up the guests at a great dinner are the +survival of the fittest of these various settlers in New York. +While thousands fail and go back home or drop by the way, these +men have made their way by superior ability, foresight, and +adaptability through the fierce competitions of the great city. +They are unusually keen-witted and alert. For the evening of +the banquet they leave behind their business and its cares and +are bent on being entertained, amused, and instructed. They are +a most catholic audience, broad-minded, hospitable, and friendly +to ideas whether they are in accord with them or not, providing +they are well presented. There is one thing they will not submit +to, and that is being bored. +</P> + +<P> +These functions are usually over by midnight, and rarely last +so long; while out in the country and in other towns, it is no +unusual thing to have a dinner with speeches run along until +the early hours of the next morning. While public men, politicians, +and aspiring orators seek their opportunities upon this platform +in New York, few succeed and many fail. It is difficult for a +stranger to grasp the situation and adapt himself at once to its +atmosphere. I have narrated in preceding pages some remarkable +successes, and will give a few instances of very able and +distinguished men who lost touch of their audiences. +</P> + +<P> +One of the ablest men in the Senate was Senator John T. Morgan, +of Alabama. I was fond of him personally and admired greatly his +many and varied talents. He was a most industrious and admirable +legislator, and a debater of rare influence. He was a master of +correct and scholarly English, and one of the very few who never +went to the reporters' room to correct his speeches. As they were +always perfect, he let them stand as they were delivered. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Morgan was a great card on a famous occasion among the +many well-known men who were also to speak. Senator Elihu Root +presided with his usual distinction. Senator Morgan had a prepared +speech which he read. It was unusually long, but very good. On +account of his reputation the audience was, for such an audience, +wonderfully patient and frequent and enthusiastic in its applause. +Mistaking his favorable reception, Senator Morgan, after he had +finished the manuscript, started in for an extended talk. After +the hour had grown to nearly two, the audience became impatient, +and the senator, again mistaking its temper, thought they had +become hostile and announced that at many times and many places +he had been met with opposition, but that he could not be put down +or silenced. Mr. Root did the best he could to keep the peace, +but the audience, who were anxious to hear the other speakers, +gave up hope and began to leave, with the result that midnight +saw an empty hall with a presiding officer and an orator. +</P> + +<P> +At another great political dinner I sat beside Governor Oglesby, +of Illinois. He was famous as a war governor and as a speaker. +There were six speakers on the dais, of whom I was one. Happily, +my turn came early. The governor said to me: "How much of the +gospel can these tenderfeet stand?" "Well, Governor," I answered, +"there are six speakers to-night, and the audience will not allow +the maximum of time occupied to be more than thirty minutes. Any +one who exceeds that will lose his crowd and, worse than that, +he may be killed by the eloquent gentlemen who are bursting with +impatience to get the floor, and who are to follow him." +</P> + +<P> +"Why," said the governor, "I don't see how any one can get started +in thirty minutes." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," I cautioned, "please do not be too long." +</P> + +<P> +When the midnight hour struck the hall was again practically +empty, the governor in the full tide of his speech, which evidently +would require about three hours, and the chairman declared the +meeting adjourned. +</P> + +<P> +Senator Foraker, of Ohio, who was one of the appointed speakers, +told me the next morning that at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where +he was stopping, he was just getting into bed when the governor +burst into his room and fairly shouted: "Foraker, no wonder +New York is almost always wrong. You saw to-night that it would +not listen to the truth. Now I want to tell you what I intended +to say." He was shouting with impassioned eloquence, his voice +rising until, through the open windows, it reached Madison Square Park, +when the watchman burst in and said: "Sir, the guests in this +hotel will not stand that any longer, but if you must finish your +speech I will take you out in the park." +</P> + +<P> +During Cleveland's administration one of the New York banquets +became a national affair. The principal speaker was the secretary +of the interior, Lucius Q. C. Lamar, who afterwards became +United States senator and justice of the Supreme Court. Mr. Lamar +was one of the ablest and most cultured men in public life, and +a fine orator. I was called upon so late that it was impossible +to follow any longer the serious discussions of the evening, and +what the management and the audience wanted from me was some fun. +</P> + +<P> +Lamar, with his Johnsonian periods and the lofty style of +Edmund Burke, furnished an opportunity for a little pleasantry. +He came to me, when I had finished, in great alarm and said: +"My appearance here is not an ordinary one and does not permit +humor. I am secretary of the interior, and the representative of +the president and his administration. My speech is really the +message of the president to the whole country, and I wish you +would remedy any impression which the country might otherwise +receive from your humor." +</P> + +<P> +This I was very glad to do, but it was an instance of which I have +met many, of a very distinguished and brilliant gentleman taking +himself too seriously. At another rather solemn function of this +kind I performed the same at the request of the management, but +with another protest from the orator and his enmity. +</P> + +<P> +In reminiscing, after he retired from the presidency, Mr. Cleveland +spoke to me of his great respect and admiration for Mr. Lamar. +Cleveland's speeches were always short. His talent was for +compression and concentration, and he could not understand the +necessity for an effort of great length. He told me that while +Justice Lamar was secretary of the interior he came to him one +day and said: "Mr. President, I have accepted an invitation to +deliver an address in the South, and as your administration may +be held responsible for what I say, I wish you would read it over +and make any corrections or suggestions." +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Cleveland said the speech was extraordinarily long though +very good, and when he returned it to Secretary Lamar he said to +him: "That speech will take at least three hours to deliver. +A Northern audience would never submit to over an hour. Don't +you think you had better cut it down?" The secretary replied: +"No, Mr. President; a Southern audience expects three hours, and +would be better satisfied with five." +</P> + +<P> +Justice Miller, one of the ablest of the judges of the Supreme Court +at that time, was the principal speaker on another occasion. He +was ponderous to a degree, and almost equalled in the emphasis +of his utterances, what was once said of Daniel Webster, that +every word weighed twelve pounds. I followed him. The Attorney-General +of the United States, who went back to Washington the next +day with Justice Miller, told me that as soon as they had got +on the train the justice commenced to complain that I had wholly +misunderstood his speech, and that no exaggeration of interpretation +would warrant what I said. The judge saw no humor in my little +effort to relieve the situation, and took it as a reply of opposing +counsel. He said that the justice took it up from another phase +after leaving Philadelphia, and resumed his explanation from +another angle as to what he meant after they reached Baltimore. +When the train arrived at its destination and they separated in the +Washington station, the justice turned to the attorney-general +and said: "Damn Depew! Good-night." +</P> + +<P> +Such are the perils of one who good-naturedly yields to the +importunities of a committee of management who fear the failure +with their audience of their entertainment. +</P> + +<P> +The great dinners of New York are the Chamber of Commerce, which +is a national function, as were also for a long time, during the +presidency of Mr. Choate, those of the New England Society. The +annual banquets of the Irish, Scotch, English, Welsh, Holland, +St. Nicholas, and the French, are also most interesting, and +sometimes by reason of the presence of a national or international +figure, assume great importance. The dinner which the Pilgrims +Society tenders to the British ambassador gives him an opportunity, +without the formalities and conventions of his office, of speaking +his mind both to the United States and to his own people. +</P> + +<P> +The annual banquets of the State societies are now assuming greater +importance. Each State has thousands of men who have been or +still are citizens, but who live in New York. Those dinners +attract the leading politicians of their several States. It is +a platform for the ambitious to be president and sometimes succeeds. +</P> + +<P> +Garfield made a great impression at one of these State dinners, +so did Foraker, and at the last dinner of the Ohio Society the +star was Senator Warren G. Harding. On one occasion, when McKinley +and Garfield were present, in the course of my speech I made a +remark which has since been adopted as a sort of motto by the +Buckeye State. Ohio, I think, has passed Virginia as a mother +of presidents. It is remarkable that the candidates of both great +parties are now of that State. I said in the closing of my speech, +alluding to the distinguished guests and their prospects: "Some +men have greatness thrust upon them, some are born great, and some +are born in Ohio." +</P> + +<P> +One of the greatest effects produced by a speech was by +Henry Ward Beecher at an annual dinner of the Friendly Sons of +St. Patrick. At the time, the Home Rule question was more than +ordinarily acute and Fenianism was rabid. While Mr. Beecher had +great influence upon his audience, his audience had equal influence +upon him. As he enlarged upon the wrongs of Ireland the responses +became more enthusiastic and finally positively savage. This +stirred the orator up till he gave the wildest approval to direct +action and revolution, with corresponding cheers from the diners, +standing and cheering. Mr. Beecher was explaining that speech +for about a year afterwards. I was a speaker on the same platform. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Beecher always arrived late, and everybody thought it was +to get the applause as he came in but he explained to me that it +was due to his method of preparation. He said his mind would +not work freely until three hours after he had eaten. Many speakers +have told me the same thing. He said when he had a speech to make +at night, whether it was at a dinner or elsewhere, that he took +his dinner in the middle of the day, and then a glass of milk +and crackers at five o'clock, with nothing afterwards. Then in +the evening his mind was perfectly clear and under absolute control. +</P> + +<P> +The Lotos Club has been for fifty years to New York what the +Savage Club is to London. It attracts as its guests the most +eminent men of letters who visit this country. Its entertainments +are always successful. For twenty-nine years it had for its +president Mr. Frank R. Lawrence, a gentleman with a genius for +introducing distinguished strangers with most felicitous speeches, +and a committee who selected with wonderful judgment the other +speakers of the evening. A successor to Mr. Lawrence, and of +equal merit, has been found in Chester S. Lord, now president of +the Lotos Club. Mr. Lord was for more than a third of a century +managing editor of the New York Sun, and is now chancellor of +the University of the State of New York. +</P> + +<P> +I remember one occasion where the most tactful man who ever appeared +before his audience slipped his trolley, and that was Bishop Potter. +The bishop was a remarkably fine preacher and an unusually attractive +public speaker and past master of all the social amenities of life. +The guest of the evening was the famous Canon Kingsley, author +of "Hypatia" and other works at that time universally popular. +The canon had the largest and reddest nose one ever saw. The +bishop, among the pleasantries of his introduction, alluded to +this headlight of religion and literature. The canon fell from +grace and never forgave the bishop. +</P> + +<P> +On Lotos nights I have heard at their best Lord Houghton, statesman +and poet, Mark Twain, Stanley the explorer, and I consider it one +of the distinctions as well as pleasures of my life to have been +a speaker at the Lotos on more occasions than any one else during +the last half century. +</P> + +<P> +In Mr. Joseph Pulitzer's early struggles with his paper, the +New York World, the editorial columns frequently had very severe +attacks on Mr. William H. Vanderbilt and the New York Central +Railroad. They were part, of course, of attacks upon monopoly. +I was frequently included in these criticisms. +</P> + +<P> +The Lotos Club gave a famous dinner to George Augustus Sala, the +English writer and journalist. I found myself seated beside +Mr. Pulitzer, whom I had never met. When I was called upon to +speak I introduced, in what I had to say about the distinguished +guest, this bit of audacity. I said substantially, in addition to +Mr. Sala: "We have with us to-night a great journalist who comes +to the metropolis from the wild and woolly West. After he had +purchased the World he came to me and said, 'Chauncey Depew, +I have a scheme, which I am sure will benefit both of us. Everybody +is envious of the prestige of the New York Central and the wealth +of Mr. Vanderbilt. You are known as his principal adviser. Now, +if in my general hostility to monopoly I include Mr. Vanderbilt and +the New York Central as principal offenders, I must include you, +because you are the champion in your official relationship of the +corporation and of its policies and activities. I do not want +you to have any feeling against me because of this. The policy +will secure for the World everybody who is not a stockholder in +the New York Central, or does not possess millions of money. When +Mr. Vanderbilt finds that you are attacked, he is a gentleman and +broad-minded enough to compensate you and will grant to you both +significant promotion and a large increase in salary.'" Then I +added: "Well, gentlemen, I have only to say that Mr. Pulitzer's +experiment has been eminently successful. He has made his newspaper +a recognized power and a notable organ of public opinion; its +fortunes are made and so are his, and, in regard to myself, all +he predicted has come true, both in promotion and in enlargement +of income." When I sat down Mr. Pulitzer grasped me by the hand +and said: "Chauncey Depew, you are a mighty good fellow. I have +been misinformed about you. You will have friendly treatment +hereafter in any newspaper which I control." +</P> + +<P> +The Gridiron Club of Washington, because of both its ability and +genius and especially its national position, furnishes a wonderful +platform for statesmen. Its genius in creating caricatures and +fake pageants of current political situations at the capital and +its public men is most remarkable. The president always attends, +and most of the Cabinet and justices of the Supreme Court. The +ambassadors and representatives of the leading governments +represented in Washington are guests, and so are the best-known +senators and representatives of the time. The motto of the club +is "Reporters are never present. Ladies always present." Though +the association is made up entirely of reporters, the secrecy is +so well kept that the speakers are unusually frank. +</P> + +<P> +There was a famous contest one night there, however, between +President Roosevelt and Senator Foraker, who at the time were +intensely antagonistic, which can never be forgotten by those +present. There was a delightful interplay between William J. Bryan +and President Roosevelt, when Bryan charged the president with +stealing all his policies and ideas. +</P> + +<P> +If the speaker grasped the peculiarities of his audience and its +temperament, his task was at once the most difficult and the most +delightful, and my friend, Mr. Arthur Dunn, has performed most +useful service in embalming a portion of Gridiron history in his +volume, "Gridiron Nights." +</P> + +<P> +Pierpont Morgan, the greatest of American bankers, was much more +than a banker. He had a wonderful collection in his library and +elsewhere of rare books and works of art. He was always delightful +on the social side. He was very much pleased when he was elected +president of the New England Society. The annual dinner that year +was a remarkably brilliant affair. It was the largest in the +history of the organization. The principal speaker was William Everett, +son of the famous Edward Everett and himself a scholar of great +acquirements and culture. His speech was another evidence of +a very superior man mistaking his audience. He was principal of +the Adams Academy, that great preparatory institution for +Harvard University, and he had greatly enlarged its scope and +usefulness. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Everett evidently thought that the guests of the New England +Society of New York would be composed of men of letters, educators, +and Harvard graduates. Instead of that, the audience before him +were mainly bankers and successful business men whose Puritan +characteristics had enabled them to win great success in the +competitions in the great metropolis in every branch of business. +They were out for a good time and little else. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Everett produced a ponderous mass of manuscript and began +reading on the history of New England education and the influence +upon it of the Cambridge School. He had more than an hour of +material and lost his audience in fifteen minutes. No efforts of +the chairman could bring them to attention, and finally the educator +lost that control of himself which he was always teaching to the +boys and threw his manuscript at the heads of the reporters. From +their reports in their various newspapers the next day, they did +not seem to have absorbed the speech by this original method. +</P> + +<P> +Choate and I were both to speak, and Choate came first. As usual, +he threw a brick at me. He mentioned that a reporter had come to +him and said: "Mr. Choate, I have Depew's speech carefully prepared, +with the applause and laughter already in. I want yours." Of +course, no reporter had been to either of us. Mr. Choate had in +his speech an unusual thing for him, a long piece of poetry. When +my turn came to reply I said: "The reporter came to me, as +Mr. Choate has said, and made the remark: 'I already have Choate's +speech. It has in it a good deal of poetry.' I asked the reporter: +'From what author is the poetry taken?' He answered: 'I do not +know the author, but the poetry is so bad I think Choate has +written it himself.'" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Choate told me a delightful story of his last interview with +Mr. Evarts before he sailed for Europe to take up his ambassadorship +at the Court of St. James. "I called," he said, "on Mr. Evarts +to bid him good-by. He had been confined to his room by a fatal +illness for a long time. 'Choate,' he said, 'I am delighted with +your appointment. You eminently deserve it, and you are +pre-eminently fit for the place. You have won the greatest +distinction in our profession, and have harvested enough of its +rewards to enable you to meet the financial responsibilities of +this post without anxiety. You will have a most brilliant and +useful career in diplomacy, but I fear I will never see you again.'" +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Choate said: "Mr. Evarts, we have had a delightful partnership +of over forty years, and when I retire from diplomacy and resume +the practice of the law I am sure you and I will go on together +again for many years in the same happy old way." +</P> + +<P> +Evarts replied: "No, Choate, I fear that cannot be. When I think +what a care I am to all my people, lying so helpless here, and +that I can do nothing any more to repay their kindness, or to help +in the world, I feel like the boy who wrote from school to his +mother a letter of twenty pages, and then added after the end: +'P. S. Dear mother, please excuse my longevity.'" +</P> + +<P> +Where one has a reputation as a speaker and is also known to oblige +friends and to be hardly able to resist importunities, the demands +upon him are very great. They are also sometimes original and unique. +</P> + +<P> +At one time, the day before Christmas, a representative of the +New York World came to see me, and said: "We are going to give +a dinner to-night to the tramps who gather between ten and eleven +o'clock at the Vienna Restaurant, opposite the St. Denis Hotel, +to receive the bread which the restaurant distributes at that hour." +This line was there every night standing in the cold waiting their +turn. I went down to the hotel, and a young man and young lady +connected with the newspaper crossed the street and picked out +from the line a hundred guests. +</P> + +<P> +It was a remarkable assemblage. The dinner provided was a beautiful +and an excellent one for Christmas. As I heard their stories, +there was among them a representative of almost every department +of American life. Some were temporarily and others permanently +down and out. Every one of the learned professions was represented +and many lines of business. The most of them were in this +condition, because they had come to New York to make their way, +and had struggled until their funds were exhausted, and then they +were ashamed to return home and confess their failure. +</P> + +<P> +I presided at this remarkable banquet and made not only one speech +but several. By encouraging the guests we had several excellent +addresses from preachers without pulpits, lawyers without clients, +doctors without patients, engineers without jobs, teachers without +schools, and travellers without funds. One man arose and said: +"Chauncey Depew, the World has given us such an excellent dinner, +and you have given us such a merry Christmas Eve, we would like +to shake hands with you as we go out." +</P> + +<P> +I had long learned the art of shaking hands with the public. Many +a candidate has had his hands crushed and been permanently hurt +by the vise-like grip of an ardent admirer or a vicious opponent. +I remember General Grant complaining of this, of how he suffered, +and I told him of my discovery of grasping the hand first and +dropping it quickly. +</P> + +<P> +The people about me were looking at these men as they came along, +to see if there was any possible danger. Toward the end of the +procession one man said to me: "Chauncey Depew, I don't belong +to this crowd. I am well enough off and can take care of myself. +I am an anarchist. My business is to stir up unrest and discontent, +and that brings me every night to mingle with the crowd waiting +for their dole of bread from Fleischmann's bakery. You do more +than any one else in the whole country to create good feeling and +dispel unrest, and you have done a lot of it to-night. I made up +my mind to kill you right here, but you are such an infernal good +fellow that I have not the heart to do it, so here's my hand." +</P> + +<P> +On one occasion I received an invitation to address a sociological +society which was to meet at the house of one of the most famous +entertainers in New York. My host said that Edward Atkinson, +the well-known New England writer, philosopher, and sociologist, +would address the meeting. When I arrived at the house I found +Atkinson in despair. The audience were young ladies in full +evening dress and young men in white vests, white neckties, and +swallow-tails. There was also a band present. We were informed +that this society had endeavored to mingle instruction with +pleasure, and it really was a dancing club, but they had conceived +the idea of having something serious and instructive before the ball. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Atkinson said to me: "What won me to come here is that in +Boston we have a society of the same name. It is composed of +very serious people who are engaged in settlement and sociological +work. They are doing their best to improve the conditions of +the young women and young men who are in clerical and other +employment. I have delivered several addresses before that society, +and before the audiences which they gather, on how to live +comfortably and get married on the smallest possible margin. Now, +for instance, for my lecture here to-night I have on a ready-made +suit of clothes, for which I paid yesterday five dollars. In that +large boiler there is a stove which I have invented. In the oven +of the stove is beef and various vegetables, and to heat it is +a kerosene lamp with a clockwork attached. A young man or a young +woman, or a young married couple go to the market and buy the cheap +cuts of beef, and then, according to my instructions, they put it +in the stove with the vegetables, light the lamp, set the clockwork +and go to their work. When they return at five, six, or seven +o'clock they find a very excellent and very cheap dinner all ready +to be served. Now, of what use is my five-dollar suit of clothes +and my fifty-cent dinner for this crowd of butterflies?" +</P> + +<P> +However, Mr. Atkinson and I made up our minds to talk to them as +if they needed it or would need it some day or other, and they +were polite enough to ask questions and pretend to enjoy it. +I understand that afterwards at the midnight supper there was more +champagne and more hilarity than at previous gatherings of this +sociological club. +</P> + +<P> +During one of our presidential campaigns some young men came up +from the Bowery to see me. They said: "We have a very hard time +down in our district. The crowd is a tough one but intelligent, +and we think would be receptive of the truth if they could hear +it put to them in an attractive form. We will engage a large +theatre attached to a Bowery beer saloon if you will come down +and address the meeting. The novelty of your appearance will +fill the theatre." +</P> + +<P> +I knew there was considerable risk, and yet it was a great +opportunity. I believe that in meeting a crowd of that sort one +should appear as they expect him to look when addressing the best +of audiences. These people are very proud, and they resent any +attempt on your part to be what they know you are not, but that +you are coming down to their level by assuming a character which +you presume to be theirs. So I dressed with unusual care, and +when I went on the platform a short-sleeved, short-haired genius +in the theatre shouted: "Chauncey thinks he is in Carnegie Hall." +</P> + +<P> +The famous Tim Sullivan, who was several times a state senator +and congressman, and a mighty good fellow, was the leader of the +Bowery and controlled its political actions. He came to see me +and said: "I hope you will withdraw from that appointment. I do +not want you to come down there. In the first place, I cannot +protect you, and I don't think it is safe. In the second place, +you are so well known and popular among our people that I am +afraid you will produce an impression, and if you get away with +it that will hurt our machine." +</P> + +<P> +In the course of my speech a man arose whom I knew very well as +a district leader, and who was frequently in my office, seeking +positions for his constituents and other favors. That night he +was in his shirt-sleeves among the boys. With the old volunteer +fireman's swagger and the peculiar patois of that part of New York, +he said: "Chauncey Depew, you have no business here. You are +the president of the New York Central Railroad, ain't you, hey? +You are a rich man, ain't you, hey? We are poor boys. You don't +know us and can't teach us anything. You had better get out +while you can." +</P> + +<P> +My reply was this: "My friend, I want a little talk with you. +I began life very much as you did. Nobody helped me. I was a +country boy and my capital was this head," and I slapped it, +"these legs," and I slapped them, "these hands," and I slapped +them, "and by using them as best I could I have become just what +you say I am and have got where you will never arrive." +</P> + +<P> +A shirt-sleeved citizen jumped up from the audience and shouted: +"Go ahead, Chauncey, you're a peach." That characterization +of a peach went into the newspapers and was attached to me wherever +I appeared for many years afterwards, not only in this country +but abroad. It even found a place in the slang column of the great +dictionaries of the English language. The result of the meeting, +however, was a free discussion in the Bowery, and for the first +time in its history that particular district was carried by +the Republicans. +</P> + +<P> +After their triumph in the election I gave a dinner in the +Union League Club to the captains of the election districts. +There were about a hundred of them. The district captains were +all in their usual business suits, and were as sharp, keen, +intelligent, and up-to-date young men as one could wish to meet. +The club members whom I had invited to meet my guests were, of +course, in conventional evening dress. The novelty of the occasion +was so enjoyed by them that they indulged with more than usual +liberality in the fluids and fizz and became very hilarious. Not +one of the district captains touched a drop of wine. +</P> + +<P> +While the club members were a little frightened at the idea of +these East-siders coming, my guests understood and met every +convention of the occasion before, during, and after dinner, as if +it was an accustomed social function with them. The half dozen +who made speeches showed a grasp of the political questions of +the hour and an ability to put their views before an audience which +was an exhibition of a high order of intelligence and self-culture. +</P> + +<P> +In selecting a few out-of-the-way occasions which were also most +interesting and instructive, I recall one with a society which +prided itself upon its absence of narrowness and its freedom of +thought and discussion. The speakers were most critical of all +that is generally accepted and believed. Professor John Fiske, +the historian, was the most famous man present, and very critical +of the Bible. My good mother had brought me up on the Bible and +instilled in me the deepest reverence for the good book. The +criticism of the professor stirred me to a rejoinder. I, of course, +was in no way equal to meeting him, with his vast erudition and +scholarly accomplishments. I could only give what the Bible critic +would regard as valueless, a sledge-hammer expression of faith. +Somebody took the speech down. Doctor John Hall, the famous +preacher and for many years pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian +Church, told me that the Bible and the church societies in England +had put the speech into a leaflet, and were distributing many +millions of them in the British Isles. +</P> + +<P> +It is singular what vogue and circulation a story of the hour will +receive. Usually these decorations of a speech die with the +occasion. There was fierce rivalry when it was decided to celebrate +the four hundredth anniversary of the landing of Columbus in +America, between New York and Chicago, as to which should have +the exhibition. Of course the Western orators were not modest in +the claims which they made for the City by the Lakes. To dampen +their ardor I embroidered the following story, which took wonderfully +when told in my speech. +</P> + +<P> +It was at the Eagle Hotel in Peekskill, at which it was said +George Washington stopped many times as a guest during the +Revolutionary War, where in respect to his memory they preserved +the traditions of the Revolutionary period. At that time the bill +of fare was not printed, but the waiter announced to the guest +what would be served, if asked for. A Chicago citizen was dining +at the hotel. He ordered each of the many items announced to him +by the waiter. When he came to the deserts the waiter said: "We +have mince-pie, apple-pie, pumpkin-pie, and custard-pie." The +Chicago man ordered mince-pie, apple-pie, and pumpkin-pie. The +disgusted waiter remarked: "What is the matter with the custard?" +Alongside me sat a very well-known English gentleman of high +rank, who had come to this country on a sort of missionary and +evangelistic errand. Of course, he was as solemn as the task he +had undertaken, which was to convert American sinners. He turned +suddenly to me and, in a loud voice, asked: "What was the matter +with the custard-pie?" The story travelled for years, was used +for many purposes, was often murdered in the narration, but managed +to survive, and was told to me as an original joke by one of the +men I met at the convention last June in Chicago. +</P> + +<P> +After Chicago received from Congress the appointment I did all +I could to help the legislation and appropriations necessary. +The result was that when I visited the city as an orator at the +opening of the exhibition I was voted the freedom of the city, was +given a great reception, and among other things reviewed the school +children who paraded in my honor. +</P> + +<P> +The Yale alumni of New York City had for many years an organization. +In the early days the members met very infrequently at a dinner. +This was a formal affair, and generally drew a large gathering, +both of the local alumni and from the college and the country. +These meetings were held at Delmonico's, then located in +Fourteenth Street. The last was so phenomenally dull that there +were no repetitions. +</P> + +<P> +The speakers were called by classes, and the oldest in graduation +had the platform. The result was disastrous. These old men all +spoke too long, and it was an endless stream of platitudes and +reminiscences of forgotten days until nearly morning. Then an +inspiration of the chairman led him to say: "I think it might be +well to have a word from the younger graduates." +</P> + +<P> +There was a unanimous call for a well-known humorist named Styles. +His humor was aided by a startling appearance of abundant red hair, +an aggressive red mustache, and eyes which seemed to push his +glasses off his nose. Many of the speakers, owing to the +imperfection of the dental art in those days, indicated their +false teeth by their trouble in keeping them in place, and the +whistling it gave to their utterances. One venerable orator in his +excitement dropped his into his tumbler in the midst of his address. +</P> + +<P> +Styles said to this tired audience: "At this early hour in the +morning I will not attempt to speak, but I will tell a story. +Down at Barnegat, N. J., where I live, our neighbors are very fond +of apple-jack. One of them while in town had his jug filled, and +on the way home saw a friend leaning over the gate and looking +so thirsty that he stopped and handed over his jug with an offer of +its hospitality. After sampling it the neighbor continued the +gurgling as the jug rose higher and higher, until there was not +a drop left in it. The indignant owner said: 'You infernal hog, +why did you drink up all my apple-jack?' His friend answered: +'I beg your pardon, Job, but I could not bite off the tap, because +I have lost all my teeth.'" The aptness of the story was the +success of the evening. +</P> + +<P> +Some years afterwards there was a meeting of the alumni to form +a live association. Among those who participated in the organization +were William Walter Phelps, afterwards member of Congress and +minister to Austria; Judge Henry E. Howland; John Proctor Clarke, +now chief justice of the Appellate Division; James R. Sheffield +(several years later) now president of the Union League Club; +and Isaac Bromley, one of the editors of the New York Tribune, +one of the wittiest writers of his time, and many others who have +since won distinction. They elected me president, and I continued +such by successive elections for ten years. +</P> + +<P> +The association met once a month and had a serious paper read, +speeches, a simple supper, and a social evening. These monthly +gatherings became a feature and were widely reported in the press. +We could rely upon one or more of the faculty, and there was always +to be had an alumnus of national reputation from abroad. We had +a formal annual dinner, which was more largely attended than +almost any function of the kind in the city, and, because of the +variety and excellence of the speaking, always very enjoyable. +</P> + +<P> +The Harvard and Princeton alumni also had an association at that +time, with annual dinners, and it was customary for the officers +of each of these organizations to be guests of the one which gave +the dinner. The presidents of the colleges represented always +came. Yale could rely upon President Dwight, Harvard upon +President Eliot, and Princeton upon President McCosh. +</P> + +<P> +Of course, the interchanges between the representatives of the +different colleges were as exciting and aggressive as their +football and baseball contests are to-day. I recall one occasion +of more than usual interest. It was the Princeton dinner, and +the outstanding figure of the occasion was that most successful +and impressive of college executives, President McCosh. He spoke +with a broad Scotch accent and was in every sense a literalist. +Late in the evening Mr. Beaman, a very brilliant lawyer and partner +of Evarts and Choate, who was president of the Harvard Alumni +Association, said to me: "These proceedings are fearfully prosaic +and highbrow. When you are called, you attack President McCosh, +and I will defend him." So in the course of my remarks, which +were highly complimentary to Princeton and its rapid growth under +President McCosh, I spoke of its remarkable success in receiving +gifts and legacies, which were then pouring into its treasury every +few months, and were far beyond anything which came either to +Yale or Harvard, though both were in great need. Then I hinted +that possibly this flow of riches was due to the fact that +President McCosh had such an hypnotic influence over the graduates +of Princeton and their fathers, mothers, and wives that none of +them felt there was a chance of a heavenly future unless Princeton +was among the heirs. +</P> + +<P> +Mr. Beaman was very indignant and with the continuing approval +and applause of the venerable doctor made a furious attack upon +me. His defense of the president was infinitely worse than my +attack. He alleged that I had intimated that the doctor kept tab +on sick alumni of wealth and their families, and at the critical +moment there would be a sympathetic call from the doctor, and, +while at the bedside he administered comfort and consolation, +yet he made it plain to the patient that he could not hope for +the opening of the pearly gates or the welcome of St. Peter unless +Princeton was remembered. Then Beaman, in a fine burst of oratory, +ascribed this wonderful prosperity not to any personal effort or +appeal, but because the sons of Princeton felt such reverence and +gratitude for their president that they were only too glad of an +opportunity to contribute to the welfare of the institution. +</P> + +<P> +The moment Beaman sat down the doctor arose, and with great +intensity expressed his thanks and gratitude to the eloquent +president of the Harvard alumni, and then shouted: "I never, +never, never solicited a gift for Princeton from a dying man. +I never, never, never sat by the bedside of a dying woman and +held up the terrors of hell and the promises of heaven, according +to the disposition she made of her estate. I never, never looked +with unsympathetic and eager anticipation whenever any of our +wealthy alumni appeared in ill health." +</P> + +<P> +The doctor, however, retaliated subsequently. He invited me to +deliver a lecture before the college, and entertained me most +delightfully at his house. It was a paid admission, and when +I left in the morning he said: "I want to express to you on behalf +of our college our thanks. We raised last evening through your +lecture enough to fit our ball team for its coming contest with +Yale." In that contest Princeton was triumphant. +</P> + +<P> +The Yale Alumni Association subsequently evoluted into the Yale Club +of New York, which has in every way been phenomenally prosperous. +It is a factor of national importance in supporting Yale and keeping +alive everywhere appreciation and enthusiasm for and practice of +Yale spirit. +</P> + +<P> +My class of 1856 at Yale numbered ninety-seven on graduation. +Only six of us survive. In these pages I have had a continuous +class meeting. Very few, if any, of my associates in the New York +Legislature of 1862 and 1863 are alive, and none of the State +officers who served with me in the succeeding years. There is +no one left in the service who was there when I became connected +with the New York Central Railroad, and no executive officer in +any railroad in the United States who held that position when +I was elected and is still active. +</P> + +<P> +It is the habit of age to dwell on the degeneracy of the times +and lament the good old days and their superiority, but Yale is +infinitely greater and broader than when I graduated sixty-five +years ago. The New York Legislature and State executives are +governing an empire compared with the problems which we had to +solve fifty-nine years ago. +</P> + +<P> +I believe in the necessity of leadership, and while recognizing +a higher general average in public life, regret that the world +crisis through which we have passed and which is not yet completed, +has produced no Washington, Lincoln, or Roosevelt. I rejoice that +President Harding, under the pressure of his unequalled responsibilities, +is developing the highest qualities of leadership. It is an +exquisite delight to visualize each administration from 1856 and +to have had considerable intimacy with the leaders in government +and the moulders of public opinion during sixty-five unusually +laborious years. +</P> + +<P> +Many who have given their reminiscences have kept close continuing +diaries. From these voluminous records they have selected according +to their judgment. As I have before said, I have no data and must +rely on my memory. This faculty is not logical, its operations are +not by years or periods, but its films unroll as they are moved +by association of ideas and events. +</P> + +<P> +It has been a most pleasurable task to bring back into my life +these worthies of the past and to live over again events of greater +or lesser importance. Sometimes an anecdote illumines a character +more than a biography, and a personal incident helps an understanding +of a period more than its formal history. +</P> + +<P> +Life has had for me immeasurable charms. I recognize at all times +there has been granted to me the loving care and guidance of God. +My sorrows have been alleviated and lost their acuteness from a +firm belief in closer reunion in eternity. My misfortunes, +disappointments, and losses have been met and overcome by abundant +proof of my mother's faith and teaching that they were the discipline +of Providence for my own good, and if met in that spirit and +with redoubled effort to redeem the apparent tragedy they would +prove to be blessings. Such has been the case. +</P> + +<P> +While new friends are not the same as old ones, yet I have found +cheer and inspiration in the close communion with the young of +succeeding generations. They have made and are making this a +mighty good world for me. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's My Memories of Eighty Years, by Chauncey M. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: My Memories of Eighty Years + +Author: Chauncey M. Depew + +Posting Date: January 29, 2009 [EBook #2045] +Release Date: January, 2000 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY MEMORIES OF EIGHTY YEARS *** + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +MY MEMORIES OF EIGHTY YEARS + + +BY + +CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW + + + + + TO MY WIFE MAY PALMER DEPEW + THIS BOOK GREW FROM HER ENCOURAGEMENT + + + + +FOREWORD + +For many years my friends have insisted upon my putting in +permanent form the incidents in my life which have interested +them. It has been my good fortune to take part in history-making +meetings and to know more or less intimately people prominent +in world affairs in many countries. Every one so situated has +a flood of recollections which pour out when occasion stirs the +memory. Often the listeners wish these transcribed for their +own use. + +My classmate at Yale in the class of 1856, John D. Champlin, a man +of letters and an accomplished editor, rescued from my own +scattered records and newspaper files material for eight volumes. +My secretary has selected and compiled for publication two volumes +since. These are principally speeches, addresses, and contributions +which have appeared in public. Several writers, without my +knowledge, have selected special matter from these volumes +and made books. + +Andrew D. White, Senator Hoar, and Senator Foraker, with whom +I was associated for years, have published full and valuable +autobiographies. I do not attempt anything so elaborate or +complete. Never having kept a diary, I am dependent upon a good +memory. I have discarded the stories which could not well be +published until long after I have joined the majority. + +I trust and earnestly hope there is nothing in these recollections +which can offend anybody. It has been my object so to picture +events and narrate stories as to illumine the periods through +which I have passed for eighty-eight years, and the people whom +I have known and mightily enjoyed. + +C.M.D. + + + + +CONTENTS + + I. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH + II. IN PUBLIC LIFE + III. ABRAHAM LINCOLN + IV. GENERAL GRANT + V. ROSCOE CONKLING + VI. HORACE GREELEY + VII. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES AND WILLIAM M. EVARTS + VIII. GENERAL GARFIELD + IX. CHESTER A. ARTHUR + X. GROVER CLEVELAND + XI. BENJAMIN HARRISON + XII. JAMES G. BLAINE + XIII. WILLIAM McKINLEY + XIV. THEODORE ROOSEVELT + XV. UNITED STATES SENATE + XVI. AMBASSADORS AND MINISTERS + XVII. GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK STATE + XVIII. FIFTY-SIX YEARS WITH THE NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY + XIX. RECOLLECTIONS FROM ABROAD + XX. ORATORS AND CAMPAIGN SPEAKERS + XXI. NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTIONS + XXII. JOURNALISTS AND FINANCIERS + XXIII. ACTORS AND MEN OF LETTERS + XXIV. SOCIETIES AND PUBLIC BANQUETS + INDEX [not included] + + + + +MY MEMORIES OF EIGHTY YEARS + + + +I. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH + +It has occurred to me that some reminiscences of a long life +would be of interest to my family and friends. + +My memory goes back for more than eighty years. I recall +distinctly when about five years old my mother took me to the +school of Mrs. Westbrook, wife of the well-known pastor of the +Dutch Reformed church, who had a school in her house, within +a few doors. The lady was a highly educated woman, and her +husband, Doctor Westbrook, a man of letters as well as a preacher. +He specialized in ancient history, and the interest he aroused +in Roman and Greek culture and achievements has continued with me +ever since. + +The village of Peekskill at that time had between two and three +thousand inhabitants. Its people were nearly all Revolutionary +families who had settled there in colonial times. There had been +very little immigration either from other States or abroad; +acquaintance was universal, and in the activities of the churches +there was general co-operation among the members. Church +attendance was so unanimous that people, young or old, who failed +to be in their accustomed places on Sunday felt the disapproval +of the community. + +Social activities of the village were very simple, but very +delightful and healthful. There were no very rich nor very poor. +Nearly every family owned its own house or was on the way to +acquire one. Misfortune of any kind aroused common interest +and sympathy. A helping hand of neighborliness was always extended +to those in trouble or distress. Peekskill was a happy community +and presented conditions of life and living of common interest, +endeavor, and sympathy not possible in these days of restless +crowds and fierce competition. + +The Peekskill Academy was the dominant educational institution, +and drew students not only from the village but from a distance. +It fitted them for college, and I was a student there for about +twelve years. The academy was a character-making institution, +though it lacked the thoroughness of the New England preparatory +schools. Its graduates entering into the professions or business +had an unusual record of success in life. I do not mean that they +accumulated great fortunes, but they acquired independence and were +prominent and useful citizens in all localities where they settled. + +I graduated from the Peekskill Academy in 1852. I find on the +programme of the exercises of that day, which some old student +preserved, that I was down for several original speeches, while +the other boys had mainly recitations. Apparently my teachers +had decided to develop any oratorical talent I might possess. + +I entered Yale in 1852 and graduated in 1856. The college of that +period was very primitive compared with the university to which +it has grown. Our class of ninety-seven was regarded as unusually +large. The classics and mathematics, Greek and Latin, were the +dominant features of instruction. Athletics had not yet appeared, +though rowing and boat-racing came in during my term. The +outstanding feature of the institution was the literary societies: +the Linonia and the Brothers of Unity. The debates at the weekly +meetings were kept up and maintained upon a high and efficient +plane. Both societies were practically deliberative bodies and +discussed with vigor the current questions of the day. Under this +training Yale sent out an unusual number of men who became +eloquent preachers, distinguished physicians, and famous lawyers. +While the majority of students now on leaving college enter business +or professions like engineering, which is allied to business, +at that time nearly every young man was destined for the ministry, +law, or medicine. My own class furnished two of the nine judges +of the Supreme Court of the United States, and a large majority +of those who were admitted to the bar attained judicial honors. +It is a singular commentary on the education of that time that the +students who won the highest honors and carried off the college +prizes, which could only be done by excelling in Latin, Greek, +and mathematics, were far outstripped in after-life by their +classmates who fell below their high standard of collegiate +scholarship but were distinguished for an all-around interest +in subjects not features in the college curriculum. + +My classmates, Justice David J. Brewer and Justice Henry Billings Brown, +were both eminent members of the Supreme Court of the United States. +Brewer was distinguished for the wide range of his learning and +illuminating addresses on public occasions. He was bicentennial +orator of the college and a most acceptable one. Wayne MacVeagh, +afterwards attorney-general of the United States, one of the leaders +of the bar, also one of the most brilliant orators of his time, +was in college with me, though not a classmate. Andrew D. White, +whose genius, scholarship, and organization enabled Ezra Cornell +to found Cornell University, was another of my college mates. +He became one of the most famous of our diplomats and the author +of many books of permanent value. My friendship with MacVeagh +and White continued during their lives, that is, for nearly sixty +years. MacVeagh was one of the readiest and most attractive of +speakers I ever knew. He had a very sharp and caustic wit, which +made him exceedingly popular as an after-dinner speaker and as a +host in his own house. He made every evening when he entertained, +for those who were fortunate enough to be his guests, an occasion +memorable in their experience. + +John Mason Brown, of Kentucky, became afterwards the leader of +the bar in his State, and was about to receive from President Harrison +an appointment as justice of the Supreme Court when he died +suddenly. If he had been appointed it would have been a remarkable +circumstance that three out of nine judges of the greatest of +courts, an honor which is sought by every one of the hundreds +of thousands of lawyers in the United States, should have been +from the same college and the same class. + +The faculty lingers in my memory, and I have the same reverence +and affection for its members, though sixty-five years out of +college, that I had the day I graduated. Our president, +Theodore D. Woolsey, was a wonderful scholar and a most inspiring +teacher. Yale has always been fortunate in her presidents, and +peculiarly so in Professor Woolsey. He had personal distinction, +and there was about him an air of authority and reserved power +which awed the most radical and rebellious student, and at the +same time he had the respect and affection of all. In his +historical lectures he had a standard joke on the Chinese, the +narration of which amused him the more with each repetition. It +was that when a Chinese army was beleaguered and besieged in a +fortress their provisions gave out and they decided to escape. +They selected a very dark night, threw open the gates, and as +they marched out each soldier carried a lighted lantern. + +In the faculty were several professors of remarkable force and +originality. The professor of Greek, Mr. Hadley, father of the +distinguished ex-president of Yale, was more than his colleagues +in the thought and talk of the undergraduates. His learning and +pre-eminence in his department were universally admitted. He had a +caustic wit and his sayings were the current talk of the campus. +He maintained discipline, which was quite lax in those days, by +the exercise of this ability. Some of the boys once drove a calf +into the recitation-room. Professor Hadley quietly remarked: +"You will take out that animal. We will get along to-day with +our usual number." It is needless to say that no such experiment +was ever repeated. + +At one time there was brought up in the faculty meeting a report +that one of the secret societies was about to bore an artesian +well in the cellar of their club house. It was suggested that such +an extraordinary expense should be prohibited. Professor Hadley +closed the discussion and laughed out the subject by saying from +what he knew of the society, if it would hold a few sessions over +the place where the artesian well was projected, the boring would +be accomplished without cost. The professor was a sympathetic +and very wise adviser to the students. If any one was in trouble +he would always go to him and give most helpful relief. + +Professor Larned inspired among the students a discriminating +taste for the best English literature and an ardent love for its +classics. Professor Thacher was one of the most robust and +vigorous thinkers and teachers of his period. He was a born +leader of men, and generation after generation of students who +graduated carried into after-life the effects of his teaching and +personality. We all loved Professor Olmstead, though we were not +vitally interested in his department of physics and biology. He +was a purist in his department, and so confident of his principles +that he thought it unnecessary to submit them to practical tests. +One of the students, whose room was immediately over that of +the professor, took up a plank from the flooring, and by boring +a very small hole in the ceiling found that he could read the +examination papers on the professor's desk. The information +of this reaching the faculty, the professor was asked if he had +examined the ceiling. He said that was unnecessary, because +he had measured the distance between the ceiling and the surface +of his desk and found that the line of vision connected so far +above that nothing could be read on the desk. + +Timothy Dwight, afterwards president, was then a tutor. Learning, +common sense, magnetism, and all-around good-fellowship were +wonderfully united in President Dwight. He was the most popular +instructor and best loved by the boys. He had a remarkable talent +for organization, which made him an ideal president. He possessed +the rare faculty of commanding and convincing not only the students +but his associates in the faculty and the members of the corporation +when discussing and deciding upon business propositions and +questions of policy. + +The final examinations over, commencement day arrived. The +literary exercises and the conferring of degrees took place in the +old Center Church. I was one of the speakers and selected for +my subject "The Hudson River and Its Traditions." I was saturated +from early association and close investigation and reading with the +crises of the Revolutionary War, which were successfully decided +on the patriots' side on the banks of the Hudson. I lived near +Washington Irving, and his works I knew by heart, especially +the tales which gave to the Hudson a romance like the Rhine's. +The subject was new for an academic stage, and the speech made +a hit. Nevertheless, it was the saddest and most regretful day of +my life when I left Yale. + +My education, according to the standard of the time, was completed, +and my diploma was its evidence. It has been a very interesting +question with me how much the academy and the college contributed +to that education. Their discipline was necessary and their +training essential. Four years of association with the faculty, +learned, finely equipped, and sympathetic, was a wonderful help. +The free associations of the secret and debating societies, the +campus, and the sports were invaluable, and the friendships formed +with congenial spirits added immensely to the pleasures and +compensations of a long life. + +In connection with this I may add that, as it has been my lot +in the peculiar position which I have occupied for more than +half a century as counsel and adviser for a great corporation +and its creators and the many successful men of business who +have surrounded them, I have learned to know how men who have +been denied in their youth the opportunities for education feel +when they are in possession of fortunes, and the world seems +at their feet. Then they painfully recognize their limitations, +then they know their weakness, then they understand that there +are things which money cannot buy, and that there are gratifications +and triumphs which no fortune can secure. The one lament of all +those men has been: "Oh, if I had been educated I would sacrifice +all that I have to obtain the opportunities of the college, to be +able to sustain not only conversation and discussion with the +educated men with whom I come in contact, but competent also +to enjoy what I see is a delight to them beyond anything which +I know." + +But I recall gratefully other influences quite as important to +one's education. My father was a typical business man, one of +the pioneers of river transportation between our village and +New York, and also a farmer and a merchant. He was a stern man +devoted to his family, and, while a strict disciplinarian, very +fond of his children. + +My mother was a woman of unusual intellect bordering upon genius. +There were no means of higher education at that period, but her +father, who was an eminent lawyer, and her grandfather, a judge, +finding her so receptive, educated her with the care that was +given to boys who were intended for a professional life. She was +well versed in the literature of the time of Queen Elizabeth and +Queen Anne, and, with a retentive memory, knew by heart many +of the English classics. She wrote well, but never for publication. +Added to these accomplishments were rare good sense and prophetic +vision. The foundation and much of the superstructure of all that +I have and all that I am were her work. She was a rigid Calvinist, +and one of her many lessons has been of inestimable comfort to +me. Several times in my life I have met with heavy misfortunes +and what seemed irreparable losses. I have returned home to find +my mother with wise advice and suggestions ready to devote herself +to the reconstruction of my fortune, and to brace me up. She +always said what she thoroughly believed: "My son, this which +you think so great a calamity is really divine discipline. +The Lord has sent it to you for your own good, because in His +infinite wisdom He saw that you needed it. I am absolutely +certain that if you submit instead of repining and protesting, +if you will ask with faith and proper spirit for guidance and +help, they both will come to you and with greater blessings than +you ever had before." That faith of my mother inspired and +intensified my efforts and in every instance her predictions +proved true. + +Every community has a public-spirited citizen who unselfishly +devotes himself or herself to the public good. That citizen of +Peekskill in those early days was Doctor James Brewer. He had +accumulated a modest competence sufficient for his simple needs +as bachelor. He was either the promoter or among the leaders of +all the movements for betterment of the town. He established +a circulating library upon most liberal terms, and it became an +educational institution of benefit. The books were admirably +selected, and the doctor's advice to readers was always available. +His taste ran to the English classics, and he had all the standard +authors in poetry, history, fiction, and essay. + +No pleasure derived in reading in after-years gave me such delight +as the Waverley Novels. I think I read through that library and +some of it several times over. + +The excitement as the novels of Dickens and Thackeray began +to appear equalled almost the enthusiasm of a political campaign. +Each one of those authors had ardent admirers and partisans. +The characters of Dickens became household companions. Every one +was looking for the counterpart of Micawber or Sam Weller, Pecksniff +or David Copperfield, and had little trouble in finding them either +in the family circle or among the neighbors. + +Dickens's lectures in New York, which consisted of readings from +his novels, were an event which has rarely been duplicated for +interest. With high dramatic ability he brought out before the +audience the characters from his novels with whom all were +familiar. Every one in the crowd had an idealistic picture in +his mind of the actors of the story. It was curious to note that +the presentation which the author gave coincided with the idea +of the majority of his audience. I was fresh from the country +but had with me that evening a rather ultra-fashionable young +lady. She said she was not interested in the lecture because +it represented the sort of people she did not know and never +expected to meet; they were a very common lot. In her subsequent +career in this country and abroad she had to her credit three +matrimonial adventures and two divorces, but none of her husbands +were of the common lot. + +Speaking of Dickens, one picture remains indelibly pressed upon +my memory. It was the banquet given him at which Horace Greeley +presided. Everybody was as familiar with Mr. Pickwick and his +portrait by Cruikshank in Dickens's works as with one's father. +When Mr. Greeley arose to make the opening speech and introduce +the guest of the evening, his likeness to this portrait of Pickwick +was so remarkable that the whole audience, including Mr. Dickens, +shouted their delight in greeting an old and well-beloved friend. + +Another educational opportunity came in my way because one of +my uncles was postmaster of the village. Through his post-office +came several high-class magazines and foreign reviews. There +was no rural delivery in those days, and the mail could only be +had on personal application, and the result was that the subscribers +of these periodicals frequently left them a long time before they +were called for. I was an omnivorous reader of everything +available, and as a result these publications, especially the +foreign reviews, became a fascinating source of information and +culture. They gave from the first minds of the century criticisms +of current literature and expositions of political movements and +public men which became of infinite value in after-years. + +Another unincorporated and yet valuable school was the frequent +sessions at the drug store of the elder statesmen of the village. +On certain evenings these men, representing most of the activities +of the village, would avail themselves of the hospitable chairs +about the stove and discuss not only local matters but the general +conditions of the country, some of them revolving about the +constitutionality of various measures which had been proposed +and enacted into laws. They nearly all related to slavery, +the compromise measures, the introduction of slaves into new +territories, the fugitive slave law, and were discussed with much +intelligence and information. The boys heard them talked about +in their homes and were eager listeners on the outskirts of this +village congress. Such institutions are not possible except in the +universal acquaintance, fellowship, and confidences of village +and country life. They were the most important factors in forming +that public opinion, especially among the young, which supported +Mr. Lincoln in his successful efforts to save the Union at whatever +cost. + +A few days after returning home from Yale I entered the office +of Edward Wells, a lawyer of the village, as a student. Mr. Wells +had attained high rank in his profession, was a profound student +of the law, and had a number of young men, fitting them for the +bar under his direction. + +I was admitted to the bar in 1858, and immediately opened an +office in the village. My first client was a prosperous farmer +who wanted an opinion on a rather complicated question. I prepared +the case with great care. He asked me what my fee was, and +I told him five dollars. He said: "A dollar and seventy-five is +enough for a young lawyer like you." Subsequently he submitted +the case to one of the most eminent lawyers in New York, who +came to the same conclusion and charged him five hundred dollars. +On account of this gentleman's national reputation the farmer +thought that fee was very reasonable. In subsequent years I have +received several very large retainers, but none of them gave so +much satisfaction as that dollar and seventy-five cents, which I had +actually earned after having been so long dependent on my father. + +After some years of private practice Commodore Vanderbilt sent +for me and offered the attorneyship for the New York and Harlem +Railroad. I had just been nominated and confirmed United States +minister to Japan. The appointment was a complete surprise to me, +as I was not an applicant for any federal position. The salary was +seven thousand five hundred dollars and an outfit of nine thousand. +The commodore's offer of the attorneyship for the Harlem Railroad, +which was his first venture in railroading, was far less than +the salary as minister. When I said this to the commodore, he +remarked: "Railroads are the career for a young man; there is +nothing in politics. Don't be a damned fool." That decided me, +and on the 1st of January, 1921, I rounded out fifty-five years in +the railway service of this corporation and its allied lines. + +Nothing has impressed me more than little things, and apparently +immaterial ones, which have influenced the careers of many people. +My father and his brothers, all active business men, were also +deeply interested in politics, not on the practical side but in +policies and governmental measures. They were uncompromising +Democrats of the most conservative type; they believed that +interference with slavery of any kind imperilled the union of +the States, and that the union of the States was the sole salvation +of the perpetuity of the republic and its liberties. I went to +Yale saturated with these ideas. Yale was a favorite college +for Southern people. There was a large element from the +slaveholding States among the students. It was so considerable +that these Southerners withdrew from the great debating societies +of the college and formed a society of their own, which they +called the Calliopean. Outside of these Southerners there were +very few Democrats among the students, and I came very near being +drawn into the Calliopean, but happily escaped. + +The slavery question in all its phases of fugitive slave law and +its enforcement, the extension of slavery into the new territories, +or its prohibition, and of the abolition of the institution by +purchase or confiscation were subjects of discussion on the campus, +in the literary societies, and in frequent lectures in the halls in +New Haven by the most prominent and gifted speakers and advocates. + +That was a period when even in the most liberal churches the pulpit +was not permitted to preach politics, and slavery was pre-eminently +politics. But according to an old New England custom, the pastor +was given a free hand on Thanksgiving Day to unburden his mind +of everything which had been bubbling and seething there for +a year. One of the most eminent and eloquent of New England +preachers was the Reverend Doctor Bacon, of Center Church, +New Haven. His Thanksgiving sermon was an event eagerly anticipated +by the whole college community. He was violently anti-slavery. +His sermons were not only intently listened to but widely read, +and their effect in promoting anti-slavery sentiment was very great. + +The result of several years of these associations and discussions +converted me, and I became a Republican on the principles +enunciated in the first platform of the party in 1856. When I came +home from Yale the situation in the family became very painful, +because my father was an intense partisan. He had for his party +both faith and love, and was shocked and grieved at his son's +change of principles. He could not avoid constantly discussing +the question, and was equally hurt either by opposition or silence. + + + +II. IN PUBLIC LIFE + +The campaign of 1856 created an excitement in our village which +had never been known since the Revolutionary War. The old +families who had been settled there since colonial days were +mainly pro-slavery and Democratic, while the Republican party was +recruited very largely from New England men and in a minority. + +Several times in our national political campaigns there has been +one orator who drew audiences and received public attention and +reports in the newspapers beyond all other speakers. On the +Democratic side during that period Horatio Seymour was pre-eminent. +On the Republican side in the State of New York the attractive +figure was George William Curtis. His books were very popular, +his charming personality, the culture and the elevation of his +speeches put him in a class by himself. + +The Republicans of the village were highly elated when they had +secured the promise of Mr. Curtis to speak at their most important +mass meeting. The occasion drew together the largest audience +the village had known, composed not only of residents but many from +a distance. The committee of arrangements finally reported to +the waiting audience that the last train had arrived, but +Mr. Curtis had not come. + +It suddenly occurred to the committee that it would be a good +thing to call a young recruit from a well-known Democratic family +and publicly commit him. First came the invitation, then the +shouting, and when I arose they cried "platform," and I was +escorted to the platform, but had no idea of making a speech. +My experience for years at college and at home had saturated me +with the questions at issue in all their aspects. From a full +heart, and a sore one, I poured out a confession of faith. +I thought I had spoken only a few minutes, but found afterwards +that it was over an hour. The local committee wrote to the State +committee about the meeting, and in a few days I received a letter +from the chairman of the State committee inviting me to fill +a series of engagements covering the whole State of New York. + +The campaign of 1856 differed from all others in memory of men +then living. The issues between the parties appealed on the +Republican side to the young. There had grown up among the young +voters an intense hostility to slavery. The moral force of the +arguments against the institution captured them. They had no +hostility to the South, nor to the Southern slaveholders; they +regarded their position as an inheritance, and were willing to +help on the lines of Mr. Lincoln's original idea of purchasing +the slaves and freeing them. But the suggestion had no friends +among the slaveholders. These young men believed that any +extension or strengthening of the institution would be disastrous +to the country. The threatened dissolution of the Union, secession, +or rebellion did not frighten them. + +Political conventions are the most interesting of popular gatherings. +The members have been delegated by their fellow citizens to +represent them, and they are above the average in intelligence, +political information of conditions in the State and nation, as +the convention represents the State or the republic. The belief +that they are generally boss-governed is a mistake. The party +leader, sometimes designated as boss, invariably consults with +the strongest men there are in the convention before he arrives +at a decision. He is generally successful, because he has so well +prepared the way, and his own judgment is always modified and +frequently changed in these conferences. + +In 1858 I had the first sensation of the responsibility of public +office. I was not an applicant for the place; in fact, knew +nothing about it until I was elected a delegate to the Republican +State convention from the third assembly district of Westchester +County. The convention was held at Syracuse. The Westchester +delegates arrived late at night or, rather, early in the morning, +and we came to the hotel with large numbers of other delegates +from different sections who had arrived on the same train. It was +two o'clock, but the State leader, Thurlow Weed, was in the lobby +of the hotel to greet the delegates. He said to me: "You are +from Peekskill. With whom are you studying law?" I answered: +"With Judge William Nelson." "Oh," he remarked, "I remember +Judge Nelson well. He was very active in the campaign of 1828." +It was a feat of memory to thus recall the usefulness of a local +politician thirty years before. I noticed, as each delegate was +introduced, that Mr. Weed had some neighborhood recollections +of the man which put a tag on him. + +The next day, as we met the leader, he recalled us by name, the +places where we lived, and the districts represented. Mr. Blaine +was the only other man I ever met or knew who possessed this +extraordinary gift for party leadership. + +There was a revolt in the convention among the young members, +who had a candidate of their own. Mr. Weed's candidate for +governor was Edwin D. Morgan, a successful New York merchant, +who had made a good record as a State senator. I remember one +of Mr. Weed's arguments was that the Democrats were in power +everywhere and could assess their office-holders, while the +Republicans would have to rely for campaign funds upon voluntary +contributions, which would come nowhere so freely as from Mr. Morgan +and his friends. When the convention met Mr. Weed had won over +a large majority of the delegates for his candidate. It was +a triumph not only of his skill but of his magnetism, which were +always successfully exerted upon a doubtful member. + +I was elected to the assembly, the popular branch of the New York +Legislature, in 1861. I was nominated during an absence from +the State, without being a candidate or knowing of it until my +return. Of course, I could expect nothing from my father, and +my own earnings were not large, so I had to rely upon a personal +canvass of a district which had been largely spoiled by rich +candidates running against each other and spending large amounts +of money. I made a hot canvass, speaking every day, and with +an investment of less than one hundred dollars for travel and +other expenses I was triumphantly elected. + +By far the most interesting member of the legislature was the +speaker, Henry J. Raymond. He was one of the most remarkable +men I ever met. During the session I became intimate with him, +and the better I knew him the more I became impressed with his +genius, the variety of his attainments, the perfection of his +equipment, and his ready command of all his powers and resources. +Raymond was then editor of the New York Times and contributed +a leading article every day. He was the best debater we had +and the most convincing. I have seen him often, when some other +member was in the chair of the committee of the whole, and we were +discussing a critical question, take his seat on the floor and +commence writing an editorial. As the debate progressed, he would +rise and participate. When he had made his point, which he always +did with directness and lucidity, he would resume writing his +editorial. The debate would usually end with Mr. Raymond carrying +his point and also finishing his editorial, an example which seems +to refute the statement of metaphysicians that two parts of the mind +cannot work at the same time. + +Two years afterwards, when I was secretary of state, I passed much +of my time at Saratoga, because it was so near Albany. Mr. Raymond +was also there writing the "Life of Abraham Lincoln." I breakfasted +with him frequently and found that he had written for an hour or +more before breakfast. He said to me in explanation that if one +would take an hour before breakfast every morning and concentrate +his mind upon his subject, he would soon fill a library. + +Mr. Raymond had been as a young man a reporter in the United States +Senate. He told me that, while at that time there was no system +of shorthand or stenography, he had devised a crude one for +himself, by which he could take down accurately any address of +a deliberate speaker. + +Daniel Webster, the most famous orator our country has ever +produced, was very deliberate in his utterances. He soon discovered +Raymond's ability, and for several years he always had Raymond +with him, and once said to him: "Except for you, the world would +have very few of my speeches. Your reports have preserved them." + +Mr. Raymond told me this story of Mr. Webster's remarkable memory. +Once he said to Mr. Webster: "You never use notes and apparently +have made no preparation, yet you are the only speaker I report +whose speeches are perfect in structure, language, and rhetoric. +How is this possible?" Webster replied: "It is my memory. I can +prepare a speech, revise and correct it in my memory, and then +deliver the corrected speech exactly as finished." I have known +most of the great orators of the world, but none had any approach +to a faculty like this, though several could repeat after second +reading the speech which they had prepared. + +In 1862 I was candidate for re-election to the assembly. Political +conditions had so changed that they were almost reversed. The +enthusiasm of the war which had carried the Republicans into power +the year before had been succeeded by general unrest. Our armies +had been defeated, and industrial and commercial depression +was general. + +The leader of the Democratic Party in the State was Dean Richmond. +He was one of those original men of great brain-power, force, and +character, knowledge of men, and executive ability, of which that +period had a number. From the humblest beginning he had worked +his way in politics to the leadership of his party, to the presidency +of the greatest corporation in the State, the New York Central +Railroad Company, and in his many and successful adventures +had accumulated a fortune. His foresight was almost a gift of +prophecy, and his judgment was rarely wrong. He believed that +the disasters in the field and the bad times at home could be +charged up to the Lincoln administration and lead to a Democratic +victory. He also believed that there was only one man in the party +whose leadership would surely win, and that man was Horatio Seymour. +But Seymour had higher ambitions than the governorship of New York +and was very reluctant to run. Nevertheless, he could not resist +Richmond's insistence that he must sacrifice himself, if necessary, +to save the party. + +The Republicans nominated General James W. Wadsworth for governor. +Wadsworth had enlisted at the beginning of the war and made a most +brilliant record, both as a fighting soldier and administrator. +The Republican party was sharply divided between radicals who +insisted on immediate emancipation of the slaves, and conservatives +who thought the time had not yet arrived for such a revolution. +The radicals were led by Horace Greeley, and the conservatives +by Thurlow Weed and Henry J. Raymond. + +Horatio Seymour made a brilliant canvass. He had no equal in the +State in either party in charm of personality and attractive +oratory. He united his party and brought to its ranks all the +elements of unrest and dissatisfaction with conditions, military +and financial. While General Wadsworth was an ideal candidate, +he failed to get the cordial and united support of his party. +He represented its progressive tendencies as expressed and +believed by President Lincoln, and was hostile to reaction. +Under these conditions Governor Seymour carried the State. + +The election had reversed the overwhelming Republican majority +in the legislature of the year before by making the assembly a tie. +I was re-elected, but by reduced majority. The assembly being +a tie, it was several weeks before it could organize. I was the +candidate in the caucus of the Republican members for speaker, +but after the nomination one of the members, named Bemus, threatened +to bolt and vote for the Democratic candidate unless his candidate, +Sherwood, was made the nominee. So many believed that Bemus +would carry out his threat, which would give the organization of +the House to the Democrats by one majority, that I withdrew in +favor of Sherwood. After voting hopelessly in a deadlock, day +after day for a long period, a caucus of the Republican members +was called, at which Sherwood withdrew, and on his motion I was +nominated as the party candidate for speaker. + +During the night a Democratic member, T.C. Callicot, of Kings County, +came to my bedroom and said: "My ambition in life is to be speaker +of the assembly. Under the law the legislature cannot elect +the United States senator unless each House has first made a +nomination, then the Senate and the House can go into joint +convention, and a majority of that convention elect a senator. +You Republicans have a majority in the Senate, so that if the +House nominates, the legislature can go into joint convention +and elect a Republican senator. As long as the House remains +a tie this cannot be done. Now, what I propose is just this: +Before we meet tomorrow morning, if you will call your members +together and nominate me for speaker, the vote of your party and +I voting for myself will elect me. Then I will agree to name +General Dix, a Democrat, for United States senator, and if your +people will all vote with me for him he will be the assembly +nominee. The Senate has already nominated Governor Morgan. +So the next day the legislature can go into joint convention and, +having a Republican majority, elect Governor Morgan United States +senator." I told Mr. Callicot that I would present the matter +to my party associates. + +In the early morning Saxton Smith and Colonel John Van Buren, +two of the most eminent Democrats in the State and members of +the legislature, came to me and said: "We know what Callicot +has proposed. Now, if you will reject that proposition we will +elect you speaker practically unanimously." + +This assured my election for the speakership. I had a great +ambition to be on that roll of honor, and as I would have been +the youngest man ever elected to the position, my youth added +to the distinction. On the other hand, the government at Washington +needed an experienced senator of its own party, like Edwin D. Morgan, +who had been one of the ablest and most efficient of war governors, +both in furnishing troops and helping the credit of the country. +I finally decided to surrender the speakership for myself to gain +the senatorship for my party. I had difficulty in persuading my +associates, but they finally agreed. Callicot was elected speaker +and Edwin D. Morgan United States senator. + +The event was so important and excited so much interest, both in +the State and in the country, that representative men came to +Albany in great numbers. The rejoicing and enthusiasm were intense +at having secured so unexpectedly a United States Senator for +the support of Mr. Lincoln's administration. + +That night they all united in giving me a reception in the ballroom +of the hotel. There was a flood of eulogistic and prophetic +oratory. I was overwhelmed with every form of flattery and +applause, for distinguished service to the party. By midnight +I had been nominated and elected Governor of the State, and an hour +later I was already a United States senator. Before the morning +hour the presidency of the United States was impatiently waiting +for the time when I would be old enough to be eligible. All this +was soon forgotten. It is a common experience of the instability +of promises and hopes which come from gratified and happy +enthusiasts, and how soon they are dissipated like a dream! I have +seen many such instances, and from this early experience deeply +sympathize with the disillusionized hero. + +The Democrats of the assembly and also of the State were determined +that Mr. Callicot should not enjoy the speakership. They started +investigations in the House and movements in the courts to prevent +him from taking his seat. The result was that I became acting +speaker and continued as such until Mr. Callicot had defeated +his enemies and taken his place as speaker in the latter part of +the session. + +I was also chairman of the committee of ways and means and the +leader of the House. The budget of my committee was larger than +usual on account of the expenses of the war. It was about seven +million dollars. It created much more excitement and general +discussion than does the present budget of one hundred and forty +millions. The reason is the difference in conditions and public +necessities of the State of New York in the winter of 1863 and +now. It is also partly accounted for by the fact that the expenses +of the State had then to be met by a real-estate tax which affected +everybody, while now an income tax has been adopted which is +capable of unlimited expansion and invites limitless extravagance +because of the comparatively few interested. + +Eighteen hundred and sixty-three was an eventful year; the early +part was full of gloom and unrest. Horatio Seymour, as governor, +violently antagonized President Lincoln and his policies. Seymour +was patriotic and very able, but he was so saturated with State +rights and strict construction of the Constitution that it marred +his judgment and clouded his usually clear vision. In the critical +situation of the country Mr. Lincoln saw the necessity of support +of the State of New York. The president said: "The governor has +greater power just now for good than any other man in the country. +He can wheel the Democratic party into line, put down the rebellion +and preserve the government. Tell him from me that if he will +render this service to his country, I shall cheerfully make way +for him as my successor." To this message, sent through +Thurlow Weed, Governor Seymour made no reply. He did not believe +that the South could be defeated and the Union preserved. + +Later President Lincoln sent a personal letter to the governor. +It was a very human epistle. The president wrote: "You and I +are substantially strangers, and I write this that we may become +better acquainted. In the performance of duty the co-operation +of your State is needed and is indispensable. This alone is +sufficient reason why I should wish to be on a good understanding +with you. Please write me at least as long a letter as this, +of course saying in it just what you think fit." + +Governor Seymour made no reply. He and the other Democratic +leaders thought the president uncouth, unlettered, and very weak. +The phrase "please write me at least as long a letter as this" +produced an impression upon the scholarly, cultured, cautious, +and diplomatic Seymour which was most unfavorable to its author. +Seymour acknowledged the receipt of the letter and promised to +make a reply, but never did. + +Seymour's resentment was raised to fever heat when General Burnside, +in May, 1863, arrested Clement L. Vallandigham. The enemies of +the war and peace at any price people, and those who were +discouraged, called mass meetings all over the country to protest +this arrest as an outrage. A mass meeting was called in Albany +on the 16th of May. Erastus Corning, one of the most eminent +Democrats in the State, presided. + +I was in Albany at the time and learned this incident. One of +Governor Seymour's intimate friends, his adviser and confidant +in personal business affairs was Charles Cook, who had been +comptroller of the State and a State senator. Cook was an active +Republican, a very shrewd and able man. He called on the governor +and tried to persuade him not to write a letter to the Vallandigham +meeting, but if he felt he must say something, attend the meeting +and make a speech. Cook said: "Governor, the country is going +to sustain ultimately the arrest of Vallandigham. It will be proved +that he is a traitor to the government and a very dangerous man +to be at large. Whatever is said at the meeting will seriously +injure the political future of the authors. If you write a letter +it will be on record, so I beg you, if you must participate, attend +the meeting and make a speech. A letter cannot be denied; it can +always be claimed that a speech has been misreported." + +The Governor wrote the letter, one of the most violent of his +utterances, and it was used against him with fatal effect when +he ran for governor, and also when a candidate for president. + +On July 11th the draft began in New York City. It had been +denounced as unconstitutional by every shade of opposition to +Mr. Lincoln's administration and to the prosecution of the war. +The attempt to enforce it led to one of the most serious riots +in the history of the city, and the rage of the rioters was against +the officers of the law, the headquarters of the draft authorities, +and principally against the negroes. Every negro who was caught +was hung or burned, and the negro orphan asylum was destroyed +by fire. The governor did his best to stop the rioting. He issued +a proclamation declaring the city in a state of insurrection, and +commanded obedience to the law and the authorities. + +In this incident again the governor permitted his opposition to +the war to lead him into political indiscretion. He made a speech +from the steps of the City Hall to the rioters. He began by +addressing them as "My friends." The governor's object was to +quiet the mob and send them to their homes. So instead of saying +"fellow citizens" he used the fatal words "my friends." No two +words were ever used against a public man with such fatal effect. +Every newspaper opposed to the governor and every orator would +describe the horrors, murders, and destruction of property by +the mob and then say: "These are the people whom Governor Seymour +in his speech from the steps of the City Hall addressed as +'my friends.'" + +The Vallandigham letter and this single utterance did more harm +to Governor Seymour's future ambitions than all his many eloquent +speeches against Lincoln's administration and the conduct of the war. + +The political situation, which had been so desperate for the +national administration, changed rapidly for the better with +the victory at Gettysburg, which forced General Lee out of +Pennsylvania and back into Virginia, and also by General Grant's +wonderful series of victories at Vicksburg and other places which +liberated the Mississippi River. + +Under these favorable conditions the Republicans entered upon +the canvass in the fall of 1863 to reverse, if possible, the +Democratic victory the year before. The Republican State ticket was: + + Secretary of State ..... Chauncey M. Depew. + Comptroller ..... Lucius Robinson. + Canal Commissioner ..... Benjamin F. Bruce. + Treasurer ..... George W. Schuyler. + State Engineer ..... William B. Taylor. + Prison Inspector ..... James K. Bates. + Judge of the Court of Appeals ..... Henry S. Selden. + Attorney-General ..... John Cochran. + +The canvass was one of the most interesting of political campaigns. +The president was unusually active, and his series of letters +were remarkable documents. He had the ear of the public; he +commanded the front page of the press, and he defended his +administration and its acts and replied to his enemies with skill, +tact, and extreme moderation. + +Public opinion was peculiar. Military disasters and increasing +taxation had made the position of the administration very critical, +but the victories which came during the summer changed the situation. +I have never known in any canvass any one incident which had +greater effect than Sheridan's victory in the Shenandoah Valley, +and never an adventure which so captured the popular imagination +as his ride from Washington to the front; his rallying the retreating +and routed troops, reforming them and turning defeat into victory. +The poem "Sheridan's Ride," was recited in every audience, from +every platform, and from the stage in many theatres and created +the wildest enthusiasm. + +My friend, Wayne MacVeagh, who was at Yale College with me, +had succeeded as a radical leader in defeating his brother-in-law, +Don Cameron, and getting control for the first time in a generation +against the Cameron dynasty of the Republican State organization +of Pennsylvania. He had nominated a radical ticket, with +Andrew G. Curtin as a candidate for governor. + +MacVeagh wrote to me, saying: "You are running at the head of +the Republican ticket in New York. Your battle is to be won +in Pennsylvania, and unless we succeed you cannot. Come over +and help us." + +I accepted the invitation and spent several most exciting and +delightful weeks campaigning with Governor Curtin and his party. +The meetings were phenomenal in the multitudes which attended +and their interest in the speeches. I remember one dramatic +occasion at the city of Reading. This was a Democratic stronghold; +there was not a single Republican office-holder in the county. +The only compensation for a Republican accepting a nomination +and conducting a canvass, with its large expenses and certain +defeat, was that for the rest of his life he was given as an +evidence of honor the title of the office for which he ran, and so +the county was full of "judges, Mr. District Attorneys, State +Senators, and Congressmen" who had never been elected. + +We arrived at Reading after midday. The leading street, a very +broad one, was also on certain days the market-place. A friend +of the governor, who had a handsome house on this street, had +the whole party for luncheon. The luncheon was an elaborate +banquet. Governor Curtin came to me and said: "You go out and +entertain the crowd, which is getting very impatient, and in about +twenty minutes I will send some one to relieve you." It was +raining in torrents; the crowd shouted to me encouragingly: "Never +mind the rain; we are used to that, but we never heard you." As +I would try to stop they would shout: "Go ahead!" In the meantime +the banquet had turned into a festive occasion, with toasts and +speeches. I had been speaking over two hours before the governor +and his party appeared. They had been dining, and the Eighteenth +Amendment had not been dreamed of. I was drenched to the skin, +but waited until the governor had delivered his twenty-minute +speech; then, without stopping for the other orators, I went over +to the house, stripped, dried myself, and went to bed. + +Utterly exhausted with successive days and nights of this experience, +I did not wake until about eight o'clock in the evening. Then +I wandered out in the street, found the crowd still there, and +the famous John W. Forney making a speech. They told me that +he had been speaking for four hours, delivering an historical address, +but had only reached the administration of General Jackson. I never +knew how long he kept at it, but there was a tradition with our party +that he was still speaking when the train left the next morning. + +Governor Curtin was an ideal party leader and candidate. He was +one of the handsomest men of his time, six feet four inches in +height, perfectly proportioned and a superb figure. He never +spoke over twenty minutes, but it was the talk in the familiar +way of an expert to his neighbors. He had a cordial and captivating +manner, which speedily made him the idol of the crowd and a most +agreeable companion in social circles. When he was minister +to Russia, the Czar, who was of the same height and build, was +at once attracted to him, and he took a first place among the +diplomats in influence. + +When I returned to New York to enter upon my own canvass, the State +and national committees imposed upon me a heavy burden. Speakers +of State reputation were few, while the people were clamoring for +meetings. Fortunately I had learned how to protect my voice. In +the course of the campaign every one who spoke with me lost his +voice and had to return home for treatment. When I was a student +at Yale the professor in elocution was an eccentric old gentleman +named North. The boys paid little attention to him and were +disposed to ridicule his peculiarities. He saw that I was specially +anxious to learn and said: "The principal thing about oratory +is to use your diaphragm instead of your throat." His lesson +on that subject has been of infinite benefit to me all my life. + +The programme laid out called upon me to speak on an average +between six and seven hours a day. The speeches were from ten +to thirty minutes at different railway stations, and wound up with +at least two meetings at some important towns in the evening, +and each meeting demanded about an hour. These meetings were +so arranged that they covered the whole State. It took about four +weeks, but the result of the campaign, due to the efforts of the +orators and other favorable conditions, ended in the reversal +of the Democratic victory of the year before, a Republican majority +of thirty thousand and the control of the legislature. + + +In 1864 the political conditions were very unfavorable for the +Republican party, owing to the bitter hostility between the +conservative and radical elements. Led by such distinguished men +as Thurlow Weed and Henry J. Raymond, on the one side, and +Horace Greeley, with an exceedingly capable body of earnest +lieutenants on the other, the question of success or defeat depended +upon the harmonizing of the two factions. + +Without having been recognized by the politicians or press of +the State, Reuben E. Fenton, who had been for ten years a congressman +from the Chatauqua district, had developed in Congress remarkable +ability as an organizer. He had succeeded in making Galusha A. Grow +speaker of the House of Representatives, and had become a power +in that body. He had behind him the earnest friendship and support +of the New York delegation in the House of Representatives and had +not incurred the enmity of either faction in his own State. His +nomination saved the party in that campaign. + +As an illustration how dangerous was the situation, though the +soldiers' vote in the field was over one hundred thousand and +almost unanimously for the Republican ticket, the presidential and +gubernatorial candidates received less than eight thousand +majority, the governor leading the president. + +The re-election of Mr. Lincoln and the election Reuben E. Fenton +over Governor Seymour made our State solidly Republican, and +Governor Fenton became at once both chief executive and party +leader. He had every quality for political leadership, was a shrewd +judge of character, and rarely made mistakes in the selection +of his lieutenants. He was a master of all current political +questions and in close touch with public opinion. My official +relations with him as secretary of state became came at once +intimate and gratifying. It required in after-years all the +masterful genius of Roscoe Conkling and the control of federal +patronage granted to him by President Grant to break Fenton's +hold upon his party. + +Governor Fenton was blessed with a daughter of wonderful executive +ability, singular charm, and knowledge of public affairs. She made +the Executive Mansion in Albany one of the most charming and +hospitable homes in the State. Its influence radiated everywhere, +captured visitors, legislators, and judges, and was a powerful +factor in the growing popularity and influence of the governor. + +One of the most interesting of political gatherings was the +Democratic convention, which met at Tredwell Hall in Albany +in the fall of 1864, to select a successor to Governor Seymour. +The governor had declared publicly that he was not a candidate, +and that under no conditions would he accept a renomination. He +said that his health was seriously impaired, and his private affairs +had been neglected so long by his absorption in public duties +that they were in an embarrassing condition and needed attention. + +The leaders of the convention met in Dean Richmond's office and +selected a candidate for governor and a full State ticket. When +the convention met the next day I was invited to be present as +a spectator. It was supposed by everybody that the proceedings +would be very formal and brief, as the candidates and the platform +had been agreed upon. The day was intensely hot, and most of +the delegates discarded their coats, vests, and collars, especially +those from New York City. + +When the time came for the nomination, the platform was taken +by one of the most plausible and smooth talkers I ever heard. +He delivered a eulogy upon Governor Seymour and described in +glowing terms the debt the party owed him for his wonderful public +services, and the deep regret all must have that he felt it necessary +to retire to private life. He continued by saying that he acquiesced +in that decision, but felt it was due to a great patriot and +the benefactor of the party that he should be tendered a +renomination. Of course, they all knew it would be merely a +compliment, as the governor's position had been emphatically +stated by himself. So he moved that the governor be nominated by +acclamation and a committee appointed to wait upon him at the +Executive Mansion and ascertain his wishes. + +When Mr. Richmond was informed of this action, he said it was +all right but unnecessary, because the situation was too serious +to indulge in compliments. + +In an hour the delegation returned, and the chairman, who was +the same gentleman who made the speech and the motion, stepped +to the front of the platform to report. He said that the governor +was very grateful for the confidence reposed in him by the +convention, and especially for its approval of his official actions +as governor of the State and the representative of his party at +the national convention, that in his long and intense application +to public duties he had impaired his health and greatly embarrassed +his private affairs, but, but, he continued with emphasis. . . He +never got any further. Senator Shafer, of Albany, who was unfriendly +to the governor, jumped up and shouted: "Damn him, he has accepted!" + +The convention, when finally brought to order, reaffirmed its +complimentary nomination as a real one, with great enthusiasm +and wild acclaim. + +When the result was reported to Mr. Richmond at his office, I was +told by one who was present that Richmond's picturesque vocabulary +of indignation and denunciation was enriched to such a degree +as to astonish and shock even the hardened Democrats who listened +to the outburst. + +A committee was appointed to wait on the governor and request him +to appear before the convention. In a little while there stepped +upon the platform the finest figure in the State or country. +Horatio Seymour was not only a handsome man, with a highly +intellectual and expressive face of mobile features, which added +to the effect of his oratory, but he never appeared unless perfectly +dressed and in the costume which was then universally regarded +as the statesman's apparel. His patent-leather boots, his +Prince Albert suit, his perfectly correct collar and tie were +evidently new, and this was their first appearance. From head to +foot he looked the aristocrat. In a few minutes he became the idol +of that wild and overheated throng. His speech was a model of +tact, diplomacy, and eloquence, with just that measure of restraint +which increased the enthusiasm of the hearers. The convention, +which had gathered for another purpose, another candidate, and +a new policy, hailed with delight its old and splendid leader. + +Commodore Vanderbilt had a great admiration for Dean Richmond. +The commodore disliked boasters and braggarts intensely. Those +who wished to gain his favor made the mistake, as a rule, of boasting +about what they had done, and were generally met by the remark: +"That amounts to nothing." Mr. Tillinghast, a western New York man +and a friend of Richmond, was in the commodore's office one day, +soon after Richmond died. Tillinghast was general superintendent +of the New York Central and had been a sufferer from being stepped +on by the commodore when he was lauding his own achievements and +so took the opposite line of extreme moderation. The commodore +asked Tillinghast, after praising Mr. Richmond very highly, "How +much did he leave?" "Oh," said Tillinghast, "his estate is a +great disappointment, and compared with what it was thought to be +it is very little." "I am surprised," remarked the commodore, +"but how much?" "Oh, between five or six millions," Tillinghast +answered. For the first time in his life the commodore was thrown +off his guard and said: "Tillinghast, if five or six million +of dollars is a disappointment, what do you expect in western +New York?" At that time there were few men who were worth that +amount of money. + +Governor Seymour made a thorough canvass of the State, and I was +appointed by our State committee to follow him. It was a singular +experience to speak and reply to the candidate the day after his +address. The local committee meets you with a very complete report +of his speech. The trouble is that, except you are under great +restraint, the urgency of the local committee and the inevitable +temptations of the reply under such conditions, when your adversary +is not present, will lead you to expressions and personalities which +you deeply regret. + +When the canvass was over and the governor was beaten, I feared +that the pleasant relations which had existed between us were +broken. But he was a thorough sportsman. He sent for and received +me with the greatest cordiality, and invited me to spend a week-end +with him at his home in Utica. There he was the most delightful +of hosts and very interesting as a gentleman farmer. In the +costume of a veteran agriculturist and in the farm wagon he drove +me out mornings to his farm, which was so located that it could +command a fine view of the Mohawk Valley. After the inspection +of the stock, the crops, and buildings, the governor would spend +the day discoursing eloquently and most optimistically upon +the prosperity possible for the farmer. To his mind then the food +of the future was to be cheese. There was more food value +in cheese than in any known edible article, animal or vegetable. +It could sustain life more agreeably and do more for longevity +and health. + +No one could have imagined, who did not know the governor and +was privileged to listen to his seemingly most practical and +highly imaginative discourse, that the speaker was one of the +ablest party managers, shrewdest of politicians, and most eloquent +advocates in the country, whose whole time and mind apparently +were absorbed in the success of his party and the fruition of +his own ambitions. + +As we were returning home he said to me: "You have risen higher +than any young man in the country of your age. You have a talent +and taste for public life, but let me advise you to drop it and +devote yourself to your profession. Public life is full of +disappointments, has an unusual share of ingratitude, and its +compensations are not equal to its failures. The country is full +of men who have made brilliant careers in the public service and +then been suddenly dropped and forgotten. The number of such men +who have climbed the hill up State Street to the capitol in Albany, +with the applause of admiring crowds whom none now can recall, +would make a great army." + +He continued by telling this story: "In the war of 1812 the +governor and the legislature decided to bring from Canada to +Albany the remains of a hero whose deeds had excited the admiration +of the whole State. There was an imposing and continuous +procession, with local celebrations all along the route, from +the frontier to the capital. The ceremonies in Albany were attended +by the governor, State officers, legislature, and judges, and the +remains were buried in the capitol park. No monument was erected. +The incident is entirely forgotten, no one remembers who the hero +was, what were his deeds, nor the spot where he rests." + +Years afterwards, when the State was building a new capitol and +I was one of the commissioners, in excavating the grounds +a skeleton was found. It was undoubtedly the forgotten hero +of Governor Seymour's story. + + +When my term was about expiring with the year 1865 I decided +to leave public life and resume the practice of my profession. +I was at the crossroads of a political or a professional career. +So, while there was a general assent to my renomination, I +emphatically stated the conclusion at which I had arrived. + +The Republican convention nominated for my successor as secretary +of state General Francis C. Barlow, a very brilliant soldier in +the Civil War. The Democratic convention adopted a patriotic +platform of advanced and progressive views, and nominated at the +head of their ticket for secretary of state General Henry W. Slocum. +General Slocum had been a corps commander in General Sherman's +army, and came out of the war among the first in reputation and +achievement of the great commanders. It was a master stroke on +the part of the Democratic leaders to place him at the head of +their ticket. He was the greatest soldier of our State and very +popular with the people. In addition to being a great commander, +he had a charming personality, which fitted him for success +in public life. + +The Democrats also on the same ticket nominated for attorney-general +John Van Buren. He was a son of President Van Buren and a man +of genius. Although he was very erratic, his ability was so great +that when serious he captured not only the attention but the judgment +of people. He was an eloquent speaker and had a faculty of +entrancing the crowd with his wit and of characterization of his +opponent which was fatal. I have seen crowds, when he was +elaborately explaining details necessary for the vindication of his +position, or that of his party which did not interest them, +to remain with close attention, hoping for what was certain to come, +namely, one of those sallies of wit, which made a speech of +Van Buren a memorable thing to have listened to. + +Van Buren was noted for a reckless disregard of the confidences +of private conversation. Once I was with him on the train for +several hours, and in the intimacy which exists among political +opponents who know and trust each other we exchanged views in +regard to public measures and especially public men. I was very +indiscreet in talking with him in my criticism of the leaders of +my own party, and he equally frank and delightful in flaying alive +the leaders of his party, especially Governor Seymour. + +A few days afterwards he made a speech in which he detailed what +I had said, causing me the greatest embarrassment and trouble. +In retaliation I wrote a letter to the public, stating what he had +said about Governor Seymour. The Democratic ticket was beaten +by fifteen thousand in a very heavy vote, and Van Buren always +charged it to the resentment of Governor Seymour and his friends. + + +In our country public life is a most uncertain career for a young +man. Its duties and activities remove him from his profession or +business and impose habits of work and thought which unfit him +for ordinary pursuits, especially if he remains long in public +service. With a change of administration or of party popularity, +he may be at any time dropped and left hopelessly stranded. +On the other hand, if his party is in power he has in it a position +of influence and popularity. He has a host of friends, with many +people dependent upon him for their own places, and it is no easy +thing for him to retire. + +When I had decided not to remain any longer in public life and +return home, the convention of my old district, which I had +represented in the legislature, renominated me for the old position +with such earnestness and affection that it was very difficult +to refuse and to persuade them that it was absolutely necessary +for me to resume actively my profession. + +Our village of Peekskill, which has since grown into the largest +village in the State, with many manufacturing and other interests, +was then comparatively small. A large number of people gathered +at the post-office every morning. On one occasion when I arrived +I found them studying a large envelope addressed to me, which +the postmaster had passed around. It was a letter from +William H. Seward, secretary of state, announcing that the president +had appointed me United States minister to Japan, and that the +appointment had been sent to the Senate and confirmed by that +body, and directing that I appear at the earliest possible moment +at his office to receive instructions and go to my post. A few +days afterwards I received a beautiful letter from Henry J. Raymond, +then in Congress, urging my acceptance. + +On arriving in Washington I went to see Mr. Seward, who said to me: +"I have special reasons for securing your appointment from the +president. He is rewarding friends of his by putting them in +diplomatic positions for which they are wholly unfit. I regard +the opening of Japan to commerce and our relations to that new +and promising country so important, that I asked the privilege +to select one whom I thought fitted for the position. Your youth, +familiarity with public life, and ability seem to me ideal for this +position, and I have no doubt you will accept." + +I stated to him how necessary it was that after long neglect in +public life of my private affairs I should return to my profession, +if I was to make a career, but Mr. Seward brushed that aside by +reciting his own success, notwithstanding his long service in our +State and in Washington. "However," he continued, "I feared that +this might be your attitude, so I have made an appointment for you +to see Mr. Burlingame, who has been our minister to China, and +is now here at the head of a mission from China to the different +nations of the world." + +Anson Burlingame's career had been most picturesque and had +attracted the attention of not only the United States but of +Europe. As a member of the House of Representatives he had +accepted the challenge of a "fire-eater," who had sent it under +the general view that no Northern man would fight. As minister +to China he had so gained the confidence of the Chinese Government +that he persuaded them to open diplomatic relations with the Western +world, and at their request he had resigned his position from +the United States and accepted the place of ambassador to the great +powers, and was at the head of a large delegation, composed of +the most important, influential, and representative mandarins of +the old empire. + +When I sent up my card to his room at the hotel his answer was: +"Come up immediately." He was shaving and had on the minimum +of clothes permissible to receive a visitor. He was expecting me +and started in at once with an eloquent description of the attractions +and importance of the mission to Japan. With the shaving brush +in one hand and the razor in the other he delivered an oration. +In order to emphasize it and have time to think and enforce a new +idea, he would apply the brush and the razor vigorously, then pause +and resume. I cannot remember his exact words, but have a keen +recollection of the general trend of his argument. + +He said: "I am surprised that a young man like you, unmarried +and with no social obligations, should hesitate for a moment +to accept this most important and attractive position. If you +think these people are barbarians, I can assure you that they +had a civilization and a highly developed literature when our +forefathers were painted savages. The western nations of Europe, +in order to secure advantages in this newly opened country for +commerce, have sent their ablest representatives. You will meet +there with the diplomats of all the western nations, and your +intimacy with them will be a university of the largest opportunity. +You will come in contact with the best minds of Europe. You can +make a great reputation in the keen rivalry of this situation +by securing the best of the trade of Japan for your own country +to its western coasts over the waters of the Pacific. You will +be welcomed by the Japanese Government and the minister of +foreign affairs will assign you a palace to live in, with a garden +attached so perfectly appointed and kept as to have been the envy +of Shenstone. You will be attended by hundreds of beautiful and +accomplished Japanese maidens." + +When I repeated to a large body of waiting office-seekers who had +assembled in my room what Mr. Burlingame had said, they all became +applicants for the place. + +There is no more striking evidence of the wonderful advance in +every way of the Japanese Empire and its people than the conditions +existing at that time and now. Then it took six months to reach +Japan and a year for the round trip. Of course, there was no +telegraphic or cable communication, and so it required a year +for a message to be sent and answered. The Japanese army at that +time was mostly clad in armor and its navy were junks. + +In fifty years Japan has become one of the most advanced nations +of the world. It has adopted and assimilated all that is best of +Western civilization, and acquired in half a century what required +Europe one thousand years to achieve. Its army is unexcelled +in equipment and discipline, and its navy and mercantile marine are +advancing rapidly to a foremost place. It demonstrated its prowess +in the war with Russia, and its diplomacy and power in the recent war. + +Japan has installed popular education, with common schools, +academies, and universities, much on the American plan. It has +adopted and installed every modern appliance developed by +electricity--telegraph, cable, telephone, etc. + +While I was greatly tempted to reverse my decision and go, +my mother, who was in delicate health, felt that an absence so +long and at such distance would be fatal, and so on her account +I declined. + +As I look back over the fifty years I can see plainly that four +years, and probably eight, in that mission would have severed +me entirely from all professional and business opportunities +at home, and I might have of necessity become a place holder +and a place seeker, with all its adventures and disappointments. + +If I had seriously wanted an office and gone in pursuit of one, +my pathway would have had the usual difficulties, but fickle +fortune seemed determined to defeat my return to private life +by tempting offers. The collectorship of the port of New York +was vacant. It was a position of great political power because +of its patronage. There being no civil service, the appointments +were sufficiently numerous and important to largely control the +party in the State of New York, and its political influence reached +into other commonwealths. It was an office whose fees were +enormous, and the emoluments far larger than those of any position +in the country. + +The party leaders had begun to doubt President Johnson, and they +wanted in the collectorship a man in whom they had entire +confidence, and so the governor and State officers, who were all +Republicans, the Republican members of the legislature, the State +committee, the two United States senators, and the Republican +delegation of New York in the House of Representatives unanimously +requested the president to appoint me. + +President Johnson said to me: "No such recommendation and +indorsement has ever been presented to me before." However, +the breach between him and the party was widening, and he could +not come to a decision. + +One day he suddenly sent for Senator Morgan, Henry J. Raymond, +Thurlow Weed, and the secretary of the treasury for a consultation. +He said to them: "I have decided to appoint Mr. Depew." The +appointment was made out by the secretary of the treasury, and the +president instructed him to send it to the Senate the next morning. +There was great rejoicing among the Republicans, as this seemed +to indicate a favorable turn in the president's mind. Days and +weeks passed, however, and when the veto of the Civil Rights Bill +was overridden in the Senate and, with the help of the votes +of the senators from New York, the breach between the president +and his party became irreconcilable, the movement for his +impeachment began, which ended in the most sensational and perilous +trial in our political history. + +On my way home to New York, after the vote of the New York senators +had ended my hope for appointment, I had as a fellow traveller +my friend, Professor Davies, from West Point. He was a brother +of that eminent jurist, Henry E. Davies, a great lawyer and +chief justice of our New York State Court of Appeals. Professor +Davies said to me: "I think I must tell you why your nomination +for collector was not sent to the Senate. I was in Washington +to persuade the president, with whom I am quite intimate, to make +another appointment. I was calling on Secretary Hugh McCulloch +and his family in the evening of the day when the conference decided +to appoint you. Secretary McCulloch said to me: 'The contest +over the collectorship of the port of New York is settled, and +Chauncey Depew's name will be sent to the Senate to-morrow +morning.' I was at the White House," continued the professor, +"the next morning before breakfast. The president received me +at once because I said my mission was urgent and personal. I told +him what the secretary of the treasury had told me and said: +'You are making a fatal mistake. You are going to break with +your party and to have a party of your own. The collectorship +of the port of New York is the key to your success. Depew is +very capable and a partisan of his party. If you have any doubt, +I beg of you to withhold the appointment until the question +comes up in the Senate of sustaining or overriding of the veto +of the Civil Rights Bill. The votes of the two New York senators +will decide whether they are your friends or not.' The president +thought that was reasonable, and you know the result." + +There was at least one satisfaction in the professor's amazingly +frank revelation: it removed all doubt why I had lost a great +office and, for my age and circumstances, a large fortune. + +President Andrew Johnson differed radically from any President +of the United States whom it has been my good fortune to know. +This refers to all from and including Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Harding. +A great deal must be forgiven and a great deal taken by way of +explanation when we consider his early environment and opportunities. + +In the interviews I had with him he impressed me as a man of +vigorous mentality, of obstinate wilfulness, and overwhelming +confidence in his own judgment and the courage of his convictions. +His weakness was alcoholism. He made a fearful exhibition of +himself at the time of his inauguration and during the presidency, +and especially during his famous trip "around the circle" he +was in a bad way. + +He was of humble origin and, in fact, very poor. It is said of him +that he could neither read nor write until his wife taught him. +He made a great career both as a member of the House of Representatives +and a senator, and was of unquestionable influence in each branch. +With reckless disregard for his life, he kept east Tennessee +in the Union during the Civil War. + +General Grant told me a story of his own experience with him. +Johnson, he said, had always been treated with such contempt +and ignored socially by the members of the old families and slave +aristocracy of the South that his resentment against them was +vindictive, and so after the surrender at Appomattox he was +constantly proclaiming "Treason is odious and must be punished." +He also wanted and, in fact, insisted upon ignoring Grant's parole +to the Confederate officers, in order that they might be tried +for treason. On this question of maintaining his parole and +his military honor General Grant was inflexible, and said he would +appeal not only to Congress but to the country. + +One day a delegation, consisting of the most eminent, politically, +socially, and in family descent, of the Southern leaders, went to +the White House. They said: "Mr. President, we have never +recognized you, as you belong to an entirely different class +from ourselves, but it is the rule of all countries and in all ages +that supreme power vested in the individual raises him, no matter +what his origin, to supreme leadership. You are now President +of the United States, and by virtue of your office our leader, +and we recognize you as such." Then followed attention from +these people whom he admired and envied, as well as hated, +of hospitality and deference, of which they were past masters. +It captivated him and changed his whole attitude towards them. + +He sent for General Grant and said to him: "The war is over +and there should be forgiveness and reconciliation. I propose +to call upon all of the States recently in rebellion to send +to Washington their United States senators and members of the House, +the same as they did before the war. If the present Congress +will not admit them, a Congress can be formed of these Southern +senators and members of the House and of such Northern senators +and representatives as will believe that I am right and acting +under the Constitution. As President of the United States, I will +recognize that Congress and communicate with them as such. +As general of the army I want your support." General Grant replied: +"That will create civil war, because the North will undoubtedly +recognize the Congress as it now exists, and that Congress will +assert itself in every way possible." "In that case," said the +president, "I want the to support the constitutional Congress +which I am recognizing." General Grant said: "On the contrary, +so far as my authority goes, the army will support the Congress +as it is now and disperse the other." President Johnson then +ordered General Grant to Mexico on a mission, and as he had +no power to send a general of the army out of the United States, +Grant refused to go. + +Shortly afterwards Grant received a very confidential communication +from General Sherman, stating that he had been ordered to Washington +to take command of the army, and wanted to know what it meant. +General Grant explained the situation, whereupon General Sherman +announced to the president that he would take exactly the same +position as General Grant had. The president then dropped +the whole subject. + + + +III. ABRAHAM LINCOLN + +The secretaryship of the State of New York is a very delightful +office. Its varied duties are agreeable, and the incumbent is +brought in close contact with the State administration, +the legislature, and the people. + +We had in the secretary of state's office at the time I held +the office, about fifty-eight years ago, very interesting archives. +The office had been the repository of these documents since +the organization of the government. Many years afterwards they +were removed to the State Library. Among these documents were +ten volumes of autograph letters from General Washington to +Governor Clinton and others, covering the campaign on the Hudson +in the effort by the enemy to capture West Point, the treason of +Arnold and nearly the whole of the Revolutionary War. In the course +of years before these papers were removed to the State Library, +a large part of them disappeared. It was not the fault of the +administration succeeding me, but it was because the legislature, +in its effort to economize, refused to make appropriation for the +proper care of these invaluable historic papers. Most of +Washington's letters were written entirely in his own hand, and +one wonders at the phenomenal industry which enabled him to do +so much writing while continuously and laboriously engaged in +active campaigning. + +In view of the approaching presidential election, the legislature +passed a law, which was signed by the governor, providing machinery +for the soldiers' vote. New York had at that time between three +and four hundred thousand soldiers in the field, who were scattered +in companies, regiments, brigades, and divisions all over the South. +This law made it the duty of the secretary of state to provide +ballots, to see that they reached every unit of a company, to gather +the votes and transmit them to the home of each soldier. The State +government had no machinery by which this work could be done. +I applied to the express companies, but all refused on the ground +that they were not equipped. I then sent for old John Butterfield, +who was the founder of the express business but had retired and +was living on his farm near Utica. He was intensely patriotic and +ashamed of the lack of enterprise shown by the express companies. +He said to me: "If they cannot do this work they ought to retire." +He at once organized what was practically an express company, +taking in all those in existence and adding many new features +for the sole purpose of distributing the ballots and gathering +the soldiers' votes. It was a gigantic task and successfully +executed by this patriotic old gentleman. + +Of course, the first thing was to find out where the New York +troops were, and for that purpose I went to Washington, remaining +there for several months before the War Department would give +me the information. The secretary of war was Edwin M. Stanton. +It was perhaps fortunate that the secretary of war should not only +possess extraordinary executive ability, but be also practically +devoid of human weakness; that he should be a rigid disciplinarian +and administer justice without mercy. It was thought at the time +that these qualities were necessary to counteract, as far as +possible, the tender-heartedness of President Lincoln. If the boy +condemned to be shot, or his mother or father, could reach the +president in time, he was never executed. The military authorities +thought that this was a mistaken charity and weakened discipline. +I was at a dinner after the war with a number of generals who +had been in command of armies. The question was asked one of +the most famous of these generals: "How did you carry out the +sentences of your courts martial and escape Lincoln's pardons?" +The grim old warrior answered: "I shot them first." + +I took my weary way every day to the War Department, but could +get no results. The interviews were brief and disagreeable and +the secretary of war very brusque. The time was getting short. +I said to the secretary: "If the ballots are to be distributed +in time I must have information at once." He very angrily refused +and said: "New York troops are in every army, all over the enemy's +territory. To state their location would be to give invaluable +information to the enemy. How do I know if that information would +be so safeguarded as not to get out?" + +As I was walking down the long corridor, which was full of hurrying +officers and soldiers returning from the field or departing for it, +I met Elihu B. Washburne, who was a congressman from Illinois +and an intimate friend of the president. He stopped me and said: + +"Hello, Mr. Secretary, you seem very much troubled. Can I help you?" +I told him my story. + +"What are you going to do?" he asked. I answered: "To protect +myself I must report to the people of New York that the provision +for the soldiers' voting cannot be carried out because the +administration refuses to give information where the New York +soldiers are located." + +"Why," said Mr. Washburne, "that would beat Mr. Lincoln. You don't +know him. While he is a great statesman, he is also the keenest +of politicians alive. If it could be done in no other way, the +president would take a carpet-bag and go around and collect those +votes himself. You remain here until you hear from me. I will +go at once and see the president." + +In about an hour a staff officer stepped up to me and asked: "Are +you the secretary of state of New York?" I answered "Yes." +"The secretary of war wishes to see you at once," he said. I found +the secretary most cordial and charming. + +"Mr. Secretary, what do you desire?" he asked. I stated the case +as I had many times before, and he gave a peremptory order to one +of his staff that I should receive the documents in time for me +to leave Washington on the midnight train. + +The magical transformation was the result of a personal visit of +President Lincoln to the secretary of war. Mr. Lincoln carried +the State of New York by a majority of only 6,749, and it was +a soldiers' vote that gave him the Empire State. + +The compensations of my long delay in Washington trying to move +the War Department were the opportunity it gave me to see +Mr. Lincoln, to meet the members of the Cabinet, to become intimate +with the New York delegation in Congress, and to hear the wonderful +adventures and stories so numerous in Washington. + +The White House of that time had no executive offices as now, +and the machinery for executive business was very primitive. +The east half of the second story had one large reception-room, +in which the president could always be found, and a few rooms +adjoining for his secretaries and clerks. The president had very +little protection or seclusion. In the reception-room, which was +always crowded at certain hours, could be found members of Congress, +office-seekers, and an anxious company of fathers and mothers +seeking pardons for their sons condemned for military offenses, +or asking permission to go to the front, where a soldier boy was +wounded or sick. Every one wanted something and wanted it very +bad. The patient president, wearied as he was with cares of state, +with the situation on several hostile fronts, with the exigencies +in Congress and jealousies in his Cabinet, patiently and +sympathetically listened to these tales of want and woe. My position +was unique. I was the only one in Washington who personally did +not want anything, my mission being purely in the public interest. + +I was a devoted follower of Mr. Seward, the secretary of state, +and through the intimacies with officers in his department I learned +from day to day the troubles in the Cabinet, so graphically described +in the diary of the secretary of the navy Gideon Welles. + +The antagonism between Mr. Seward and Mr. Chase, the secretary +of the treasury, though rarely breaking out in the open, was +nevertheless acute. Mr. Seward was devoted to the president and +made every possible effort to secure his renomination and election. +Mr. Chase was doing his best to prevent Mr. Lincoln's renomination +and secure it for himself. + +No president ever had a Cabinet of which the members were so +independent, had so large individual followings, and were so +inharmonious. The president's sole ambition was to secure the +ablest men in the country for the departments which he assigned +to them without regard to their loyalty to himself. One of +Mr. Seward's secretaries would frequently report to me the acts +of disloyalty or personal hostility on the part of Mr. Chase with +the lament: "The old man--meaning Lincoln--knows all about it +and will not do a thing." + +I had a long and memorable interview with the president. As +I stepped from the crowd in his reception-room, he said to me: +"What do you want?" I answered: "Nothing, Mr. President, I only +came to pay my respects and bid you good-by, as I am leaving +Washington." "It is such a luxury," he then remarked, "to find +a man who does not want anything. I wish you would wait until +I get rid of this crowd." + +When we were alone he threw himself wearily on a lounge and was +evidently greatly exhausted. Then he indulged, rocking backward +and forward, in a reminiscent review of different crises in his +administration, and how he had met them. In nearly every instance +he had carried his point, and either captured or beaten his +adversaries by a story so apt, so on all fours, and such complete +answers that the controversy was over. I remember eleven of +these stories, each of which was a victory. + +In regard to this story-telling, he said: "I am accused of telling +a great many stories. They say that it lowers the dignity of the +presidential office, but I have found that plain people (repeating +with emphasis plain people), take them as you find them, are more +easily influenced by a broad and humorous illustration than in any +other way, and what the hypercritical few may think, I don't care." + +In speaking Mr. Lincoln had a peculiar cadence in his voice, caused +by laying emphasis upon the key-word of the sentence. In answer +to the question how he knew so many anecdotes, he answered: +"I never invented story, but I have a good memory and, I think, +tell one tolerably well. My early life was passed among pioneers +who had the courage and enterprise to break away from civilization +and settle in the wilderness. The things which happened to these +original people and among themselves in their primitive conditions +were far more dramatic than anything invented by the professional +story-tellers. For many years I travelled the circuit as a lawyer, +and usually there was only one hotel in the county towns where +court was held. The judge, the grand and petit juries, the lawyers, +the clients, and witnesses would pass the night telling exciting +or amusing occurrences, and these were of infinite variety and +interest." He was always eager for a new story to add to his +magazine of ammunition and weapons. + +One night when there was a reception at the executive mansion +Rufus F. Andrews, surveyor of the port of New York, and I went +there together. Andrews was a good lawyer and had been a +correspondent in New York of Mr. Lincoln, while he was active +at the bar in Illinois. He was a confidential adviser of the +president on New York matters and frequently at the executive +mansion. As the procession moved past the president he stopped +Andrews and, leaning over, spoke very confidentially to him. +The conversation delayed the procession for some time. When +Andrews and I returned to the hotel, our rooms were crowded with +newspaper men and politicians wanting to know what the confidential +conversation was about. Andrews made a great mystery of it and so +did the press. He explained to me when we were alone that during +his visit to the president the night before he told the president +a new story. The president delayed him at the reception, saying: +"Andrews, I forgot the point of that story you told me last night; +repeat it now." + +While Mr. Lincoln had the most logical of minds and his letters +and speeches on political controversies were the most convincing +of any statesman of his period, he rarely would enter into a long +discussion in conversation; he either would end the argument by +an apt story or illustration enforcing his ideas. + +John Ganson, of Buffalo, was the leader of the bar in western +New York. Though elected to the House of Representatives as +a Democrat, he supported the war measures of the administration. +He was a gentleman of the old school, of great dignity, and always +immaculately dressed. He was totally bald and his face also +devoid of hair. It was a gloomy period of the war and the reports +from the front very discouraging. Congressman Ganson felt it his +duty to see the president about the state of the country. He made +a formal call and said to Mr. Lincoln: "Though I am a Democrat, +I imperil my political future by supporting your war measures. +I can understand that secrecy may be necessary in military +operations, but I think I am entitled to know the exact conditions, +good or bad, at the front." + +Mr. Lincoln looked at him earnestly for a minute and then said: +"Ganson, how clean you shave!" That ended the interview. + +The first national convention I ever attended was held in Baltimore +in 1864, when Mr. Lincoln was renominated. I have since been four +times a delegate-at-large, representing the whole State, and many +times a delegate representing a congressional district. Judge +W. H. Robertson, of Westchester County, and I went to the convention +together. We thought we would go by sea, but our ship had a +collision, and we were rescued by a pilot boat. Returning to +New York, we decided to accept the security of the railroad. +Judge Robertson was one of the shrewdest and ablest of the Republican +politicians in the State of New York. He had been repeatedly +elected county judge, State senator, and member of Congress, and +always overcoming a hostile Democratic majority. + +We went to Washington to see Mr. Seward first, had an interview +with him at his office, and dined with him in the evening. To dine +with Secretary Seward was an event which no one, and especially +a young politician, ever forgot. He was the most charming of hosts +and his conversation a liberal education. + +There was no division as to the renomination of Mr. Lincoln, but +it was generally conceded that the vice-president should be a war +Democrat. The candidacy of Daniel S. Dickinson, of New York, +had been so ably managed that he was far and away the favorite. +He had been all his life, up to the breaking out of the Civil War, +one of the most pronounced extreme and radical Democrats in the +State of New York. Mr. Seward took Judge Robertson and me into +his confidence. He was hostile to the nomination of Mr. Dickinson, +and said that the situation demanded the nomination for vice-president +of a representative from the border States, whose loyalty had been +demonstrated during the war. He eulogized Andrew Johnson, of +Tennessee, and gave a glowing description of the courage and +patriotism with which Johnson, at the risk of his life, had advocated +the cause of the Union and kept his State partially loyal. + +He said to us: "You can quote me to the delegates, and they will +believe I express the opinion of the president. While the president +wishes to take no part in the nomination for vice-president, yet +he favors Mr. Johnson." + +When we arrived at the convention this interview with Mr. Seward +made us a centre of absorbing interest and at once changed the +current of opinion, which before that had been almost unanimously +for Mr. Dickinson. It was finally left to the New York delegation. + +The meeting of the delegates from New York was a stormy one and +lasted until nearly morning. Mr. Dickinson had many warm friends, +especially among those of previous democratic affiliation, and +the State pride to have a vice-president was in his favor. Upon +the final vote Andrew Johnson had one majority. The decision +of New York was accepted by the convention and he was nominated +for vice-president. + +This is an instance of which I have met many in my life, where +the course of history was changed on a very narrow margin. Political +histories and the newspapers' discussions of the time assigned +the success of Mr. Johnson to the efforts of several well-known +delegates, but really it was largely if not wholly due to the +message of Mr. Seward, which was carried by Judge Robertson and +myself to the delegates. + +The year of 1864 was full of changes of popular sentiment and +surprises. The North had become very tired of the war. The people +wanted peace, and peace at almost any price. Jacob Thompson +and Clement C. Clay, ex-United States senators from the South, +appeared at Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side, and either they +or their friends gave out that they were there to treat for peace. +In reference to them Mr. Lincoln said to me: "This effort was +to inflame the peace sentiment of the North, to embarrass the +administration, and to demoralize the army, and in a way it was +successful. Mr. Greeley was hammering at me to take action for +peace and said that unless I met these men every drop of blood +that was shed and every dollar that was spent I would be responsible +for, that it would be a blot upon my conscience and soul. I wrote +a letter to Mr. Greeley and said to him that those two ex-United +States senators were Whigs and old friends of his, personally and +politically, and that I desired him to go to Niagara Falls and find +out confidentially what their credentials were and let me know." + +The president stated that instead of Mr. Greeley doing it that +way, he went there as an ambassador, and with an array of reporters +established himself on the American side and opened negotiations +with these two alleged envoys across the bridge. Continuing, +Mr. Lincoln said: "I had reason to believe from confidential +information which I had received from a man I trusted and who had +interviewed Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, +that these envoys were without authority, because President Davis +had said to this friend of mine and of his that he would treat on +no terms whatever but on absolute recognition of the independence +of the Southern Confederacy. The attention of the whole country +and of the army centred on these negotiations at Niagara Falls, +and to stop the harm they were doing I recalled Mr. Greeley and +issued my proclamation 'To Whom It May Concern,' in which I stated +if there was anybody or any delegation at Niagara Falls, or anywhere +else, authorized to represent the Southern Confederacy and to treat +for peace, they had free conduct and safety to Washington and +return. Of course, they never came, because their mission was +a subterfuge. But they made Greeley believe in them, and the +result is that he is still attacking me for needlessly prolonging +the war for purposes of my own." + +At a Cabinet meeting one of the members said to Mr. Lincoln: +"Mr. President, why don't you write a letter to the public stating +these facts, and that will end Mr. Greeley's attacks?" The president +answered: "Mr. Greeley owns a daily newspaper, a very widely +circulated and influential one. I have no newspaper. The press +of the country would print my letter, and so would the New York +Tribune. In a little while the public would forget all about it, +and then Mr. Greeley would begin to prove from my own letter that +he was right, and I, of course, would be helpless to reply." He +brought the Cabinet around to unanimous agreement with him by +telling one of his characteristic stories. + +This affair and the delays in the prosecution of the war had +created a sentiment early in 1864 that the re-election of Mr. Lincoln +was impossible. The leaders of both the conservative and the +radical elements in the Republican party, Mr. Weed, on the one +hand, and Mr. Greeley, on the other, frankly told the president +that he could not be re-elected, and his intimate friend, +Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, after a canvass of the country, +gave him the same information. + +Then came the spectacular victory of Farragut at Mobile and the +triumphant march of Sherman through Georgia, and the sentiment +of the country entirely changed. There was an active movement +on foot in the interest of the secretary of the treasury, Chase, +and fostered by him, to hold an independent convention before +the regular Republican convention as a protest against the +renomination of Mr. Lincoln. It was supported by some of the most +eminent and powerful members of the party, who threw into the +effort their means and influence. After these victories the effort +was abandoned and Mr. Lincoln was nominated by acclamation. +I recall as one of the excitements and pleasures of a lifetime +the enthusiastic confidence of that convention when they acclaimed +Lincoln their nominee. + +Governor Seymour, who was the idol of his party, headed the +New York delegation to the national Democratic convention to +nominate the president, and his journey to that convention was +a triumphal march. There is no doubt that at the time he had +with him not only the enthusiastic support of his own party but +the confidence of the advocates of peace. His own nomination +and election seemed inevitable. However, in deference to the war +sentiment, General McClellan was nominated instead, and here +occurred one of those little things which so often in our country +have turned the tide. + +The platform committee, and the convention afterwards, permitted +to go into the platform a phrase proposed by Clement C. Vallandigham, +of Ohio, the phrase being, "The war is a failure." Soon after +the adjournment of the convention, to the victories of Farragut +and Sherman was added the spectacular campaign and victory of +Sheridan in the Valley of Shenandoah. The Campaign at once took +on a new phase. It was the opportunity for the orator. + +It is difficult now to recreate the scenes of that campaign. +The people had been greatly disheartened. Every family was +in bereavement, with a son lost and others still in the service. +Taxes were onerous and economic and business conditions very bad. +Then came this reaction, which seemed to promise an early victory +for the Union. The orator naturally picked up the phrase, "The war +is a failure"; then he pictured Farragut tied to the shrouds of his +flag-ship; then he portrayed Grant's victories in the Mississippi +campaign, Hooker's "battle above the clouds," the advance of the +Army of Cumberland; then he enthusiastically described Sheridan +leaving the War Department hearing of the battle in Shenandoah +Valley, speeding on and rallying his defeated troops, reforming +and leading them to victory, and finished with reciting some of +the stirring war poems. + +Mr. Lincoln's election under the conditions and circumstances +was probably more due to that unfortunate phrase in the Democratic +platform than to any other cause. + +The tragedy of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln was followed by +the most pathetic incident of American life--his funeral. After +the ceremony at Washington the funeral train stopped at Philadelphia, +New York, and Albany. In each of these cities was an opportunity +for the people to view the remains. + +I had charge in my official capacity as secretary of state of +the train after it left Albany. It was late in the evening when +we started, and the train was running all night through central +and western New York. Its schedule was well known along the route. +Wherever the highway crossed the railway track the whole population +of the neighborhood was assembled on the highway and in the fields. +Huge bonfires lighted up the scene. Pastors of the local churches +of all denominations had united in leading their congregations +for greeting and farewell for their beloved president. As we +would reach a crossing there sometimes would be hundreds and +at others thousands of men, women, and children on their knees, +praying and singing hymns. + +This continuous service of prayer and song and supplication lasted +over the three hundred miles between Albany and Buffalo, from +midnight until dawn. + + + +IV. GENERAL GRANT + +The fairies who distribute the prizes are practical jokers. +I have known thousands who sought office, some for its distinction, +some for its emoluments, and some for both; thousands who wanted +promotion from places they held, and other thousands who wanted to +regain positions they had lost, all of whom failed in their search. + +I probably would have been in one of those classes if I had been +seeking an office. I was determined, however, upon a career in +railroad work until, if possible, I had reached its highest rewards. +During that period I was offered about a dozen political +appointments, most of them of great moment and very tempting, +all of which I declined. + +Near the close of President Grant's administration George Jones, +at that time the proprietor and publisher of the New York Times, +asked me to come and see him. Mr. Jones, in his association with +the brilliant editor, Henry J. Raymond, had been a progressive and +staying power of the financial side of this great journal. He was +of Welsh descent, a very hardheaded, practical, and wise business +man. He also had very definite views on politics and parties, and +several times nearly wrecked his paper by obstinately pursuing +a course which was temporarily unpopular with its readers and +subscribers. I was on excellent terms with Mr. Jones and admired +him. The New York Times became under his management one of +the severest critics of General Grant's administration and of +the president himself. + +I went to his house and during the conversation Jones said to me: +"I was very much surprised to receive a letter from the president +asking me to come and see him at the White House. Of course I +went, anticipating a disagreeable interview, but it turned out +absolutely the reverse. The president was most cordial, and his +frankness most attractive. After a long and full discussion, +the president said the Times had been his most unsparing critic, +but he was forced to agree with much the Times said; that he had +sent for me to make a request; that he had come to the presidency +without any preparation whatever for its duties or for civic +responsibilities; that he was compelled to take the best advice he +could find and surround himself with men, many of whom he had +never met before, and they were his guides and teachers; that he, +however, assumed the entire responsibility for everything he had +done. He knew perfectly well, in the retrospect and with the +larger experience he had gained, that he had made many mistakes. +'And now, Mr. Jones,' he continued, 'I have sent for you as +the most powerful as well as, I think, the fairest of my critics, +to ask that you will say in your final summing up of my eight years +that, however many my errors or mistakes, they were faults of +judgment, and that I acted conscientiously and in any way I thought +was right and best.' + +"I told the president I would be delighted to take that view in +the Times. Then the president said that he would like to show +his appreciation in some way which would be gratifying to me. +I told him that I wanted nothing for myself, nor did any of my +friends, in the line of patronage. Then he said he wanted my +assistance because he was looking for the best man for United States +district attorney for the district of New York. With my large +acquaintance he thought that I should be able to tell him whom +among the lawyers would be best to appoint. After a little +consideration I recommended you. + +"The president then said: 'Mr. Depew supported Greeley, and +though he is back in the party and doing good service in the +campaigns, I do not like those men. Nevertheless, you can tender +him the office and ask for his immediate acceptance.'" + +I told Mr. Jones what my determination was in regard to a career, +and while appreciating most highly both his own friendship and +the compliment from the president, I must decline. + +General Grant's mistakes in his presidency arose from his possession +of one of the greatest of virtues, and that is loyalty to one's +friends. He had unlimited confidence in them and could not see, +or be made to see, nor listen to any of their defects. He was +himself of such transparent honesty and truthfulness that he +gauged and judged others by his own standard. Scandals among +a few of the officials of his administration were entirely due +to this great quality. + +His intimacy among his party advisers fell among the most extreme +of organization men and political machinists. When, under the +advice of Senator Conkling, he appointed Thomas Murphy collector +of the port of New York, it was charged in the press that the +collector removed employees at the rate of several hundred per +day and filled their places with loyal supporters of the organization. +This policy, which was a direct reversal of the ideas of +civil-service reform which were then rapidly gaining strength, +incurred the active hostility of civil-service reformers, of whom +George William Curtis was the most conspicuous. + +When General Grant came to reside in New York, after his tour +around the world, he was overwhelmed with social attentions. +I met him at dinners several times a week and was the victim +of a characteristic coldness of manner which he had towards +many people. + +One St. Patrick's Day, while in Washington, I received an earnest +telegraphic request from Judge John T. Brady and his brother-in-law, +Judge Charles P. Daly, president of the Society of the Friendly +Sons of St. Patrick, saying: "The Sons are to have their greatest +celebration because they are to be honored by the presence of +General Grant, who will also speak, and it is imperative that you +come and help us welcome him." + +I arrived at the dinner late and passed in front of the dais to my +seat at the other end, while General Grant was speaking. He +was not easy on his feet at that time, though afterwards he became +very felicitous in public speaking. He paused a moment until +I was seated and then said: "If Chauncey Depew stood in my shoes, +and I in his, I would be a much happier man." + +I immediately threw away the speech I had prepared during the six +hours' trip from Washington, and proceeded to make a speech on +"Who can stand now or in the future in the shoes of General Grant?" +I had plenty of time before my turn came to elaborate this idea, +gradually eliminating contemporary celebrities until in the future +the outstanding figure representing the period would be the hero +of our Civil War and the restoration of the Union. + +The enthusiasm of the audience, as the speech went on, surpassed +anything I ever saw. They rushed over tables and tried to carry +the general around the room. When the enthusiasm had subsided +he came to me and with much feeling said: "Thank you for that +speech; it is the greatest and most eloquent that I ever heard." +He insisted upon my standing beside him when he received the +families of the members, and took me home in his carriage. + +From that time until his death he was most cordial, and at many +dinners would insist upon my being assigned to a chair next to him. + +Among strangers and in general conversation General Grant was +the most reticent of men, but among those whom he knew a most +entertaining conversationalist. He went over a wide field on such +occasions and was interesting on all subjects, and especially +instructive on military campaigns and commanders. He gave me as +his judgment that among all the military geniuses of the world +the greatest was General Philip Sheridan, and that Sheridan's +grasp of a situation had no parallel in any great general of whom +he knew. + +I was with General Grant at his home the day before he went from +New York to Mount McGregor, near Saratoga, where he died. +I learned of the trip and went immediately to see him, and was +met by his son, General Frederick D. Grant. I said to him: +"I learn that your father is going to Mount McGregor to-morrow, +and I have come to tender him a special train." + +After all the necessary arrangements had been made he asked me +to go in and see the general. Before doing this I asked: "How +is he?" "Well," he answered, "he is dying, but it is of infinite +relief to him to see people whom he knows and likes, and I know +he wants to see you. Our effort is to keep his mind off from +himself and interest him with anything which we think will be +of relief to him, and if you have any new incidents do not fail +to tell him." + +When I entered the room the general was busy writing his "Memoirs." +He greeted me very cordially, said he was glad to see me, and +then remarked: "I see by the papers that you have been recently +up at Hartford delivering a lecture. Tell me about it." + +In reply I told him about a very interesting journey there; +the lecture and supper afterwards, with Mark Twain as the presiding +genius, concerning all of which he asked questions, wanting more +particulars, and the whole story seemed to interest him. What +seemed to specially please him was the incident when I arrived +at the hotel, after the supper given me at the close of my lecture. +It was about three o'clock in the morning, and I went immediately +to bed, leaving a call for the early train to New York. At five +o'clock there was violent rapping on the door and, upon opening +it, an Irish waiter stood there with a tray on which were a bottle +of champagne and a goblet of ice. + +"You have made a mistake," I said to the waiter. + +"No, sir," he answered, "I could not make a mistake about you." + +"Who sent this?" I asked. + +"The committee, sir, with positive instructions that you should +have it at five o'clock in the morning," he answered. + +"Well, my friend, I said, is it the habit of the good people of +Hartford, when they have decided to go to New York on an early +train to drink a bottle of champagne at five o'clock in the morning?" + +He answered: "Most of them do, sir." + +(Nobody at that time had dreamed of the Eighteenth Amendment +and the Volstead law.) + +With a smile General Grant then said: "Well, there are some +places in Connecticut where that could not be done, as local +option prevails and the towns have gone dry. For instance, my +friend, Senator Nye, of Nevada, spoke through Connecticut in +my interest in the last campaign. Nye was a free liver, though +not a dissipated man, and, as you know, a very excellent speaker. +He told me that when he arrived at one of the principal manufacturing +towns he was entertained by the leading manufacturer at his big +house and in magnificent style. The dinner was everything that +could be desired, except that the only fluid was ice-water. After +a long speech Nye, on returning to the house, had a reception, +and the supper was still dry, except plenty of ice-water. + +"Nye, completely exhausted, went to bed but could not sleep, +nor could he find any stimulants. So, about six o'clock in the +morning he dressed and wandered down to the dining-room. The head +of the house came in and, seeing him, exclaimed: 'Why, senator, +you are up early.' Nye replied: 'Yes, you know, out in Nevada we +have a great deal of malaria, and I could not sleep.' 'Well,' +said the host, 'this is a temperance town. We find it an excellent +thing for the working people, and especially for the young men, +but we have some malaria here, also, and for that I have a private +remedy.' Whereupon he went to a closet and pulled out a bottle +of brandy. + +"After his host had left, Nye continued there in a refreshed and +more enjoyable spirit. Soon his hostess came in and, much +surprised, said: 'Why, senator, you are up early!' 'Yes,' he +said, 'out in Nevada we have a great deal of malaria, and while +I am on these speaking tours I have sharp attacks and cannot +sleep. I had one last night.' + +"'Well,' she remarked, 'this is a temperance town, and it is +a good thing for the working people and the young men, but I have +a touch of malaria now and then myself.' Then she went to the +tea-caddy and pulled out a bottle of brandy. The senator by this +time was in perfect harmony with himself and the whole world. + +"When the boys came in (sons of the entertainer) they said: +'Senator, we hear that you are an expert on livestock, horses, +cattle, etc. Won't you come out in the barn so we can show you +some we regard as very fine specimens?' The boys took him out +to the barn, shut the door, locked it, and whispered: 'Senator, +we have no live stock, but we have a bottle here in the hay mow +which we think will do you good.' And the senator wound up his +narrative by saying: 'The wettest place that I know of is a dry +town in Connecticut.'" + +The next day General Grant went to Mount McGregor and, as we +all know, a few days afterwards he lost his voice completely. + + + +V. ROSCOE CONKLING + +For a number of years, instead of taking my usual vacation in +travel or at some resort, I spent a few weeks in the fall in the +political canvass as a speaker. In the canvass of 1868 I was +associated with Senator Roscoe Conkling, who desired an assistant, +as the mass meetings usually wanted at least two and probably +three hours of speaking, and he limited himself to an hour. +General Grant was at the height of his popularity and the audiences +were enormous. As we had to speak every day and sometimes several +times a day, Mr. Conkling notified the committees that he would not +speak out of doors, and that they must in all cases provide a hall. + +When we arrived at Lockport, N. Y., the chairman of the committee, +Burt Van Horn, who was the congressman from the district, told +the senator that at least twenty thousand people from the town, +and others coming from the country on excursion trains, had filled +the Fair Grounds. Conkling became very angry and told the +congressman that he knew perfectly well the conditions under which +he came to Lockport, and that he would not speak at the +Fair Grounds. A compromise was finally effected by which the +senator was to appear upon the platform, the audience be informed +that he would speak in the Opera House, and I was to be left to +take care of the crowd. The departure of the senator from the +grounds was very dramatic. He was enthusiastically applauded +and a band preceded his carriage. + +For some reason I never had such a success as in addressing that +audience. Commencing with a story, which was new and effective, +I continued for two hours without apparently losing an auditor. + +Upon my return to the hotel I found the senator very indignant. +He said that he had gone to the Opera House with the committee; +that, of course, no meeting had been advertised there, but a band +had been placed on the balcony to play, as if it were a dime +museum attraction inside; that a few farmers' wives had straggled +in to have an opportunity to partake from their baskets their +luncheons, and that he had left the Opera House and returned +to the hotel. The committee coming in and narrating what had +occurred at the Fair Grounds, did not help his imperious temper. +The committee begged for a large meeting, which was to be held in +the evening, but Conkling refused and ordered me to do the same, +and we left on the first train. The cordial relations which had +existed up to that time were somehow severed and he became +very hostile. + +General Grant, as president, of course, never had had experience +or opportunity to know anything of practical politics. It was +said that prior to his election he had never voted but once, and +that was before the war, when he voted the Democratic ticket +for James Buchanan. + +All the senators, representatives, and public men who began to +press around him, seeking the appointment to office of their +friends, were unknown to him personally. He decided rapidly +whom among them he could trust, and once having arrived at that +conclusion, his decision was irrevocable. He would stand by a +friend, without regard to its effect upon himself, to the last ditch. + +Of course, each of the two United States senators, Conkling and +Fenton, wanted his exclusive favor. It is impossible to conceive of +two men so totally different in every characteristic. Grant liked +Conkling as much as he disliked Fenton. The result was that he +transferred the federal patronage of the State to Senator Conkling. + +Conkling was a born leader, very autocratic and dictatorial. He +immediately began to remove Fenton officials and to replace them +with members of his own organization. As there was no civil +service at that time and public officers were necessarily active +politicians, Senator Conkling in a few years destroyed the +organization which Fenton had built up as governor, and became +master of the Republican party in the State. + +The test came at the State convention at Saratoga. Senator Conkling +at that time had become hostile to me, why I do not know, nor +could his friends, who were most of them mine also, find out. +He directed that I must not be elected a delegate to the convention. +The collector of the port of New York, in order to make that +decree effective, filled my district in Westchester County with +appointees from the Custom House. + +Patronage, when its control is subject to a popular vote, is +a boomerang. The appointment of a citizen in a town arouses +the anger of many others who think they are more deserving. +I appealed to the farmers with the simple question whether old +Westchester should be controlled by federal authority in a purely +State matter of their own. The result of the appeal was +overwhelming, and when the district convention met, the Custom +House did not have a single delegate. + +The leader of the Custom House crowd came to me and said: "This +is a matter of bread-and-butter and living with us. It is nothing +to you. These delegates are against us and for you at the +convention. Now, we have devised a plan to save our lives. It is +that the three delegates elected shall all be friends of yours. +You shall apparently be defeated. A resolution will be passed +that if either delegate fails to attend or resigns, the other two +may fill the vacancy. One of these will resign when the convention +meets and you will be substituted in his place. In the meantime +we will send out through the Associated Press that you have been +defeated." I did not have the heart to see these poor fellows +dismissed from their employment, and I assented to the proposition. + +When we arrived at the convention Governor Cornell, then State +chairman, called to order. I arose to make a motion, when he +announced: "You, sir, are not a member of this convention." My +credentials, however, under the arrangement made in Westchester, +convinced him that he was misinformed. The Conkling side selected +for their chairman Andrew D. White, and the other side selected +me. Upon careful canvass of the votes we had a clear majority. + +There were several delegations which were controlled by federal +office-holders. It is at this point that patronage becomes +overwhelmingly effective. Several of those office-holders were +shown telegrams from Washington, which meant their removal unless +they did as directed by Senator Conkling. When the convention +met the next day, the office-holders kept their heads on their +shoulders, and my dear and valued old friend, Andrew D. White, +was elected chairman of the convention. + +I asked the leader of the federal crowd from Westchester how he +explained my getting into the convention. "Oh," he said, "that +was easy. Our people gained so many delegates by offers of +patronage and threats of removal that when I told them you had +bought my delegates away from me, they believed it without +question, and we are all safe in our places in the Custom House." +My success was entirely due to the farmers' indignation at federal +dictation, and the campaign did not cost me a dollar. + +Roscoe Conkling was created by nature for a great career. That +he missed it was entirely his own fault. Physically he was the +handsomest man of his time. His mental equipment nearly approached +genius. He was industrious to a degree. His oratorical gifts +were of the highest order, and he was a debater of rare power and +resources. But his intolerable egotism deprived him of vision +necessary for supreme leadership. With all his oratorical power +and his talent in debate, he made little impression upon the country +and none upon posterity. His position in the Senate was a masterful +one, and on the platform most attractive, but none of his speeches +appear in the schoolbooks or in the collections of great orations. +The reason was that his wonderful gifts were wholly devoted to +partisan discussions and local issues. + +His friends regarded his philippic against George W. Curtis at +the Republican State convention at Rochester as the high-water +mark of his oratory. I sat in the seat next to Mr. Curtis when +Conkling delivered his famous attack. His admirers thought this +the best speech he ever made, and it certainly was a fine effort, +emphasized by oratory of a high order, and it was received by them +with the wildest enthusiasm and applause. + +The assault upon Mr. Curtis was exceedingly bitter, the denunciation +very severe, and every resource of sarcasm, of which Mr. Conkling +was past master, was poured upon the victim. His bitterness was +caused by Mr. Curtis's free criticism of him on various occasions. +The speech lasted two hours, and it was curious to note its effect +upon Mr. Curtis. Under the rules which the convention had adopted, +he could not reply, so he had to sit and take it. The only feeling +or evidence of being hurt by his punishment was in exclamations +at different points made by his assailant. They were: "Remarkable!" +"Extraordinary!" "What an exhibition!" "Bad temper!" "Very +bad temper!" + +In the long controversy between them Mr. Curtis had the advantages +which the journalist always possesses. The orator has one +opportunity on the platform and the publication the next day in +the press. The editor--and Mr. Curtis was at that time editor +of Harper's Weekly--can return every Saturday and have an exclusive +hearing by an audience limited only by the circulation of his +newspaper and the quotations from it by journalistic friends. + +The speech illustrated Conkling's methods of preparation. I used +to hear from the senator's friends very frequently that he had +added another phrase to his characterization of Curtis. While +he was a ready debater, yet for an effort of this kind he would +sometimes devote a year to going frequently over the ground, and +in each repetition produce new epigrams, quotable phrases, and +characterizations. + +There used to be an employee of the State committee named Lawrence. +He was a man of a good deal of receptive intelligence and worshipped +the senator. Mr. Conkling discovered this quality and used +Lawrence as a target or listening-post. I have often had Lawrence +come to my office and say: "I had a great night. The senator +talked to me or made speeches to me until nearly morning." He told +me that he had heard every word of the Curtis philippic many times. + +Lawrence told me of another instance of Conkling's preparation for +a great effort. When he was preparing the speech, which was to +bring his friends who had been disappointed at the convention +to the support of General Garfield, he summoned Lawrence for +clerical work at his home. Lawrence said that the senator would +write or dictate, and then correct until he was satisfied with the +effort, and that this took considerable time. When it was completed +he would take long walks into the country, and in these walks +recite the whole or part of his speech until he was perfect +master of it. + +This speech took four hours in delivery in New York, and he held +the audience throughout this long period. John Reed, one of +the editors of the New York Times, told me that he sat on the +stage near Conkling and had in his hands the proofs which had +been set up in advance and which filled ten columns of his paper. +He said that the senator neither omitted nor interpolated a word +from the beginning to the end. He would frequently refer apparently +to notes on his cuffs, or little memoranda, not that he needed +them, but it was the orator's always successful effort to create +impression that his speech is extemporaneous, and the audience +much prefer a speech which they think is such. + +Senator Conkling held an important position in a critical period +of our country's history. If his great powers had been devoted +in the largest way to the national constructive problems of the +time, he would have been the leader of the dominant party and +president of the United States. Instead, he became the leader +of a faction in his own State only, and by the merciless use +of federal patronage absolutely controlled for twelve years the +action of the State organization. + +All the young men who appeared in the legislature or in county +offices who displayed talent for leadership, independence, and +ambition were set aside. The result was remarkable. While prior +to his time there were many men in public life in the State with +national reputation and influence, this process of elimination +drove young men from politics into the professions or business, +and at the close of Senator Conkling's career there was hardly +an active member of the Republican party in New York of national +reputation, unless he had secured it before Mr. Conkling became +the autocrat of New York politics. The political machine in the +Republican party in his Congressional district early in his career +became jealous of his growing popularity and influence, both at +home and in Congress. By machine methods they defeated him and +thought they had retired him permanently from public life. + +When I was elected secretary of state I received a note from +Mr. Conkling, asking if I would meet him. I answered: "Yes, +immediately, and at Albany." He came there with Ward Hunt, +afterwards one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court +of the United States. He delivered an intense attack upon machine +methods and machine politics, and said they would end in the +elimination of all independent thought, in the crushing of all +ambition in promising young men, and ultimate infinite damage +to the State and nation. "You," he said, "are a very young man for +your present position, but you will soon be marked for destruction." + +Then he stated what he wanted, saying: "I was defeated by the +machine in the last election. They can defeat me now only by +using one man of great talent and popularity in my district. I want +you to make that man your deputy secretary of state. It is the +best office in your gift, and he will be entirely satisfied." + +I answered him: "I have already received from the chiefs of the +State organization designations for every place in my office, +and especially for that one, but the appointment is yours and +you may announce it at once." + +Mr. Conkling arose as if addressing an audience, and as he stood +there in the little parlor of Congress Hall in Albany he was +certainly a majestic figure. He said: "Sir, a thing that is +quickly done is doubly done. Hereafter, as long as you and I +both live, there never will be a deposit in any bank, personally, +politically, or financially to my credit which will not be subject +to your draft." + +The gentleman whom he named became my deputy. His name was +Erastus Clark. He was a man of ability and very broad culture, +and was not only efficient in the performance of his duties, but +one of the most delightful of companions. His health was bad, +and his friends were always alarmed, and justifiably so, about him. +Nevertheless, I met him years afterwards in Washington, when +he was past eighty-four. + +At Mr. Conkling's request Mr. Clark made an appointment for a +mutual visit to Trenton Falls, a charming resort near Utica. We +spent the week-end there, and I saw Mr. Conkling at his best. +He was charming in reminiscence, in discussion, in his +characterization of the leading actors upon the public stage, +and in varying views of ambitions and careers. + +When the patronage all fell into his hands after the election of +General Grant, he pressed upon me the appointment of postmaster +of the city of New York. It was difficult for him to understand +that, while I enjoyed politics and took an active part in +campaigns, I would not accept any office whatever. He then +appointed one of the best of postmasters, who afterwards became +postmaster-general, but who was also one of the most efficient +of his lieutenants, General Thomas L. James. + +When Mr. Conkling was a candidate for United States senator I was +regarded as a confidential friend of Governor Fenton. The governor +was one of the most secretive of men, and, therefore, I did not +know his views to the candidate, or whether he had preferences. +I think he had no preferences but wished Conkling defeated, and +at the same time did not want to take a position which would incur +the enmity of him or his friends. + +One night there was a great public demonstration, and, being +called upon, I made a speech to the crowd, which included the +legislature, to the effect that we had been voiceless in the +United States Senate too long; that the greatest State in the +Union should be represented by a man who had demonstrated his +ability to all, and that man was Mr. Conkling. This created an +impression that I was speaking for the governor as well as myself, +and the effect upon the election was great. Mr. Conkling thought +so, and that led to his pressing upon me official recognition. + +How the breach came between us, why he became persistently hostile +during the rest of his life, I never knew. President Arthur, +Governor Cornell, and other of his intimate friends told me that +they tried often to find out, but their efforts only irritated him +and never received any response. + +Senator Conkling's peculiar temperament was a source of great +trouble to his lieutenants. They were all able and loyal, but +he was intolerant of any exercise on their part of independent +judgment. This led to the breaking off of all relations with the two +most distinguished of them--President Arthur and Governor Cornell. + +A breach once made could not be healed. A bitter controversy +in debate with Mr. Blaine assumed a personal character. In the +exchanges common in the heat of such debates Blaine ridiculed +Conkling's manner and called him a turkey-cock. Mutual friends +tried many times to bring them together. Blaine was always +willing, but Conkling never. + +Conkling had a controversy which was never healed with Senator Platt, +who had served him long and faithfully and with great efficiency. +During the twenty years in which Platt was leader, following +Senator Conkling, he displayed the reverse qualities. He was +always ready for consultation, he sought advice, and was tolerant +of large liberty of individual judgment among his associates. He +was always forgiving, and taking back into confidence those with +whom he had quarrelled. + +One summer I was taking for a vacation a trip to Europe and had +to go aboard the steamer the night before, as she sailed very +early in the morning. One of my staff appeared and informed me +that a very serious attack upon the New York Central had been +started in the courts and that the law department needed outside +counsel and asked whom he should employ. I said: "Senator +Conkling." With amazement he replied: "Why, he has been bitterly +denouncing you for months." "Yes, but that was politics," I said. +"You know the most brilliant lawyer in the United States might come +to New York, and unless he formed advantageous associations with +some of the older firms he could get no practice. Now, this suit +will be very conspicuous, and the fact that Senator Conkling is +chief counsel for the Central will give him at once a standing +and draw to him clients." His appearance in the case gave him +immediate prominence and a large fee. + +Senator Conkling's career at the bar was most successful, and +there was universal sorrow when his life ended in the tragedy +of the great blizzard. + + + +VI. HORACE GREELEY + +While secretary of state of New York, the decennial State census +was taken, and the appointment of three thousand census takers +involved as much pressure from congressmen, State senators, +assemblymen, and local leaders as if the places had been very +remunerative and permanent. I discovered what a power political +patronage is in party organization, because it developed that +the appointment of this large number of men, located in every town +in the State, could easily have been utilized for the formation +of a personal organization within the party. + +I was exceedingly fond, as I am still and always have been, +of political questions, issues affecting the general government, +the State, or localities, party organizations, and political +leaders. So, while devoted to my profession and its work and +increasingly enjoying its labor and activities, politics became +an interesting recreation. With no desire for and with a +determination not to take any public office, to be called into +party councils, to be at an occasional meeting of the State +committee and a delegate to conventions were happy relief and +excursions from the routine of professional work, as golf is to +a tired business man or lawyer. + +The nomination of General Grant for president by the Republicans +and of Horatio Seymour by the Democrats had made New York the +pivotal State in the national election. John T. Hoffman, the most +popular among the younger Democrats, was their nominee for governor. +The Republicans, with great unanimity, agreed upon John A. Griswold, +a congressman from the Troy district. Griswold was the idol +of his colleagues in the New York delegation in Congress, and +his attractive personality and demonstrated business ability had +made him a great favorite with politicians, business men, and +labor. The canvass for his nomination had been conducted with +great ardor by enthusiastic friends in all parts of the State, and +the delegations were nearly all practically pledged to his +nomination. No one dreamed that there would be an opposition +candidate. + +On the train to the convention John Russell Young, then managing +editor of the New York Tribune under Mr. Greeley, came to me and +said: "Mr. Greeley has decided to be a candidate at the convention +for the nomination for governor. You are his friend, he lives in +your assembly district in Westchester County, and wishes you +to make the nomination speech." + +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 possibility 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 unanimously Republican, +that it may influence the whole State, and," continued Mr. Greeley, +"he suggests you as the speaker, and I earnestly ask you to go." + +When I arrived at the place I was entertained by the manufacturer. +The audience crowded the largest hall in the town. The principal +of the academy presided, the Congregational minister opened +the exercises with a prayer, and I was introduced and received +with great cordiality. + +For such an audience my line of talk was praising General Grant +as the greatest general of modern times, and how largely the +preservation of the Union depended upon his military genius. +Then to picture the tremendous responsibilities of the presidency +and the impossibility of a man, however great as a soldier, with +a lifetime of military education, environment, and experiences, +succeeding in civil office, especially as great a one as the +presidency of the United States. Then came, naturally, a eulogium +of Horace Greeley, the maker of public opinion, the moulder of +national policies, the most eloquent and resourceful leader of +the Republican party since its formation. The audience cheered +with great enthusiasm all these allusions to General Grant, +and responded with equal fervor to my praise of Horace Greeley. + +When I concluded they stood up and gave me cordial cheers, and +the presiding officer came forward and said: "I now suggest that +we close this meeting with three rousing cheers for Horace Greeley." +The principal of the academy, the manufacturer, the minister, +the lawyer, a very few of the audience, and several women responded. +After this frost a farmer rose gradually, and as he began to let +out link after link of his body, which seemed about seven feet +tall, he reached his full height, and then in a voice which could +be heard a mile shouted: "Three cheers for General Grant!" The +response nearly took the roof off the house. I left the State +the next morning and told Mr. Greeley that he could not carry Maine. + +Among the amusing episodes of the campaign was one which occurred +at an open-door mass meeting at Watertown, N. Y. John A. Dix had +been nominated for governor on the Republican ticket, and I was +speaking of him and his career. He had changed from one party to +the other five or six times in the course of his long career, and +each time received an office. There was great doubt as to his +age, because in the American Encyclopaedia the date of his birth +was given as of a certain year, and in the French Encyclopaedia, +which published his biography when he was minister to France, +a widely different date was given. In the full tide of partisan +oratory I went over these changes of political activity, and how +each one had been rewarded, also the doubt as to his age, and +then I shouted: "I have discovered among the records of the +Pilgrim Fathers that when they landed on Plymouth Rock they found +John A. Dix standing on the rock and announcing that unless they +made him justice of the peace he would join the Indians." An +indignant farmer, who could not hold his wrath any longer, shouted: +"That's a lie! The Pilgrims landed more than two hundred and +fifty years ago." I saw that my interrupter had swallowed my +bait, hook, and line, bob and sinker, pole and all, and shouted +with great indignation: "Sir, I have narrated that historical +incident throughout the State, from Montauk Point to Niagara Falls, +and you are the first man who has had the audacity to question it." + +Another farmer stepped up to the heckler and said: "Here is my +hat, neighbor. You can keep it. I am going bareheaded for the +rest of my life." In his uproarious laughter the crowd all joined. +It was years before the questioning farmer could visit Watertown +without encountering innumerable questions as to when the Pilgrims +landed on Plymouth Rock. + +The last meeting of the campaign was held at Mr. Greeley's home +at Chappaqua in Westchester County. We all knew that the contest +was hopeless and defeat sure. I was one of the speakers, both +as his neighbor and friend, and accompanied him to New York. +A rough crowd on the train jeered him as we rode along. We went +to his office, and there he spoke of the lies that had been told +about him, and which had been believed by the public; of the +cartoons which had misrepresented him, especially those of Tom Nast, +and of which there were many lying about. Leaning upon his desk, +a discouraged and hopeless man, he said: "I have given my life +to the freeing of the slaves, and yet they have been made to +believe that I was a slave driver. It has been made to appear, +and people have been made to believe, that I was wrong or faithless, +or on the other side of the reforms which I have advocated all my +life. I will be beaten in the campaign and I am ruined for life." +He was overcome with emotion, and it was the saddest interview +I ever had with any one. It was really the breaking of a great +heart. He died before the votes were counted. + +There was instantly a tremendous revulsion of popular feeling +in the country. He had lost his wife during the campaign, and +the people woke up suddenly to the sorrows under which he had +labored, to his genius as a journalist, to his activity as a +reformer, and to a usefulness that had no parallel among his +contemporaries. The president-elect, General Grant, and the +vice-president-elect, Schuyler Colfax, attended the funeral, and +without distinction of party his death was universally mourned. + +After the election, in consultation on railroad affairs, +Commodore Vanderbilt said to me, "I was very glad you were +defeated," which was his way of saying that he did not want me +either to leave the railroad or to have other duties which would +impair my efficiency. + +With the tragic death of Mr. Greeley the Liberal Republican +movement ended. Most of us who had followed him resumed at once +our Republican party relations and entered actively into its work +in the next campaign. The revolt was forgiven, except in very few +instances, and the Greeley men went back to their old positions +in their various localities and became prominent in the official +life of the State. I, as usual, in the fall took my vacation on +the platform for the party. + + + +VII. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES AND WILLIAM M. EVARTS + +It is one of the tragedies of history that in the procession of +events, the accumulation of incidents, year by year and generation +by generation, famous men of any period so rapidly disappear. + +At the close of the Civil War there were at least a score of +generals in the North, and as many in the South, whose names +were household words. About fifty-five years have passed since +the war closed, and the average citizen knows only two of +them--Grant and Lee. + +One of the last acts of General Grant was to tender to +Senator Conkling the position of chief justice of the Supreme Court +of the United States. Conkling had gained from the senatorship +and the leadership of his party a great reputation, to which +subsequent service in the Senate could add little or nothing. +He was in his early forties, in the prime of his powers, and he +would have had before him, as chief justice of this great court, +a long life of usefulness and distinction. + +Conkling was essentially an advocate, and as an advocate not +possessing the judicial temperament. While there was a great +surprise that he declined this wonderful opportunity, we can see +now that the environment and restrictions of the position would +have made it impossible for this fiery and ambitious spirit. It +was well known that General Grant, so far as he could influence +the actions of the national Republican convention, was in favor +of Senator Conkling as his successor. The senator's friends +believed, and they made him believe, that the presidency was +within his grasp. + +When the national convention met it was discovered that the +bitterness between the two leaders, Blaine and Conkling, made +harmony impossible. The bitterness by that time was on Conkling's +side against Blaine. With the latter's make-up, resentment could +not last very long. It is an interesting speculation what might +have happened if these two leaders had become friends. It is +among the possibilities that both might have achieved the great +object of their ambitions and been presidents of the United States. + +The outstanding feature of that convention in the history of those +interesting gatherings was the speech of Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, +nominating Mr. Blaine. In its effect upon the audience, in its +reception by the country, and by itself as an effort of that kind, +it stands unprecedented and unequalled. + +As usual in popular conventions, where the antagonism of the +leaders and the bitterness of their partisanship threatens the +unity of the party, the result was the nomination of a "dark horse," +and the convention closed its labors by presenting to the country +General Rutherford B. Hayes. + +President Hayes, although one of the most amiable, genial, and +companionable of our presidents, with every quality to attach men +to him and make warm friendships, was, nevertheless, one of the +most isolated. He inherited all the business troubles, economic +disorganization, and currency disturbances which grew out of the +panic of 1873. He was met with more bankruptcy than had ever +occurred in our business history. + +With rare courage and the most perfect good nature, he installed +essential reforms, which, in the then condition of party organization +and public sentiment, practically offended everybody. He threw +the extreme radicals of his party into a frenzy of rage by wiping +out the "carpet-bag" governments and restoring self-government +for the South. He inaugurated civil-service reform, but in doing +so antagonized most of the senators and members of the House. + +When he found that the collector of the port of New York, +Chester A. Arthur, and the surveyor, Alonzo B. Cornell, were +running their offices with their vast patronage on strictly machine +lines, and that this had the general approval of party leaders, +he removed them and appointed for their successors General +Edwin A. Merritt and Silas W. Burt, with instructions to remove +no one on account of politics, and to appoint no one except for +demonstrated efficiency for the place. He pursued the same policy +in the Internal Revenue and Post-Office Departments. This policy +threatened the primacy of the Conkling machine. + +President Hayes had a very strong Cabinet. The secretary of state, +William M. Evarts, and the secretary of the treasury, John Sherman, +were two of the ablest men in the country. Evarts was the leader +of the national bar, and in crystallized mentality had no equal in +the profession or outside of it. Sherman was the foremost and +best-informed economist, and also a great statesman. In close +consultation with Sherman, Hayes brought about the resumption +of specie payment. The "green-backers," who were for unlimited +paper, and the silver men, who were for unlimited coinage of +silver, and who were very numerous, joined the insurgent brigade. + +While Mr. Hayes retired from the presidency by what might be called +unanimous consent, he had created conditions which made possible +the success of his party in 1880. + +It was a refreshing experience to meet the president during these +troublous times. While everybody else was excited, he was perfectly +calm. While most of the great men at the Capitol were raging, he, +at the other end of the avenue, was placid and serene. He said +once to me: "It is a novel experience when you do what you think +right and best for the country to have it so generally criticised +and disapproved. But the compensation is that you expect antagonism +and disapproval and would think something was the matter with your +decisions if you did not receive them." + +The general abuse to which he was subjected from so many sources +affected the public's view of him. After he had left the presidency +he told me that he thought it was the duty of an ex-president to +utilize the prestige which belonged to the office in the aid of +education. "I have found," he said, "that it helps enormously in +colleges and schools to have lectures, lessons, etc., in history +and patriotism, and behind them the personality of an ex-president +of the United States." + +As an illustration of how distinguished men, when out of power, no +longer interest our people, I remember I met Mr. Hayes one day +in front of a fruit display of a well-known grocery establishment, +and after greeting said to the groceryman: "That is ex-President +Hayes. Don't you want to meet him?" The groceryman replied: +"I am not interested in him, but I have the finest collection of +pears in the city and want to sell you some." + +The Capitol was full of the rich and racy characterizations, +epigrams, and sarcasms which Senator Conkling was daily pouring +out upon President Hayes, and especially Secretary Evarts. By +all the rules of senatorial courtesy in those machine days, a +member of the Cabinet from New York should have been a friend of +its United States senator. Mr. Evarts was too big a man to be +counted in any other class or category except his own. Of course, +all these criticisms were carried to both the president and the +secretary of state. The president never mentioned them, and I never +heard Evarts, though I met him frequently, make any reply but once. + +Dining with Mr. Evarts, who entertained charmingly, a very +distinguished English jurist among the guests, here on a special +mission, said: "Mr. Secretary, I was at the Senate to-day and +heard Senator Conkling speaking. His magnificent personal +appearance, added to his fine oratory, must make him one of the +most formidable advocates at your bar and in your courts." The +English judge thought, of course, that Mr. Evarts, as the leader +of the American Bar and always in the courts, would know every +lawyer of distinction. Mr. Evarts dryly replied: "I never saw +Mr. Conkling in court." + +It is always dangerous to comment or narrate a racy story which +involves the personal affliction of anybody. Dining with Mr. Evarts +one night was also a very distinguished general of our Civil War, +who had been an important figure in national politics. He was very +curious to know about Mr. Tilden, and especially as to the truth +of a report that Mr. Tilden had a stroke of paralysis, and appealed +to me, as I was just from New York. I narrated a story which was +current at the time that Mr. Tilden had denied the report by saying +to a friend: "They say I cannot lift my left hand to my head." He +then put his right hand under the left elbow and shot the left one +easily up to his face and said: "See there, my left has reached +its goal." + +I saw that Mr. Evarts was embarrassed at the anecdote and discovered +afterwards that the distinguished guest had recently had a similar +stroke on his left side and could propel his left arm and hand +only with the assistance of his right. + +My old bogie of being put into office arose again in the senatorial +election of 1882. The legislature, for the first time in a +generation, was entirely leaderless. The old organization had +disappeared and a new one had not yet crystallized. + +Mr. Evarts was anxious to be senator, and I pledged him my +support. Evarts was totally devoid of the arts of popular appeal. +He was the greatest of lawyers and the most delightful of men, but +he could not canvass for votes. Besides, he was entirely independent +in his ideas of any organization dictation or control, and resented +both. He did not believe that a public man should go into public +office under any obligations, and resented such suggestions. + +A large body of representative men thought it would be a good +thing for the country if New York could have this most accomplished, +capable, and brilliant man in the United States Senate. They +urged him strongly upon the legislature, none of whose members +knew him personally, and Mr. Evarts would not go to Albany. + +The members selected a committee to come down to New York and +see Mr. Evarts. They went with the idea of ascertaining how far +he would remember with gratitude those who elected him. Their +visit was a miserable failure. They came in hot indignation to my +office and said they did not propose to send such a cold and +unsympathetic man as their representative to Washington and +earnestly requested my consent to their nominating me at the caucus +the next morning. + +The committee telephoned to Albany and received the assent of +every faction of their party to this proposition. Then they +proposed that when the caucus met, Mr. Evarts, of course, should +receive complimentary speeches from his friends. Meanwhile others +would be nominated, and then a veteran member, whom they designated, +should propose me in the interest of harmony and the union of +the party, whereat the sponsors of the other candidate would +withdraw their man, and I be nominated by acclamation. My answer +was a most earnest appeal for Mr. Evarts. Then Mr. Evarts's +friends rallied to his support and he was elected. + +I place Mr. Evarts in the foremost rank as a lawyer, a wit, and a +diplomat. He tried successfully the most famous cases of his +time and repeatedly demonstrated his remarkable genius. As a +general railway counsel and, therefore, as an administrator in +the retaining of distinguished counsels, I met with many of the +best men at the bar, but never any with such a complete and +clarified intellect as William M. Evarts. The mysteries of the +most complicated cases seemed simple, the legal difficulties plain, +and the solution comprehensible to everybody under his analysis. + +Mr. Evarts was the wittiest man I ever met. It is difficult to +rehabilitate in the sayings of a wit the complete flavor of the +utterance. It is easier with a man of humor. Evarts was very +proud of his efforts as a farmer on his large estate in Vermont. +Among his prizes was a drove of pigs. He sent to Chief Justice +Morrison R. Waite a copy of his eulogy on Chief Justice +Salmon P. Chase, Waite's predecessor, and at the same time a ham, +saying in his letter: "My dear Chief Justice, I send you to-day +one of my prize hams and also my eulogy on Chief Justice Chase, +both the products of my pen." + +The good things Mr. Evarts said would be talked of long after +a dinner. I remember on one occasion his famous partner, +Mr. Choate, who was a Harvard man, while Evarts was a graduate +from Yale, introduced Mr. Evarts by saying that he was surprised +that a Yale man, with all the prejudices of that institution +against the superior advantages of Harvard, should have risked +the coats of his stomach at a Harvard dinner. Mr. Evarts replied: +"When I go to a Harvard dinner I always leave the coats of my +stomach at home." + +Mr. Evarts once told me when I was visiting him at his country +place that an old man whom he pointed out, and who was sawing +wood, was the most sensible philosopher in the neighborhood. +Mr. Evarts said: "He is always talking to himself, and I asked +him why." His answer was: "I always talk to myself in preference +to talking to anybody else, because I like to talk to a sensible +man and to hear a man of sense talk." + + + +VIII. GENERAL GARFIELD + +The triumph of the Democrats in Maine in the September election, +1880, had a most depressing effect upon the Republicans and an +equally exhilarating one upon the Democrats. The paralyzing effect +of the simple utterances in popular elections almost makes one +think that every candidate should follow Matthew Quay's famous advice +to his candidate for governor: "Beaver, keep your mouth shut." + +In the campaign when General Winfield Scott ran for the presidency, +he began an important communication by stating that he would answer +as soon as he had taken a hasty plate of soup. That "hasty plate +of soup" appeared in cartoons, was pictured on walls, etc., in every +form of ridicule, and was one of the chief elements of his defeat. + +When towards the close of the canvass Garfield had succeeded +in making the tariff the leading issue, General Hancock was asked +what were his views on the tariff. (You must remember that the +general was a soldier and had never been in politics.) The general +answered: "The tariff was a purely local issue in Pennsylvania." +The whole country burst into a gale of laughter, and Hancock's +campaign had a crack which was never mended. + +There never were two more picturesque opponents than General Garfield +and General Hancock. Hancock was the idol of the Army of the +Potomac, and everybody remembered McClellan's despatch after one +of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsula campaign: "Hancock was +superb to-day." He was an exceedingly handsome man and one of +the finest figures in uniform in the whole country. + +General Garfield also presented a very fine appearance. He was +a large man, well-proportioned, and with very engaging manners. +He also had an unusual faculty for attractive public addresses, +not only on politics, but many subjects, especially education and +patriotism. I never can forget when the news of Lincoln's +assassination reached New York. The angry and dangerous crowd +which surged up and down Broadway and through Wall Street threatened +to wreck the banking and business houses which were supposed +to be sympathetic with the Confederates. + +Garfield suddenly appeared on the balcony of the Custom House +in Wall Street and succeeded in stilling the crowd. With a voice +that reached up to Trinity Church he urged calmness in thought +and action, deprecated any violence, and then, in an impassioned +appeal to hopefulness notwithstanding the tragedy, exclaimed +impulsively: "God reigns and the Republic still lives." + +I was requested by some friends to visit General Garfield and +see how he felt on the political situation, which during the +campaign of 1880 did not look hopeful. I took the next train, +spent the day with him, and was back in New York the following +day. + +When I left the train at Cleveland in the morning the newsboys +pushed at me a Cleveland Democratic daily, with a rooster's picture +covering the whole front page, and the announcement that the +Democrats had carried Maine. The belief was universal then that +"as Maine goes so goes the Union," and whichever party carried +that State in the September election, the country would follow +in the presidential contest in November. + +I took the next train to Mentor, the residence of General Garfield. +I found at the station a score or more of country wagons and +carriages waiting for passengers. I said to the farmers: "Will +any of you take me up to General Garfield's residence?" One of +them answered: "We will all take you up this morning, but if you +had come yesterday you would have had to wait your turn." + +It was a startling instance of the variableness of public opinion. +Delegations from everywhere, on their way to extend greetings +to the candidate, had read the morning papers and turned back, +deciding not to go. + +I found Garfield struggling bravely to overcome the depression +which he felt. He was in close touch with the situation everywhere, +and discussed it with discrimination and hopefulness. + +The most affecting incident occurred while I was talking with him. +His mother passed through the room and, patting him on the back, +said: "James, the neighbors think it is all right; they are raising +a banner at the corner." + +Two old soldier friends came in, and the noonday dinner was a rare +intellectual feast. The general was a brilliant conversationalist. +His mind turned first to the accidents of careers. He asked me if +there was not a time in my early struggles when if Providence had +offered a modest certainty I would not have exchanged the whole +future for it, and then continued: "There was a period in my early +struggles as a teacher when, if I had been offered the principalship + of an endowed academy, with an adequate salary, with the condition +that I must devote myself to its interests and abandon everything +else, I am quite sure I would have accepted." + +Of course, the hopeful application of this incident to the Maine +defeat was that, no such offer having been made or accepted, he +had made a glorious career in the army, rising to the head of the +General Staff, and for twenty years had been the leading figure +in the House of Representatives, and was now a recently elected +United States senator and chosen candidate for president. + +Then he turned to the instances where victory had been plucked +from defeat in battles. After citing many instances he gave a word +picture of the Battle of Chickamauga which was the finest thing of +the kind I have ever heard or ever read. + +After his two comrades left I told him of the interest which my +friends were taking in his canvass, and that I would add their +contribution to the campaign committee. The general instantly +was exultant and jubilant. He fairly shouted: "Have I not proved +to you all day that there is always a silver lining to the cloud, +and that the darkest hour is just before dawn?" + +It was one of the sources of General Garfield's success as an +orator that he was very emotional and sentimental. He happily +carried with him amid all struggles and disappointments, as well +as successes in the making of a career, the buoyant, hopeful, +companionable, and affectionate interests which characterize +the ambitious senior who has just left college to take his plunge +into the activities of life. + +So far as our State was concerned, a great deal turned upon the +attitude of Senator Conkling. His great and triumphant speech +of four hours at the Academy of Music in New York brought all +his friends into line, but the greatest help which General Garfield +received was from the generous, unselfish, and enthusiastic support +of General Grant. + +General Grant had been the leading candidate in the convention +which finally nominated Garfield, but he voluntarily appeared upon +the platform in several States and at Garfield's home. His brief +but most effective speeches gathered around Garfield not only the +whole of the old-soldier vote but those who had become disaffected +or indifferent because of the result of the national Republican +convention. + +There probably was no canvass where the Republican orator ever +had so many opportunities for the exercise of every faculty which +he possessed. His candidate had made an excellent record as +a soldier in the field and as a statesman in Congress, as an +educator and a popular speaker on questions of vital interest, +while the opposition presented abundant opportunities for attack. + +After the presidential election came the meeting of the New York +State legislature for the choosing of a United States senator. +The legislature was overwhelmingly Republican, and the organization +or machine Republicans were in a large majority. The assembly was +organized and the appointment of committees used to make certain +the election of an organization man. + +A very unusual thing happened. The forces of the organization +were divided between two candidates: Thomas C. Platt and +Richard Crowley. Mr. Conkling had not declared his preference +for either, as they were both devoted friends of his, though he had +the power to have made a selection and have that selection accepted +by the legislature. Vice-President-elect Chester A. Arthur appeared +as manager for Mr. Crowley. Platt conducted his own canvass. + +I was called to a meeting in New York, where Mr. Blaine, secretary +of state, was present. Mr. Blaine said that administration managers +had made a thorough canvass of the legislature and they had found +that I was the only one who could control enough anti-organization +votes to be elected, and, therefore, General Garfield and his +friends had decided that I must enter the race. I did not want +to do it, nor did I want the senatorship at that time. However, +it seemed a plain duty. A canvass showed that Mr. Platt, +Mr. Crowley, and myself had about an equal number of votes. +Of course, Mr. Blaine's object was, knowing that Senator Conkling +would be hostile to the administration, to prevent his having +a colleague who would join with him, and thus place the State +of New York against the policies of the incoming president. + +After the canvass had been going on for some time, Mr. Platt came +to me and asked why I was in it. I told him frankly that I was in +it to see, if possible, that the senator-elect should support +the administration. He said: "Very well, I will do that." + +I immediately called together my supporters. Mr. Platt appeared +before them and stated that if elected he would support the +president and his administration in every respect. He was asked +if he would vote for the confirmation of appointees whom the +president might select who were specially in disfavor with +Senator Conkling, conspicuously Senator William H. Robertson. +Mr. Platt said, "Yes, I will." My friends all went over to him +and he was elected. + +General Garfield was inaugurated in March, 1881, and his +difficulties began with his Cabinet. Senator Conkling, who saw +clearly that with Blaine in the Cabinet his organization was in +danger in New York, did not want any of his friends to accept +a Cabinet position. The navy was offered to Levi P. Morton, but +at the request of Senator Conkling he declined. + +When the time came for appointments in the Custom House of New York, +General Garfield sent in the name of William H. Robertson, who was +the leader of the anti-machine forces in the State. Mr. Conkling +at once demanded that Mr. Platt should join with him in inducing +the Senate to reject the nomination. Under the rule of senatorial +courtesy the Senate would undoubtedly have done this if the two +New York senators had acted together. Mr. Platt told Mr. Conkling +of his pledge to the members of the legislature, and that he must +abide by it, and, as he told me, suggested to Mr. Conkling that, +as he always had been his friend and did not want any breach +with him, the only thing to be done, consistent with honor, was +for both of them to resign and go back to the legislature for +re-election, with a mandate which should enable them to reject +the appointment of Judge Robertson and all similar appointments. + +As the legislature was overwhelmingly Republican, and the organization +had a large majority, it seemed to both senators that they would +be returned immediately. But it is singular how intense partisanship +will blind the ablest and shrewdest politicians. Senators Conkling +and Platt were among the ablest and most capable political managers +of their time. 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 lawyer--Elihu 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, who was editor of the Albany Evening Journal +and he became convinced that he had nothing to lose by entering +at once into an open antagonism, if there was any way by which it +could be made effective. + +I said to Mr. Dawson: "The only salvation for those who have been +benefited during the era of liberty occasioned by President Hayes's +civil-service policies is to prevent the national convention +adopting the unit rule." + +The unit rule is that if the majority of the delegates from any +State make a decision, the chairman of the delegation shall cast +the entire vote of the delegation from the State for the result +arrived at by the majority, whether it be a candidate or a policy. +Under the unit rule I have seen a bare majority of one vote for +a candidate, and then the chairman of the delegation cast the entire +vote for the candidate, though the minority were very hostile to him. + +The delegates of the State convention at Utica returned to Albany +that night. Many of them were State senators whose decapitation +was assured if the old machine supported by federal patronage was +revived. State Senator Webster Wagner was one of them. He and I +chartered a train and invited the whole State delegation to go with +us to Chicago. In the preliminary discussions, before the national +convention met, twenty-six out of seventy-eight delegates decided +to act independently. + +Wayne MacVeagh, a lifelong friend of mine, had a strong following +in the Pennsylvania delegation, and after he learned our position +brought over also his people. Emory Storrs, who led the Illinois +delegation, came to me and said that if we would not boom +Elihu B. Washburne, who was a candidate for the nomination, we +would have the Illinois vote. The result of the canvass was that +the convention decided against the unit rule. This released so +many individual delegates to independent action that the field +was cleared and nobody had majority. The leading candidates were +General Grant, James G. Blaine, and John Sherman. + +In the history of convention oratory the nominating speeches of +Senator Conkling for General Grant, and James A. Garfield for +John Sherman take the highest rank. Conkling took a lofty position +on the platform. His speech was perfectly prepared, delivered +with great dramatic effect, and received universal applause on +the floor and in the gallery. + +General Garfield, on the other hand, also a fine-looking man and +a practised orator, avoided the dramatic element, in which he +could not compete with Conkling, but delivered a speech along +the line of the average thought and general comprehension of his +audience that made a great impression. It was a common remark: +"He has nominated himself." + +There were among the audience thousands of Blaine enthusiasts. +No public man since Lincoln ever had such enthusiastic, devoted, +and almost crazy followers as Mr. Blaine. These enthusiasts were +waiting to raise the roof and secure the nomination of their +candidate when the chosen orator should present their favorite. + +The gentleman selected to present Mr. Blaine was eminent in business +and great enterprises, but I doubt if he had ever spoken before +except to a board of directors. Of course, in that vast hall such +a man was fearfully handicapped and could not be very well heard. +He closed by naming his candidate somewhat like this: "I now have +the pleasure and honor of proposing as the candidate of this +convention that eminent statesman, James S. Blaine." Nearly +every one in the convention knew that Mr. Blaine's middle name +was Gillespie. + +The Blaine followers, whose indignation had been growing throughout +the speech, because they expected the very highest type of oratory +for their favorite, shouted in chorus, "G., you fool, G!" + +When General Garfield was voted for, he indignantly repudiated +the votes as an imputation upon his honor, as he was there to +nominate his friend, John Sherman. Senator George F. Hoar, of +Massachusetts, presided at the convention. He interrupted Garfield +by calling him to order, as it was not in order to interrupt the +calling of the roll, and he did so for fear that Garfield would go +so far as to say he would not accept the nomination if it were +made. On the last ballot State after State, each striving to get +ahead of the other, changed its vote from Sherman or Blaine to +Garfield, and he was nominated. + +I sat close to him as a visitor to the Ohio delegation. It was +a curious exhibit of the ambition of a lifetime suddenly and +unexpectedly realized by a highly sensitive and highly wrought-up +man. He was so overcome that he practically had to be carried +out of the convention by his friends. + +Senator Conkling was very indignant at the result and expressed +his anger with his usual emphasis and picturesqueness. The Ohio +leaders were then anxious to placate New York, but Conkling would +have nothing to do with them. They then came to us, who had been +opposed to the unit rule, and wanted suggestions as to which +New Yorker they should select for vice-president. Levi P. Morton +was suggested. Mr. Morton said he would accept if Senator Conkling +was willing to agree to it, and that he would not act without the +senator's acquiescence, as he was an organization man. The senator +refused his consent, and told Mr. Morton that no friend of his +would go on the ticket. + +It was then suggested that they try General Arthur, who was +Conkling's first lieutenant and chairman of the Republican State +Committee of New York. Senator Conkling made the same answer +to General Arthur, but he frankly said to Conkling: "Such an honor +and opportunity comes to very few of the millions of Americans, +and to that man but once. No man can refuse it, and I will not." +And so General Arthur was nominated for vice-president. + + + +X. GROVER CLEVELAND + +Grover Cleveland was a remarkable man. He had more political +courage of the General Jackson type than almost any man who ever +held great responsible positions. He defied Tammany Hall while +governor of the State, and repeatedly challenged the strongest +elements of his party while president. Threats of defeat or +retaliation never moved him. If he had once made up his mind +and believed he was right, no suggestions of expediency or of +popularity had any influence on him. + +In personal intercourse he made friends and had great charm. +The campaign against him when he ran for governor of New York +was ruthlessly conducted. I considered the actions of his enemies +as unfair and that they would react in the canvass. I studiously +discredited all in my speeches, and begged our people not to +feature them. + +I knew Mr. Cleveland, and as an evidence of my appreciation of +his character and ability, when the office of general counsel of +the New York Central Railroad at Buffalo became vacant, I offered +it to him, saying: "I am exceedingly anxious that you should +accept this place. I think, by an adjustment of the administration +of your office, you can retain your private practice, and this +will add about fifteen thousand dollars a year to your income." + +Mr. Cleveland replied: "I have a very definite plan of life and +have decided how much work I can do without impairing my health, +and how much of additional responsibility I can assume. I have +accumulated about seventy-five thousand dollars and my practice +yields me an income which is sufficient for my wants and a prudent +addition for my old age to my capital. No amount of money whatever +would tempt me to add to or increase my present work." + +I doubt if there were many lawyers in the United States who had +that philosophy or control of their ambitions. His annual income +from his profession was considerably less than the compensation +offered by the general counselship of the New York Central. + +Cleveland was most satisfactory as president in his quick and +decisive judgment upon matters presented to him. There were no +delays, no revisions; in fact, no diplomatic methods of avoiding +a disagreeable decision. He told you in the briefest time and +in the clearest way what he would do. + +A great social leader and arbiter in social affairs in New York +was very desirous that the president should reverse his judgment +in regard to an appointment affecting a member of his family. +I gave him a letter which procured him a personal and confidential +interview. When he came back to me he said: "That is the most +extraordinary man I ever saw. After he had heard me through, he +said he understood the matter thoroughly and would not change +his opinion or action. He has no social position and never had. +I tried to present its attractions and my ability to help him in +that regard, but he only laughed; yes, he positively laughed." + +While President Hayes had difficulty with civil-service reform +and incurred the hostility of the Republican organization and +machine men, the situation with him was far less difficult than +it was with Cleveland, who was a sincere civil-service reformer, +and also an earnest Democrat. While a Democratic senator from +Ohio, Mr. Pendleton, had passed a bill during the Hayes +administration for reform in the civil service, the great majority +of the Democratic party believed in Secretary Marcy's declaration +that "to the victors belong the spoils." + +There was an aggravation, also, growing out of the fact that the +Democrats had been out of office for twenty-four years. We can +hardly visualize or conceive now of their hunger for office. +The rule for rescuing people dying of starvation is to feed them +in very small quantities, and frequently. By trying this, the +president became one of the most unpopular of men who had ever +held office; in fact, so unpopular among the Democratic senators +and members of the House that a story which Zebulon Vance, of +North Carolina, told went all over the country and still survives. +Vance, who had a large proportion of the citizens of North Carolina +on his waiting list, and could get none of them appointed, said +that the situation, which ought to be one of rejoicing at the +election of a president by his own party, was like that of a client +of his who had inherited a farm from his father. There were so +many difficulties about the title and getting possession of it +and delay, that the son said: "I almost wished father had not died." + +However, Mr. Cleveland, in his deliberate way did accomplish +the impossible. He largely regained favor with his party by +satisfying their demands, and at the same time so enlarged the +scope of civil-service requirements as to receive the commendation +of the two great leaders of the civil-service movement--George +William Curtis and Carl Schurz. + +President Cleveland entered upon his second term with greater +popularity in the country than most of his predecessors. When he +retired from office, it was practically by unanimous consent. +It is among the tragedies of public life that he lost entirely the +confidence of his party and, in a measure, of the whole people +by rendering to his country the greatest public service. + +A strike of the men on the railroads tied up transportation. +Railroads are the arteries of travel, commerce, and trade. To stop +them is to prevent the transportation of provisions or of coal, +to starve and freeze cities and communities. Cleveland used +the whole power of the federal government to keep free the +transportation on the railways and to punish as the enemies of the +whole people those who were trying to stop them. It was a lesson +which has been of incalculable value ever since in keeping open +these great highways. + +He forced through the repeal of the silver purchasing law by every +source and pressure and the unlimited use of patronage. His party +were almost unanimous for the silver standard and resented this +repeal as a crime, but it saved the country from general bankruptcy. +Except in the use of patronage to help his silver legislation, he +offended his party by improving the civil service and retaining +Theodore Roosevelt as head of the Civil Service Commission. +These crises required from the president an extraordinary degree +of courage and steadfastness. + +While Mr. Cleveland was in such unprecedented popular disfavor +when he retired to private life, his fame as president increases +through the years, and he is rapidly assuming foremost position +in the estimation of the people. + +Mr. Cleveland had a peculiar style in his speeches and public +documents. It was criticised as labored and that of an essayist. +I asked him, after he had retired to private life, how he had +acquired it. He said his father was a clergyman and he had been +educated by him largely at home. His father was very particular +about his compositions and his English, so that he acquired a +ministerial style. The result of this was that whenever any of +the members of the local bar died, he was called upon to write +the obituary resolutions. + +To take a leap over intervening years: After Mr. Cleveland retired +from his second term I used to meet him very frequently on social +occasions and formal celebrations. He soon left the practice of +law and settled in Princeton, where he did great and useful service, +until he died, as trustee of the university and a lecturer before +the students. + +Riding in the same carriage with him in the great procession at +the funeral of General Sherman, he reminisced most interestingly +in regard to his experiences while president. Every little while +there would break out a cheer and then a shout in the crowd of +one of the old campaign cries: "Grover, Grover, four years more." +Mr. Cleveland remarked: "I noticed while president a certain +regularity and recrudescence of popular applause, and it was +the same in every place I visited." That cry, "Grover, Grover, +four years more!" would occur every third block, and during +our long ride the mathematical tradition was preserved. + + + +XI. BENJAMIN HARRISON + +The year 1888 was one of singular experience for me. I was working +very hard in my professional duties and paying no attention to +public affairs. + +The district conventions to send delegates to the national +convention at Chicago began electing their delegates and alternates, +and passing resolutions instructing them to vote for me as their +candidate for president. + +After several districts had thus acted I was asked to meet in +Whitelaw Reid's office in the Tribune Building Thomas C. Platt, +our State leader, and United States Senator Frank Hiscock. Platt +demanded to know why I was making this canvass without consulting +the organization or informing them. I told him I was doing nothing +whatever by letter, telegram, or interview; that I had seen no one, +and no one had been to see me. + +Mr. Platt, who had been all his life accomplishing things through +the organization, was no believer in spontaneous uprisings, and +asked me frankly: "Are you a candidate?" I told him I was not, +because I did not believe I could be nominated with the present +condition of the public mind in regard to railways, and I was +president of one of the largest systems. + +Then it was suggested that I permit the Tribune, which was the +party organ, to state that I was not a candidate and did not want +to be. The next morning the Tribune had that fully explained. +The conventions kept on convening and instructing their delegates +the same way. + +Another conference was called, and then I was asked to make the +statement that if nominated I would not accept, and if elected +I would decline. I said to my conferees: "Gentlemen, there is +no American living big enough to say that. In the first place, +it is gross egotism to think such a thing might happen." The result +was that the organization accepted the situation. + +The only way that I can account for this unanimous action of the +party in its conventions in the congressional districts of the +State is the accumulative result of appreciation of unselfish +work for the party. Every fall, for a quarter of a century, I had +been on the platform in every part of the State, and according +to my means was a contributor to the State and local canvass. +During this period I had asked nothing and would accept nothing. +If I may apply so large a phrase to a matter so comparatively +unimportant, I would deny the often quoted maxim that "republics +are ungrateful." + +When the convention met there was an overwhelming sentiment for +Mr. Blaine, but his refusal was positive and absolute. I had +always been a warm supporter and friend of Mr. Blaine, and his +followers were very friendly to me. + +What were called "the Granger States," and especially Iowa, had +become very hostile to railway management and railway men. They +were passing laws which were practically confiscatory of railway +securities. The committees from those States visited all other +State delegations and spoke in bitter terms of my candidacy. The +strength of my candidacy was that New York was unanimously for +me, except for one vote from New York City, and no nominee could +hope to be elected unless he could carry New York. + +After receiving ninety-nine votes, I found that on the next ballot +my vote would be very largely increased, and decided to retire. +I called together the New York delegation and stated my position, +and the reason for it. A considerable debate took place. The +motion was made and unanimously carried that the four delegates +at large should meet and see if they could agree upon a candidate +who would command the support of the entire delegation of the +State. The object was, of course, to make the State, with its +larger number of delegates than any other commonwealth, a deciding +factor in the selection. + +The delegates at large were: Thomas C. Platt, Senator Frank Hiscock, +Warner Miller, and myself. When we met, Platt and Hiscock declared +for Senator Allison of Iowa. Warner Miller with equal warmth +announced that he was for John Sherman. + +A heated controversy arose between Mr. Platt and Mr. Miller, during +which Mr. Platt said that neither he nor any of his friends would +vote for Sherman if he was nominated. Senator Hiscock, who was +always a pacifier, interrupted them, saying: "Mr. Depew has said +nothing as yet. I suggest that we hear his views." + +Mr. Platt and Mr. Miller responded to this suggestion and I +replied: "Gentlemen, New York has given to me its cordial and +practically unanimous support, and I have felt under the +circumstances that I should follow and not lead. The situation +which has grown out of this discussion here eliminates two +candidates. Without the aid of Senator Platt and his friends, +Mr. Sherman could not carry New York. Iowa has gone to the extreme +of radical legislation which threatens the investment in securities +of her railroads, and New York is such a capitalistic State that +no man identified with that legislation could carry a majority +of the vote of its people, and that makes Allison impossible. +There is one candidate here who at present apparently has no +chance, but who, nevertheless, seems to me to possess more popular +qualifications than any other, and that is General Benjamin Harrison, +of Indiana. I do not know him, never met him, but he rose from +the humblest beginnings until he became the leader of the bar +of his State. He enlisted in the Civil War as a second lieutenant, +and by conspicuous bravery and skill upon the battle-field came +out as brigadier-general. As United States senator he became +informed about federal affairs. His grandfather, President +William H. Harrison, had one of the most picturesque campaigns +in our history. There are enough survivors of that 'hard cider +and log cabin' canvass to make an attractive contribution on +the platform at every meeting, and thus add a certain historic +flavor to General Harrison's candidacy." + +After some discussion the other three agreed. We reported our +conclusion to the delegation, which by an overwhelming majority +assented to the conclusions of the four delegates at large. This +decision settled the question in the convention, and after a few +ballots General Harrison was nominated. New York was awarded +the vice-presidency and selected Levi P. Morton. + +During Harrison's administration I was absorbed in my duties as +president of the New York Central Railroad, and was seldom in +Washington. But soon after his inauguration he sent to me a +member of Congress from Indiana with a special message. This +congressman said: "I come from President Harrison, and he has +instructed me to offer you a place in his Cabinet. He is anxious +to have you in his official family." + +I told him that I was not prepared to enter public life, and while +I was exceedingly gratified by the offer, it was impossible for +me to accept. + +The congressman said: "I am a poor man, but cannot understand +how anybody can refuse to be member of the Cabinet of the President +of the United States. If such an offer was made to me, and the +conditions of our overruling Providence were that I and my family +should live in want and poverty for the rest of our lives, I would +accept without hesitation." + +I had met Benjamin Harrison as we passed through Indianapolis +on business during the canvass, for the first time. I was much +impressed with him, but his austerity appeared to those who called +upon him while present upon official business. I found him one +of the most genial and agreeable of men, and this impression was +intensified when I met him at the White House. At his own table +and family dinners he was one of the most charming of hosts. He +had, unfortunately, a repellent manner and a harsh voice. In meeting +those who came to him for official favors this made him one of +the most unpopular presidents with senators and members of the +House of Representatives. + +On the platform as a public speaker he had few equals. He was +most lucid and convincing, and had what few orators possess, which +was of special use to him in campaigning and touring the country +as president, the ability to make a fresh speech every day and +each a good one. It was a talent of presenting questions from +many angles, each of which illuminated his subject and captivated +his audience. It was said of him by a senator who was his friend, +and the remark is quoted by Senator Hoar, that if he spoke to +an audience of ten thousand people, he would make every one of +them his friend, but if he were introduced to each of them +afterwards, each would depart his enemy. I think that his manner, +which was so unfortunate, came from the fact that his career had been +one of battle, from his early struggles to his triumphant success. + +A short time before the national convention met in 1892 Senator +Frank Hiscock came to me and said that President Harrison had +requested him to ask me to lead his forces on the floor in the +convention. I said to him that I was a loyal organization man +and did not want to quarrel with our leader, Senator Platt. Then +he told me that he had seen Platt, who remarked that no one +could help Harrison, and that I would conduct the campaign in +better spirit than any one, and so he had no objection to my +accepting the position. There was one obstacle which I wished +removed. I was devoted to Mr. Blaine and not only was one of +his political supporters but very fond of him personally. Mr. Blaine +happened to be in the city, and I immediately called upon him. +His health was then very bad. + +"Mr. Blaine," I said to him, "if you are a candidate, you know +I will support you with the greatest of pleasure, but if not, then +I will accept the invitation of the president." + +Mr. Blaine was most cordial. He said that he had no objections +whatever to my taking the commission, but he doubted if the +president could be renominated, and that he could not be re-elected +if nominated. Harrison had made an excellent president, but his +manner of treating people who came to him had filled the country +with bitter and powerful enemies, while his friends were very few. + +Then he mentioned several other possible candidates, but evidently +doubted the success of the Republican party in the election. In +regard to himself he said: "If I should accept the nomination I +could not endure the labors of the canvass and its excitements. +It would kill me." That diagnosis of his condition was correct and +was demonstrated by the fact that he died soon after the election, +but long before he could be inaugurated if elected. + +All organization leaders of the party were united against the +nomination of President Harrison. The leaders were Platt, Quay, +and Clarkson, who was also chairman of the national committee. +They were the greatest masters of organization and of its management +we ever had in politics, especially Platt and Quay. Their methods +were always secret, so I decided that the only hope of success +for President Harrison was in the greatest publicity. + +The position I had accepted soon became known, and I began to +give the fullest interviews, each one an argument for the +renomination of the president. I went to Chicago a few days +in advance of the convention, was met there by correspondents +of the press, some fifty of them, and gave them a talk in a body, +which made a broadside in the morning papers, each correspondent +treating it in his own way, as his own individual interview. + +This statement or, rather, argument, was intended to be read +and succeeded in being so by the delegates from everywhere who +were on their way to the convention and had to pass through +Chicago. The convention was held in Minneapolis. I received +from that city an invitation to address a gathering of New Yorkers +who had settled in the West to speak before two patriotic audiences, +and to make the address at the dedication of the great hall where +the convention was to meet. + +It was evident that before these engagements had been concluded, +every delegate would have attended some of these meetings, and, +therefore, with the relationship between a speaker and his audience, +I would be practically the only man in the convention who was +personally known to every member. This relationship was an +enormous benefit in conducting the canvass. + +The great organization leaders were difficult of access and carried +on their campaign through trusted members of each State delegation. +My rooms were wide open for everybody. On account of the conflicting +statements made by members of the State delegations, it was very +difficult to make an accurate and detailed list of those who were +for the president, and those who were for Mr. Blaine. It occurred +to me that it would help to call a meeting of the Harrison delegates. +Many thought it was hazardous, as it might develop a majority the +other way. + +The meeting was attended, however, by every delegate, those opposed +coming out of curiosity. Taking the chair, I asked some member +of each delegation to arise and state how many votes he believed +could be relied upon from his State. Of course the statement of each +delegate was often loudly challenged by others from his State who +were present. When the result was announced it showed a majority +of three for General Harrison. A veteran campaigner begged me +to announce it as fifty, but I refused. "No," I said, "the closeness +of the vote when there is every opportunity for manipulation would +carry conviction." + +An old gentleman who stood beside me had a gold-headed ebony +cane. I seized it and rapped it on the table with such force that +it broke in two and announced that the figures showed absolute +certainty of President Harrison's renomination. I doubt if there +was a reliable majority, but the announcement of this result +brought enough of those always anxious to get on the band-wagon +to make it certain. + +Soon after arriving home I received a letter from the owner of +the cane. He wrote: "I was very angry when you broke my cane. +It was a valued birthday present from my children. It is now +in a glass case in my library, and on the case is this label: 'This +cane nominated a president of the United States.'" + +Mr. McKinley, then Governor of Ohio, presided at the convention. +I stood close beside him when I made my speech for Harrison's +renomination. While thoroughly prepared, the speech was in a +way extemporaneous to meet calls or objections. In the midst +of a sentence McKinley said to me in a loud voice: "You are +making a remarkably fine speech." The remark threw me off my +balance as an opposition would never have done. I lost the +continuity and came near breaking down, but happily the applause +gave me time to get again upon the track. + +Among my colleagues in the New York delegation was James W. Husted. +General Husted was very ill and unable to leave his room during +the convention. He sent for me one morning and said: "I have +just had a call from Governor McKinley. He says that you have +the power to nominate him, and that Harrison cannot be nominated. +If you will direct the Harrison forces for him, he will be the next +president." + +I told Husted I was enlisted for the war and, while having a great +admiration for McKinley, it was impossible. + +Soon after arriving home I received an invitation from the president +to visit him at Washington. I took the night train, arriving there +in the morning. My appointment was to lunch with him. + +During the morning Stephen B. Elkins, then secretary of war, +called and asked me to take a walk. While we were walking he +told me that the president was going to offer me the secretaryship +of state, in succession to Mr. Blaine, and that I ought to accept. +He then led me to the State Department and pointed to the portraits +on the walls of the different secretaries, commencing with +Thomas Jefferson. Elkins said that to be in that list was a +greater distinction than to be on the walls of the White House, +because these men are of far greater eminence. + +After luncheon the president invited me into the Blue Room, and +with a great deal of emotion said: "You are the only man who +has ever unselfishly befriended me. It was largely through your +efforts that I became president, and I am greatly indebted to you +for my renomination. I have tried my best to show my appreciation +by asking you into my Cabinet and otherwise, but you have refused +everything I have heretofore offered. I now want to give you +the best I have, which is secretary of state. It is broken bread, +because if I am not re-elected it will be only till the 4th of March, +but if I am re-elected it will be for four years more. I personally +want you in my Cabinet." + +I told the president it was impossible for me to accept; that even +if I resigned my presidency of the railroad, coming directly +from that position would bring the railroad question, which was +very acute, into the canvass. He said he did not think there +was anything in that, but I realized that if he was defeated his +defeat would be charged to having made that mistake. + +He then said: "Well, how about it if I am re-elected?" I told +him that I would regard the appointment the greatest of honors, +and the associations the most pleasurable of a lifetime. + +"Very well," he said; "I will appoint Mr. John W. Foster, who +has been doing excellent service for the State Department, until +next 4th of March, and you can prepare to come here upon that date." + +The most painful thing that was connected with the canvass at +Minneapolis before the convention was the appearance of Mr. Blaine +as a candidate. He had resigned from the Cabinet and yielded +to the pressure of his friends to become a candidate. + +Notwithstanding my interview and what he had said, he sent no +word whatever to me, and personally I had no information and no +notification that his candidacy was authorized by himself. What +gave, however, much authority to the statement that he would accept +the nomination was the appearance of his son, Emmons, among those +who were endeavoring to bring it about. + +There has never been a statesman in our public life, except +Henry Clay, who had such devoted friends as Mr. Blaine. While +Henry Clay never reached the presidency and was fairly defeated +in his attempt, there is no doubt that Mr. Blaine was elected in +1884, and that notwithstanding the Burchard misfortune, he would +still have been a victor except for transparent frauds in New York. + +General Harrison was by far the ablest and profoundest lawyer +among our presidents. None of them equalled him as an orator. +His State papers were of a very high order. When history sums +up the men who have held the great place of president of the +United States, General Harrison will be among the foremost. + +He retired from office, like many of our presidents, a comparatively +poor man. After retirement he entered at once upon the practice +of his profession of the law and almost immediately became +recognized as one of the leaders of the American bar. + + + +XII. JAMES G. BLAINE + +I have spoken in every national canvass, beginning with 1856. +It has been an interesting experience to be on the same platform +as an associate speaker with nearly every man in the country who +had a national reputation. Most of them had but one speech, +which was very long, elaborately prepared, and so divided into +sections, each complete in itself, that the orator was equipped +for an address of any length, from fifteen minutes to four hours, +by selection or consolidation of these sections. Few of them +would trust themselves to extemporaneous speaking. The most +versatile and capable of those who could was James G. Blaine. +He was always ready, courted interruptions, and was brilliantly +effective. In a few sentences he had captured his audience and +held them enthralled. No public man in our country, except, +perhaps, Henry Clay, had such devoted following. + +Mr. Blaine had another extraordinary gift, which is said to belong +only to kings; he never forgot any one. Years after an introduction +he would recall where he had first met the stranger and remember +his name. This compliment made that man Blaine's devoted friend +for life. + +I had an interesting experience of his readiness and versatility +when he ran for president in 1884. He asked me to introduce him +at the different stations, where he was to deliver long or short +addresses. After several of these occasions, he asked: "What's +the next station, Chauncey?" I answered: "Peekskill." "Well," +he said, "what is there about Peekskill?" "I was born there," +I answered. "Well," he said, rising, "I always thought that you +were born at Poughkeepsie." "No, Peekskill." Just then we were +running into the station, and, as the train stopped, I stepped +forward to introduce him to the great crowd which had gathered +there from a radius of fifty miles. He pushed me back in a very +dramatic way, and shouted: "Fellow citizens, allow me to make +the introduction here. As I have many times in the last quarter +of a century travelled up and down your beautiful Hudson River, +with its majestic scenery made famous by the genius of Washington +Irving, and upon the floating palaces not equalled anywhere else +in the world, or when the steamer has passed through this picturesque +bay and opposite your village, I have had emotions of tenderness and +loving memories, greater than those impressed by any other town, +because I have said to myself: 'There is the birthplace of one +of my best friends, Chauncey Depew.'" + +Local committees who desire to use the candidate to help the party +in their neighborhood and also their county tickets are invariably +most unreasonable and merciless in their demands upon the time +of the candidate. They know perfectly well that he has to speak +many times a day; that there is a limit to his strength and to +his vocal cords, and yet they will exact from him an effort which +would prevent his filling other engagements, if they possibly can. +This was notoriously the case during Mr. Blaine's trip through +the State of New York and afterwards through the country. The +strain upon him was unprecedented, and, very naturally, he at times +showed his irritation and some temper. + +The local committees would do their best with the railroad company +and with Blaine's managers in New York to prolong his stay and speech +at each station. He would be scheduled according to the importance +of the place for five, ten, fifteen, twenty, or thirty minutes. + +Before we reached Albany he asked me to accompany him to the end +of our line at Buffalo, and make the introduction as usual at the +stations. The committee would sometimes succeed in changing +the programme and make the stays longer at their several places. +Mr. Blaine's arrangement with me was that after he had decided +how long he would speak, I should fill up the time, whether it +was longer or shorter. That would often enlarge my speech, but +I was young and vigorous and had no responsibilities. + +I remember one committee, where the train was scheduled for ten +minutes, succeed in having it delayed an hour, and instead of +a brief address from the platform of the car, carried the +presidential party to a stand in the central square where many +thousands had gathered. In the first place, this city was not +on Mr. Blaine's schedule, and as it was late in the afternoon, +after a fatiguing day, he therefore told the committee peremptorily +that ten minutes was his limit. Then he said to me: "Chauncey, +you will have to fill out the hour." + +Mr. Blaine's wonderful magnetism, the impression he made upon every +one, and his tactful flattery of local pride, did a great deal +to remove the prejudices against him, which were being fomented by +a propaganda of a "mugwump" committee in New York. This propaganda, +as is usually the case, assailed his personal integrity. + +Notwithstanding the predictions made at the time, he was nominated, +and it was subsequently repeated that he would not carry New York. +From my own experience of many years with the people of the State +and from the platform view-point, I felt confident that he would +have a majority in the election. + +It was a few days before the close of the canvass, when I was +in the western part of the State, I received an urgent telegram +from Mr. Blaine to join him on the train, which was to leave +the Grand Central Station in New York early next morning for his +tour of New England. Upon arrival I was met by a messenger, +who took me at once to Mr. Blaine's car, which started a few +minutes afterwards. + +There was an unusual excitement in the crowd, which was speedily +explained. The best account Mr. Blaine gave me himself in saying: +"I felt decidedly that everything was well in New York. It was +against my judgment to return here. Our national committee, +however, found that a large body of Protestant clergymen wanted +to meet me and extend their support. They thought this would +offset the charges made by the 'mugwump' committee. I did not +believe that any such recognition was necessary. However, their +demands for my return and to meet this body became so importunate +that I yielded my own judgment. + +"I was engaged in my room with the committee and other visitors +when I was summoned to the lobby of the hotel to meet the clergymen. +I had prepared no speech, in fact, had not thought up a reply. +When their spokesman, Reverend Doctor Burchard, began to address +me, my only hope was that he would continue long enough for me +to prepare an appropriate response. I had a very definite idea +of what he would say and so paid little attention to his speech. +In the evening the reporters began rushing in and wanted my opinion +of Doctor Burchard's statement that the main issue of the campaign +was 'Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion.' If I had heard him utter +these words, I would have answered at once, and that would have +been effective, but I am still in doubt as to what to say about it +now. The situation is very difficult, and almost anything I say +is likely to bitterly offend one side or the other. Now I want you +to do all the introductions and be beside me to-day as far as +possible. I have become doubtful about everybody and you are +always sure-footed." I have treasured that compliment ever since. + +As we rode through the streets of New Haven the Democrats had +placed men upon the tops of the houses on either side, and they +threw out in the air thousands of leaflets, charging Blaine with +having assented to the issue which Doctor Burchard had put out--"Rum, +Romanism, and Rebellion." They so filled the air that it +seemed a shower, and littered the streets. + +A distinguished Catholic prelate said to me: "We had to resent +an insult like that, and I estimate that the remark has changed +fifty thousand votes." I know personally of about five thousand +which were changed in our State, but still Blaine lost New York +and the presidency by a majority against him of only one thousand +one hundred and forty-nine votes. + +Whenever I visited Washington I always called upon Mr. Blaine. +The fascination of the statesman and his wonderful conversational +power made every visit an event to be remembered. On one occasion +he said to me: "Chauncey, I am in very low spirits to-day. I have +read over the first volume of my 'Twenty Years in Congress,' which +is just going to the printer, and destroyed it. I dictated the +whole of it, but I find that accuracy and elegance can only be had +at the end of a pen. I shall rewrite the memoirs in ink. In these +days composition by the typewriter or through the stenographer +is so common." There will be many who differ with Mr. Blaine. + + + +XIII. WILLIAM McKINLEY + +In the canvass of 1896 the Republican organization of the State +of New York decided, if possible, to have the national convention +nominate Levi P. Morton for president. Mr. Morton won popular +favor as vice-president, and the canvass for him looked hopeful. +But a new man of extraordinary force and ability came into this +campaign, and that man was Mark Hanna, of Ohio. Mr. Hanna was +one of the most successful of our business men. He had a rare +genius for organization, and possessed resourcefulness, courage, +and audacity. He was most practical and at the same time had +imagination and vision. While he had taken very little part in +public affairs, he had rather suddenly determined to make his +devoted friend, William McKinley, president of the United States. + +In a little while every State in the Union felt the force of +Mr. Hanna's efforts. He applied to politics the methods by which +he had so successfully advanced his large manufacturing interests. +McKinley clubs and McKinley local organizations sprang up everywhere +under the magic of Hanna's management. When the convention met +it was plain that McKinley's nomination was assured. + +The New York delegation, however, decided to present Morton's name +and submit his candidacy to a vote. I was selected to make a +nominating speech. If there is any hope, an orator on such an +occasion has inspiration. But if he knows he is beaten he cannot +put into his effort the fire necessary to impress an audience. +It is not possible to speak with force and effect unless you have +faith in your cause. + +After Mr. McKinley was nominated I moved that the nomination be +made unanimous. The convention called for speech and platform +so insistently that their call had to be obeyed. The following is +an account from a newspaper of that date of my impromptu speech. +The story which is mentioned in the speech was told to me as I was +ascending the platform by Senator Proctor of Vermont. + +"I am in the happy position now of making a speech for the man +who is going to be elected. (Laughter and applause.) It is +a great thing for an amateur, when his first nomination has failed, +to come in and second the man who has succeeded. New York is +here with no bitter feeling and with no disappointment. We +recognize that the waves have submerged us, but we have bobbed +up serenely. (Loud laughter.) It was a cannon from New York that +sounded first the news of McKinley's nomination. They said of +Governor Morton's father that he was a New England clergyman, who +brought up a family of ten children on three hundred dollars a year, +and was, notwithstanding, gifted in prayer. (Laughter.) It does +not make any difference how poor he may be, how out of work, +how ragged, how next door to a tramp anybody may be in the +United States to-night, he will be 'gifted in prayer' at the result +of this convention. (Cheers and laughter.) + +"There is a principle dear to the American heart. It is the +principle which moves American spindles, starts the industries, +and makes the wage-earners sought for instead of seeking employment. +That principle is embodied in McKinley. His personality explains +the nomination to-day. And his personality will carry into the +presidential chair the aspirations of the voters of America, of the +families of America, of the homes of America, protection to American +industry and America for Americans." (Cheers.) + +As every national convention, like every individual, has its +characteristics, the peculiar distinction of the Republican +convention of 1896 was its adoption of the gold standard of value. +An amazing and illuminating part of our political literature of +that time is the claim which various statesmen and publicists make +to the authorship of the gold plank in the platform. + +Senator Foraker, who was chairman of the committee on resolutions, +devotes a considerable part of his interesting autobiography +to the discussion of this question. He is very severe upon all +those who claim to have originated the idea. I have been asked +by several statesmen to enforce their claims to its authorship. + +The silver craze had not yet subsided. Bimetallism had strong +advocates and believers in our convention. I think even our +candidate was not fully convinced at that time of the wisdom +of the declaration. It went into the platform rather as a venture +than an article of faith, but to the surprise of both the journalists +and campaign orators, it turned out that the people had become +converted to the gold standard, and it proved to be the strongest +and most popular declaration of the convention. + +When the campaign opened the genius of Mark Hanna soon became +evident. He organized a campaign of education such as had never +been dreamed of, much less attempted. Travelling publicity agents, +with wagonloads of pamphlets, filled the highways and the byways, +and no home was so isolated that it did not receive its share. +Columns in the newspapers, especially the country papers, were +filled with articles written by experts, and the platform was never +so rich with public speakers. + +Such a campaign is irresistible. Its influence is felt by everybody; +its arguments become automatically and almost insensibly the +common language of the people. But the expense is so terrific +that it will never again be attempted. There was no corruption +or purchase of votes in Mr. Hanna's management. It was publicity +and again publicity, but it cost nearly five millions of dollars. +To reach the one hundred and ten million of people in the +United States in such a way would involve a sum so vast that +public opinion would never permit any approach to it. + +Mr. McKinley's front-porch campaign was a picturesque and +captivating feature. The candidate was a handsome man and an +eloquent speaker, with a cordial and sympathetic manner which +won everybody. Delegations from all parts of the country and +representing every phase of American life appeared at Mr. McKinley's +residence. His address to them was always appropriate and his +reception made the visitors his fast friends. + +I received a personal request to visit him, and on the occasion +he said to me: "In certain large agricultural sections there is +a very dangerous revolt in our party, owing to the bad conditions +among the farmers. Wheat and corn are selling below the cost +of production. I wish you would go down among them and make +speeches explaining the economic conditions which have produced +this result, and how we propose to and will remedy it." + +"Mr. McKinley," I said, "my position as a railroad president, +I am afraid, would antagonize them." + +"On the contrary, your very position will draw the largest +audiences and receive the greater attention." + +The result proved that he was correct. + +I recall one meeting in particular. There were thousands present, +all farmers. In the midst of my speech one man arose and said: +"Chauncey Depew, we appreciate your coming here, and we are very +anxious to hear you. Your speech is very charming and interesting, +but I want to put this to you personally. We here are suffering +from market conditions for the products of our farms. The prices +are so low that we have difficulty in meeting the interest on +our mortgages and paying our taxes, no matter how seriously we +economize. Now you are the president of one of the greatest +railroads in the country. It is reported that you are receiving +a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year. You are here in a +private car. Don't you think that the contrast between you and +us makes it difficult for us poor farmers to give you the welcome +which we would like?" + +I saw at once I had lost my audience. I then ventured upon a +statement of conditions which I have often tried and always +successfully. I said: "My friend, what you say about me is true. +Now, as to my career, I was born and brought up in a village +similar to the one which is near you here. My father gave me +my education and nothing else with which to begin life. As a +young lawyer I was looking for clients and not for office. I made +up my mind that there were no opportunities offered in the village, +but that the chances of success were in the service of corporations. +The result is that I have accomplished what you have described. +Now, my friend, I believe that you have a promising boy. I also +believe that to your pride and satisfaction he is going through +the neighboring college here, and that you intend on account +of his brightness and ability to make him a lawyer. When he is +admitted to the bar, do you expect him to try to do what I have +accomplished and make an independent position in life, or fail?" + +The farmer shouted: "Chauncey, you are all right. Go ahead +and keep it up." + +My arguments and presentation were no better than many another +speaker's, but, as Mr. McKinley predicted, they received an +attention and aroused a discussion, because of what the old farmer +had said, that no other campaigner could command. + +Mr. McKinley sent for me again and said: "Sentiment is a +wonderful force in politics. Mr. Bryan, my opponent, has made +a remarkable speaking tour through our State. He started in the +early morning from Cleveland with a speech. His train made many +stops on the way to Cincinnati, where he arrived in the evening, +and at each place he addressed large audiences, traversing the +State from one side to the other. His endurance and versatility +have made a great impression upon our people. To meet and +overcome that impression, I have asked you to come here and +repeat Bryan's effort. You are so much older than he is--I think +we may claim nearly twice his age--that if you can do it, and +I hope you can, that sentiment will be dissipated." + +I traversed Mr. Bryan's route, stopped at the same stations and +delivered speeches to similar audiences of about the same length. +On arriving in Cincinnati in the evening I was met by a committee, +the chairman of which said: "We have followed you all along from +Cleveland, where you started at seven o'clock this morning, and +it is fine. Now Mr. Bryan, when he arrived here, had no meeting. +We have seven thousand people in the Music Hall, and if you will +go there and speak five minutes it will make your trip a +phenomenal success." + +I went to the Music Hall, of course had a wonderful time and wild +ovation, and spoke for an hour. The next day I was none the worse +for this twelve hours' experience. + +President McKinley had spent most of his life in the House of +Representatives. He loved the associations and life of Congress. +The most erratic and uncertain of bodies is Congress to an executive +who does not understand its temper and characteristics. McKinley +was past master of this. Almost every president has been greatly +relieved when Congress adjourned, but Mr. McKinley often expressed +to me his wish that Congress would always be in session, as he +never was so happy as when he could be in daily contact with it. +His door was open at all times to a senator or a member of the +House of Representatives. If either failed to see him at least +once a week, the absentee usually received a message stating that +the president desired him to call. He was very keen in discovering +any irritation on the part of any senator or member about any +disappointment or fancied slight, and always most tactfully managed +to straighten the matter out. He was quite as attentive and as +particular with the opposition as with members of his own party. + +President McKinley had a wonderful way of dealing with office-seekers +and with their friends and supporters. A phrase of his became +part of the common language of the capital. It was: "My dear +fellow, I am most anxious to oblige you, but I am so situated +that I cannot give you what you want. I will, however, try to find +you something equally as good." The anxious caller for favors, +if he or his congressman failed to get the office desired, always +carried away a flower or a bouquet given by the president, with +a complimentary remark to be remembered. It soon came to be +understood among applicants for office that a desired consulship +in England could not be granted, but one of equal rank in +South Africa was possible. + +There were many good stories in the Senate of his tact in dealing +with the opposition. A Southern senator, who as a general had +made a distinguished record in the Civil War on the Confederate +side, was very resentful and would frequently remark to his friends +"that our president unfortunately is not a gentleman, and in his +ancestry is some very common blood." + +Mr. McKinley persuaded some of the senator's Southern colleagues +to bring him to the White House. He expressed his regret to +the senator that he should have offended him in any way and asked +what he had done. The senator replied: "You have appointed for +the town where my sister lives a nigger, and a bad nigger at that, +for postmaster, and my sister has to go to him for her letters +and stamps." The president arranged for the transfer of this +postmaster and the appointment of a man recommended by the senator. +The senator then went to his friends and said: "Have I remarked +to you at any time that our president was not a gentleman and +had somewhere in his ancestry very common blood? If I did I recall +the statement and apologize. Mr. McKinley is a perfect gentleman." + +All the measures which the president wished passed, unless they +were absolutely partisan, always received afterwards the support +of the Southern senator. + +I was in the Senate during a part of his term and nearly every day +at the White House, where his reception was so cordial and his +treatment of the matter presented so sympathetic that it was +a delight to go there, instead of being, as usual, one of the +most disagreeable tasks imposed upon a senator. + +He had a way of inviting one to a private conference and with +impressing you with its confidential character and the trust he +reposed in your advice and judgment which was most flattering. + +Entertainments at the White House were frequent, and he managed +to make each dinner an event to be most pleasantly remembered. +I think, while he was very courteous to everybody, he was more than +usually so to me because of an incident prior to his inauguration. + +A well-known journalist came to my office one day and said: "I am +just from Canton, where I have been several days with the president. +I discussed with him federal appointments--among others, the +mission to England, in which I am interested because my father is +an Englishman, and both my father and I are exceedingly anxious +to have you take the post, and Mr. McKinley authorized me to ask +you if you would accept the mission." + +The embassy to England presented peculiar attraction to me, because +I knew personally the Prince of Wales and most of the leading +English statesmen and public men. The journalist said that if +I accepted he would sound the press. This he did, and the response +was most flattering from journals of all political views. + +About the time of the inauguration Vice-President Hobart, who was +a cordial friend of mine, said to me: "There is something wrong +about you with the president. It is very serious, and you can +expect no recognition from the administration." I was wholly +at a loss to account for the matter and would not investigate +any further. Not long afterwards the vice-president came to me +and said: "I have found out the truth of that matter of yours +and have explained it satisfactorily to the president, who deeply +regrets that he was misled by a false report from a friend in +whom he had confidence." Soon after the president made me the +offer of the mission to Germany. I did not understand the language +and felt that I could be of little service there, and so declined. + +When President McKinley was lying seriously wounded at Buffalo +from the shot of the anarchist Czolgosz, I went there to see if +anything could be done for his comfort. For some time there was +hope he would recover, and that it would be better for him to go +to Washington. I made every arrangement to take him to the capital +if the doctors decided it could be done. But suddenly, as is +always the case with wounds of that kind, a crisis arrived in +which he died. + +Vice-President Roosevelt was camping in the Adirondacks. A message +reached him, and the next morning he arrived in Buffalo. The +Cabinet of Mr. McKinley decided that the vice-president should be +at once inaugurated as president. Colonel Roosevelt was a guest +at the house of Mr. Ainsley Wilcox. He invited me to witness his +inauguration, which occurred the same evening. It was a small +company gathered in the parlor of Mr. Wilcox's house. Elihu Root, +secretary of state, choking with emotion and in a voice full of tears, +made a speech which was a beautiful tribute to the dead president +and a clear statement of the necessity of immediate action to avoid +an interregnum in the government. John Raymond Hazel, United States +district judge, administered the oath, and the new president +delivered a brief and affecting answer to Mr. Root's address. + +This inauguration was in pathetic and simple contrast to that +which had preceded at the Capitol at Washington. Among the few +present was Senator Mark Hanna. He had been more instrumental +than any one in the United States in the selection of Mr. McKinley +for president and his triumphant election. Mr. McKinley put +absolute trust in Hanna, and Hanna was the most powerful personality +in the country. No two men in public life were ever so admirably +fitted for each other as President McKinley and Senator Hanna. +The day before the death of the president Hanna could look forward +to four years of increasing power and usefulness with the president +who had just been re-elected. But as he walked with me from +Mr. Wilcox's house that night, he felt keenly that he never could +have any such relation with Colonel Roosevelt. He was personally +exceedingly fond of Mr. McKinley, and to his grief at the death +of his friend was added a full apprehension of his changed position +in American public life. + + + +XlV. THEODORE ROOSEVELT + +The bullet of the assassin had ended fatally, and McKinley was +no more. Theodore Roosevelt, vice-president, became president. +Few recognized at the time there had come into the presidency +of the United States one of the most remarkable, capable, and +original men who ever occupied the White House. + +During the following seven years President Roosevelt not only +occupied but filled the stage of public affairs in the United States. +Even now, two years or more after his death, with the exception +of President Wilson, Roosevelt is the best known American in +the world. It is difficult to predict the future because of the +idealization which sometimes though rarely occurs in regard to +public men, but Colonel Roosevelt is rapidly taking a position +as third, with Washington and Lincoln as the other two. + +My relations with Colonel Roosevelt were always most interesting. +His father, who was a cordial friend of mine, was one of the +foremost citizens of New York. In all civic duties and many +philanthropies he occupied a first place. The public activities +of the father had great influence in forming the character and +directing the ambitions of his son. + +Mr. Roosevelt entered public life very early and, as with +everything with him, always in a dramatic way. One of the +interesting characters of New York City was Frederick Gibbs, who +was an active politician and a district leader. Gibbs afterwards +became the national committeeman from New York on the Republican +national committee. When he died he left a collection of pictures +which, to the astonishment of everybody, showed that he was a +liberal and discriminating patron of art. + +Gibbs had a district difficult to manage, because, commencing +in the slums it ran up to Fifth Avenue. It was normally Democratic, +but he managed to keep his party alive and often to win, and +so gained the reputation that he was in league with Tammany. +He came to me one day and said: "Our organization has lost the +confidence of the 'highbrows.' They have not a great many votes, +but their names carry weight and their contributions are invaluable +in campaigns. To regain their confidence we are thinking of +nominating for member of the legislature young Theodore Roosevelt, +who has just returned from Harvard. What do you think of it?" + +Of course, I advocated it very warmly. "Well," he said, "we will +have a dinner at Delmonico's. It will be composed entirely of +'highbrows.' We wish you to make the principal speech, introducing +young Roosevelt, who, of course, will respond. I will not be at +the dinner, but I will be in the pantry." + +The dinner was a phenomenal success. About three hundred in +dress suits, white vests, and white neckties were discussing the +situation, saying: "Where did these stories and slanders originate +in regard to our district, about its being an annex of Tammany +and with Tammany affiliations? We are the district, and we all +know each other." + +Young Roosevelt, when he rose to speak, looked about eighteen +years old, though he was twenty-three. His speech was carefully +prepared, and he read it from a manuscript. It was remarkable +in the emphatic way in which he first stated the evils in the city, +State, and national governments, and how he would correct them +if he ever had the opportunity. It is a curious realization of +youthful aspirations that every one of those opportunities came +to him, and in each of them he made history and permanent fame. + +The term of office of Frank Black, Governor of the State of +New York, was about expiring. Black was a man of great ability +and courage. The people had voted nine millions of dollars to +improve the Erie Canal. There were persistent rumors of fraud +in the work. Governor Black ordered an investigation through an +able committee which he appointed. The committee discovered +that about a million dollars had been wasted or stolen. Black +at once took measures to recover the money if possible and to +prosecute the guilty. The opposition took advantage of this to +create the impression in the public mind of the corruption of the +Republican administration. The acute question was: "Should +Governor Black be renominated?" + +Colonel Roosevelt had just returned from Cuba, where he had won +great reputation in command of the Rough Riders, and he and his +command were in camp on Long Island. + +Senator Platt, the State leader, was accustomed to consult me, and +his confidence in my judgment was the greater from the fact that +he knew that I wanted nothing, while most of the people who +surrounded the leader were recipients of his favor, and either +the holders of offices or expecting some consideration. He asked +me to come and see him at Manhattan Beach. As usual, he entered +at once upon the question in hand by saying: "I am very much +troubled about the governorship. Frank Black has made an excellent +governor and did the right thing in ordering an investigation of +the Canal frauds, but the result of the investigation has been that +in discovering frauds the Democrats have been able to create +a popular impression that the whole State administration is guilty. +The political situation is very critical in any way. Benjamin Odell, +the chairman of our State committee, urges the nomination of +Colonel Roosevelt. As you know, Roosevelt is no friend of mine, and +I don't think very well of the suggestion. Now, what do you think?" + +I instantly replied: "Mr. Platt, I always look at a public question +from the view of the platform. I have been addressing audiences +ever since I became a voter, and my judgment of public opinion +and the views of the people are governed by how they take or will +take and act upon the questions presented. Now, if you nominate +Governor Black and I am addressing a large audience--and I certainly +will--the heckler in the audience will arise and interrupt me, +saying: 'Chauncey, we agree with what you say about the Grand +Old Party and all that, but how about the Canal steal?' I have +to explain that the amount stolen was only a million, and that +would be fatal. If Colonel Roosevelt is nominated, I can say to +the heckler with indignation and enthusiasm: 'I am mighty glad +you asked that question. We have nominated for governor a man +who has demonstrated in public office and on the battlefield that +he is a fighter for the right, and always victorious. If he is +selected, you know and we all know from his demonstrated +characteristics, courage and ability, that every thief will be +caught and punished, and every dollar that can be found restored +to the public treasury.' Then I will follow the colonel leading his +Rough Riders up San Juan Hill and ask the band to play the +'Star-Spangled Banner.'" + +Platt said very impulsively: "Roosevelt will be nominated." + +When the State convention met to nominate a State ticket, I was +selected to present the name of Colonel Roosevelt as a candidate +for governor. I have done that a great many times in conventions, +but have never had such a response. As I went on reciting the +achievements of Roosevelt, his career, his accomplishments, and +his great promise, the convention went wild with enthusiasm. +It was plain that no mistake had been made in selecting him as +the candidate. + +During the campaign he made one of the most picturesque canvasses +the State has ever experienced. He was accompanied in his travels +by a large staff of orators, but easily dominated the situation +and carried the audience with him. He was greatly amused at a +meeting where one of his Rough Riders, who was in the company, +insisted upon making a speech. The Rough Rider said: "My friends +and fellow citizens, my colonel was a great soldier. He will make +a great governor. He always put us boys in battle where we would be +killed if there was a chance, and that is what he will do with you." + +Roosevelt as governor was, as always, most original. New York +was an organization State, with Mr. Platt as leader, and with +county leaders of unusual ability and strength. Governors had +been accustomed to rely upon the organization both for advice +and support. Roosevelt could not bear any kind of control. He +sought advice in every direction and then made up his mind. This +brought him often in conflict with local leaders and sometimes +with the general organization. + +On one occasion the State chairman, who was always accustomed +to be in Albany during the closing day of the legislature, to prevent +in the haste and confusion, characteristic of legislation at this +time, the passage of bad or unpopular measures, bade the governor +good-by at midnight, as the legislature was to adjourn the following +day with the understanding that lawmaking was practically over. + +A large real-estate delegation arrived the next morning, with +the usual desire to relieve real-estate from taxation by putting +it somewhere else. They came with a proposition to place new +burdens upon public utilities. It was too late to formulate and +introduce a measure on a question so important, but there was +a bill which had been in the legislature most of the session and +never received serious consideration. The governor sent an +emergency message to the legislature, which had remaining only +one hour of life to pass that bill. + +Next day the tremendous interest in public utilities was +panic-stricken because the bill was so crude that it amounted +to confiscation. The governor, when applied to, said: "Yes, +I know that the bill is very crude and unfit to become a law, but +legislation on this subject is absolutely necessary. I will do +this: I have thirty days before I must make up my mind to sign +the bill, or let it become a law without my signature. Within +that thirty days I will call the legislature together again. Then +you can prepare and submit to me a proper bill, and if we can +agree upon it, I will present it to the legislature. If the +legislature passes that measure I will sign it, but if it does +not, I will let the present measure, bad as it is, become a law." + +The result of the threat was that a very good and timely act was +presented in regard to the taxation of public utilities, a measure +which largely increased municipal and State revenues. I know +of no governor in my time who would have had the originality and +the audacity to accomplish what he desired by such drastic operation. + +Roosevelt's administration was high-minded and patriotic. But by +his exercise of independent judgment and frequently by doing +things without consulting the leaders, State or local, he became +exceedingly unpopular with the organization. It was evident that +it would be very difficult to renominate him. It was also evident +that on account of his popularity with the people, if he failed +in the renomination, the party would be beaten. So it was unanimously +decided to put him on the national ticket as vice-president. + +The governor resisted this with all his passionate energy. He +liked the governorship. He thought there were many things which +he could do in another term, and he believed and so stated that +the vice-presidency was a tomb. He thought that nobody could be +resurrected when once buried in that sarcophagus. + +The national Republican convention of 1900 was a ratification +meeting. President McKinley's administration had been exceedingly +popular. The convention met practically to indorse McKinley's +public acts and renominate him for another term. The only doubtful +question was the vice-presidency. There was a general accord +of sentiment in favor of Governor Roosevelt, which was only +blocked by his persistent refusal. + +Roosevelt and I were both delegates at large, and that position +gave him greater opportunity to emphasize his disinclination. +A very intimate friend of his called upon me and begged that +I would use all my influence to prevent the colonel's nomination. +This friend said to me: "The governor's situation, officially and +personally, makes it impossible for him to go to Washington. On +the official side are his unfinished legislation and the new +legislation greatly needed by the State, which will add enormously +to his reputation and pave the way for his future. He has very +little means. As governor his salary is ample. The Executive Mansion +is free, with many contributory advantages, and the schools of +Albany admirable for the education of his six children. While in +Washington the salary of vice-president is wholly inadequate to +support the dignity of the position, and it is the end of a young +man of a most promising career." + +I knew what the friend did not know, and it was that Mr. Roosevelt +could not be governor again. I was so warmly attached to him and +so anxious for his future that I felt it was my duty to force his +nomination if possible. + +Governor Odell was chairman of the delegation for all convention +purposes, but in the distribution of honors I was made the presiding +officer at its meetings. The delegation met to consider the +vice-presidency. Several very eloquent speeches were made in +favor of Mr. Roosevelt, but in an emphatic address he declined +the nomination. He then received a unanimous vote, but again +declined. A delegate then arose and suggested that he reconsider +his determination, and several others joined most earnestly in +this request. Roosevelt was deeply affected, but, nevertheless, +firmly declined. + +I knew there was a member of the delegation who had canvassed it +to secure the honor in case Roosevelt became impossible, and that +the next motion would be the nomination of this aspirant. So I +abruptly declared the meeting adjourned. I did this in the hope +that during the night, with the pressure brought to bear upon him, +the colonel would change his mind. In the morning Mr. Roosevelt +surrendered his convictions and agreed to accept the nomination. + +In every convention there is a large number of men prominent in +their several delegations who wish to secure general attention +and publicity. As there were no disputes as to either candidate +or platform, these gentlemen all became anxious to make speeches +favoring the candidates, McKinley and Roosevelt. There were so +many of these speeches which, of course, were largely repetitions, +that the convention became wearied and impatient. The last few +were not heard at all on account of the confusion and impatience +of the delegates. While one orator was droning away, a delegation +from a Western State came over to me and said: "We in the extreme +West have never heard you speak, and won't you oblige us by +taking the platform?" + +I answered: "The audience will not stand another address." +Roosevelt, who sat right in front of me, then remarked: "Yes, they +will from you. These speeches have pretty nearly killed the ticket, +and if it keeps up, the election is over, and McKinley and I are +dead." He then seized me and almost threw me on the platform. + +The novelty of the situation, which was grasped by the delegates, +commanded attention. I recalled what Mr. Lincoln had once said +to me, defending his frequent use of anecdotes, and this is what +he said: "Plain people, take them as you find them, are more +easily influenced through the medium of a broad and humorous +illustration than in any other way." + +I had heard a new story, a rare thing, and began with the narration +of it. Alongside the chairman sat Senator Thurston. He was +a fine speaker, very ornate and highly rhetorical. He never +indulged in humor or unbent his dignity and formality. I heard +him say in a sepulchral voice to the chairman: "Great God, sir, +the dignity and solemnity of this most important and historical +occasion is to be ruined by a story." Happily the story was a +success and gave the wearied audience two opportunities to hear +my speech. Their laughter was internal relief, and it was giving +the external relief of changing their positions for new and more +restful ones. + +My friend, John M. Thurston, came to Philadelphia with a most +elaborate and excellent oration. Sitting in the audience on three +different occasions, I heard it with as much pleasure the last +time as I had the first. + +When Mr. Roosevelt as vice-president came to preside over the +Senate, it was soon evident that he would not be a success. His +talents were executive and administrative. The position of the +presiding officer of the United States Senate is at once easy and +difficult. The Senate desires impartiality, equable temper, and +knowledge of parliamentary law from its presiding officer. But it +will not submit to any attempt on the part of the presiding officer +to direct or advise it, and will instantly resent any arbitrary +ruling. Of course, Mr. Roosevelt presided only at a few meetings +before the final adjournment. When Congress met again he was +President of the United States. + +Senators and members soon found that there was a change at the +White House. No two men were ever so radically different in every +respect as McKinley and Roosevelt. Roosevelt loved to see the +people in a mass and rarely cared for private or confidential +interviews. He was most hospitable and constantly bringing visitors +to luncheon when the morning meetings in the executive offices had +closed, and he had not had a full opportunity to hear or see them. + +Senator Hanna was accustomed to have a few of his colleagues of +the Senate dine with him frequently, in order to consult on more +effective action upon pending measures. President Roosevelt, +who knew everything that was going on, often burst into Hanna's +house after dinner and with the utmost frankness submitted the +problems which had arisen at the White House, and upon which he +wished advice or, if not advice, support--more frequently support. + +Any one who attended the morning conferences, where he saw senators +and members of the House, and the public, was quite sure to be +entertained. I remember on one occasion I had been requested by +several friends of his, men of influence and prominence in New York, +to ask for the appointment of minister to a foreign government for +a journalist of some eminence. When I entered the Cabinet room +it was crowded, and the president knew that I was far from well, +so he at once called my name, asked how I was and what I wanted. +I told him that I had to leave Washington that day on the advice +of my doctor for a rest, and what I wanted was to present the name +of a gentleman for appointment as a minister, if I could see +him for five minutes. + +The president exclaimed: "We have no secrets here. Tell it +right out." I then stated the case. He asked who was behind +the applicant. I told him. Then he said, "Yes, that's all right," +to each one until I mentioned also the staff of the gentleman's +newspaper, which was one of the most prominent and powerful in +the country but a merciless critic of the president. He shouted +at once: "That settles it. Nothing which that paper wishes will +receive any consideration from me." Singularly enough, the paper +subsequently became one of his ardent advocates and supporters. + +On another occasion I was entering his private office as another +senator was coming out of the Cabinet room, which was filled. +He called out: "Senator Depew, do you know that man going out?" +I answered: "Yes, he is a colleague of mine in the Senate." +"Well," he shouted, "he is a crook." His judgment subsequently +proved correct. + +Mr. Roosevelt and his wife were all their lives in the social life +of the old families of New York who were admitted leaders. They +carried to the White House the culture and conventions of what +is called the best society of the great capitals of the world. +This experience and education came to a couple who were most +democratic in their views. They loved to see people and met and +entertained every one with delightful hospitality. + +Roosevelt was a marvel of many-sidedness. Besides being an +executive as governor of a great State and administrator as +civil-service commissioner and police commissioner of New York, +he was an author of popular books and a field naturalist of rare +acquirements. He was also a wonderful athlete. I often had +occasion to see him upon urgent matters, and was summoned to his +gymnasium, where he was having a boxing match with a well-known +pugilist, and getting the better of his antagonist, or else +launching at his fencing master. The athletics would cease, to +be resumed as soon as he had in his quick and direct way disposed +of what I presented. + +Horseback riding was a favorite exercise with him, and his experience +on his Western ranch and in the army had made him one of the best +riders in the world. The foreign diplomats in Washington, with +their education that their first duty was to be in close touch with +the chief magistrate, whether czar, queen, king, or president, +found their training unequal to keeping close to President Roosevelt, +except one, and he told me with great pleasure that though a poor +rider he joined the president in his horseback morning excursions. +Sometimes, he said, when they came to a very steep, high, and +rough hill the president would shout, "Let us climb to the top," +and the diplomat would struggle over the stones, the underbrush +and gullies, and return to his horse with torn garments after +sliding down the hill. At another time, when on the banks of +the Potomac, where the waters were raging rapids the president +said, "We will go to that island in the middle of the river," and +immediately plunge in. The diplomat followed and reached the +island after wading and swimming, and with great difficulty returned +with sufficient strength to reach home. He had an attack of +pneumonia from this unusual exposure, but thereafter was the envy +and admiration of his colleagues and increased the confidence of +his own government by this intimacy with the president. + +The president's dinners and luncheons were unique because of his +universal acquaintance with literary and scientific people. There +were generally some of them present. His infectious enthusiasm +and hearty cordiality drew out the best points of each guest. +I was present at a large dinner one evening when an instance +occurred which greatly amused him. There were some forty guests. +When they were seated, the president noticed four vacant chairs. +He sent one of his aides to ascertain the trouble. The aide +discovered an elderly senator standing with his wife, and another +senator and a lady looking very disconsolate. The aged senator +refused to take out a lady as his card directed or leave his wife +to a colleague. He said to the president's aide, who told him +that dinner was waiting and what he had to do: "When I eat I eat +with my wife, or I don't eat at all." The old gentleman had his way. + +The president had one story which he told often and with much glee. +While he was on the ranch the neighbors had caught a horse thief +and hung him. They soon discovered that they had made a mistake +and hung the wrong man. The most diplomatic among the ranchers +was selected to take the body home and break the news gently to +his wife. The cowboy ambassador asked the wife: "Are you the +wife of ----?" She answered "Yes." "Well," said the ambassador, +"you are mistaken. You are his widow. I have his body in the +wagon. You need not feel bad about it, because we hung him +thinking he was the horse thief. We soon after found that he was +innocent. The joke is on us." + +Mr. Roosevelt was intensely human and rarely tried to conceal +his feelings. He was to address the New York State Fair at +Syracuse. The management invited me as a United States Senator +from New York to be present. There were at least twenty thousand +on the fair ground, and Mr. Roosevelt read his speech, which he +had elaborately prepared, detailing his scheme for harmonizing +the relations between labor and capital. The speech was long and +very able and intended for publication all over the country. But +his audience, who were farmers, were not much interested in the +subject. Besides, they had been wearied wandering around the +grounds and doing the exhibits, waiting for the meeting to begin. +I know of nothing so wearisome to mind and body as to spend hours +going through the exhibits of a great fair. When the president +finished, the audience began calling for me. I was known practically +to every one of them from my long career on the platform. + +Knowing Roosevelt as I did, I was determined not to speak, but +the fair management and the audience would not be denied. I paid +the proper compliments to the president, and then, knowing that +humor was the only possible thing with such a tired crowd, I had +a rollicking good time with them. They entered into the spirit of +the fun and responded in a most uproarious way. I heard Roosevelt +turn to the president of the fair and say very angrily: "You +promised me, sir, that there would be no other speaker." + +When I met the president that evening at a large dinner given +by Senator Frank Hiscock, he greeted me with the utmost cordiality. +He was in fine form, and early in the dinner took entire charge +of the discussion. For three hours he talked most interestingly, +and no one else contributed a word. Nevertheless, we all enjoyed +the evening, and not the least the president himself. + +I used to wonder how he found time, with his great activities and +engagements, to read so much. Publishers frequently send me +new books. If I thought they would interest him I mentioned +the work to him, but invariably he had already read it. + +When my first term as senator expired and the question of my +re-election was before the legislature, President Roosevelt gave +me his most cordial and hearty support. + +Events to his credit as president, which will be monuments in +history, are extraordinary in number and importance. To mention +only a few: He placed the Monroe Doctrine before European +governments upon an impregnable basis by his defiance to the +German Kaiser, when he refused to accept arbitration and was +determined to make war on Venezuela. The president cabled: +"Admiral Dewey with the Atlantic Fleet sails to-morrow." And +the Kaiser accepted arbitration. Raissuli, the Moroccan bandit, +who had seized and held for ransom an American citizen named +Perdicaris, gave up his captive on receipt of this cable: +"Perdicaris alive or Raissuli dead." He settled the war between +Russia and Japan and won the Nobel prize for peace. + +Roosevelt built the Panama Canal when other efforts had failed +for five hundred years. As senator from his own State, I was in +constant consultation with him while he was urging legislation +necessary to secure the concession for the construction of the +canal. The difficulties to be overcome in both Houses seemed +insurmountable, and would have been so except for the marvellous +resourcefulness and power of the president. + +When the Republican convention met in 1908, I was again delegate +at large. It was a Roosevelt convention and crazy to have him +renominated. It believed that he could overcome the popular +feeling against a third term. Roosevelt did not think so. He +believed that in order to make a third term palatable there must +be an interval of another and different administration. When +the convention found that his decision was unalterably not to +accept the nomination himself, it was prepared to accept any one +he might advise. He selected his secretary of war and most +intimate friend, William Howard Taft. Taft had a delightful +personality, and won distinction upon the bench, and had proved +an admirable administrator as governor of the Philippine Islands. +After Mr. Taft's election the president, in order that the new +president and his administration might not be embarrassed by his +presence and prestige, went on a two years' trip abroad. + +During that trip he was more in the popular mind at home and +abroad than almost any one in the world. If he reviewed the German +army with the Kaiser, the press was full of the common characteristics +and differences between the two men and of the unprecedented +event of the guest giving advice to the Kaiser. + +When he visited England he told in a public speech of his experience +in Egypt, and recommended to the English Government that, if they +expected to continue to govern Egypt, to begin to govern it. + +All France was aghast and then hilarious when, in an address before +the faculties of Sorbonne, he struck at once at the weak point of +the future and power of France, and that was race suicide. + + + +XV. UNITED STATES SENATE + +My twelve years in the Senate were among the happiest of my life. +The Senate has long enjoyed the reputation of being the best club +in the world, but it is more than that. My old friend, +Senator Bacon, of Georgia, often said that he preferred the +position of senator to that of either President or Chief Justice +of the United States. There is independence in a term of six years +which is of enormous value to the legislative work of the senator. +The member of the House, who is compelled to go before his +district every two years, must spend most of his time looking +after his re-election. Then the Senate, being a smaller body, +the associations are very close and intimate. I do not intend +to go into discussion of the measures which occupied the attention +of the Senate during my time. They are a part of the history +of the world. The value of a work of this kind, if it has any +value, is in personal incidents. + +One of the most delightful associations of a lifetime personally +and politically, was that with Vice-President James S. Sherman. +During the twenty-two years he was in the House of Representatives +he rarely was in the City of New York without coming to see me. +He became the best parliamentarian in Congress, and was generally +called to the chair when the House met in committee of the whole. +He was intimately familiar with every political movement in +Washington, and he had a rare talent for discriminatory description, +both of events and analysis of the leading characters in the +Washington drama. He was one of the wisest of the advisers of +the organization of his party, both national and State. + +When President Roosevelt had selected Mr. Taft as his successor +he made no indication as to the vice-presidency. Of course, the +nomination of Mr. Taft under such conditions was a foregone +conclusion, and when the convention met it was practically +unanimous for Roosevelt's choice. Who was the best man to nominate +for vice-president in order to strengthen the ticket embarassed +the managers of the Taft campaign. The Republican congressmen +who were at the convention were practically unanimous for Sherman, +and their leader was Uncle Joe Cannon. We from New York found +the Taft managers discussing candidates from every doubtful State. +We finally convinced them that New York was the most important, but +they had gone so far with State candidates that it became a serious +question how to get rid of them without offending their States. + +The method adopted by one of the leading managers was both adroit +and hazardous. He would call up a candidate on the telephone and +say to him: "The friends of Mr. Taft are very favorable to you for +vice-president. Will you accept the nomination?" The candidate +would hesitate and begin to explain his ambitions, his career and +its possibilities, and the matter which he would have to consider. +Before the prospective candidate had finished, the manager would +say, "Very sorry, deeply regret," and put up the telephone. + +When the nomination was made these gentlemen who might have +succeeded would come around to the manager and say impatiently +and indignantly: "I was all right. Why did you cut me off?" +However, those gentlemen have had their compensation. Whenever you +meet one of them he will say to you: "I was offered the +vice-presidency with Taft but was so situated that I could not accept." + +One evening during the convention a wind and rain storm drove +everybody indoors. The great lobby of Congress Hall was crowded, +and most of them were delegates. Suddenly there was a loud call +for a speech, and some husky and athletic citizen seized and +lifted me on to a chair. After a story and a joke, which put the +crowd into a receptive mood, I made what was practically a +nominating speech for Sherman. The response was intense and +unanimous. When I came down from a high flight as to the ability +and popularity to the human qualities of "Sunny Jim," I found +"Sunny Jim" such a taking characterization, and it was echoed +and re-echoed. I do not claim that speech nominated Sherman, +only that nearly everybody who was present became a most vociferous +advocate for Sherman for vice-president. + +The position of vice-president is one of the most difficult in our +government. Unless the president requests his advice or assistance, +he has no public function except presiding over the Senate. No +president ever called the vice-president into his councils. +McKinley came nearest to it during his administration, with Hobart, +but did not keep it up. + +President Harding has made a precedent for the future by inviting +Vice-President Coolidge to attend all Cabinet meetings. The +vice-president has accepted and meets regularly with the Cabinet. + +Sherman had one advantage over other vice-presidents in having +been for nearly a quarter of a century a leader in Congress. Few, +if any, who ever held that office have been so popular with the +Senate and so tactful and influential when they undertook the very +difficult task of influencing the action of a Senate, very jealous +of its prerogatives and easily made resentful and hostile. + +Among my colleagues in the Senate were several remarkable men. +They had great ability, extraordinary capacity for legislation, +and, though not great orators, possessed the rare faculty of +pressing their points home in short and effective speeches. Among +them was Senator Frye, of Maine. He was for many years chairman +of the great committee on commerce. Whatever we had of a merchant +marine was largely due to his persistent efforts. He saved the +government scores of millions in that most difficult task of pruning +the River and Harbor Bill. He possessed the absolute confidence +of both parties, and was the only senator who could generally carry +the Senate with him for or against a measure. While wise and +the possessor of the largest measure of common sense, yet he was +one of the most simple-minded of men. I mean by this that he had +no guile and suspected none in others. Whatever was uppermost +in his mind came out. These characteristics made him one of the +most delightful of companions and one of the most harmonious +men to work with on a committee. + +Clement A. Griscom, the most prominent American ship owner and +director, was very fond of Senator Frye. Griscom entertained +delightfully at his country home near Philadelphia. He told me +that at one time Senator Frye was his guest over a week-end. +To meet the senator at dinner on Saturday evening, he had invited +great bankers, lawyers, and captains of industry of Philadelphia. +Their conversation ran from enterprises and combinations involving +successful industries and exploitations to individual fortunes +and how they were accumulated. The atmosphere was heavy with +millions and billions. Suddenly Griscom turned to Senator Frye +and said: "I know that our successful friends here would not only +be glad to hear but would learn much if you would tell us of your +career." "It is not much to tell," said Senator Frye, "especially +after these stories which are like chapters from the 'Arabian Nights.' +I was very successful as a young lawyer and rising to a leading +practice and head of the bar of my State when I was offered +an election to the House of Representatives. I felt that it would +be a permanent career and that there was no money in it. I +consulted my wife and told her that it meant giving up all prospects +of accumulating a fortune or independence even, but it was my +ambition, and I believed I could perform valuable service to +the public, and that as a career its general usefulness would far +surpass any success at the bar. My wife agreed with me cordially +and said that she would economize on her part to any extent required. + +"So," the senator continued, "I have been nearly thirty years in +Congress, part of this time in the House and the rest in the Senate. +I have been able on my salary to meet our modest requirements +and educate our children. I have never been in debt but once. Of +course, we had to calculate closely and set aside sufficient +to meet our extra expenses in Washington and our ordinary one +at home. We came out a little ahead every year but one. That +year the president very unexpectedly called an extra session, +and for the first time in twenty years I was in debt to our landlord +in Washington." + +Griscom told me that this simple narrative of a statesman of +national reputation seemed to make the monumental achievements +of his millionaire guests of little account. + +Senator Frye's genial personality and vivid conversation made +him a welcome guest at all entertainments in Washington. There +was a lady at the capital at that time who entertained a great deal +and was very popular on her own account, but she always began +the conversation with the gentleman who took her out by narrating +how she won her husband. I said one day to Senator Frye: "There +will be a notable gathering at So-and-So's dinner to-night. Are +you going?" He answered: "Yes, I will be there; but it has been +my lot to escort to dinner this lady"--naming her--"thirteen times +this winter. She has told me thirteen times the story of her +courtship. If it is my luck to be assigned to her to-night, and +she starts that story, I shall leave the table and the house +and go home." + +Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, was once called by Senator Quay +the schoolmaster of the Senate. As the head of the finance +committee he had commanding influence, and with his skill in +legislation and intimate knowledge of the rules he was the leader +whenever he chose to lead. This he always did when the policy +he desired or the measure he was promoting had a majority, and +the opposition resorted to obstructive tactics. As there is no +restriction on debate in the Senate, or was none at my time, the +only way the minority could defeat the majority was by talking +the bill to death. I never knew this method to be used successfully +but once, because in the trial of endurance the greater number +wins. The only successful talk against time was by Senator Carter, +of Montana. Carter was a capital debater. He was invaluable at +periods when the discussion had become very bitter and personal. +Then in his most suave way he would soothe the angry elements +and bring the Senate back to a calm consideration of the question. +When he arose on such occasions, the usual remark among those +who still kept their heads was: "Carter will now bring out his +oil can and pour oil upon the troubled waters"--and it usually +proved effective. + +Senator George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, seemed to be a revival +of what we pictured in imagination as the statesmen who framed +the Constitution of the United States, or the senators who sat +with Webster, Clay, and Calhoun. He was a man of lofty ideals +and devotion to public service. He gave to each subject on which +he spoke an elevation and dignity that lifted it out of ordinary +senatorial discussions. He had met and knew intimately most +of the historical characters in our public life for fifty years, +and was one of the most entertaining and instructive conversationalists +whom I ever met. + +On the other hand, Senator Benjamin Tillman, of South Carolina, +who was an ardent admirer of Senator Hoar, was his opposite in +every way. Tillman and I became very good friends, though at +first he was exceedingly hostile. He hated everything which +I represented. With all his roughness, and at the beginning +his brutality, he had a singular streak of sentiment. + +I addressed the first dinner of the Gridiron Club at its organization +and have been their guest many times since. The Gridiron Club +is an association of the newspaper correspondents at Washington, +and their dinners several times a year are looked forward to with +the utmost interest and enjoyed by everybody privileged to attend. + +The Gridiron Club planned an excursion to Charleston, S. C., that +city having extended to them an invitation. They invited me to +go with them and also Senator Tillman. Tillman refused to be +introduced to me because I was chairman of the board of directors +of the New York Central Railroad, and he hated my associations +and associates. We had a wonderful welcome from the most hospitable +of cities, the most beautifully located City of Charleston. On +the many excursions, luncheons, and gatherings, I was put forward +to do the speaking, which amounted to several efforts a day during +our three days' visit. The Gridiron stunt for Charleston was very +audacious. There were many speakers, of course, including +Senator Tillman, who hated Charleston and the Charlestonians, +because he regarded them as aristocrats and told them so. There +were many invited to speak who left their dinners untasted while +they devoted themselves to looking over their manuscripts, and +whose names were read in the list at the end of the dinner, but +their speeches were never called for. + +On our way home we stopped for luncheon at a place outside of +Charleston. During the luncheon an earthquake shook the table +and rattled the plates. I was called upon to make the farewell +address for the Gridiron Club to the State of South Carolina. +Of course the earthquake and its possibilities gave an opportunity +for pathos as well as humor, and Tillman was deeply affected. +When we were on the train he came to me and with great emotion +grasped my hand and said: "Chauncey Depew, I was mistaken about +you. You are a damn good fellow." And we were good friends +until he died. + +I asked Tillman to what he owed his phenomenal rise and strength +in the conservative State of South Carolina. He answered: "We +in our State were governed by a class during the colonial period +and afterwards until the end of the Civil War. They owned large +plantations, hundreds of thousands of negroes, were educated +for public life, represented our State admirably, and did great +service to the country. They were aristocrats and paid little +attention to us poor farmers, who constituted the majority of +the people. The only difference between us was that they had +been colonels or generals in the Revolutionary War, or delegates +to the Continental Congress or the Constitutional Convention, while +we had been privates, corporals, or sergeants. They generally +owned a thousand slaves, and we had from ten to thirty. I made +up my mind that we should have a share of the honors, and they +laughed at me. I organized the majority and put the old families +out of business, and we became and are the rulers of the State." + +Among the most brilliant debaters of any legislative body were +Senators Joseph W. Bailey, of Texas, and John C. Spooner, of +Wisconsin. They would have adorned and given distinction to any +legislative body in the world. Senator Albert J. Beveridge, of +Indiana, and Senator Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio, were speakers +of a very high type. The Senate still has the statesmanship, +eloquence, scholarship, vision, and culture of Senator Lodge, +of Massachusetts. + +One of the wonders of the Senate was Senator W. M. Crane, of +Massachusetts. He never made a speech. I do not remember that +he ever made a motion. Yet he was the most influential member +of that body. His wisdom, tact, sound judgment, encyclopaedic +knowledge of public affairs and of public men made him an authority. + +Senator Hanna, who was a business man pure and simple, and wholly +unfamiliar with legislative ways, developed into a speaker of +remarkable force and influence. At the same time, on the social +side, with his frequent entertainments, he did more for the measures +in which he was interested. They were mainly, of course, of a +financial and economic character. + +One of the characters of the Senate, and one of the upheavals +of the Populist movement was Senator Jeff. Davis, of Arkansas. +Davis was loudly, vociferously, and clamorously a friend of the +people. Precisely what he did to benefit the people was never +very clear, but if we must take his word for it, he was the only +friend the people had. Among his efforts to help the people was +to denounce big business of all kinds and anything which gave large +employment or had great capital. I think that in his own mind +the ideal state would have been made of small landowners and +an occasional lawyer. He himself was a lawyer. + +One day he attacked me, as I was sitting there listening to him, +in a most vicious way, as the representative of big corporations, +especially railroads, and one of the leading men in the worst +city in the world, New York, and as the associate of bankers and +capitalists. When he finished Senator Crane went over to his seat +and told him that he had made a great mistake, warned him that +he had gone so far that I might be dangerous to him personally, +but in addition to that, with my ridicule and humor, I would make +him the laughing-stock of the Senate and of the country. Jeff, +greatly alarmed, waddled over to my seat and said: "Senator Depew, +I hope you did not take seriously what I said. I did not mean +anything against you. I won't do it again, but I thought that you +would not care, because it won't hurt you, and it does help me +out in Arkansas." I replied: "Jeff, old man, if it helps you, +do it as often as you like." Needless to say, he did not repeat. + +I have always been deeply interested in the preservation of the +forests and a warm advocate of forest preservers. I made a study +of the situation of the Appalachian Mountains, where the lumberman +was doing his worst, and millions of acres of fertile soil from the +denuded hills were being swept by the floods into the ocean every +year. I made a report from my committee for the purchase of this +preserve, affecting, as it did, eight States, and supported it +in a speech. Senator Eugene Hale, a Senate leader of controlling +influence, had been generally opposed to this legislation. He +became interested, and, when I had finished my speech, came over +to me and said: "I never gave much attention to this subject. +You have convinced me and this bill should be passed at once, +and I will make the motion." Several senators from the States +affected asked for delay in order that they might deliver speeches +for local consumption. The psychological moment passed and that +legislation could not be revived until ten years afterwards, and +then in a seriously modified form. + +I worked very hard for the American mercantile marine. A subsidy +of four million dollars a year in mail contracts would have been +sufficient, in addition to the earnings of the ships, to have given +us lines to South and Central America, Australia, and Asia. + +Shakespeare's famous statement that a rose by any other name +would smell as sweet has exceptions. In the psychology of the +American mind the word subsidy is fatal to any measure. After +the most careful investigation, while I was in the Senate, I +verified this statement, that a mail subsidy of four millions +a year would give to the United States a mercantile marine which +would open new trade routes for our commerce. This contribution +would enable the ship-owners to meet the losses which made it +impossible for them to compete with the ships of other countries, +some having subsidies and all under cheaper expenses of operation. +It would not all be a contribution because part of it was a +legitimate charge for carrying the mails. The word subsidy, +however, could be relied upon to start a flood of fiery oratory, +charging that the people of the United States were to be taxed +to pour money into the pockets of speculators in New York and +financial crooks in Wall Street. + +We have now created a mercantile marine through the Shipping Board +which is the wonder and amazement of the world. It has cost about +five hundred millions. Part of it is junk already, and a part +available is run at immense loss, owing to discriminatory laws. +Recently a bill was presented to Congress for something like sixty +millions of dollars to make up the losses in the operations of our +mercantile marine for the year. While a subsidy of four millions +under private management would have been a success but was vetoed +as a crime, the sixty millions are hailed as a patriotic contribution +to public necessity. + +A river and harbor bill of from thirty to fifty millions of dollars +was eagerly anticipated and enthusiastically supported. It was +known to be a give and take, a swap and exchange, where a few +indispensable improvements had to carry a large number of dredgings +of streams, creeks, and bayous, which never could be made navigable. +Many millions a year were thrown away in these river and harbor +bills, but four millions a year to restore the American mercantile +marine aroused a flood of indignant eloquence, fierce protest, +and wild denunciation of capitalists, who would build and own +ships, and it was always fatal to the mercantile marine. + +Happily the war has, among its benefits, demonstrated to the +interior and mountain States that a merchant marine is as necessary +to the United States as its navy, and that we cannot hope to expand +and retain our trade unless we have the ships. + +I remember one year when the river and harbor bill came up for +passage on the day before final adjournment. The hour had been +fixed by both Houses, and, therefore, could not be extended by +one House. The administration was afraid of the bill because of +the many indefensible extravagances there were in it. At the +same time, it had so many political possibilities that the president +was afraid to veto it. Senator Carter was always a loyal +administration man, and so he was put forward to talk the bill +to death. He kept it up without yielding the floor for thirteen +hours, and until the hour of adjournment made action upon the +measure impossible. + +I sat there all night long, watching this remarkable effort. The +usual obstructor soon uses up all his own material and then sends +pages of irrelevant matter to the desk for the clerk to read, or +he reads himself from the pages of the Record, or from books, +but Carter stuck to his text. He was a man of wit and humor. +Many items in the river and harbor bill furnished him with an +opportunity of showing how creeks and trout streams were to be +turned by the magic of the money of the Treasury into navigable +rivers, and inaccessible ponds were to be dredged into harbors +to float the navies of the world. + +The speech was very rich in anecdotes and delightful in its success +by an adroit attack of tempting a supporter of the measure into +aiding the filibuster by indignantly denying the charge which +Carter had made against him. By this method Carter would get +a rest by the folly of his opponent. The Senate was full and +the galleries were crowded during the whole night, and when the +gavel of the vice-president announced that no further debate was +admissible and the time for adjournment had arrived, and began +to make his farewell speech, Carter took his seat amidst the wreck +of millions and the hopes of the exploiters, and the Treasury +of the United States had been saved by an unexpected champion. + +The country does not appreciate the tremendous power of the +committees, as legislative business constantly increases with +almost geometrical progression. The legislation of the country +is handled almost entirely in committees. It requires a possible +revolution to overcome the hostility of a committee, even if the +House and the country are otherwise minded. Some men whose names +do not appear at all in the Congressional Record, and seldom in +the newspapers, have a certain talent for drudgery and detail +which is very rare, and when added to shrewdness and knowledge +of human nature makes such a senator or representative a force +to be reckoned with on committees. Such a man is able to hold +up almost anything. + +I found during my Washington life the enormous importance of its +social side. Here are several hundred men in the two Houses of +Congress, far above the average in intelligence, force of character, +and ability to accomplish things. Otherwise they would not have +been elected. They are very isolated and enjoy far beyond those +who have the opportunity of club life, social attentions. At dinner +the real character of the guest comes out, and he is most responsive +to these attentions. Mrs. Depew and I gave a great many dinners, +to our intense enjoyment and, I might say, education. By this +method I learned to know in a way more intimate than otherwise +would have been possible many of the most interesting characters +I have ever met. + +Something must be done, and that speedily, to bridge the widening +chasm between the Executive and the Congress. Our experience +with President Wilson has demonstrated this. As a self-centred +autocrat, confident of himself and suspicious of others, hostile to +advice or discussion, he became the absolute master of the Congress +while his party was in the majority. + +The Congress, instead of being a co-ordinate branch, was really +in session only to accept, adopt, and put into laws the imperious +will of the president. When, however, the majority changed, there +being no confidence between the executive and the legislative +branch of the government, the necessary procedure was almost +paralyzed. The president was unyielding and the Congress insisted +upon the recognition of its constitutional rights. Even if the +president is, as McKinley was, in close and frequent touch with +the Senate and the House of Representatives, the relation is +temporary and unequal, and not what it ought to be, automatic. + +Happily we have started a budget system; but the Cabinet should +have seats on the floor of the Houses, and authority to answer +questions and participate in debates. Unless our system was +radically changed, we could not adopt the English plan of selecting +the members of the Cabinet entirely from the Senate and the House. +But we could have an administration always in close touch with +the Congress if the Cabinet members were in attendance when matters +affecting their several departments were under discussion and action. + +I heard Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, who was one of the shrewdest and +ablest legislators of our generation, say that if business methods +were applied to the business of the government in a way in which +he could do it, there would be a saving of three hundred millions +of dollars a year. We are, since the Great War, facing +appropriations of five or six billions of dollars a year. I think +the saving of three hundred millions suggested by Senator Aldrich +could be increased in proportion to the vast increase in appropriations. + +There has been much discussion about restricting unlimited debates +in the Senate and adopting a rigid closure rule. My own recollection +is that during my twelve years unlimited discussion defeated no +good measure, but talked many bad ones to death. There is a curious +feature in legislative discussion, and that is the way in which +senators who have accustomed themselves to speak every day on +each question apparently increase their vocabulary as their ideas +evaporate. Two senators in my time, who could be relied upon +to talk smoothly as the placid waters of a running brook for an +hour or more every day, had the singular faculty of apparently +saying much of importance while really developing no ideas. +In order to understand them, while the Senate would become empty +by its members going to their committee rooms, I would be a patient +listener. I finally gave that up because, though endowed with +reasonable intelligence and an intense desire for knowledge, +I never could grasp what they were driving at. + + + +XVI. AMBASSADORS AND MINISTERS + +The United States has always been admirably represented at the +Court of St. James. I consider it as a rare privilege and a +delightful memory that I have known well these distinguished +ambassadors and ministers who served during my time. I was not +in England while Charles Francis Adams was a minister, but his +work during the Civil War created intense interest in America. +It is admitted that he prevented Great Britain from taking such +action as would have prolonged the war and endangered the purpose +which Mr. Lincoln was trying to accomplish, namely, the preservation +of the Union. His curt answer to Lord John Russell, "This means +war," changed the policy of the British Government. + +James Russell Lowell met every requirement of the position, but, +more than that, his works had been read and admired in England +before his appointment. Literary England welcomed him with open +arms, and official England soon became impressed with his diplomatic +ability. He was one of the finest after-dinner speakers, and that +brought him in contact with the best of English public life. He +told me an amusing instance. As soon as he was appointed, everybody +who expected to meet him sent to the book stores and purchased +his works. Among them, of course, was the "Biglow Papers." One +lady asked him if he had brought Mrs. Biglow with him. + +The secretary of the embassy, William J. Hoppin, was a very +accomplished gentleman. He had been president of the Union +League Club, and I knew him very well. I called one day at +the embassy with an American living in Europe to ask for a favor +for this fellow countryman. The embassy was overwhelmed with +Americans asking favors, so Hoppin, without looking at me or +waiting for the request, at once brought out his formula for sliding +his visitors on an inclined plane into the street. He said: "Every +American--and there are thousands of them--who comes to London +visits the embassy. They all want to be invited to Buckingham +Palace or to have cards to the House of Lords or the House of +Commons. Our privileges in that respect are very few, so few that +we can satisfy hardly anybody. Why Americans, when there is so +much to see in this old country from which our ancestry came, and +with whose literature we are so familiar, should want to try to get +into Buckingham Palace or the Houses of Parliament is incomprehensible. +There is a very admirable cattle show at Reading. I have a few +tickets and will give them to you, gentlemen, gladly. You will +find the show exceedingly interesting." + +I took the tickets, but if there is anything of which I am not a +qualified judge, it is prize cattle. That night, at a large dinner +given by a well-known English host, my friend Hoppin was present, +and at once greeted me with warm cordiality. Of course, he had +no recollections of the morning meeting. Our host, as usual when +a new American is present, wanted to know if I had any fresh +American stories, and I told with some exaggeration and embroidery +the story of the Reading cattle show. Dear old Hoppin was +considerably embarrassed at the chafing he received, but took it +in good part, and thereafter the embassy was entirely at my service. + +Mr. Edward J. Phelps was an extraordinary success. He was a great +lawyer, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the +United States told me that there was no one who appeared before +that Court whose arguments were more satisfactory and convincing +than those of Mr. Phelps. He had the rare distinction of being a +frequent guest at the Benchers' dinners in London. One of the +English judges told me that at a Benchers' dinner the judges were +discussing a novel point which had arisen in one of the cases +recently before them. He said that in the discussion in which +Mr. Phelps was asked to participate, the view which the United States +minister presented was so forcible that the decision, which had +been practically agreed upon, was changed to meet Mr. Phelps's +view. I was at several of Mr. Phelps's dinners. They were +remarkable gatherings of the best in almost every department of +English life. + +At one of his dinners I had a delightful talk with Browning, +the poet. Browning told me that as a young man he was several +times a guest at the famous breakfasts of the poet and banker, +Samuel Rogers. Rogers, he said, was most arbitrary at these +breakfasts with his guests, and rebuked him severely for venturing +beyond the limits within which he thought a young poet should +be confined. + +Mr. Browning said that nothing gratified him so much as the +popularity of his works in the United States. He was especially +pleased and also embarrassed by our Browning societies, of which +there seemed to be a great many over here. They sent him papers +which were read by members of the societies, interpreting his poems. +These American friends discovered meanings which had never occurred +to him, and were to him an entirely novel view of his own +productions. He also mentioned that every one sent him presents +and souvenirs, all of them as appreciations and some as suggestions +and help. Among these were several cases of American wine. He +appreciated the purpose of the gifts, but the fluid did not +appeal to him. + +He told me he was a guest at one time at the dinners given to +the Shah of Persia. This monarch was a barbarian, but the +British Foreign Office had asked and extended to him every possible +courtesy, because of the struggle then going on as to whether +Great Britain or France or Russia should have the better part of +Persia. France and Russia had entertained him with lavish +military displays and other governmental functions, which a +democratic country like Great Britain could not duplicate. So +the Foreign Office asked all who had great houses in London or +in the country, and were lavish entertainers, to do everything they +could for the Shah. + +Browning was present at a great dinner given for the Shah at +Stafford House, the home of the Duke of Sutherland, and the finest +palace in London. Every guest was asked, in order to impress +the Shah, to come in all the decorations to which they were entitled. +The result was that the peers came in their robes, which they +otherwise would not have thought of wearing on such an occasion, +and all others in the costumes of honor significant of their rank. +Browning said he had received a degree at Oxford and that entitled +him to a scarlet cloak. He was so outranked, because the guests +were placed according to rank, that he sat at the foot of the +table. The Shah said to his host: "Who is that distinguished +gentleman in the scarlet cloak at the other end of the table?" +The host answered: "That is one of our greatest poets." "That +is no place for a poet," remarked the Shah; "bring him up here +and let him sit next to me." So at the royal command the poet +took the seat of honor. The Shah said to Browning: "I am mighty +glad to have you near me, for I am a poet myself." + +It was at this dinner that Browning heard the Shah say to the +Prince of Wales, who sat at the right of the Shah: "This is a +wonderful palace. Is it royal?" The Prince answered: "No, it +belongs to one of our great noblemen, the Duke of Sutherland." +"Well," said the Shah, "let me give you a point. When one of my +noblemen or subjects gets rich enough to own a palace like this, +I cut off his head and take his fortune." + +A very beautiful English lady told me that she was at +Ferdinand Rothschild's, where the Shah was being entertained. +In order to minimize his acquisitive talents, the wonderful treasures +of Mr. Rothschild's house had been hidden. The Shah asked for +an introduction to this lady and said to her: "You are the most +beautiful woman I have seen since I have been in England. I must +take you home with me." "But," she said, "Your Majesty, I am +married." "Well," he replied, "bring your husband along. When +we get to Teheran, my capital, I will take care of him." + +Mr. Phelps's talent as a speaker was quite unknown to his countrymen +before he went abroad. While he was a minister he made several +notable addresses, which aroused a great deal of interest and +admiration in Great Britain. He was equally happy in formal +orations and in the field of after-dinner speeches. Mrs. Phelps +had such a phenomenal success socially that, when her husband +was recalled and they left England, the ladies of both the great +parties united, and through Lady Rosebery, the leader of the +Liberal, and Lady Salisbury, of the Conservative, women, paid her +a very unusual and complimentary tribute. + +During John Hay's term as United States minister to Great Britain +my visits to England were very delightful. Hay was one of the +most charming men in public life of his period. He had won great +success in journalism, as an author, and in public service. At +his house in London one would meet almost everybody worth while +in English literary, public, and social life. + +In the hours of conversation with him, when I was posting him on +the latest developments in America, his comments upon the leading +characters of the time were most racy and witty. Many of them +would have embalmed a statesman, if the epigram had been preserved, +like a fly in amber. He had officially a very difficult task +during the Spanish War. The sympathies of all European governments +were with Spain. This was especially true of the Kaiser and the +German Government. It was Mr. Hay's task to keep Great Britain +neutral and prevent her joining the general alliance to help Spain, +which some of the continental governments were fomenting. + +Happily, Mr. Balfour, the British foreign minister, was cordially +and openly our friend. He prevented this combination against +the United States. + +During part of my term as a senator John Hay was secretary of state. +To visit his office and have a discussion on current affairs was +an event to be remembered. He made a prediction, which was the +result of his own difficulties with the Senate, that on account of +the two-thirds majority necessary for the ratification of a treaty, +no important treaty sent to the Senate by the president would ever +again be ratified. Happily this gloomy view has not turned out +to be entirely correct. + +Mr. Hay saved China, in the settlement of the indemnities arising +out of the Boxer trouble, from the greed of the great powers of +Europe. One of his greatest achievements was in proclaiming the +open door for China and securing the acquiescence of the great +powers. It was a bluff on his part, because he never could have +had the active support of the United States, but he made his +proposition with a confidence which carried the belief that he +had no doubt on that subject. He was fortunately dealing with +governments who did not understand the United States and do not +now. With them, when a foreign minister makes a serious statement +of policy, it is understood that he has behind him the whole +military, naval, and financial support of his government. But with +us it is a long road and a very rocky one, before action so serious, +with consequences so great, can receive the approval of the +war-making power in Congress. + +I called on Hay one morning just as Cassini, the Russian ambassador, +was leaving. Cassini was one of the shrewdest and ablest of +diplomats in the Russian service. It was said that for twelve +years he had got the better of all the delegations at Pekin and +controlled that extraordinary ruler of China, the dowager queen. +Cassini told me that from his intimate associations with her he +had formed the opinion that she was quite equal to Catherine of +Russia, whom he regarded as the greatest woman sovereign who +ever lived. + +Hay said to me: "I have just had a very long and very remarkable +discussion with Cassini. He is a revelation in the way of secret +diplomacy. He brought to me the voluminous instructions to him +of his government on our open-door policy. After we had gone +over them carefully, he closed his portfolio and, pushing it aside, +said: 'Now, Mr. Secretary, listen to Cassini.' He immediately +presented an exactly opposite policy from the one in the +instructions, and a policy entirely favorable to us, and said: +'That is what my government will do.'" It was a great loss to +Russian diplomacy when he died so early. + +As senator I did all in my power to bring about the appointment +of Whitelaw Reid as ambassador to Great Britain. He and I had +been friends ever since his beginning in journalism in New York +many years before. Reid was then the owner and editor of the +New York Tribune, and one of the most brilliant journalists in the +country. He was also an excellent public speaker. His long and +intimate contact with public affairs and intimacy with public men +ideally fitted him for the appointment. He had already served +with great credit as ambassador to France. + +The compensation of our representatives abroad always has been +and still is entirely inadequate to enable them to maintain, in +comparison with the representatives of other governments, the +dignity of their own country. All the other great powers at +the principal capitals maintain fine residences for their ambassadors, +which also is the embassy. Our Congress, except within the last +few years, has always refused to make this provision. The salary +which we pay is scarcely ever more than one-third the amount paid +by European governments in similar service. + +I worked hard while in the Senate to improve this situation because +of my intimate knowledge of the question. When I first began +the effort I found there was very strong belief that the whole +foreign service was an unnecessary expense. When Mr. Roosevelt +first became president, and I had to see him frequently about +diplomatic appointments, I learned that this was his view. He said +to me: "This foreign business of the government, now that the +cable is perfected, can be carried on between our State Department +and the chancellery of any government in the world. Nevertheless, +I am in favor of keeping up the diplomatic service. All the old +nations have various methods of rewarding distinguished public +servants. The only one we have is the diplomatic service. So when +I appoint a man ambassador or minister, I believe that I am giving +him a decoration, and the reason I change ambassadors and ministers +is that I want as many as possible to possess it." + +The longer Mr. Roosevelt remained president, and the closer he +came to our foreign relations, the more he appreciated the value +of the personal contact and intimate knowledge on the spot of +an American ambassador or minister. + +Mr. Reid entertained more lavishly and hospitably than any +ambassador in England ever had, both at his London house and at +his estate in the country. He appreciated the growing necessity +to the peace of the world and the progress of civilization of +closer union of English-speaking peoples. At his beautiful and +delightful entertainments Americans came in contact with Englishmen +under conditions most favorable for the appreciation by each of +the other. The charm of Mr. and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid's hospitality +was so genuine, so cordial, and so universal, that to be their +guest was an event for Americans visiting England. There is no +capital in the world where hospitality counts for so much as in +London, and no country where the house-party brings people together +under such favorable conditions. Both the city and the country +homes of Mr. and Mrs. Reid were universities of international +good-feeling. Mr. Reid, on the official side, admirably represented +his country and had the most intimate relations with the governing +powers of Great Britain. + +I recall with the keenest pleasure how much my old friend, +Joseph H. Choate, did to make each one of my visits to London +during his term full of the most charming and valuable recollections. +His dinners felt the magnetism of his presence, and he showed +especial skill in having, to meet his American guests, just the +famous men in London life whom the American desired to know. + +Choate was a fine conversationalist, a wit and a humorist of +a high order. His audacity won great triumphs, but if exercised +by a man less endowed would have brought him continuously into +trouble. He had the faculty, the art, of so directing conversation +that at his entertainments everybody had a good time, and an +invitation always was highly prized. He was appreciated most +highly by the English bench and bar. They recognized him as the +leader of his profession in the United States. They elected him +a Bencher of the Middle Temple, the first American to receive that +honor after an interval of one hundred and fifty years. Choate's +witticisms and repartees became the social currency of dinner-tables +in London and week-end parties in the country. + +Choate paid little attention to conventionalities, which count for +so much and are so rigidly enforced, especially in royal circles. +I had frequently been at receptions, garden-parties, and other +entertainments at Buckingham Palace in the time of Queen Victoria +and also of King Edward. At an evening reception the diplomats +representing all the countries in the world stand in a solemn row, +according to rank and length of service. They are covered with +decorations and gold lace. The weight of the gold lace on some +of the uniforms of the minor powers is as great as if it were a +coat of armor. Mr. Choate, under regulations of our diplomatic +service, could only appear in an ordinary dress suit. + +While the diplomats stand in solemn array, the king and queen +go along the line and greet each one with appropriate remarks. +Nobody but an ambassador and minister gets into that brilliant +circle. On one occasion Mr. Choate saw me standing with the other +guests outside the charmed circle and immediately left the diplomats, +came to me, and said: "I am sure you would like to have a talk +with the queen." He went up to Her Majesty, stated the case and +who I was, and the proposition was most graciously received. +I think the royalties were pleased to have a break in the formal +etiquette. Mr. Choate treated the occasion, so far as I was +concerned, as if it had been a reception in New York or Salem, +and a distinguished guest wanted to meet the hosts. The gold-laced +and bejewelled and highly decorated diplomatic circle was paralyzed. + +Mr. Choate's delightful personality and original conversational +powers made him a favorite guest everywhere, but he also carried +to the platform the distinction which had won for him the reputation +of being one of the finest orators in the United States. + +Choate asked at one time when I was almost nightly making speeches +at some entertainment: "How do you do it?" I told him I was +risking whatever reputation I had on account of very limited +preparation, that I did not let these speeches interfere at all +with my business, but that they were all prepared after I had +arrived home from my office late in the afternoon. Sometimes +they came easy, and I reached the dinner in time; at other times +they were more difficult, and I did not arrive till the speaking +had begun. Then he said: "I enjoy making these after-dinner +addresses more than any other work. It is a perfect delight for +me to speak to such an audience, but I have not the gift of quick +and easy preparation. I accept comparatively few of the constant +invitations I receive, because when I have to make such a speech +I take a corner in the car in the morning going to my office, +exclude all the intruding public with a newspaper and think all +the way down. I continue the same process on my way home in +the evening, and it takes about three days of this absorption and +exclusiveness, with some time in the evenings, to get an address +with which I am satisfied." + +The delicious humor of these efforts of Mr. Choate and the wonderful +way in which he could expose a current delusion, or what he thought +was one, and produce an impression not only on his audience but +on the whole community, when his speech was printed in the +newspapers, was a kind of effort which necessarily required +preparation. In all the many times I heard him, both at home and +abroad, he never had a failure and sometimes made a sensation. + +Among the many interesting characters whom I met on shipboard +was Emory Storrs, a famous Chicago lawyer. Storrs was a genius +of rare talent as an advocator. He also on occasions would make +a most successful speech, but his efforts were unequal. At one +session of the National Bar Association he carried off all honors +at their banquet. Of course, they wanted him the next year, but +then he failed entirely to meet their expectations.. Storrs was +one of the most successful advocates at the criminal bar, especially +in murder cases. He rarely failed to get an acquittal for his +client. He told me many interesting stories of his experiences. +He had a wide circuit, owing to his reputation, and tried cases +far distant from home. + +I remember one of his experiences in an out-of-the-way county of +Arkansas. The hotel where they all stopped was very primitive, +and he had the same table with the judge. The most attractive +offer for breakfast by the landlady was buckwheat-cakes. She +appeared with a jug of molasses and said to the judge: "Will you +have a trickle or a dab?" The judge answered: "A dab." She then +ran her fingers around the jug and slapped a huge amount of molasses +on the judge's cakes. Storrs said: "I think I prefer a trickle." +Whereupon she dipped her fingers again in the jug and let the +drops fall from them on Storrs's cakes. The landlady was +disappointed because her cakes were unpopular with such +distinguished gentlemen. + +Once Storrs was going abroad on the same ship with me on a sort +of semi-diplomatic mission. He was deeply read in English literature +and, as far as a stranger could be, familiar with the places made +famous in English and foreign classics. + +He was one of the factors, as chairman of the Illinois delegation, +of the conditions which made possible the nomination of Garfield +and Arthur. In the following presidential campaign he took an +active and very useful part. Then he brought all the influences +that he could use, and they were many, to bear upon President Arthur +to make him attorney-general. Arthur was a strict formalist and +could not tolerate the thought of having such an eccentric genius +in his Cabinet. Storrs was not only disappointed but hurt that +Arthur declined to appoint him. + +To make him happy his rich clients--and he had many of them--raised +a handsome purse and urged him to make a European trip. Then +the president added to the pleasure of his journey by giving him +an appointment as a sort of roving diplomat, with special duties +relating to the acute trouble then existing in regard to the +admission of American cattle into Great Britain. They were barred +because of a supposed infectious disease. + +Storrs's weakness was neckties. He told me that he had three +hundred and sixty-five, a new one for every day. He would come +on deck every morning, display his fresh necktie, and receive +a compliment upon its color and appropriateness, and then take +from his pocket a huge water-proof envelope. From this he would +unroll his parchment appointment as a diplomat, and the letters +he had to almost every one of distinction in Europe. On the last +day, going through the same ceremony, he said to me: "I am not +showing you these things out of vanity, but to impress upon you +the one thing I most want to accomplish in London. I desire to +compel James Russell Lowell, our minister, to give me a dinner." + +Probably no man in the world could be selected so antipathetic +to Lowell as Emory Storrs. Mr. Lowell told me that he was annoyed +that the president should have sent an interloper to meddle with +negotiations which he had in successful progress to a satisfactory +conclusion. So he invited Storrs to dinner, and then Storrs took +no further interest in his diplomatic mission. + +Mr. Lowell told me that he asked Storrs to name whoever he wanted +to invite. He supposed from his general analysis of the man that +Storrs would want the entire royal family. He was delighted to +find that the selection was confined entirely to authors, artists, +and scientists. + +On my return trip Mr. Storrs was again a fellow passenger. He +was very enthusiastic over the places of historic interest he had +visited, and eloquent and graphic in descriptions of them and of +his own intense feelings when he came in contact with things he +had dreamed of most of his life. + +"But," he said, "I will tell you of my greatest adventure. I was +in the picture-gallery at Dresden, and in that small room where +hangs Raphael's 'Madonna.' I was standing before this wonderful +masterpiece of divine inspiration when I felt the room crowded. +I discovered that the visitors were all Americans and all looking +at me. I said to them: 'Ladies and gentlemen, you are here in +the presence of the most wonderful picture ever painted. If you +study it, you can see that there is little doubt but with all his +genius Raphael in this work had inspiration from above, and yet +you, as Americans, instead of availing yourselves of the rarest +of opportunities, have your eyes bent on me. I am only a Chicago +lawyer wearing a Chicago-made suit of clothes.' + +"A gentleman stepped forward and said: 'Mr. Storrs, on behalf +of your countrymen and countrywomen present, I wish to say that +you are of more interest to us than all the works of Raphael put +together, because we understand that James Russell Lowell, +United States Minister to Great Britain, gave you a dinner.'" + +One other incident in my acquaintance with Mr. Storrs was original. +I heard the story of it both from him and Lord Coleridge, and they +did not differ materially. Lord Coleridge, Chief Justice of England, +was a most welcome visitor when he came to the United States. +He received invitations from the State Bar Associations everywhere +to accept their hospitality. I conducted him on part of his trip +and found him one of the most able and delightful of men. He was +a very fine speaker, more in our way than the English, and made +a first-class impression upon all the audiences he addressed. + +At Chicago Lord Coleridge was entertained by the Bar Association +of the State of Illinois. Storrs, who was an eminent member of +the bar of that State, came to him and said: "Now, Lord Coleridge, +you have been entertained by the Bar Association. I want you +to know the real men of the West, the captains of industry who +have created this city, built our railroads, and made the Great West +what it is." Coleridge replied that he did not want to go outside +bar associations, and he could not think of making another speech +in Chicago. Storrs assured him it would be purely a private affair +and no speeches permitted. + +The dinner was very late, but when they sat down Lord Coleridge +noticed a distinguished-looking gentleman, instead of eating his +dinner, correcting a manuscript. He said: "Mr. Storrs, I understood +there was to be no speaking." "Well," said Storrs, "you can't get +Americans together unless some one takes the floor. That man +with the manuscript is General and Senator John A. Logan, one of +our most distinguished citizens." Just then a reporter came up +to Storrs and said: "Mr. Storrs, we have the slips of your speech +in our office, and it is now set up with the laughter and applause +in their proper places. The editor sent me up to see if you wanted +to add anything." Of course Lord Coleridge was in for it and had +to make another speech. + +The cause of the lateness of the dinner is the most original +incident that I know of in historic banquets. Storrs received +great fees and had a large income, but was very careless about +his business matters. One of his creditors obtained a judgment +against him. The lawyer for this creditor was a guest at this +dinner and asked the landlord of the hotel if the dinner had been +paid for in advance. The landlord answered in the affirmative, +and so the lawyer telephoned to the sheriff, and had the dinner +levied upon. The sheriff refused to allow it to be served until +the judgment was satisfied. There were at least a hundred millions +of dollars represented among the guests, packers, elevator men, +real-estate operators, and grain operators, but millionaires +and multimillionaires in dress suits at a banquet never have any +money on their persons. So it was an hour or more before the +sheriff was satisfied. Lord Coleridge was intensely amused and +related the adventure with great glee. + +Several years afterwards Lord Coleridge had some difficulty in +his family which came into the courts of England. I do not remember +just what it was all about, but Storrs, in reading the gossip which +came across the cable, decided against the chief justice. +Lord Coleridge told me he received from Storrs a cable reading +something like this: "I have seen in our papers about your attitude +in the suit now pending. I therefore inform you that as far as +possible I withdraw the courtesies which I extended to you in +Chicago." In this unique way Storrs cancelled the dinner which +was given and seized by the sheriff years ago. + +I met Storrs many times, and he was always not only charming but +fascinating. He was very witty, full of anecdotes, and told a +story with dramatic effect. Except for his eccentricities he might +have taken the highest place in his profession. As it was, he +acquired such fame that an admirer has written a very good +biography of him. + + + +XVII. GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK STATE + +There is nothing more interesting than to see the beginning of a +controversy which makes history. It is my good fortune to have +been either a spectator or a participant on several occasions. + +William M. Tweed was at the height of his power. He was the master +of New York City, and controlled the legislature of the State. +The rapid growth and expansion of New York City had necessitated +a new charter, or very radical improvements in the existing one. +Tweed, as chairman of the Senate committee on cities, had staged +a large and spectacular hearing at the State Capitol at Albany. +It was attended by a large body of representative citizens from +the metropolis. Some spoke for civic and commercial bodies, and +there were also other prominent men who were interested. Everybody +interested in public affairs in Albany at the time attended. Not +only was there a large gathering of legislators, but there were +also in the audience judges, lawyers, and politicians from all +parts of the State. + +After hearing from the Chamber of Commerce and various reform +organizations, Mr. Samuel J. Tilden came forward with a complete +charter. It was soon evident that he was better prepared and +informed on the subject than any one present. He knew intimately +the weaknesses of the present charter, and had thought out with +great care and wisdom what was needed in new legislation. + +From the contemptuous way in which Senator Tweed treated Mr. Tilden, +scouted his plans, and ridiculed his propositions, it was evident +that the whole scheme had been staged as a State-wide spectacle +to humiliate and end the political career of Samuel J. Tilden. + +In answer to Tilden's protest against this treatment, Tweed loudly +informed him that he represented no one but himself, that he had +neither influence nor standing in the city, that he was an +intermeddler with things that did not concern him, and a +general nuisance. + +Mr. Tilden turned ashy white, and showed evidences of suppressed +rage and vindictiveness more intense than I ever saw in any one +before, and abruptly left the hearing. + +I knew Mr. Tilden very well, and from contact with him in railroad +matters had formed a high opinion of his ability and acquirements. +He had a keen, analytic mind, tireless industry, and a faculty +for clarifying difficulties and untangling apparently impossible +problems to a degree that amounted to genius. + +In reference to what had happened, I said to a friend: "Mr. Tweed +must be very confident of his position and of his record, for he +has deliberately defied and invited the attacks of a relentless +and merciless opponent by every insult which could wound the +pride and incite the hatred of the man so ridiculed and abused. +Mr. Tilden is a great lawyer. He has made a phenomenal success +financially, he has powerful associates in financial and business +circles, and is master of his time for any purpose to which he +chooses to apply it." + +It was not long before one of the most remarkable and exhaustive +investigations ever conducted by an individual into public records, +books, ledgers, bank-accounts, and contracts, revealed to the +public the whole system of governing the city. This master mind +solved the problems so that they were plain to the average citizen +as the simplest sum in arithmetic, or that two and two make four. + +The result was the destruction of the power of Tweed and his +associates, of their prosecution and conviction, and of the +elevation of Samuel J. Tilden to a State and national figure of +the first importance. He not only became in the public mind a +leader of reforms in government, municipal, State, and national, +but embodied in the popular imagination REFORM ITSELF. + +Mr. Tilden carried this same indefatigable industry and power +of organization into a canvass for governor. His agencies reached +not only the counties and towns, but the election districts of the +State. He called into existence a new power in politics--the young +men. The old leaders were generally against him, but he discovered +in every locality ambitious, resourceful, and courageous youngsters +and made them his lieutenants. This unparalleled preparation made +him the master of his party and the governor of the State. + +After the election he invited me to come and see him at the +Executive Mansion in Albany, and in the course of the conversation +he said: "In your speeches in the campaign against me you were +absolutely fair, and as a fair and open-minded opponent I want to +have a frank talk. I am governor of the State, elected upon an +issue which is purely local. The Democratic party is at present +without principles or any definite issue on which to appeal to +the public. If I am to continue in power we must find an issue. +The Erie Canal is not only a State affair, but a national one. +Its early construction opened the great Northwest, and it was for +years the only outlet to the seaboard. The public not only in +the State of New York, but in the West, believes that there has +been, and is, corruption in the construction and management of +the Canal. This great waterway requires continuing contracts for +continuing repairs, and the people believe that these contracts +are given to favorites, and that the work is either not performed +at all or is badly done. I believe that matter ought to be looked +into and the result will largely justify the suspicion prevalent +in the public mind. I want your judgment on the question and +what will be the effect upon me." + +I then frankly answered him: "Governor, there is no doubt it will +be a popular movement, but you know that the Canal contractors +control the machinery of your party, and I cannot tell what the +effect of that may be upon what you desire, which is a second term." + +"Those contractors," he said, "are good Democrats, and their +ability to secure the contracts depends upon Democratic supremacy. +A prosecution against them has been tried so often that they have +little fear of either civil or criminal actions, and I think they +will accept the issue as the only one which will keep their party +in power." + +It is a part of the history of the time that he made the issue so +interesting that he became a national figure of the first importance +and afterwards the candidate of his party for President of the +United States. Not only that, but he so impressed the people +that popular judgment is still divided as to whether or not he was +rightfully elected president. + +Once I was coming from the West after a tour of inspection, and +when we left Albany the conductor told me that Governor Tilden +was on the train. I immediately called and found him very +uncomfortable, because he said he was troubled with boils. I +invited him into the larger compartment which I had, and made +him as comfortable as possible. His conversation immediately +turned upon the second term and he asked what I, as a Republican, +thought of his prospects as the result of his administration. We +had hardly entered upon the subject when a very excited gentleman +burst into the compartment and said: "Governor, I have been +looking for you everywhere. I went to your office at the Capitol +and to the Executive Mansion, but learned you were here and barely +caught the train. You know who I am." (The governor knew he +was mayor of a city.) "I want to see you confidentially." + +The governor said to him: "I have entire confidence in my +Republican friend here. You can trust him. Go on." + +I knew the mayor very well, and under ordinary conditions he would +have insisted on the interview with the governor being private +and personal. But he was so excited and bursting with rage that +he went right on. The mayor fairly shouted: "It is the station +agent of the New York Central Railroad in our city of whom I +complain. He is active in politics and controls the Democratic +organization in our county. He is working to prevent myself and +my friends and even ex-Governor Seymour from being delegates +to the national convention. It is to the interest of our party, +in fact, I may say, the salvation of our party in our county that +this New York Central agent be either removed or silenced, and +I want you to see Mr. Vanderbilt on the subject." + +The governor sympathized with the mayor and dismissed him. Then +in a quizzical way he asked me: "Do you know this agent?" + +"Yes," I answered. + +"What do you think of him?" + +"I know nothing about his political activities," I answered, "but he +is one of the most efficient employees of the company in the State." + +"Well," said the governor, "I am glad to hear you say so. He was +down to see me the other night; in fact, I sent for him, and I +formed a very high opinion of his judgment and ability." + +As a matter of fact, the governor had selected him to accomplish +this very result which the mayor had said would ruin the party in +the county. + +When the New York Democratic delegation left the city for the +Democratic national convention they had engaged a special train +to leave from the Grand Central Station. I went down to see that +the arrangements were perfected for its movement. It was a +hilarious crowd, and the sides of the cars were strung with Tilden +banners. + +Mr. Tilden was there also to see them off. After bidding good-by +to the leaders, and with a whispered conference with each, the +mass of delegates and especially reporters, of whom there was a +crowd, wished to engage him in conversation. He spied me and +immediately hurried me into one of the alcoves, apparently for +a private conversation. The crowd, of course, gathered around, +anxious to know what it was all about. He asked me a few questions +about the health of my family and then added: "Don't leave me. +I want to avoid all these people, and we will talk until the train +is off and the crowd disperses." + +Life was a burden for me the rest of the day and evening, made +so by the newspaper men and Democratic politicians trying to find +out what the mysterious chief had revealed to me in the alcove of +the Grand Central. + +I was very much gratified when meeting him after the fierce battles +for the presidency were over, to have him grasp me by the hand +and say: "You were about the only one who treated me absolutely +fairly during the campaign." + +I love little incidents about great men. Mr. Tilden was intensely +human and a great man. + +Doctor Buckley, who was at the head of the Methodist Book Concern +in New York, and one of the most delightful of men, told me that +there came into his office one day a Methodist preacher from one +of the mining districts of Pennsylvania, who said to him: "My church +burned down. We had no insurance. We are poor people, and, +therefore, I have come to New York to raise money to rebuild it." + +The doctor told him that New York was overrun from all parts of +the country with applicants for help, and that he thought he would +have great difficulty in his undertaking. + +"Well," the preacher said, "I am going to see Mr. Tilden." + +Doctor Buckley could not persuade him that his mission was next +to impossible, and so this rural clergyman started for Gramercy Park. +When he returned he told the doctor of his experience. + +"I rang the bell," he said, "and when the door was opened I saw +Governor Tilden coming down the stairs. I rushed in and told him +hastily who I was before the man at the door could stop me, and +he invited me into his library. I stated my mission, and he said +he was so overwhelmed with applications that he did not think he +could do anything. 'But, governor,' I said, 'my case differs from +all others. My congregation is composed of miners, honest, +hardworking people. They have hitherto been Republicans on the +protection issue, but they were so impressed by you as a great +reformer that they all voted for you in the last election.' The +governor said: 'Tell that story again.' So I started again to +tell him about my church, but he interrupted me, saying: 'Not that, +but about the election.' So I told him again about their having, +on account of their admiration for him as a reformer, turned from +the Republican party and voted the Democratic ticket. Then the +governor said: 'Well, I think you have a most meritorious case, +and so I will give you all I have.'" + +Doctor Buckley interrupted him hastily, saying: "Great heavens, +are you going to build a cathedral?" + +"No," answered the clergyman; "all he had in his pocket was two +dollars and fifty cents." + +Governor Tilden had many followers and friends whose admiration +for him amounted almost to adoration. They believed him capable +of everything, and they were among the most intelligent and able men +of the country. + +John Bigelow, journalist, author, and diplomat, was always sounding +his greatness, both with tongue and pen. Abram S. Hewitt was an +equally enthusiastic friend and admirer. Both of these gentlemen, +the latter especially, were, I think, abler than Mr. Tilden, but +did not have his hypnotic power. + +I was dining one night with Mr. Hewitt, whose dinners were always +events to be remembered, when Mr. Tilden became the subject of +discussion. After incidents illustrating his manifold distinctions +had been narrated, Mr. Hewitt said that Mr. Tilden was the only one +in America and outside of royalties in Europe who had some +blue-labelled Johannisberger. This famous wine from the vineyards +of Prince Metternich on the Rhine was at that time reported to be +absorbed by the royal families of Europe. + +Our host said: "The bouquet of this wonderful beverage is unusually +penetrating and diffusing, and a proof is that one night at a dinner +in the summer, with the windows all open, the guests noticed this +peculiar aroma in the air. I said to them that Governor Tilden had +opened a bottle of his Johannisberger." + +The governor's residence was on the other side of Gramercy Park +from Mr. Hewitt's. The matter was so extraordinary that everybody +at the table went across the park, and when they were admitted +they found the governor in his library enjoying his bottle of +blue-labelled Johannisberger. + +When Mr. Tilden was elected governor, my friend, General Husted, +was speaker of the assembly, which was largely Republican. The +governor asked General Husted to come down in the evening, because +he wanted to consult him about the improvements and alterations +necessary for the Executive Mansion, and to have the speaker secure +the appropriation. During the discussion the governor placed +before the speaker a bottle of rare whiskey, with the usual +accompaniments. In front of the governor was a bottle of his +Johannisberger and a small liqueur glass, a little larger than +a thimble, from which the governor would from time to time taste +a drop of this rare and exquisite fluid. The general, after a +while, could not restrain his curiosity any longer and said: +"Governor, what is that you are drinking?" + +The governor explained its value and the almost utter impossibility +of securing any. + +"Well, governor," said Speaker Husted, "I never saw any before +and I think I will try it." He seized the bottle, emptied it in +his goblet and announced to the astonished executive that he was +quite right in his estimate of its excellence. + +The governor lost a bottle of his most cherished treasure but +received from the Republican legislature all the appropriation +he desired for the Executive Mansion. + +It has been my good fortune to know well the governors of our +State of New York, commencing with Edmund D. Morgan. With many +of them I was on terms of close intimacy. I have already spoken of +Governors Seymour, Fenton, Dix, Tilden, Cleveland, and Roosevelt. +It might be better to confine my memory to those who have joined +the majority. + +Lucius Robinson was an excellent executive of the business type, +as also were Alonzo B. Cornell and Levi P. Morton. Frank S. Black +was in many ways original. He was an excellent governor, but +very different from the usual routine. In the Spanish-American War +he had a definite idea that the National Guard of our State should +not go into the service of the United States as regiments, but +as individual volunteers. The Seventh Regiment, which was the +crack organization of the Guard, was severely criticised because +they did not volunteer. They refused to go except as the Seventh +Regiment, and their enemies continued to assail them as tin soldiers. + +General Louis Fitzgerald and Colonel Appleton came to me very +much disturbed by this condition. General Russell A. Alger, +secretary of war, was an intimate friend of mine, and I went to +Washington and saw him and the president on the acute condition +affecting the reputation of the Seventh Regiment. + +General Alger said: "We are about to make a desperate assault +upon the fortifications of Havana. Of course there will be many +casualties and the fighting most severe. Will the Seventh join +that expedition?" + +The answer of General Fitzgerald and Colonel Appleton was emphatic +that the Seventh would march with full ranks on the shortest possible +notice. Governor Black would not change his view of how the +National Guard should go, and so the Seventh was never called. +It seems only proper that I should make a record of this patriotic +proposition made by this organization. + +Governor Black developed after he became governor, and especially +after he had retired from office, into a very effective orator. +He had a fine presence and an excellent delivery. He was fond +of preparing epigrams, and became a master in this sort of literature. +When he had occasion to deliver an address, it would be almost +wholly made up of these detached gems, each perfect in itself. +The only other of our American orators who cultivated successfully +this style of speech was Senator John J. Ingalls, of Kansas. It is +a style very difficult to attain or to make successful. + +David B. Hill was an extraordinary man in many ways. He was +governor for three terms and United States senator for one. His +whole life was politics. He was a trained lawyer and an excellent +one, but his heart and soul was in party control, winning popular +elections, and the art of governing. He consolidated the rural +elements of his party so effectively that he compelled Tammany Hall +to submit to his leadership and to recognize him as its master. + +For many years, and winning in every contest, Governor Hill +controlled the organization and the policies of the Democratic +party of the State of New York. In a plain way he was an effective +speaker, but in no sense an orator. He contested with Cleveland +for the presidency, but in that case ran against a stronger and +bigger personality than he had ever encountered, and lost. He +rose far above the average and made his mark upon the politics +of his State and upon the United States Senate while he was a member. + +Levi P. Morton brought to the governorship business ability which +had made him one of the great merchants and foremost bankers. +As Governor of the State of New York, United States Minister to +France, Congressman, and Vice-President of the United States, +he filled every position with grace, dignity, and ability. A +lovable personality made him most popular. + +Roswell P. Flower, after a successful career as a banker, developed +political ambitions. He had a faculty of making friends, and had +hosts of them. He was congressman and then governor. While +the Democratic organization was hostile to him, he was of the +Mark Hanna type and carried his successful business methods into +the canvass for the nomination and the campaign for the election +and was successful. + +Passing through Albany while he was governor, I stopped over to +pay my respects. I was very fond of him personally. When I rang +the door-bell of the Executive Mansion and inquired for the +governor, the servant said: "The governor is very ill and can +see nobody." Then I asked him to tell the governor, when he was +able to receive a message, that Chauncey Depew called and expressed +his deep regret for his illness. Suddenly the governor popped +out from the parlor and seized me by the hand and said: "Chauncey, +come in. I was never so glad to see anybody in my life." + +He told me the legislature had adjourned and left on his hands +several thousands of thirty-days bills--that is, bills on which +he had thirty days to sign or veto, or let them become laws by +not rejecting them. So he had to deny himself to everybody to +get the leisure to read them over and form decisions. + +"Do you know, Chauncey," he said, "this is a new business to me. +Most of these bills are on subjects which I never have examined, +studied, or thought about. It is very difficult to form a wise +judgment, and I want to do in each case just what is right." For +the moment he became silent, seemingly absorbed by anxious thoughts +about these bills. Then suddenly he exclaimed: "By the way, +Chauncey, you've done a great deal of thinking in your life, and +I never have done any except on business. Does intense thinking +affect you as it does me, by upsetting your stomach and making +you throw up?" + +"No, governor," I answered; "if it did I fear I would be in a +chronic state of indigestion." + +While he was governor he canvassed the State in a private car +and made many speeches. In a plain, homely man-to-man talk he +was very effective on the platform. His train stopped at a station +in a Republican community where there were few Democrats, while +I was addressing a Republican meeting in the village. When I had +finished my speech I said to the crowd, which was a large one: +"Governor Flower is at the station, and as I passed he had very +few people listening to him. Let us all go over and give him +an audience." + +The proposition was received with cheers. I went ahead, got in +at the other end of the governor's car from the one where he was +speaking from the platform. As this Republican crowd began to +pour in, it was evident as I stood behind him without his knowing +of my presence, that he was highly delighted. He shouted: "Fellow +citizens, I told you they were coming. They are coming from the +mountains, from the hills, and from the valleys. It is the +stampede from the Republican party and into our ranks and for +our ticket. This is the happiest evidence I have received of +the popularity of our cause and the success of our ticket." + +Standing behind him, I made a signal for cheers, which was heartily +responded to, and the governor, turning around, saw the joke, +grasped me cordially by the hand, and the whole crowd, including +the veteran and hardened Democrats on the car, joined in the hilarity +of the occasion. + +He came to me when he was running for the second time for Congress, +and said that some of the people of his district were anxious for +me to deliver an address for one of their pet charities, and that +the meeting would be held in Harlem, naming the evening. I told +him I would go. He came for me in his carriage, and I said: +"Governor, please do not talk to me on the way up. I was so busy +that I have had no time since I left my office this afternoon to +prepare this address, and I want every minute while we are riding +to the meeting." + +The meeting was a large one. The governor took the chair and +introduced me in this original way: "Ladies and gentlemen," he +said, "I want to say about Chauncey Depew, whom I am now going +to introduce to you as the lecturer of the evening, that he is no +Demosthenes, because he can beat Demosthenes out of sight. He +prepared his speech in the carriage in which I was bringing him +up here, and he don't have, like the old Greek, to chew pebble-stones +in order to make a speech." + +Governor Flower in a conservative way was a successful trader +in the stock market. When he felt he had a sure point he would +share it with a few friends. He took special delight in helping +in this way men who had little means and no knowledge of the art +of moneymaking. There were a great many benefited by his bounty. + +I was dining one night with the Gridiron Club at Washington, and +before me was a plate of radishes. The newspaper man next to me +asked if I would object to having the radishes removed. + +I said: "There is no odor or perfume from them. What is the +matter with the radishes?" + +After they were taken away he told me his story. "Governor Flower," +he said, "was very kind to me, as he invariably was to all newspaper +men. He asked me one day how much I had saved in my twenty years +in journalism. I told him ten thousand dollars. He said: 'That +is not enough for so long a period. Let me have the money.' So +I handed over to him my bank-account. In a few weeks he told me +that my ten thousand dollars had become twenty, and I could have +them if I wished. I said: 'No, you are doing far better than I +could. Keep it.' In about a month or more my account had grown +to thirty thousand dollars. Then the governor on a very hot day +went fishing somewhere off the Long Island coast. He was a very +large, heavy man, became overheated, and on his return drank a +lot of ice-water and ate a bunch of radishes. He died that +afternoon. There was a panic in the stocks which were his favorites +the next day, and they fell out of sight. The result was that I +lost my fortune of ten thousand dollars and also my profit of +twenty. Since then the sight of a radish makes me sick." + + + +XVIII. FIFTY-SIX YEARS WITH THE NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY + +Heredity has much to do with a man's career. The village of +Peekskill-on-the-Hudson, about forty miles from New York, was +in the early days the market-town of a large section of the +surrounding country, extending over to the State of Connecticut. +It was a farming region, and its products destined for New York City +were shipped by sloops on the Hudson from the wharfs at Peekskill, +and the return voyage brought back the merchandise required by +the country. + +My father and his brother owned the majority of the sloops engaged +in this, at that time, almost the only transportation. The sloops +were succeeded by steamboats in which my people were also +interested. When Commodore Vanderbilt entered into active rivalry +with the other steamboat lines between New York and Albany, the +competition became very serious. Newer and faster boats were +rapidly built. These racers would reach the Bay of Peekskill in +the late afternoon, and the younger population of the village would +be on the banks of the river, enthusiastically applauding their +favorites. Among well-known boats whose names and achievements +excited as much interest and aroused as much partisanship and +sporting spirit as do now famous race-horses or baseball champions, +were the following: Mary Powell, Dean Richmond, The Alida, and +The Hendrick Hudson. + +I remember as if it were yesterday when the Hudson River Railroad +had reached Peekskill, and the event was locally celebrated. The +people came in as to a county fair from fifty miles around. When +the locomotive steamed into the station many of those present had +never seen one. The engineer was continuously blowing his whistle +to emphasize the great event. This produced much consternation +and confusion among the horses, as all farmers were there with +their families in carriages or wagons. + +I recall one team of young horses which were driven to frenzy; +their owner was unable to control them, but he kept them on the +road while they ran away with a wild dash over the hills. In +telling this story, as illustrating how recent is railway development +in the United States, at a dinner abroad, I stated that as far +as I knew and believed, those horses were so frightened that +they could not be stopped and were still running. A very successful +and serious-minded captain of industry among the guests sternly +rebuked me by saying: "Sir, that is impossible; horses were never +born that could run for twenty-five years without stopping." +American exaggeration was not so well known among our friends on +the other side then as it is now. + +As we boys of the village were gathered on the banks of the Hudson +cheering our favorite steamers, or watching with eager interest +the movements of the trains, a frequent discussion would be about +our ambitions in life. Every young fellow would state a dream +which he hoped but never expected to be realized. I was charged +by my companions with having the greatest imagination and with +painting more pictures in the skies than any of them. This was +because I stated that in politics, for I was a great admirer of +William H. Seward, then senator from New York, I expected to be +a United States senator, and in business, because then the largest +figure in the business world was Commodore Vanderbilt, I hoped +to become president of the Hudson River Railroad. It is one of +the strangest incidents of what seemed the wild imaginings of a +village boy that in the course of long years both these expectations +were realized. + +When I entered the service of the railroad on the first of January, +1866, the Vanderbilt system consisted of the Hudson River and +Harlem Railroads, the Harlem ending at Chatham, 128 miles, and +the Hudson River at Albany, 140 miles long. The Vanderbilt system +now covers 20,000 miles. The total railway mileage of the whole +United States at that time was 36,000, and now it is 261,000 miles. + +My connection with the New York Central Railroad covers practically +the whole period of railway construction, expansion, and development +in the United States. It is a singular evidence of the rapidity +of our country's growth and of the way which that growth has +steadily followed the rails, that all this development of States, +of villages growing into cities, of scattered communities becoming +great manufacturing centres, of an internal commerce reaching +proportions where it has greater volume than the foreign interchanges +of the whole world, has come about during a period covered by +the official career of a railroad man who is still in the service: +an attorney in 1866, a vice-president in 1882, president in 1885, +chairman of the board of directors in 1899, and still holds that office. + +There is no such record in the country for continuous service with +one company, which during the whole period has been controlled by +one family. This service of more than half a century has been in +every way satisfactory. It is a pleasure to see the fourth +generation, inheriting the ability of the father, grandfather, and +great-grandfather, still active in the management. + +I want to say that in thus linking my long relationship with the +railroads to this marvellous development, I do not claim to have +been better than the railway officers who during this time have +performed their duties to the best of their ability. I wish also +to pay tribute to the men of original genius, of vision and daring, +to whom so much is due in the expansion and improvement of the +American railway systems. + +Commodore Vanderbilt was one of the most remarkable men our +country has produced. He was endowed with wonderful foresight, +grasp of difficult situations, ability to see opportunities before +others, to solve serious problems, and the courage of his +convictions. He had little education or early advantages, but +was eminently successful in everything he undertook. As a boy on +Staten Island he foresaw that upon transportation depended the +settlement, growth, and prosperity of this nation. He began with +a small boat running across the harbor from Staten Island to +New York. Very early in his career he acquired a steamboat and +in a few years was master of Long Island Sound. He then extended +his operations to the Hudson River and speedily acquired the +dominating ownership in boats competing between New York and Albany. + +When gold was discovered in California he started a line on the +Atlantic side of the Isthmus of Darien and secured from the +government of Nicaragua the privilege of crossing the Isthmus +for a transportation system through its territory, and then +established a line of steamers on the Pacific to San Francisco. +In a short time the old-established lines, both on the Atlantic +and the Pacific, were compelled to sell out to him. Then he +entered the transatlantic trade, with steamers to Europe. + +With that vision which is a gift and cannot be accounted for, he +decided that the transportation work of the future was on land +and in railroads. He abandoned the sea, and his first enterprise +was the purchase of the New York and Harlem Railroad, which was +only one hundred and twenty-eight miles long. The road was bankrupt +and its road-bed and equipment going from bad to worse. The +commodore reconstructed the line, re-equipped it, and by making +it serviceable to its territory increased its traffic and turned +its business from deficiency into profit. This was in 1864. +The commodore became president, and his son, William H. Vanderbilt, +vice-president. He saw that the extension of the Harlem was not +advisable, and so secured the Hudson River Railroad, running from +New York to Albany, and became its president in 1865. It was +a few months after this when he and his son invited me to become +a member of their staff. + +The station of the Harlem Railroad in the city of New York was +at that time at Fourth Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street, and that of +the Hudson River Railroad at Chambers Street, near the North River. + +In a few years William H. Vanderbilt purchased the ground for the +Harlem Railroad Company, where is now located the Grand Central +Terminal, and by the acquisition by the New York Central and +Hudson River Railroad of the Harlem Railroad the trains of the +New York Central were brought around into the Grand Central Station. + +In 1867, two years after Mr. Vanderbilt had acquired the +Hudson River Railroad, he secured the control of the New York +Central, which ran from Albany to Buffalo. This control was +continued through the Lake Shore on one side of the lakes and +the Michigan Central on the other to Chicago. Subsequently the +Vanderbilt System was extended to Cincinnati and St. Louis. It +was thus in immediate connection with the West and Northwest +centering in Chicago, and the Southwest at Cincinnati and St. Louis. +By close connection and affiliation with the Chicago and Northwestern +Railway Company, the Vanderbilt system was extended beyond +to Mississippi. I became director in the New York Central in +1874 and in the Chicago and Northwestern in 1877. + +It has been my good fortune to meet with more or less intimacy +many of the remarkable men in every department of life, but I think +Commodore Vanderbilt was the most original. I had been well +acquainted for some years both with the commodore and his son, +William H. When I became attorney my relations were more intimate +than those usually existing. I was in daily consultation with the +commodore during the ten years prior to his death, and with his +son from 1866 to 1885, when he died. + +The commodore was constantly, because of his wealth and power, +importuned by people who wished to interest him in their schemes. +Most of the great and progressive enterprises of his time were +presented to him. He would listen patiently, ask a few questions, +and in a short time grasp the whole subject. Then with wonderful +quickness and unerring judgment he would render his decision. +No one knew by what process he arrived at these conclusions. +They seemed to be the results as much of inspiration as of insight. + +The Civil War closed in 1865, and one of its lessons had been +the necessity for more railroads. The country had discovered +that without transportation its vast and fertile territories could +neither be populated nor made productive. Every mile of railroad +carried settlers, opened farms and increased the national resources +and wealth. The economical and critical conditions of the country, +owing to the expansion of the currency and banking conditions, +facilitated and encouraged vast schemes of railroad construction. +This and a wild speculation resulted in the panic of 1873. Nearly +the whole country went bankrupt. The recovery was rapid, and +the constructive talent of the Republic saw that the restoration of +credit and prosperity must be led by railway solvency. In August, +1874, Commodore Vanderbilt invited the representatives of the +other and competitive lines to a conference at Saratoga. Owing, +however, to the jealousies and hostilities of the period, only the +New York Central, the Pennsylvania, and the Erie railways were +represented. + +The eastern railway situation was then dominated by Commodore +Vanderbilt, Colonel Thomas A. Scott, of the Pennsylvania, and +John W. Garrett, of the Baltimore and Ohio. Both Scott and Garrett +were original men and empire builders. There was neither +governmental nor State regulation. The head of a railway system +had practically unlimited power in the operation of his road. +The people were so anxious for the construction of railways that +they offered every possible inducement to capital. The result was +a great deal of unprofitable construction and immense losses to +the promoters. + +These able men saw that there was no possibility of railway +construction, operation, and efficiency, with a continuance of +unrestricted competition. It has taken from 1874 until 1920 to +educate the railway men, the shippers, and the government to a +realization of the fact that transportation facilities required +for the public necessities can only be had by the freest operations +and the strictest government regulations; that the solution of +the problem is a system so automatic that public arbitration shall +decide the justice of the demands of labor, and rates be advanced +to meet the decision, and that public authority also shall take +into consideration the other factors of increased expenses and +adequate facilities for the railroads, and that maintenance and +the highest efficiency must be preserved and also necessary +extensions. To satisfy and attract capital there must be the +assurance of a reasonable return upon the investment. + +The meeting called by Commodore Vanderbilt in 1874, at Saratoga, +was an epoch-making event. We must remember the railway management +of the country was in the absolute control of about four men, two +of whom were also largest owners of the lines they managed. +Fierce competition and cutting of rates brought on utter +demoralization among shippers, who could not calculate on the cost +of transportation, and great favoritism to localities and individuals +by irresponsible freight agents who controlled the rates. Under +these influences railway earnings were fluctuating and uncertain. +Improvements were delayed and the people on the weaker lines +threatened with bankruptcy. + +Public opinion, however, believed this wild competition to be the +only remedy for admitted railway evils. As an illustration of +the change of public opinion and the better understanding of +the railway problems, this occurred in the month of October, 1920. +A committee of shippers and producers representing the farmers, +manufacturers, and business men along a great railway system +came to see the manager of the railroad and said to him: "We have +been all wrong in the past. Our effort has always been for lower +rates, regardless of the necessities of the railways. We have +tried to get them by seeking bids from competing lines for our +shipments and by appealing to the Interstate Commerce Commission. +The expenses of the railroads have been increased by demands of +labor, by constantly rising prices and cost of rails, cars, +terminals, and facilities, but we have been against allowing the +railroads to meet this increased cost of operation by adequate +advances in rates. We now see that this course was starving the +railroads, and we are suffering for want of cars and locomotives +to move our traffic and terminals to care for it. We are also +suffering because the old treatment of the railroads has frightened +capital so that the roads cannot get money to maintain their lines +and make necessary improvements to meet the demands of business. +We know now that rates make very little difference, because they +can be absorbed in our business. What we must have is facilities +to transport our products, and we want to help the railroads to get +money and credit, and again we emphasize our whole trouble is +want of cars, locomotives, and terminal facilities." + +Happily, public opinion was reflected in the last Congress in the +passage of the Cummins-Esch bill, which is the most enlightened +and adaptable legislation of the last quarter of a century. + +To return to the conference at Saratoga, the New York Central, +the Pennsylvania, and the Erie came to the conclusion that they +must have the co-operation of the Baltimore and Ohio. As +Mr. Garrett, president and controlling owner of that road, would +not come to the conference, the members decided that the emergency +was so great that they must go to him. This was probably the most +disagreeable thing Commodore Vanderbilt ever did. The marvellous +success of his wonderful life had been won by fighting and defeating +competitors. The peril was so great that they went as associates, +and the visit interested the whole country and so enlarged +Mr. Garrett's opinion of his power that he rejected their offer +and said he would act independently. A railway war immediately +followed, and in a short time bankruptcy threatened all lines, +and none more than the Baltimore and Ohio. + +The trunk lines then got together and entered into an agreement +to stabilize rates and carry them into effect. They appointed +as commissioner Mr. Albert Fink, one of the ablest railway men +of that time. Mr. Fink's administration was successful, but the +rivalries and jealousies of the lines and the frequent breaking +of agreements were too much for one man. + +The presidents and general managers of all the railroads east of +Chicago then met and formed an association, and this association +was a legislative body without any legal authority to enforce its +decrees. It had, however, two effects: the disputes which arose +were publicly discussed, and the merits of each side so completely +demonstrated that the decision of the association came to be +accepted as just and right. Then the verdict of the association +had behind it the whole investment and banking community and the +press. The weight of this was sufficient to compel obedience to +its decisions by the most rebellious member. No executive could +continue to hold his position while endeavoring to break up +the association. + +It is one of the most gratifying events of my life that my associates +in this great and powerful association elected me their president, +and I continued in office until the Supreme Court in a momentous +decision declared that the railroads came under the provision of +the Sherman Anti-Trust Law and dissolved these associations in +the East, West, and South. + +It was a liberal education of the railway problems to meet the +men who became members of this association. Most of them left +an indelible impression upon the railway conditions of the time +and of the railway policies of the future. All were executives +of great ability and several rare constructive geniuses. + +In our system there was John Newell, president of the Lake Shore +and Michigan Southern, a most capable and efficient manager. +Henry B. Ledyard, president of the Michigan Central, was admirably +trained for the great responsibilities which he administered so +well. There was William Bliss, president of the Boston and Albany, +who had built up a line to be one of the strongest of the +New England group. + +Melville E. Ingalls, president of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, +Chicago and St. Louis, had combined various weak and bankrupt +roads and made them an efficient organization. He had also +rehabilitated and put in useful working and paying condition the +Chesapeake and Ohio. + +Ingalls told me a very good story of himself. He had left the +village in Maine, where he was born, and after graduation from +college and admission to the bar had settled in Boston. To protect +the interests of his clients he had moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, +and rescued railroad properties in which they were interested. +When his success was complete and he had under his control a large +and successfully working railway system, he made a visit to +his birthplace. + +One evening he went down to the store where the village congress +was assembled, sitting on the barrels and the counter. They +welcomed him very cordially, and then an inquisitive farmer said +to him: "Melville, it is reported around here that you are getting +a salary of nigh unto ten thousand dollars a year." + +Mr. Ingalls, who was getting several times that amount, modestly +admitted the ten, which was a prodigious sum in that rural +neighborhood. Whereupon the old farmer voiced the local sentiment +by saying: "Well, Melville that shows what cheek and circumstances +can do for a man." + +I recall an incident connected with one of the ablest of the +executives in our system. One day we had a conference of rival +interests, and many executives were there in the effort to secure +an adjustment. For this purpose we had an arbitrator. After a +most exhausting day in the battle of wits and experience for +advantages, I arrived home used up, but after a half-hour's sleep +I awoke refreshed and, consulting my diary, found I was down for +a speech at a banquet at Delmonico's that night. + +I arrived late, the intervening time being devoted to intensive +and rapid preparation. I was called early. The speech attracted +attention and occupied a column in the morning's papers. I was +in bed at eleven o'clock and had between seven and eight hours' +refreshing sleep. + +On arriving at our meeting-place the next morning, one of the +best-known presidents took me aside and said: "Chauncey, by +making speeches such as you did last night you are losing the +confidence of the people. They say you cannot prepare such +speeches and give proper attention to your business." + +"Well," I said to him, "my friend, did I lose anything before the +arbitrator yesterday?" + +He answered very angrily: "No, you gained entirely too much." + +"Well," I then said, "I am very fresh this morning. But what did +you do last night?" + +He answered that he was so exhausted that he went to Delmonico's +and ordered the best dinner possible. Then he went on to say: +"A friend told me a little game was going on up-stairs, and in +a close room filled with tobacco smoke I played poker until two +o'clock and drank several high-balls. The result is, I think we +better postpone this meeting, for I do not feel like doing +anything to-day." + +"My dear friend," I said, "you will get the credit of giving your +whole time to business, while I am by doing what refreshes my mind +discredited, because it gets in the papers. I shall keep my +method regardless of consequences." + +He kept his, and although much younger than myself died years ago. + +George B. Roberts, president of the Pennsylvania, was a very wise +executive and of all-around ability. Frank Thompson, vice-president +and afterwards president of the same road, was one of the ablest +operating officers of his time and a most delightful personality. +Mr. A. J. Cassatt was a great engineer and possessed rare foresight +and vision. He brought the Pennsylvania into New York City through +a tunnel under the Hudson River, continued the tunnel across the +city to the East River and then under the river to connect with the +Long Island, which he had acquired for his system. + +D. W. Caldwell, president of the New York, Chicago, and St. Louis, +added to railway ability wit and humor. He told a good story on +Mr. George Roberts. Caldwell was at one time division superintendent +under President Roberts. He had obtained permission to build a new +station-house, in whose plan and equipment he was deeply interested. +It was Mr. Roberts's habit, by way of showing his subordinates +that he was fully aware of their doings, to either add or take away +something from their projects. + +Caldwell prepared a station-house according to his ideas, and, +to prevent Roberts from making any essential changes he added +an unnecessary bay window to the front of the passengers' room. +Roberts carefully examined the plans and said: "Remove that bay +window," and then approved the plan, and Caldwell had what +he wanted. + +Caldwell used to tell of another occasion when on a Western line +he had over him a very severe and harsh disciplinarian as president. +This president was a violent prohibitionist and had heard that +Caldwell was a bonvivant. He sent for Caldwell to discipline or +discharge him. After a long and tiresome journey Caldwell arrived +at the president's house. His first greeting was: "Mr. Caldwell, +do you drink?" + +Caldwell, wholly unsuspicious, answered: "Thank you, Mr. President, +I am awfully tired and will take a little rye." + +Mr. E. B. Thomas, president of the Lehigh Valley, was a valuable +member of the association. The Baltimore and Ohio, as usual, had +its president, Mr. Charles F. Mayer, accompanied by an able staff. +The Erie was represented by one of the most capable and genial +of its many presidents, Mr. John King. + +King was a capital story-teller, and among them I remember this +one: At one time he was general manager of the Baltimore and Ohio +under John W. Garrett. In order to raise money for his projected +extensions, Garrett had gone to Europe. The times were financially +very difficult. Johns Hopkins, the famous philanthropist, died. +His immortal monument is the Johns Hopkins University and Medical +School. Everybody in Baltimore attended the funeral. Among the +leading persons present was another John King, a banker, who was +Hopkins's executor. A messenger-boy rushed in with a cable for +John King, and handed it to John King, the executor, who sat at +the head of the mourners. He read it and then passed it along +so that each one could read it until it reached John King, of the +Baltimore and Ohio, who sat at the foot of the line. The cable +read as follows: "Present my sympathies to the family and my high +appreciation of Mr. Johns Hopkins, and borrow from the executor +all you can at five per cent. Garrett." + +Commodore Vanderbilt was succeeded in the presidency by his son, +William H. Vanderbilt, who was then past forty years old and had +been a successful farmer on Staten Island. He was active in +neighborhood affairs and in politics. This brought him in close +contact with the people and was of invaluable benefit to him when +he became president of a great railroad corporation. He also +acquired familiarity in railway management as a director of one +on Staten Island. + +Mr. William H. Vanderbilt was a man of great ability, and his +education made him in many ways an abler man than his father +for the new conditions he had to meet. But, like many a capable +son of a famous father, he did not receive the credit which was +due him because of the overshadowing reputation of the commodore. +Nevertheless, on several occasions he exhibited the highest +executive qualities. + +One of the great questions of the time was the duty of railroads +to the cities in which they terminated, and the decision of the +roads south of New York to have lower rates to Philadelphia and +Baltimore. New York felt so secure in the strength of its unrivalled +harbor and superior shipping facilities that the merchants and +financiers were not alarmed. Very soon, however, there was such +a diversion of freight from New York as to threaten very seriously +its export trade and the superiority of its port. The commercial +leaders of the city called upon Mr. Vanderbilt, who after the +conference said to them: "I will act in perfect harmony with you +and will see that the New York Central Railroad protects New York City +regardless of the effect upon its finances." The city representatives +said: "That is very fine, and we will stand together." + +Mr. Vanderbilt immediately issued a statement that the rates to +the seaboard should be the same to all ports, and that the +New York Central would meet the lowest rates to any port by +putting the same in effect on its own lines. The result was +the greatest railroad war since railroads began to compete. +Rates fell fifty per cent, and it was a question of the survival +of the fittest. Commerce returned to New York, and the competing +railroads, to avoid bankruptcy, got together and formed the +Trunk Line Association. + +New York City has not always remembered how intimately bound is +its prosperity with that of the great railroad whose terminal is +within its city limits. Mr. Vanderbilt found that the railroad and +its management were fiercely assailed in the press, in the +legislature, and in municipal councils. He became convinced that +no matter how wise or just or fair the railroad might be in the +interests of every community and every business which were so +dependent upon its transportation, the public would not submit to +any great line being owned by one man. The Vanderbilt promptness +in arriving at a decision was immediately shown. He called upon +Mr. Pierpont Morgan, and through him a syndicate, which Morgan +formed, took and sold the greater part of Mr. Vanderbilt's +New York Central stock. The result was that the New York Central +from that time was owned by the public. It is a tribute to the +justice and fairness of the Vanderbilt management that though the +management has been submitted every year since to a stockholders' +vote, there has practically never been any opposition to a +continuance of the Vanderbilt policy and management. + +Among the most important of the many problems during Mr. Vanderbilt's +presidency was the question of railway commissions, both in national +and State governments. In my professional capacity of general +counsel, and in common with representatives of other railroads, +I delivered argumentative addresses against them. The discussions +converted me, and I became convinced of their necessity. The +rapidly growing importance of railway transportation had created +the public opinion that railway management should be under the +control and supervision of some public body; that all passengers +or shippers, or those whose land was taken for construction and +development, should have an appeal from the decision of the railway +managers to the government through a government commission. + +As soon as I was convinced that commissions were necessary for +the protection of both the public and the railroads, I presented +this view to Mr. Vanderbilt. The idea was contrary to his education, +training, and opinion. It seemed to me that it was either a +commission or government ownership, and that the commission, if +strengthened as a judicial body, would be as much of a protection +to the bond and stock holders and the investing public as to the +general public and the employees. Mr. Vanderbilt, always +open-minded, adopted this view and supported the commission system +and favored legislation in its behalf. + +In 1883 Mr. Vanderbilt decided, on account of illness, to retire +from the presidency, and Mr. James H. Rutter was elected his +successor. Mr. Rutter was the ablest freight manager in the +country, but his health gave way under the exactions of executive +duties, and I acted largely for him during his years of service. +He died early in 1885, and I was elected president. + +The war with the West Shore had been on for several years, with +disastrous results to both companies. The Ontario and Western, +which had large terminal facilities near Jersey City on the west +side of the Hudson, ran for fifty miles along the river before +turning into the interior. At its reorganization it had ten millions +of cash in the treasury. With this as a basis, its directors +decided to organize a new railroad, to be called the West Shore, +and parallel the New York Central through its entire length to +Buffalo. As the New York Central efficiently served this whole +territory, the only business the West Shore could get must be +taken away from the Central. To attract this business it offered +at all stations lower rates. To retain and hold its business the +New York Central met those rates at all points so that financially +the West Shore went into the hands of a receiver. + +The New York Central was sustained because of its superior +facilities and connections and established roadway and equipment. +But all new and necessary construction was abandoned, maintenance +was neglected, and equipment run down under forced reduction of +expenses. + +I had very friendly personal relations with the managers and +officers of the West Shore, and immediately presented to them +a plan for the absorption of their line, instead of continuing +the struggle until absolute exhaustion. Mr. Vanderbilt approved +of the plan, as did the financial interests represented by +Mr. Pierpont Morgan. + +By the reorganization and consolidation of the two companies the +New York Central began gradually to establish its efficiency and +to work on necessary improvements. As evidence of the growth +of the railway business of the country, the New York Central +proper has added since the reorganization an enormous amount of +increased trackage, and has practically rebuilt, as a necessary +second line, the West Shore and used fully its very large terminal +facilities on the Jersey side of the Hudson. + +During his active life Mr. Vanderbilt was very often importuned +to buy a New York daily newspaper. He was personally bitterly +assailed and his property put in peril by attacks in the press. +He always rejected the proposition to buy one. "If," he said, +"I owned a newspaper, I would have all the others united in +attacking me, and they would ruin me, but by being utterly out of +the journalistic field, I find that taking the press as a whole +I am fairly well treated. I do not believe any great interest +dealing with the public can afford to have an organ." + +Colonel Scott, of the Pennsylvania, thought otherwise, but the +result of his experiment demonstrated the accuracy of Mr. Vanderbilt's +judgment. Scott selected as editor of the New York World one of +the most brilliant journalistic writers of his time, William H. Hurlburt. +When it became known, however, that the World belonged to +Colonel Scott, Hurlburt's genius could not save it. The circulation +ran down to a minimum, the advertising followed suit, and the +paper was losing enormously every month. Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, +with the rare insight and foresight which distinguished him, saw +what could be made of the World, with its privileges in the +Associated Press, and so he paid Scott the amount he had originally +invested, and took over and made a phenomenal success of this +bankrupt and apparently hopeless enterprise. + +I tried during my presidency to make the New York Central popular +with the public without impairing its efficiency. The proof of the +success of this was that without any effort on my part and against +my published wishes the New York delegation in the national +Republican convention in 1888, with unprecedented unanimity +presented me as New York's candidate for president. I retired +from the contest because of the intense hostility to railroad men +in the Western States. Those States could not understand how +this hostility, which they had to railroads and everybody connected +with them, had disappeared in the great State of New York. + +During my presidency the labor question was very acute and strikes, +one after another, common. The universal method of meeting the +demands of labor at that time was to have a committee of employees +or a leader present the grievances to the division superintendent +or the superintendent of motive power. These officers were +arbitrary and hostile, as the demands, if acceded to, led to an +increase of expenses which would make them unpopular with the +management. They had a difficult position. The employees often +came to the conclusion that the only way for them to compel the +attention of the higher officers and directors was to strike. + +Against the judgment of my associates in the railway management +I decided to open my doors to any individual or committee of the +company. At first I was overwhelmed with petty grievances, but +when the men understood that their cases would be immediately heard +and acted upon, they decided among themselves not to bring to me +any matters unless they regarded them of vital importance. In +this way many of the former irritations, which led ultimately to +serious results, no longer appeared. + +I had no trouble with labor unions, and found their representatives +in heart-to-heart talks very generally reasonable. Mr. Arthur, +chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, had many of +the qualities of a statesman. He built up his organization to be +the strongest of its kind among the labor unions. I enjoyed his +confidence and friendship for many years. + +There never was but one strike on the New York Central during +my administration, and that one occurred while I was absent in +Europe. Its origin and sequel were somewhat dramatic. I had +nearly broken down by overwork, and the directors advised me to +take an absolute rest and a trip abroad. + +I sent word over the line that I wanted everything settled before +leaving, and to go without care. A large committee appeared in +my office a few mornings after. To my surprise there was a +representative from every branch of the service, passenger and +freight conductors, brakemen, shopmen, yardmen, switchmen, and +so forth. These had always come through their local unions. +I rapidly took up and adjusted what each one of the representatives +of his order claimed, and then a man said: "I represent the +locomotive engineers." + +My response was: "You have no business here, and I will have +nothing to do with you. I will see no one of the locomotive +engineers, except their accredited chief officer." + +"Well," he said, "Mr. President, there is a new condition on +the road, a new order of labor called the Knights of Labor. We +are going to absorb all the other unions and have only one. The +only obstacle in the way is the locomotive engineers, who refuse +to give up their brotherhood and come in with us, but if you will +recognize us only, that will force them to join. Now, the Brotherhood +intends to present a demand very soon, and if you will recognize +our order, the Knights of Labor, and not the Brotherhood of +Locomotive Engineers, we will take care of what they demand and +all others from every department for two years, and you can take +your trip to Europe in perfect peace of mind. If you do not do +this there will be trouble." + +I declined to deal with them as representatives of the Brotherhood +of Locomotive Engineers. Then their spokesman said: "As this +is so serious to you, we will give you to-night to think it over +and come back in the morning." + +I immediately sent for the superintendent of motive power and +directed him to have posted by telegraph in every roundhouse that +the request of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, of which +this committee had told me, had been granted. The next morning +the committee returned, and their leader said: "Well, Mr. President, +you have beaten us and we are going home." + +Then I appealed to them, saying: "I am a pretty badly broken-up +man. The doctors tell me that if I can have three months without +care I will be as good as ever. You must admit that I have at +all times been absolutely square with you and tried to adjust +fairly the matters you have brought to me. Now, will you take +care of me while I am absent?" + +They answered unanimously: "Mr. President, we will, and you can +be confident there will be no trouble on the New York Central while +you are away." + +I sailed with my mind free from anxiety, hopeful and happy, leaving +word to send me no cables or letters. After a visit to the +Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau in Upper Bavaria, I went into the +Austrian Tyrol. One night, at a hotel in Innsbruck, Mr. Graves, +a very enterprising reporter of a New York paper, suddenly burst +into my room and said: "I have been chasing you all over Europe +for an interview on the strike on the New York Central." This +was my first information of the strike. + +As soon as I had left New York and was on the ocean, the young +and ambitious officers who were at the head of the operations of +the railroad and disapproved of my method of dealing with the +employees, discharged every member of the committee who had +called upon me. Of course, this was immediately followed by a +sympathetic outburst in their behalf, and the sympathizers were +also discharged. Then the whole road was tied up by a universal +strike. After millions had been lost in revenue by the railroad +and in wages by the men, the strike was settled, as usual, by a +compromise, but it gave to the Knights of Labor the control, except +as to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The early settlement +of the strike was largely due to the loyalty and courage of +the Brotherhood. + +During my presidency I was much criticised by the public, but +never by the directors of the company, because of my activities +in politics and on the platform. For some time, when the duties +of my office became most onerous, and I was in the habit of working +all day and far into the night, I discovered that this concentrated +attention to my railroad problems and intense and continuous +application to their solution was not only impairing my efficiency +but my health. As I was not a sport, and never had time for games +or horses, I decided to try a theory, which was that one's daily +duties occupied certain cells of the brain while the others +remained idle; that the active cells became tired by overwork +while others lost their power in a measure by idleness; that if, +after a reasonable use of the working cells, you would engage +in some other intellectual occupation, it would furnish as much +relief or recreation as outdoor exercise of any kind. I had a +natural facility for quick and easy preparation for public speaking, +and so adopted that as my recreation. The result proved entirely +successful. + +After a hard day's work, on coming home late in the afternoon, +I accustomed myself to take a short nap of about fifteen minutes. +Then I would look over my tablets to see if any engagement was +on to speak in the evening, and, if so, the preparation of the +speech might be easy, or, if difficult, cause me to be late at +dinner. These speeches were made several times a week, and mainly +at banquets on closing of the sessions of conventions of trade +organizations of the country. The reciprocal favors and friendship +of these delegates transferred to the New York Central a large +amount of competitive business. + +While I was active in politics I issued strict orders that every +employee should have the same liberty, and that any attempt on +the part of their superior officers to influence or direct the +political action of a subordinate would be cause for dismissal. +This became so well known that the following incident, which was +not uncommon, will show the result. + +As I was taking the train the morning after having made a political +speech at Utica, the yardmaster, an Irishman, greeted me very +cordially and then said: "We were all up to hear ye last night, +boss, but this year we are agin ye." + +The position which this activity gave me in my own party, and the +fact that, unlike most employers, I protected the employees in +their liberty and political action, gave me immense help in +protecting the company from raids and raiders. + +We had a restaurant in the station at Utica which had deteriorated. +The situation was called to my attention in order to have the evils +corrected by the receipt of the following letter from an indignant +passenger: "Dear Mr. President: You are the finest after-dinner +speaker in the world. I would give a great deal to hear the speech +you would make after you had dined in the restaurant in your +station at Utica." + +After thirteen years of service as president I was elected chairman of +the board of directors. Mr. Samuel R. Callaway succeeded me as +president, and on his resignation was succeeded by Mr. William H. Newman, +and upon his resignation Mr. W. C. Brown became president. +Following Mr. Brown, Mr. Alfred H. Smith was elected and is still +in office. All these officers were able and did excellent service, +but I want to pay special tribute to Mr. Smith. + +Mr. Smith is one of the ablest operating officers of his time. +When the United States Government took over the railroads he was +made regional director of the government for railroads in this +territory. He received the highest commendation from the government +and from the owners of the railroads for the admirable way in +which he had maintained them and their efficiency during the +government control. + +On the surrender of the railroads by the government, Mr. Smith was +welcomed back by his directors to the presidency of the New York Central. +The splendid condition of the Central and its allied lines is +largely due to him. During his service as regional director the +difficult task of the presidency of the New York Central was very +ably performed by Mr. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Though the +youngest among the executive officers of the railroads of the +country, he was at the same time one of the best. + +Among the efficient officers who have served the New York Central +during the time I have been with the company, I remember many on +account of their worth and individuality. H. Walter Webb came +into the railway service from an active business career. With +rare intelligence and industry he rapidly rose in the organization +and was a very capable and efficient officer. There was +Theo. Voorhees, the general superintendent, an unusually young +man for such a responsible position. He was a graduate of +Troy Polytechnical School and a very able operating officer. +Having gone directly from the college to a responsible position, +he naturally did not understand or know how to handle men until +after long experience. He showed that want of experience in a +very drastic way in the strike of 1892 and its settlement. Being +very arbitrary, he had his own standards. For instance, I was +appealed to by many old brakemen and conductors whom he had +discharged. I mention one particularly, who had been on the road +for twenty-five years. Voorhees's answer to me was: "These old +employees are devoted to Toucey, my predecessor, and for efficient +work I must have loyalty to me." + +I reversed his order and told him I would begin to discharge, if +necessary, the latest appointments, including himself, keeping +the older men in the service who had proved their loyalty to the +company by the performance of their duties. + +Mr. Voorhees became afterwards vice-president and then president +of the Philadelphia and Reading. With experience added to his +splendid equipment and unusual ability he became one of the best +executives in the country. + +Mr. John M. Toucey, who had come up from the bottom to be general +superintendent and general manager, was a hard student. His close +contact with his fellow employees gave him wonderful control over +men. He supplemented his practical experience by hard study and +was very well educated. Though self-taught, he had no confidence +in the graduates of the professional schools. + +In selecting an assistant, one of them told me that Toucey subjected +him to a rigid examination and then said: "What is your +railroad career?" + +"I began at the bottom," answered the assistant, "and have filled +every office on my old road up to division superintendent, which +I have held for so many years." + +"That is very fine," said Toucey, "but are you a graduate of the +Troy Technical School?" + +"No, sir." + +"Of the Stevens Tech.?" + +"No, sir." + +"Of Massachusetts Tech.?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then you are engaged," said Toucey. + +Mr. Toucey was well up-to-date, and differed from a superintendent +on another road in which I was a director. The suburban business +of that line had increased very rapidly, but there were not enough +trains or cars to accommodate the passengers. The overcrowding +caused many serious discomforts. I had the superintendent called +before the board of directors, and said to him: "Why don't you +immediately put on more trains and cars?" + +"Why, Mr. Depew," he answered, "what would be the use? They are +settling so fast along the line that the people would fill them up +and overcrowd them just as before." + +I was going over the line on an important tour at one time with +G. H. Burroughs, superintendent of the Western Division. We were +on his pony engine, with seats at the front, alongside the boiler, +so that we could look directly on the track. Burroughs sat on +one side and I on the other. He kept on commenting aloud by way +of dictating to his stenographer, who sat behind him, and praise +and criticism followed rapidly. I heard him utter in his monotonous +way: "Switch misplaced, we will all be in hell in a minute," and +then a second afterwards continue: "We jumped the switch and +are on the track again. Discharge that switchman." + +Major Zenas Priest was for fifty years a division superintendent. +It was a delightful experience to go with him over his division. +He knew everybody along the line, was general confidant in their +family troubles and arbiter in neighborhood disputes. He knew +personally every employee and his characteristics and domestic +situation. The wives were generally helping him to keep their +husbands from making trouble. To show his control and efficiency, +he was always predicting labor troubles and demonstrating that +the reason they did not occur was because of the way in which +he handled the situation. + +Mr. C. M. Bissell was a very efficient superintendent, and for +a long time in charge of the Harlem Railroad. He told me this +incident. We decided to put in effect as a check upon the +conductors a system by which a conductor, when a fare was paid +on the train, must tear from a book a receipt which he gave to +the passenger, and mark the amount on the stub from which the +receipt was torn. Soon after a committee of conductors called +upon Mr. Bissell and asked for an increase of pay. "Why," Bissell +asked, "boys, why do you ask for that now?" + +After a rather embarrassing pause the oldest conductor said: +"Mr. Bissell, you have been a conductor yourself." + +This half century and six years during which I have been in the +service of the New York Central Railroad has been a time of +unusual pleasure and remarkably free from friction or trouble. +In this intimate association with the railroad managers of the +United States I have found the choicest friendships and the most +enduring. The railroad manager is rarely a large stockholder, +but he is a most devoted and efficient officer of his company. +He gives to its service, for the public, the employees, the +investors, and the company, all that there is in him. In too many +instances, because these officers do not get relief from their labor +by variation of their work, they die exhausted before their time. + +The story graphically told by one of the oldest and ablest of +railroad men, Mr. Marvin Hughitt, for a long time president and +now chairman of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway, illustrates +what the railroad does for the country. Twenty-five years ago the +Northwestern extended its lines through Northern Iowa. Mr. Hughitt +drove over the proposed extension on a buckboard. The country +was sparsely settled because the farmers could not get their +products to market, and the land was selling at six dollars per acre. + +In a quarter of a century prosperous villages and cities had grown +up along the line, and farms were selling at over three hundred +dollars per acre. While this enormous profit from six dollars +per acre to over three hundred has come to the settlers who held +on to their farms because of the possibilities produced by the +railroad, the people whose capital built the road must remain +satisfied with a moderate return by way of dividend and interest, +and without any enhancement of their capital, but those investors +should be protected by the State and the people to whom their +capital expenditures have been such an enormous benefit. + + + +XIX. RECOLLECTIONS FROM ABROAD + +I know of nothing more delightful for a well-read American than +to visit the scenes in Great Britain with which he has become +familiar in his reading. No matter how rapidly he may travel, +if he goes over the places made memorable by Sir Walter Scott +in the "Waverley Novels," and in his poems, he will have had +impressions, thrills, and educational results which will be a +pleasure for the rest of his life. The same is true of an ardent +admirer of Dickens or of Thackeray, in following the footsteps +of their heroes and heroines. I gained a liberal education and +lived over again the reading and studies of a lifetime in my visits +to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. I also had much the +same experience of vivifying and spiritualizing my library in +France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Holland. + +London is always most hospitable and socially the most delightful +of cities. While Mr. Gladstone was prime minister and more in +the eyes of the world than any statesman of any country, a dinner +was given to him with the special object of having me meet him. +The ladies and gentlemen at the dinner were all people of note. +Among them were two American bishops. The arrangement made by +the host and hostess was that when the ladies left the dining-room +I should take the place made vacant alongside Mr. Gladstone, but +one of the American bishops, who in his younger days was a famous +athlete, made a flying leap for that chair and no sooner landed +than he at once proposed to Mr. Gladstone this startling question: +"As the bishop of the old Catholic Church in Germany does not +recognize the authority of the pope, how can he receive absolution?"--and +some other abstruse theological questions. This at once +aroused Mr. Gladstone, who, when once started, was stopped with +difficulty, and there was no pause until the host announced that +the gentlemen should join the ladies. I made it a point at the +next dinner given for me to meet Mr. Gladstone that there should +be no American bishops present. + +At another time, upon arriving at my hotel in London from New York, +I found a note from Lord Rosebery saying that Mr. Gladstone was +dining with Lady Rosebery and himself that evening, and there +would be no other guests, and inviting me to come. I arrived early +and found Mr. Gladstone already there. While the custom in London +society then was for the guests to be late, Mr. Gladstone was +always from fifteen minutes to half an hour in advance of the time +set by his invitation. He greeted me with great cordiality, and +at once what were known as the Gladstone tentacles were fastened +on me for information. It was a peculiarity with the grand old +man that he extracted from a stranger practically all the man knew, +and the information was immediately assimilated in his wonderful +mind. He became undoubtedly the best-informed man on more subjects +than anybody in the world. + +Mr. Gladstone said to me: "It has been raining here for forty days. +What is the average rainfall in the United States and in New York?" +If there was any subject about which I knew less than another, it +was the meteorological conditions in America. He then continued +with great glee: "Our friend, Lord Rosebery, has everything and +knows everything, so it is almost impossible to find for him +something new. Great books are common, but I have succeeded +in my explorations among antiquarian shops in discovering the most +idiotic book that ever was written. It was by an old lord mayor of +London, who filled a volume with his experiences in an excursion +on the Thames, which is the daily experience of every Englishman." +To the disappointment of Mr. Gladstone, Lord Rosebery also had +that book. The evening was a memorable one for me. + +After a most charming time and dinner, while Lord Rosebery went +off to meet an engagement to speak at a meeting of colonial +representatives, Lady Rosebery took Mr. Gladstone and myself +to the opera at Covent Garden. There was a critical debate on +in the House of Commons, and the whips were running in to inform +him of the progress of the battle and to get instructions from +the great leader. + +During the entr'actes Mr. Gladstone most interestingly talked of +his sixty years' experience of the opera. He knew all the great +operas of that period, and criticised with wonderful skill the +composers and their characteristics. He gave a word picture of +all the great artists who had appeared on the English stage and +the merits and demerits of each. A stranger listening to him would +have said that a veteran musical critic, who had devoted his life +to that and nothing else, was reminiscing. He said that thirty +years before the manager of Covent Garden had raised the pitch, +that this had become so difficult that most of the artists, to reach +it, used the tremolo, and that the tremolo had taken away from him +the exquisite pleasure which he formerly had in listening to an opera. + +Mr. Gladstone was at that time the unquestionable master of the +House of Commons and its foremost orator. I unfortunately never +heard him at his best, but whether the question was of greater +or lesser importance, the appearance of Mr. Gladstone at once +lifted it above ordinary discussion to high debate. + +Mr. Gladstone asked many questions about large fortunes in the +United States, was curious about the methods of their accumulation, +and whether they survived in succeeding generations. He wanted +to know all about the reputed richest man among them. I told him +I did not know the amount of his wealth, but that it was at least +one hundred millions of dollars. + +"How invested?" he asked. + +I answered: "All in fluid securities which could be turned into +cash in a short time." + +He became excited at that and said: "Such a man is dangerous +not only to his own country but to the world. With that amount +of ready money he could upset the exchanges and paralyze the +borrowing power of nations." + +"But," I said, "you have enormous fortunes," and mentioned the +Duke of Westminster. + +"I know every pound of Westminster's wealth," he said. "It is in +lands which he cannot sell, and burdened with settlements of +generations and obligations which cannot be avoided." + +"How about the Rothschilds?" I asked. + +"Their fortunes," he answered, "are divided among the firms in +London, Paris, Vienna, and Frankfort, and it would be impossible +for them to be combined and used to unsettle the markets of the +world. But Mr. ---- could do this and prevent governments from +meeting their obligations." + +Mr. Gladstone had no hostility to great fortunes, however large, +unless so invested as to be immediately available by a single +man for speculation. But fortunes larger than that of one hundred +millions have since been acquired, and their management is so +conservative that they are brakes and safeguards against unreasoning +panics. The majority of them have been used for public benefit. +The most conspicuous instances are the Rockefeller Foundation, +the Carnegie Endowment, and the Frick Creation. + +Henry Labouchere told me a delightful story of Mr. Gladstone's +first meeting with Robert T. Lincoln, when he arrived in London +as American minister. Mr. Lincoln became in a short time after +his arrival one of the most popular of the distinguished list of +American representatives to Great Britain. He was especially noted +for the charm of his conversation. Labouchere said that Mr. Gladstone +told him that he was very anxious to meet Mr. Lincoln, both because +he was the new minister from the United States and because of his +great father, President Lincoln. Labouchere arranged for a dinner +at his house, which was an hour in the country from Mr. Gladstone's +city residence. Mrs. Gladstone made Mr. Labouchere promise, as +a condition for permitting her husband to go, that Mr. Gladstone +should be back inside of his home at ten o'clock. + +The dinner had no sooner started than some question arose which +not only interested but excited Mr. Gladstone. He at once entered +upon an eloquent monologue on the subject. There was no possibility +of interruption by any one, and Mr. Lincoln had no chance whatever +to interpose a remark. When the clock was nearing eleven Labouchere +interrupted this torrent of talk by saying: "Mr. Gladstone, it is +now eleven; it is an hour's ride to London, and I promised +Mrs. Gladstone to have you back at ten." When they were seated +in the carriage Labouchere said to Mr. Gladstone: "Well, you +have passed an evening with Mr. Lincoln; what do you think of him?" +He replied: "Mr. Lincoln is a charming personality, but he does +not seem to have much conversation." + +Among the very able men whom I met in London was Joseph Chamberlain. +When I first met him he was one of Mr. Gladstone's trusted +lieutenants. He was a capital speaker, a close and incisive +debater, and a shrewd politician. When he broke with Mr. Gladstone, +he retained his hold on his constituency and continued to be a +leader in the opposite party. + +Mr. Chamberlain told me that in a critical debate in the +House of Commons, when the government was in danger, Mr. Gladstone, +who alone could save the situation, suddenly disappeared. Every +known resort of his was searched to find him. Mr. Chamberlain, +recollecting Mr. Gladstone's interest in a certain subject, drove +to the house of the lady whose authority on that subject +Mr. Gladstone highly respected. He found him submitting to the +lady for her criticism and correction some of Watts's hymns, +which he had translated into Italian. + +The British Government sent Mr. Chamberlain to America, and he +had many public receptions given him by our mercantile and other +bodies. On account of his separating from Mr. Gladstone on +Home Rule, he met with a great deal of hostility here from the Irish. +I was present at a public dinner where the interruptions and +hostile demonstrations were very pronounced. But Mr. Chamberlain +won his audience by his skill and fighting qualities. + +I gave him a dinner at my house and had a number of representative +men to meet him. He made the occasion exceedingly interesting +by presenting views of domestic conditions in England and +international ones with this country, which were quite new to us. + +Mr. Chamberlain was a guest on the Teutonic at the famous review +of the British navy celebrating Queen Victoria's jubilee, where +I had the pleasure of again meeting him. He had recently married +Miss Endicott, the charming daughter of our secretary of war, and +everybody appreciated that it was a British statesman's honeymoon. + +He gave me a dinner in London, at which were present a large +company, and two subjects came under very acute discussion. There +had been a recent marriage in high English society, where there +were wonderful pedigree and relationships on both sides, but no +money. It finally developed, however, that under family settlements +the young couple might have fifteen hundred pounds a year, or +seven thousand five hundred dollars. The decision was unanimous +that they could get along very well and maintain their position on +this sum and be able to reciprocate reasonably the attentions they +would receive. Nothing could better illustrate the terrific +increase in the cost of living than the contrast between then and now. + +Some one of the guests at the dinner said that the Americans by +the introduction of slang were ruining the English language. +Mr. James Russell Lowell had come evidently prepared for this +controversy. He said that American slang was the common language +of that part of England from which the Pilgrims sailed, and that it +had been preserved in certain parts of the United States, notably +northern New England. He then produced an old book, a sort of +dictionary of that period, and proved his case. It was a surprise +to everybody to know that American slang was really classic English, +and still spoken in the remoter parts of Massachusetts and +New Hampshire, though no longer in use in England. + +The period of Mr. Gladstone's reign as prime minister was one of +the most interesting for an American visitor who had the privilege +of knowing him and the eminent men who formed his Cabinet. The +ladies of the Cabinet entertained lavishly and superbly. A great +favorite at these social gatherings was Miss Margot Tennant, +afterwards Mrs. Asquith. Her youth, her wit, her originality and +audacity made every function a success which was graced by +her presence. + +The bitterness towards Mr. Gladstone of the opposition party +surpassed anything I have met in American politics, except during +the Civil War. At dinners and receptions given me by my friends +of the Tory party I was supposed as an American to be friendly to +Mr. Gladstone and Home Rule. I do not know whether this was +the reason or whether it was usual, but on such occasions the +denunciation of Mr. Gladstone as a traitor and the hope of living +to see him executed was very frequent. + +I remember one important public man who was largely interested +and a good deal of a power in Canadian and American railroads. +He asked a friend of mine to arrange for me to meet him. I found +him a most agreeable man and very accurately informed on the +railway situation in Canada and the United States. He was +preparing for a visit, and so wanted me to fill any gaps there +might be in his knowledge of the situation. + +Apropos of the political situation at the time, he suddenly asked +me what was the attitude of the people of the United States towards +Mr. Gladstone and his Home Rule bill. I told him they were +practically unanimous in favor of the bill, and that Mr. Gladstone +was the most popular Englishman in the United States. He at once +flew into a violent rage, the rarest thing in the world for an +Englishman, and lost control of his temper to such a degree that +I thought the easiest way to dam the flood of his denunciation +was to plead another engagement and retire from the field. I met +him frequently afterwards, especially when he came to the +United States, but carefully avoided his pet animosity. + +One year, in the height of the crisis of Mr. Gladstone's effort +to pass the Home Rule bill, a member of his Cabinet said to me: +"We of the Cabinet are by no means unanimous in believing in +Mr. Gladstone's effort, but he is the greatest power in our country. +The people implicitly believe in him and we are helping all we can." + +It is well known that one after another broke away from him in +time. The same Cabinet minister continued: "Mr. Gladstone has +gone to the extreme limit in concessions made in his Home Rule +bill, and he can carry the English, Scotch, and Welsh members. +But every time the Irish seem to be satisfied, they make a new +demand and a greater one. Unless this stops and the present bill +is accepted, the whole scheme will break down. Many of the Irish +members are supported by contributions from America. Their +occupation is politics. If Home Rule should be adopted the serious +people of Ireland, whose economic interests are at stake, might +come to the front and take all representative offices themselves. +We have come to the conclusion that enough of the Irish members +to defeat the bill do not want Home Rule on any conditions. +I know it is a custom when you arrive home every year that your +friends meet you down the Bay and give you a reception. Then you +give an interview of your impressions over here, and that interview +is printed as widely in this country as in the United States. Now +I wish you would do this: At the reception put in your own way +what I have told you, and especially emphasize that Mr. Gladstone +is imperilling his political career and whole future for the sake +of what he believes would be justice to Ireland. He cannot go +any further and hold his English, Scotch, and Welsh constituencies. +He believes that he can pass the present bill and start Ireland on +a career of Home Rule if he can receive the support of the Irish +members. The Americans who believe in Mr. Gladstone and are all +honest Home Rulers will think this is an indirect message from +himself, and it would be if it were prudent for Mr. Gladstone to +send the message." + +On my return to New York I did as requested. The story was +published and commented on everywhere, and whether it was due +to American insistence or not, I do not know, but shortly after +Mr. Gladstone succeeded in carrying his Home Rule bill through the +House of Commons, but it was defeated by the Conservatives in the +House of Lords. + +His Irish policy is a tribute to Mr. Gladstone's judgment and +foresight, because in the light and conditions of to-day it is +perfectly plain that if the Gladstone measure had been adopted +at that time, the Irish question would not now be the most difficult +and dangerous in British politics. + +I had many talks with Mr. Parnell and made many speeches in his +behalf and later for Mr. Redmond. I asked him on one occasion +if the Irish desired complete independence and the formation of +an independent government. He answered: "No, we want Home Rule, +but to retain our connection in a way with the British Empire. +The military, naval, and civil service of the British Empire gives +great opportunities for our young men. Ireland in proportion to +its population is more largely represented in these departments +of the British Government than either England, Scotland, or Wales." + +Incidental to the division in Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet, which had +not at this time broken out, was the great vogue which a story of +mine had. I was dining with Earl Spencer. He had been lord +lieutenant of Ireland and was very popular. His wife especially +had been as great a success as the vice-regent. He was called +the Red Earl because of his flowing auburn beard. He was a very +serious man, devoted to the public service and exceedingly capable. +He almost adored Gladstone and grieved over the growing opposition +in the Cabinet. + +The guests at the dinner were all Gladstonians and lamenting these +differences and full of apprehension they might result in a split +in the party. The earl asked me if we ever had such conditions +in the United States. I answered: "Yes." Mr. Blaine, at that +time at the head of President Harrison's Cabinet as secretary +of state, had very serious differences with his chief, and the +people wondered why he remained. Mr. Blaine told me this story +apropos of the situation: The author of a play invited a friend +of his to witness the first production and sent him a complimentary +ticket. During the first act there were signs of disapproval, +which during the second act broke out into a riot. An excited +man sitting alongside the guest of the playwright said: "Stranger, +are you blind or deaf, or do you approve of the play?" The guest +replied: "My friend, my sentiments and opinion in regard to this +play do not differ from yours and the rest, but I am here on a +free ticket. If you will wait a little while till I go out and +buy a ticket, I will come back and help you raise hell." + +The most brilliant member of Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet and one of +the most accomplished, versatile, and eloquent men in Great Britain +was Lord Rosebery. I saw much of him when he was foreign minister +and also after he became prime minister. Lord Rosebery was not +only a great debater on political questions, he was also the most +scholarly orator of his country on educational, literary, and +patriotic subjects. He gathered about him always the people +whom a stranger pre-eminently desired to meet. + +I recall one of my week-end visits to his home at Mentmore, which +is one of the most delightful of my reminiscences abroad. He had +taken down there the leaders of his party. The dinner lasted, the +guests all being men, except Lady Rosebery, who presided, until +after twelve o'clock. Every one privileged to be there felt that +those four hours had passed more quickly and entertainingly than +any in their experience. + +It was a beautiful moonlight night and the very best of English +weather, and we adjourned to the terrace. There were recalled +personal experiences, incidents of travel from men who had been +all over the world and in critical situations in many lands, +diplomatic secrets revealing crises seriously threatening European +wars, and how these had been averted, alliances made and territories +acquired, adventures of thrilling interest and personal episodes +surpassing fiction. The company reluctantly separated when the +rising sun admonished them that the night had passed. + +It has been my good fortune to be the guest of eminent men in +many lands and on occasions of memorable interest, but the rarest +privilege for any one was to be the guest of Lord Rosebery, either +at his city house or one of his country residences. The wonderful +charm of the host, his tact with his guests, his talent for drawing +people out and making them appear at their best, linger in their +memories as red-letter days and nights of their lives. + +All Americans took great interest in the career of Lord Randolph +Churchill. His wife was one of the most beautiful and popular +women in English society, and an American. I knew her father, +Leonard Jerome, very well. He was a successful banker and a highly +educated and cultured gentleman. His brother, William Jerome, +was for a long time the best story-teller and one of the wittiest +of New Yorkers. + +Lord Randolph Churchill advanced very rapidly in British politics +and became not only one of the most brilliant debaters but one +of the leaders of the House of Commons. On one of my visits abroad +I received an invitation from the Churchills to visit them at their +country place. When I arrived I found that they occupied a castle +built in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and in which few modern +alterations had been made. It was historically a very unique and +interesting structure. Additions had been made to it by succeeding +generations, each being another house with its own methods of +ingress and egress. Lord Randolph said: "I welcome you to my +ancestral home, which I have rented for three months." + +Though this temporary residence was very ancient, yet its +hospitalities were dispensed by one of the most up-to-date and +progressive couples in the kingdom. In the intimacy of a +house-party, not too large, one could enjoy the versatility, +the charm, the wide information, the keen political acumen of +this accomplished and magnetic British statesman. It was +unfortunate for his country that from overwork he broke down so +early in life. + +No one during his period could surpass Baron Alfred Rothschild as +host. His dinners in town, followed by exquisite musicales, were +the social events of every season. He was, however, most attractive +at his superb place in the country. A week-end with him there met +the best traditions of English hospitality. In the party were sure +to be men and women of distinction, and just the ones whom an +American had read about and was anxious to meet. + +Baron Rothschild was a famous musician and an ardent lover of +music. He had at his country place a wonderfully trained orchestra +of expert musicians. In the theatre he gave concerts for the +enjoyment of his guests, and led the orchestra himself. Among +the company was sure to be one or more of the most famous artists +from the opera at Covent Garden, and from these experts his own +leadership and the performance of his perfectly trained company +received unstinted praise and applause. Baron Rothschild had the +art so necessary for the enjoyment of his guests of getting +together the right people. He never risked the harmony of his +house by inviting antagonists. + +Lord Rothschild, the head of the house, differed entirely from +his amiable and accomplished brother. While he also entertained, +his mind was engrossed in business and affairs. I had a conference +with him at the time of the Spanish-American War, which might have +been of historical importance. He asked me to come and see him +in the Rothschild banking-house, where the traditions of a century +are preserved and unchanged. He said to me: "We have been for +a long time the bankers of Spain. We feel the responsibility for +their securities, which we have placed upon the market. The +United States is so all-powerful in its resources and spirit that +it can crush Spain. This we desire to avert. Spain, though weak +and poor compared to the United States, has nevertheless the +proudest people in the world, and it is a question of Spanish +pride we have to deal with." + +In answering him I said: "Lord Rothschild, it seems to me that +if you had any proposition you should take it to Mr. John Hay, +our accomplished minister." + +"No," he said; "then it would become a matter of diplomacy and +publicity. Now the Spanish Government is willing to comply with +every demand the United States can make. The government is willing +to grant absolute independence to Cuba, or what it would prefer, +a self-governing colony, with relations like that of Canada to +Great Britain. Spain is willing to give to the United States +Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands, but she must know beforehand +if these terms will be accepted before making the offer because +if an offer so great as this and involving such a loss of territory +and prestige should be rejected by the United States there would +be a revolution in Spain which might overthrow not only the +government but the monarchy. What would be regarded as an insult +would be resented by every Spaniard to the bitter end. That is +why I have asked you to come and wish you to submit this proposition +to your president. Of course, I remain in a position, if there +should be any publicity about it, to deny the whole thing." + +The proposition unfortunately came too late, and Mr. McKinley could +not stop the war. It was well known in Washington that he was +exceedingly averse to hostilities and believed the difficulties +could be satisfactorily settled by diplomacy, but the people were +aroused to such an extent that they were determined not only to free +Cuba but to punish those who were oppressing the Cubans. + +One incident which received little publicity at the time was in +all probability the match which fired the magazine. One of the +ablest and most level-headed members of the Senate was Senator +Redfield Proctor, of Vermont. The solidity of his character and +acquirements and his known sense and conservatism made him a +power in Congress, and he had the confidence of the people. He +visited Cuba and wrote a report in which he detailed as an +eyewitness the atrocities which the government and the soldiers +were perpetrating. He read this report to Mr. McKinley and +Senator Hanna. They both said: "Senator Proctor, if you read +that to the Senate, our negotiations end and war is inevitable." + +The president requested the senator to delay reporting to the +Senate. The excitement and interest in that body were never more +unanimous and intense. I doubt if any senator could have resisted +this rare opportunity not only to be the centre of the stage but +to occupy the whole platform. Senator Proctor made his report +and the country was aflame. + + + +One summer I arrived in London and was suffering from a fearful +attack of muscular rheumatism. I knew perfectly well that I had +brought it on myself by overwork. I had suffered several attacks +before, but this one was so acute that I consulted Sir Henry Thompson, +at that time the acknowledged head of the British medical +profession. He made a thorough examination and with most +satisfactory result as to every organ. "With your perfect +constitution," he said, "this attack is abnormal. Now tell me of +your day and every day at home. Begin with breakfast." + +"I breakfast at a quarter of eight," I said. + +"Then," continued the doctor, "give me the whole day." + +"I arrive at my office," I said, "at nine. Being president of +a great railway company, there is a large correspondence to be +disposed of. I see the heads of the different departments and +get in touch with every branch of the business. Then I meet +committees of chambers of commerce or shippers, or of employees +who have a grievance, and all this will occupy me until five +o'clock, when I go home. I take a very short lunch, often at +my desk, to save time. On arriving home I take a nap of ten or +fifteen minutes, and then look over my engagements for the evening. +If it is a speech, which will probably happen four evenings in a +week, I prepare in the next hour and then deliver it at some public +banquet or hall. If I have accepted a formal address or, as we +call them in America, orations, it is ground out on odd evenings, +Sunday afternoon and night." + +The doctor turned to me abruptly and said: "You ought to be dead. +Now, you have the most perfect constitution and less impaired than +any I have examined at your time of life. If you will follow the +directions which I give you, you can be perfectly well and sound +at the age of one hundred. If you continue your present life until +seventy, you will have a nervous breakdown, and thereafter become +a nuisance to yourself and everybody else. I advise absolute rest +at a remote place in Switzerland. There you will receive no +newspapers, and you will hear nothing from the outside world. +You will meet there only English who are seeking health, and they +will not speak to you. Devote your day to walking over the +mountains, adding to your tramp as your strength increases, and +lie for hours on the bank of a quiet stream there, and be intensely +interested as you throw pebbles into it to see how wide you can +make the circles from the spot where the pebble strikes the water." + +I thought I understood my temperament better than the doctor, and +that any rest for me was not solitude but entire change of +occupation. So I remained in London and lunched and dined out +every day for several weeks, with a week-end over every Sunday. +In other ways, however, I adopted the doctor's directions and not +only returned home cured, but have been free from rheumatism +ever since. + +I was in London at both the queen's fiftieth anniversary of her +reign and her jubilee. The reverence and love the English people +had for Queen Victoria was a wonderful exhibition of her wisdom +as a sovereign and of her charm and character as a woman. The +sixty years of her reign were a wonderful epoch in the growth of +her empire and in its relations to the world. + +Once I said to a member of the Cabinet, who, as minister of +foreign affairs had been brought in close contact with the queen: +"I am very much impressed with the regard which the people have +for Queen Victoria. What is her special function in your scheme +of government?" + +"She is invaluable," he answered, "to every prime minister and +the Cabinet. The prime minister, after the close of the debate +in the House of Commons every night, writes the queen a full +report of what has occurred at that session. This has been going +on for more than half a century. The queen reads these accounts +carefully and has a most retentive memory. If these communications +of the prime ministers were ever available to the public, they +would present a remarkable contrast of the minds and the methods +of different prime ministers and especially those two extreme +opposites, Gladstone and Disraeli. The queen did not like Gladstone, +because she said he always preached, but she had an intense +admiration for Disraeli, who threw into his nightly memoranda all +his skill not only as a statesman, but a novelist. The queen also +has been consulted during all these years on every crisis, domestic +or foreign, and every matter of Cabinet importance. The result +is that she is an encyclopaedia. Very often there will be a dispute +with some of the great powers or lesser ones, which is rapidly +growing to serious proportions. We can find no report of its +beginning. The queen, however, will remember just when the +difficulty began, and why it was pushed aside and not settled, +and who were the principal actors in the negotiations. With that +data we often arrive at a satisfactory settlement." + +I remember one garden-party at Buckingham Palace. The day was +perfect and the attendance phenomenally large and distinguished. +While there were places on the grounds where a luncheon was served, +the guests neglected these places and gathered about a large tent +where the royalties had their refreshments. It was an intense +curiosity, not so much to see their sovereign eat and drink, as +to improve the opportunity to reverently gaze upon her at close +range. The queen called various people whom she knew from this +circle of onlookers for a familiar talk. + +When the luncheon was served the attendant produced an immense +napkin, which she spread over herself, almost from her neck to +the bottom of her dress. A charming English lady, who stood beside +me, said: "I know you are laughing at the economy of our Queen." + +"On the contrary," I said, "I am admiring an example of carefulness +and thrift which, if it could be universally known, would be of +as great benefit in the United States as in Great Britain." + +"Well," she continued, "I do wish that the dear old lady was not +quite so careful." + +At a period when the lives of the continental rulers were in great +peril from revolutionists and assassins, the queen on both her +fiftieth anniversary and her jubilee rode in an open carriage +through many miles of London streets, with millions of spectators +on either side pressing closely upon the procession, and there was +never a thought that she was in the slightest danger. She was +fearless herself, but she had on the triple armor of the overmastering +love and veneration of the whole people. Americans remembered +that in the crisis of our Civil War it was the influence of the +queen, more than any other, which prevented Great Britain +recognizing the Southern Confederacy. + +Among the incidents of her jubilee was the greatest naval +demonstration ever known. The fleets of Great Britain were summoned +from all parts of the globe and anchored in a long and imposing +line in the English Channel. Mr. Ismay, at that time the head +of the White Star Line, took the Teutonic, which had just been +built and was not yet in regular commission, as his private yacht. +He had on board a notable company, representing the best, both +of men and women, of English life. He was the most generous of +hosts, and every care taken for the individual comfort of his +guests. In the intimacy for several days of such an excursion +we all became very well acquainted. There were speeches at +the dinners and dances afterwards on the deck for the younger +people. The war-ships were illuminated at night by electric +lights, and the launch of the Teutonic took us down one lane and +up another through the long lines of these formidable defenders +of Great Britain. + +One day there was great excitement when a war-ship steamed into +our midst and it was announced that it was the German emperor's. +Even as early as that he excited in the English mind both curiosity +and apprehension. One of the frequent questions put to me, both +then and for years afterwards at English dinners, was: "What do +you think of the German emperor?" + +Shortly after his arrival he came on to the Teutonic with the +Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII. The prince knew +many of the company and was most cordial all around. The emperor +was absorbed in an investigation of this new ship and her +possibilities both in the mercantile marine and as a cruiser. +I heard him say to the captain: "How are you armed?" The captain +told him that among his equipment he had a new invention, a +quick-firing gun. The emperor was immediately greatly excited. +He examined the gun and questioned its qualities and possibilities +until he was master of every detail. Then he turned to one of +his officers and gave a quick order that the gun should be +immediately investigated and all that were required should be +provided for Germany. + +I heard a picturesque story from a member of the court, of +Queen Victoria's interest in all public affairs. There was then, +as there is generally in European relations, some talk of war. +The queen was staying at her castle at Osborne on the Isle of Wight. +He said she drove alone down to the shore one night and sat there +a long time looking at this great fleet, which was the main +protection of her empire and her people. It would be interesting +if one could know what were her thoughts, her fears, and her hopes. + +The queen was constantly assisting the government in the maintenance +of friendly relations with foreign powers by entertaining their +representatives at Windsor Castle. When General Grant, after +he retired from the presidency, made his trip around the world, +the question which disturbed our American minister, when General Grant +arrived in London, was how he could be properly received and +recognized. Of course, under our usage, he had become a private +citizen, and was no more entitled to official recognition than any +other citizen. This was well known in the diplomatic circles. +When the ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries in London +were appealed to, they unanimously said that as they represented +their sovereigns they could not yield precedence to General Grant, +but he must sit at the foot of the table. The Prince of Wales +solved this question with his usual tact and wisdom. Under the +recognized usage at any entertainment, the Prince of Wales can +select some person as his special guest to sit at his right, and, +therefore, precede everybody else. The prince made this suggestion +to our minister and performed this courteous act at all functions +given to General Grant. Queen Victoria supplemented this by +extending the same invitation to General and Mrs. Grant to dine +and spend the night with her at Windsor Castle, which was extended +only to visiting royalty. + +I remember that the Army of the Potomac was holding its annual +meeting and commemoration at one of our cities when the cable +announced that General Grant was being entertained by Queen Victoria +at Windsor Castle. The conventions of diplomacy, which requires +all communications to pass through the ambassador of one's country +to the foreign minister of another country before it can reach the +sovereign were not known to these old soldiers, so they cabled +a warm message to General Grant, care of Queen Victoria, +Windsor Castle, England. + +One of the most delightful bits of humor in my recollections of +journalistic enterprise was an editorial by a Mr. Alden, one +of the editors of the New York Times. Mr. Alden described with +great particularity, as if giving the details of the occurrence, +that the messenger-boy arrived at Windsor Castle during the night +and rang the front door-bell; that Her Majesty called out of the +window in quite American style, "Who is there?" and the messenger-boy +shouted, "Cable for General Grant. Is he staying at this house?" +I can only give a suggestion of Alden's fun, which shook the +whole country. + +One of the court officers said to me during the jubilee: "Royalties +are here from every country, and among those who have come over +is Liliuokalani, Queen of the Hawaiian Islands. She is as insistent +of her royal rights as the Emperor of Germany. We have consented +that she should be a guest at a dinner of our queen and spend +the night at Windsor Castle. We have settled her place among +the royalties in the procession through London and offered her +the hussars as her guard of honor. She insists, however, that +she shall have the same as the other kings, a company of the +guards. Having recognized her, we are obliged to yield." The +same officer told me that at the dinner the dusky queen said to +Queen Victoria: "Your Majesty, I am a blood relative of yours." + +"How so?" was the queen's astonished answer. + +"Why," said Liliuokalani, "my grandfather ate your Captain Cook." + + + +One of the most interesting of the many distinguished men who +were either guests on the Teutonic or visited us was Admiral Lord +Charles Beresford. He was a typical sailor of the highest class +and very versatile. He made a good speech, either social or +political, and was a delightful companion on all occasions. He +had remarkable adventures all over the world, and was a word +painter of artistic power. He knew America well and was very +sympathetic with our ideals. I met him many times in many relations +and always with increasing regard and esteem. + +I was entertained by Lord Beresford once in the most original way. +He had a country place about an hour from London and invited me +to come down on a Sunday afternoon and meet some friends. It was +a delightful garden-party on an ideal English summer day. He +pressed me to stay for dinner, saying: "There will be a few friends +coming, whom I am anxious for you to know." + +The friends kept coming, and after a while Lady Beresford said +to him: "We have set all the tables we have and the dining-room +and the adjoining room can hold. How many have you invited?" + +The admiral answered: "I cannot remember, but if we delay the +dinner until a quarter of nine, I am sure they will all be here." + +When we sat down we numbered over fifty. Lord Charles's abounding +and irresistible hospitality had included everybody whom he had met +the day before. + +The butler came to Lord Charles shortly after we sat down and +said: "My lord, it is Sunday night, and the shops are all closed. +We can add nothing to what we have in the house, and the soup +has given out." + +"Well," said this admirable strategist, "commence with those for +whom you have no soup with the fish. When the fish gives out, +start right on with the next course, and so to the close of the +dinner. In that way everybody will get something." + +After a while the butler again approached the admiral and said: +"My lord, the champagne is all gone." + +"Well," said Lord Charles, "start in on cider." + +It was a merry company, and they all caught on to the situation. +The result was one of the most hilarious, enjoyable, and original +entertainments of my life. It lasted late, and everybody with +absolute sincerity declared he or she had had the best time ever. + +I was asked to meet Lord John Fisher, in a way a rival of +Lord Beresford. Both were exceedingly able and brilliant officers +and men of achievement, but they were absolutely unlike; one had +all the characteristics of the Celt and the other of the Saxon. + +One of the most interesting things in Lord Fisher's talk, especially +in view of later developments, was his description of the +discoveries and annexations to the British Empire, made by the +British navy. In regard to this he said: "The British navy had +been acquiring positions of strategic importance to the safety and +growth of the empire from time immemorial, and some fool of a +prime minister on a pure matter of sentiment is always giving away +to our possible enemies one or the other of these advantageous +positions." He referred especially to Heligoland, the gift of +which to Germany had taken place not long before. If Heligoland, +fortified like Gibraltar, had remained in the possession of the +British Government, Germany would not have ventured upon the late war. + +Lord Fisher exemplified what I have often met with in men who have +won eminent distinction in some career, whose great desire was +to have fame in another and entirely different one. Apparently +he wished his friends and those he met to believe that he was +the best storyteller in the world; that he had the largest stock +of original anecdotes and told them better than anybody else. +I found that he was exceedingly impatient and irritable when any +one else started the inevitable "that reminds me," and he was +intolerant with the story the other was trying to tell. But I +discovered, also, that most of his stories, though told with great +enthusiasm, were very familiar, or, as we Americans would +say, "chestnuts." + +During my summer vacations I spent two weeks or more at Homburg, +the German watering-place. It was at that time the most interesting +resort on the continent. The Prince of Wales, afterwards +King Edward VII, was always there, and his sister, the Dowager +Empress of Germany, had her castle within a few miles. It was +said that there was a quorum of both Houses of Parliament in +Homburg while the prince was there, but his presence also drew +representatives from every department of English life, the bench +and the bar, writers of eminence of both sexes, distinguished +artists, and people famous on both the dramatic and the operatic +stage. The prince, with keen discrimination, had these interesting +people always about him. There were also social leaders, whose +entertainments were famous in London, who did their best to add +to the pleasure of the visit of the prince. I met him frequently +and was often his guest at his luncheons and dinners. He fell +in at once in the Homburg way. + +The routine of the cure was to be at the springs every morning +at seven o'clock, to take a glass of water, walk half an hour +with some agreeable companion, and repeat this until three glasses +had been consumed. Then breakfast, and after that the great +bathing-house at eleven o'clock. The bathing-house was a +meeting-place for everybody. Another meeting-place was the open-air +concerts in the afternoon. In the evening came the formal dinners +and some entertainment afterwards. + +Both for luncheon and dinner the prince always had quite a large +company. He was a host of great charm, tact, and character. He +had a talent of drawing out the best there was in those about his +table, and especially of making the occasion very agreeable for +a stranger. Any one at his entertainments always carried away +either in the people he met or the things that were said, or both, +permanent recollections. + +I do not think the prince bothered about domestic questions. He +was very observant of the limitations and restrictions which the +English Government imposes upon royalty. He was, however, very +keen upon his country's foreign relations. In the peace of Europe +he was an important factor, being so closely allied with the imperial +houses of Germany and Russia. There is no doubt that he prevented +the German Emperor from acquiring a dangerous control over the +Czar. He was very fixed and determined to maintain and increase +friendly relations between the United States and Great Britain. +He succeeded, after many varied and long-continued efforts, in +doing away with the prejudices and hostilities of the French +towards the English, an accomplishment of infinite value to his +country in these later years. + +I was told that the prince required very little sleep, that he +retired to bed late and was an early riser. I was awakened one +night by his equerry calling me up, saying the prince was on +the terrace of the Kursaal and wanted to see me. The lights were +all out, everybody had gone, and he was sitting alone at a table +illuminated by a single candle. What he desired was to discuss +American affairs and become more familiar with our public men, +our ideals, our policies, and especially any causes which could +possibly be removed of irritation between his own country and +ours. This discussion lasted till daylight. + +Meeting him on the street one day, he stopped and asked me to +step aside into an opening there was in the hedge. He seemed +laboring under considerable excitement, and said: "Why do the +people in the United States want to break up the British Empire?" + +I knew he referred to the Home Rule bill for Ireland, which was +then agitating Parliament and the country, and also the frequent +demonstrations in its favor which were occurring in the United States. + +I said to him: "Sir, I do not believe there is a single American +who has any thought of breaking up the British Empire. We are +wedded to the federal principle of independent States, which are +sovereign in their local affairs and home matters, but on +everything you call imperial the United States is supreme. To +vindicate this principle we fought a Civil War, in which we lost +more lives, spent more money, destroyed more property, and incurred +more debt than any contest of modern time. The success of the +government has been so complete that the States which were in +rebellion and their people are quite as loyal to the general +government as those who fought to preserve it. The prosperity +of the country, with this question settled, has exceeded the bounds +of imagination. So Americans think of your trouble with Ireland +in terms of our federated States and believe that all your +difficulties could be adjusted in the same way." + +We had a long discussion in which he asked innumerable questions, +and never referred to the subject again. I heard afterwards among +my English friends that he who had been most hostile was becoming +a Home Ruler. + +At another time he wanted to know why our government had treated +the British ambassador, Lord Sackville West, so badly and ruined +his career. The Sackville West incident was already forgotten, +though it was the liveliest question of its time. + +Cleveland was president and a candidate for re-election. +Sackville West was the British ambassador. A little company of +shrewd Republican politicians in California thought if they could +get an admission that the British Government was interfering in +our election in favor of Cleveland, it would be a fine asset in +the campaign, and so they wrote to Lord Sackville West, telling +him they were Englishmen who had become naturalized American +citizens. In voting they were anxious to vote for the side which +would be best for their native land; would he kindly and very +confidentially advise them whether to support the Democratic or +the Republican ticket. Sackville West swallowed the bait without +investigation, and wrote them a letter advising them to vote the +Democratic ticket. + +There never had been such consternation in diplomatic circles in +Washington. Of course, Mr. Cleveland and his supporters had to +get out from under the situation as quickly and gracefully as possible. + +The administration instantly demanded that the British Government +should recall Lord Sackville West, which was done, and he was +repudiated for his activity in American politics. It was curious +that the prince had apparently never been fully informed of +the facts, but had been misled by Sackville West's explanation, +and the prince was always loyal to a friend. + +One year Mr. James G. Blaine visited Homburg, and the prince +at once invited him to luncheon. Blaine's retort to a question +delighted every American in the place. One of the guests was +the then Duke of Manchester, an old man and a great Tory. When +the duke grasped that Blaine was a leading American and had been +a candidate for the presidency of the United States, all his old +Toryism was aroused, and he was back in the days of George III. +To the horror of the prince, the duke said to Mr. Blaine: "The most +outrageous thing in all history was your rebellion and separation +from the best government on earth." He said much more before +the prince could stop him. + +Blaine, with that grace and tact for which he was so famous, +smilingly said: "Well, your Grace, if George III had had the sense, +tact, and winning qualities of his great-grandson, our host, it is +just possible that we might now be a self-governing colony in +the British Empire." + +The answer relieved the situation and immensely pleased the host. +Lord Rosebery once said in a speech that, with the tremendous +growth in every element of greatness of the United States, if the +American colonies had remained in the British Empire, with their +preponderating influence and prestige, the capital of Great Britain +might have been moved to New York and Buckingham Palace rebuilt +in Central Park. + +At another dinner one of the guests of the prince suddenly shot +at me across the table the startling question: "Do you know +certain American heiresses"--naming them--"now visiting London?" + +I answered "Yes"--naming one especially, a very beautiful and +accomplished girl who was quite the most popular debutante of +the London season. + +"How much has she?" he asked. + +I named the millions which she would probably inherit. "But," +I added, "before you marry an American heiress, you better be sure +that she can say the Lord's Prayer." + +He said with great indignation that he would be astonished if any +American girl could be recognized in English society who had been +so badly brought up that she was not familiar with the Lord's Prayer. + +"All of them are," I replied, "but few heiresses, unless they have +come into their inheritance and can say 'Our Father, who art in +heaven,' will inherit much, because American fathers are very +speculative." + +He continued to express his astonishment at this lack of religious +training in an American family, while the prince enjoyed the joke +so much that I was fearful in his convulsive laughter he would have +a fit of apoplexy. + +Once, at a dinner given by the prince, an old lady of very high +rank and leading position said suddenly to me, and in a way which +aroused the attention of the whole company: "Is it true that +divorces are very common in America?" + +I knew that a denial by me would not convince her or any others +who shared in this belief, then very common in Europe. Of course, +the prince knew better. I saw from his expression that he wished +me to take advantage of the opportunity. I made up my mind quickly +that the best way to meet this belief was by an exaggeration which +would show its absurdity. + +Having once started, the imaginative situation grew beyond my +anticipation. I answered: "Yes, divorces are so common with us +that the government has set aside one of our forty-odd States for +this special purpose. It is the principal business of the authorities. +Most of these actions for divorce take place at the capital, which +is always crowded with great numbers of people from all parts of +the country seeking relief from their marital obligations." + +"Did you ever visit that capital?" asked the prince. + +"Yes, several times," I answered, "but not for divorce. My domestic +relations have always been very happy, but it is also a famous +health resort, and I went there for the cure." + +"Tell us about your visit," said the prince. + +"Well," I continued, "it was out of season when I was first there, +so the only amusement or public occasions of interest were +prayer-meetings." + +The old lady asked excitedly: "Share meetings?" She had been +a large and unfortunate investor in American stocks. + +I relieved her by saying: "No, not share meetings, but religious +prayer-meetings. I remember one evening that the gentleman who +sat beside me turned suddenly to his wife and said: 'We must get +out of here at once; the air is too close.' 'Why, no,' she said; +'the windows are all open and the breeze is fresh.' 'Yes,' he +quickly remarked, 'but next to you are your two predecessors from +whom I was divorced, and that makes the air too close for me.'" + +The old lady exclaimed: "What a frightful condition!" + +"Tell us more," said the prince. + +"Well," I continued, "one day the mayor of the city invited me +to accompany him to the station, as the divorce train was about +to arrive. I found at the station a judge and one of the court +attendants. The attendant had a large package of divorce decrees +to which the seal of the court had been attached, and also the +signature of the judge. They only required to have the name of +the party desiring divorce inserted. Alongside the judge stood +a clergyman of the Established Church in full robes of his sacred +office. When the passengers had all left the cars, the conductor +jumped on to one of the car platforms and shouted to the crowd: +'All those who desire divorce will go before the judge and make +their application.' + +"When they had all been released by the court the conductor again +called out: 'All those who have been accompanied by their partners, +or where both have been to-day released from their former husbands +and wives to be remarried, will go before the rector.' He married +them in a body, whereupon they all resumed their places on the +train. The blowing of the whistle and the ringing of the bell on +the locomotive was the music of their first, second, or third +honeymoon journey." + +The old lady threw up her hands in horror and cried: "Such an +impious civilization must come speedily not only to spiritual and +moral destruction, but chaos." + +Most of the company saw what an amazing caricature the whole story +was and received it with great hilarity. The effect of it was to +end, for that circle, at least, and their friends, a serious +discussion of the universality of American divorces. + +The prince was always an eager sportsman and a very chivalric +one. At the time of one of the races at Cowes he became very +indignant at the conduct of an American yachtsman who had entered +his boat. It was charged by the other competitors that this +American yachtsman violated all the unwritten laws of the contest. + +After the race the prince said to me: "A yacht is a gentleman's +home, whether it is racing or sailing about for pleasure. The +owner of this yacht, to make her lighter and give her a better +chance, removed all the furniture and stripped her bare. He even +went so far, I am told, that when he found the steward had left +his stateroom a tooth-brush, he threw it out of the port window." + +It will be seen from these few anecdotes how intensely human was +the Prince of Wales. He did much for his country, both as prince +and king, and filled in a wise and able way the functions of his +office. Certainly no official did quite so much for the peace of +Europe during his time, and no royalty ever did more to make the +throne popular with the people. I heard him speak at both formal +and informal occasions, and his addresses were always tactful +and wise. + +While at Homburg we used to enjoy the delightful excursions to +Nauheim, the famous nerve-cure place. I met there at one time +a peculiar type of Americans, quite common in former years. They +were young men who, having inherited fortunes sufficient for their +needs, had no ambitions. After a strenuous social life at home +and in Europe, they became hypochondriacs and were chasing cures +for their imaginary ills from one resort to another. + +One of them, who had reached middle life, had, of course, become +in his own opinion a confirmed invalid. I asked him: "What +brought you here? You look very well." + +"That is just my trouble," he answered. "I look very well and +so get no sympathy, but my nervous system is so out of order that +it only takes a slight shock to completely disarrange it. For +instance, the cause of my present trouble. I was dining in Paris +at the house of a famous hostess, and a distinguished company +was present. The only three Americans were two ladies and myself. +I was placed between them. You know one of these ladies, while +a great leader at home, uses very emphatic language when she is +irritated. The dinner, like most French dinners, with many +courses, was unusually long. Suddenly this lady, leaning over +me, said to her sister: 'Damn it, Fan, will this dinner never end?' +The whole table was shocked and my nerves were completely shattered." +The great war, as I think, exterminated this entire tribe. + +I was delighted to find at Nauheim my old friends, Mark Twain and +the Reverend Doctor Joseph Twichell, of Hartford, Conn. Doctor +Twichell was Mark Twain's pastor at home. He was in college with +me at Yale, and I was also associated with him in the governing +corporation of Yale University. He was one of the finest wits +and remarkable humorists of his time. Wit and humor were with +him spontaneous, and he bubbled over with them. Mark Twain's +faculties in that line were more labored and had to be worked out. +Doctor Twichell often furnished in the rough the jewels which +afterwards in Mark Twain's workshop became perfect gems. + +I invited them to come over and spend the day and dine with me +in the evening at Homburg. Mark Twain at that time had the +reputation in England of being the greatest living wit and humorist. +It soon spread over Homburg that he was in town and was to dine +with me in the evening, and requests came pouring in to be invited. +I kept enlarging my table at the Kursaal, with these requests, +until the management said they could go no farther. I placed +Mark Twain alongside Lady Cork, one of the most brilliant women +in England. In the course of years of acquaintance I had met +Mark Twain under many conditions. He was very uncertain in a +social gathering. Sometimes he would be the life of the occasion +and make it one to be long remembered, but generally he contributed +nothing. At this dinner, whenever he showed the slightest sign +of making a remark, there was dead silence, but the remark did +not come. He had a charming time, and so did Lady Cork, but the +rest of the company heard nothing from the great humorist, and +they were greatly disappointed. + +The next morning Mark Twain came down to the springs in his +tramping-suit, which had fairly covered the continent. I introduced +him to the Prince of Wales, and he was charmed with him in their +hour of walk and talk. At dinner that evening the prince said +to me: "I would have invited Mark Twain this evening, if I thought +he had with him any dinner clothes." + +"At my dinner last night," I said, "he met every conventional +requirement." + +"Then," continued the prince, "I would be much obliged if you +would get him for dinner with me to-morrow evening." + +It was very much the same company as had dined with the prince +the night before. Again Twain was for a long time a complete +disappointment. I knew scores of good things of his and tried +my best to start him off, but without success. The prince, who +was unusually adroit and tactful in drawing a distinguished guest +out, also failed. When the dinner was over, however, and we had +reached the cigars, Mark Twain started in telling a story in his +most captivating way. His peculiar drawl, his habit in emphasizing +the points by shaking his bushy hair, made him a dramatic narrator. +He never had greater success. Even the veteran Mark himself was +astonished at the uproarious laughter which greeted almost every +sentence and was overwhelming when he closed. + +There are millions of stories in the world, and several hundred +of them good ones. No one knew more of them than Mark Twain, +and yet out of this vast collection he selected the one which +I had told the night before to the same company. The laughter +and enjoyment were not at the story, but because the English had, +as they thought, caught me in retailing to them from Mark Twain's +repertoire one of his stories. It so happened that it was a story +which I had heard as happening upon our railroad in one of my +tours of inspection. I had told it in a speech, and it had been +generally copied in the American newspapers. Mark Twain's +reputation as the greatest living humorist caused that crowd to +doubt the originality of my stories. + +Mark had declined the cigars, but the prince was so delighted that +he offered him one of the highly prized selection from his own +case. This drew from him a story, which I have not seen in any +of his books. I have read Mark Twain always with the greatest +pleasure. His books of travel have been to me a source of endless +interest, and his "Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc" is the +best representation of the saint and heroine that I know. + +When the prince offered him the cigar, Mark said: "No, prince, +I never smoke. I have the reputation in Hartford, Conn., of +furnishing at my entertainments the worst of cigars. When I was +going abroad, and as I would be away for several years, I gave +a reception and invited all my friends. I had the governor of +the State of Connecticut and the judges of the highest courts, +and the most distinguished members of the legislature. I had +the leading clergymen and other citizens, and also the president +and faculty of Yale University and Trinity College. + +"At three o'clock in the afternoon my butler, who is a colored +man, Pompey by name, came to me and said: 'Mr. Clemens, we have +no cigars.' Just then a pedler's wagon stopped at the gate. In +England they call them cheap jacks. I hailed the merchant and +said: 'What have you in your wagon?' 'Well,' he answered, 'I have +some Gobelin tapestries, Sevres china, and Japanese cloisonne +vases, and a few old masters.' Then I said to him: 'I do not +want any of those, but have you cigars, and how much?' The pedler +answered: 'Yes, sir, I have some excellent cigars, which I will +sell you at seventeen cents a barrel.' I have to explain that +a cent is an English farthing. Then I told him to roll a barrel in." + +"It was a great occasion, one of the greatest we ever had in the +old State of Connecticut," continued Mark, "but I noticed that +the guests left unusually early after supper. The next morning +I asked the butler why they left so early. 'Well,' he said, +'Mr. Clemens, everybody enjoyed the supper, and they were all +having a good time until I gave them the cigars. After the gentleman +had taken three puffs, he said: "Pomp, you infernal nigger, get +me my hat and coat quick." When I went out, my stone walk, which +was one hundred yards long from the front door to the gate, was +just paved with those cigars.'" This specimen of American +exaggeration told in Mark Twain's original way made a great hit. + +I met Mark Twain at a theatrical supper in London given by +Sir Henry Irving. It was just after his publishing firm had failed +so disastrously. It was a notable company of men of letters, +playwrights, and artists. Poor Mark was broken in health and +spirits. He tried to make a speech, and a humorous one, but it +saddened the whole company. + +I met him again after he had made the money on his remarkable +lecture tour around the world, with which he met and paid all his +debts. It was an achievement worthy of the famous effort of +Sir Walter Scott. Jubilant, triumphant, and free, Mark Twain that +night was the hero never forgotten by any one privileged to +be present. + + + +One year, after strenuous work and unusual difficulties, which, +however, had been successfully met, I was completely exhausted. +I was advised to take a short trip to Europe, and, as usual, the +four weeks' change of air and occupation was a complete cure. +I decided to include Rome in my itinerary, though I felt that my +visit would be something like the experience of Phineas Fogg, who +did the whole of Europe and saw all there was of it in ten days. + +When I arrived in the Eternal City, my itinerary gave me four days +there. I wanted to see everything and also to meet, if possible, +one of the greatest of popes, Leo XIII. I was armed only with a +letter from my accomplished and distinguished friend, Archbishop +Corrigan. I secured the best-known guide, who informed me that +my efforts to see the sights within my limited time would be +impossible. Nevertheless, the incentive of an extra large commission +dependent upon distances covered and sights seen, led to my going +through the streets behind the best team of horses in Rome and +pursued by policemen and dogs, and the horses urged on by a driver +frantic for reward, and a guide who professionally and financially +was doing the stunt of his life. It was astounding how much ground +was really covered in the city of antiquities and art by this +devotion to speed and under competent guidance. + +When I asked to see the pope, I was informed that his health was +not good and audiences had been suspended. I wrote a letter +to the cardinal-secretary, enclosing Archbishop Corrigan's letter, +and stated my anxiety to meet His Holiness and the limited time +I had. A few hours afterwards I received a letter from the cardinal +stating that the Holy Father appreciated the circumstances, and +would be very glad to welcome me in private audience at eleven +o'clock the next morning. + +When I arrived at the Vatican I was received as a distinguished +visitor. The papal guards were turned out, and I was finally +ushered into the room of Cardinal Merry del Val. He was a young +man then and an accomplished diplomat, and most intimately informed +on all questions of current interest. Literature, music, drama, +political conditions in Europe were among his accomplishments. +He said the usual formula when a stranger is presented to the pope +is for the guest to kneel and kiss his ring. The pope has decided +that all this will be omitted in your case. He will receive you +exactly as an eminent foreigner calling by appointment upon the +President of the United States. + +When I was ushered into the presence of the pope he left his +throne, came forward, grasped me cordially by the hand, and welcomed +me in a very charming way. He was not a well man, and his bloodless +countenance was as white and pallid as his robes. This was all +relieved, however, by the brilliancy of his wonderful eyes. + +After a few preliminary remarks he plunged into the questions in +which he was deeply interested. He feared the spread of communism +and vividly described its efforts to destroy the church, ruin +religion, extirpate faith, and predicted that if successful it +would destroy civilization. + +I told him that I was deeply interested in the encyclical he had +recently issued to reconcile or make more harmonious the relations +between capital and labor. He commenced speaking upon that +subject, and in a few minutes I saw that I was to be privileged +to hear an address from one who as priest and bishop had been +one of the most eloquent orators of the age. In his excitement he +leaned forward, grasping the arms of the throne, the color returned +to his cheeks, his eyes flashed, his voice was vibrant, and I was +the audience, the entranced audience of the best speech I ever +heard upon the question of labor and capital. + +I was fearful on account of his health, that the exertion might be +too great, and so arose to leave. He again said to me, and taking +my hand: "I know all about you and am very grateful to you that +in your official capacity as president of the New York Central +Railroad you are treating so fairly the Catholics. I know that +among your employees twenty-eight thousand are of the Catholic +faith, and not one of them has ever known any discrimination +because of their belief, but all of them have equal opportunities +with the others for the rewards of their profession and protection +in their employment." + +The next day he sent a special messenger for a renewal of the +conversation, but unhappily I had left Rome the night before. + +During my stay in Rome of four days I had visited most of its +antiquities, its famous churches, and spent several hours in the +Vatican gallery. Our American minister, one of the most accomplished +of our diplomats, Mr. William Potter, had also given me a dinner, +where I was privileged to meet many celebrities of the time. + + + +Among English statesmen I found in Lord Salisbury an impressive +figure. In a long conversation I had with him at the Foreign Office +he talked with great freedom on the relations between the +United States and Great Britain. He was exceedingly anxious that +friendly conditions should continue and became most cordial. + +The frequent disposition on the part of American politicians to +issue a challenge or create eruptions disturbed him. I think he +was in doubt when President Cleveland made his peremptory demands +on the Venezuela boundary question if the president recognized +their serious importance, both for the present and the future. He, +however, reluctantly yielded to the arbitration, won a complete +victory, and was satisfied that such irritating questions were +mainly political and for election purposes, and had better be met +in a conciliatory spirit. + +I remember a garden-party at Hatfield House, the historical home +of the Cecils, given in honor of King Victor Emmanuel III, who +had recently come to the throne. Lord Salisbury was of gigantic +proportions physically, while the king was undersized. The contrast +between the two was very striking, especially when they were in +animated conversation--the giant prime minister talking down to +His Majesty, and he with animated gestures talking up to the premier. + +It is not too great a stretch of imagination, when one knows how +traditional interviews and conversations between European rulers +affect their relations, present and future, to find in that +entertainment and conference that the seed there was sown for +the entrance of Italy, at one of the crises of the Great War, on +the side of the Allies and against Germany, to whom she was bound +by the Triple Alliance. + +Mr. Gladstone said to me at one time: "I have recently met a most +interesting countryman of yours. He is one of the best-informed +and able men of any country whom I have had the pleasure of talking +with for a long time, and he is in London now. I wish you would +tell me all about him." + +Mr. Gladstone could not recall his name. As there were a number +of American congressmen in London, I asked: "Was he a congressman?" + +"No," he answered; "he had a more important office." + +I then remembered that DeWitt Clinton, when a United States senator, +resigned to become mayor of the City of New York. On that +inspiration I asked: "Mayor of the City of New York?" + +"Yes, that is it," Mr. Gladstone answered. + +I then told him that it was Abram S. Hewitt, and gave him a +description of Mr. Hewitt's career. Mr. Gladstone was most +enthusiastic about him. + +It was my fortune to know Mr. Hewitt very well for many years. +He richly merited Mr. Gladstone's encomium. He was one of the +most versatile and able Americans in public or private life during +his time. His father was an English tenant-farmer who moved with +his family to the United States. Mr. Hewitt received a liberal +education and became a great success both in business and public +life. He was much more than a business man, mayor of New York, +or a congressman--he was public-spirited and a wise reformer. + +Mr. Hewitt told me two interesting incidents in his career. When +he visited England he was received with many and flattering +attentions. Among his invitations was a week-end to the home +of the nobleman upon whose estates his father had been a +tenant-farmer. When Mr. Hewitt told the nobleman, who was +entertaining him as a distinguished American, about his father's +former relations as one of his tenants, the nobleman said: "Your +father made a great mistake in giving up his farm and emigrating +to the United States. He should have remained here." + +Mr. Hewitt said: "But, my lord, so far as I am concerned I do +not think so." + +"Why?" asked his lordship. + +"Because," answered Mr. Hewitt, "then I could never have been a +guest on equal terms in your house." + +Mr. Hewitt was one of the foremost iron founders and steel +manufacturers of the country. At the time of our Civil War our +government was very short of guns, and we were unable to manufacture +them because we did not know the secret of gun-metal. + +The government sent Mr. Hewitt abroad to purchase guns. The English +gunmakers at once saw the trouble he was in and took advantage +of it. They demanded prices several times greater than they were +asking from other customers, and refused to give him any information +about the manufacture of gun-metal. + +After he had made the contract, with all its exorbitant conditions, +he went to his hotel and invited the foreman of each department +of the factory to meet him. They all came. Mr. Hewitt explained +to them his mission, and found that they were sympathetic with +Mr. Lincoln and his administration and the Union cause. Then he +told them of the trouble he had had with their employers, and the +hard terms which they had imposed. He asked them then all about +the manufacture of gun-metal. Each one of the foremen was very +clear and explicit as to his part, and so when they had all spoken, +Mr. Hewitt, with his expert knowledge of the business, knew all +the secrets of the manufacture of gun-metal, which he, of course, +gave to the government at Washington for use in their several +arsenals and shops. + +"Now," he said to his guests, "you have done me a great favor. +I will return it. Your company is obliged by the contract to +deliver this immense order within a limited time. They are going +to make an enormous amount of money out of it. You strike and +demand what you think is right, and you will get it immediately." + +The gun company made a huge profit but had to share some of it +with their workers. It was an early instance of the introduction +of profit-sharing, which has now become common all over the world. + +One of the most interesting Englishmen, whom I saw much of both +in London and in the United States, was Sir Henry Irving. The world +of art, drama, and history owes much to him for his revival of +Shakespeare. Irving was a genius in his profession, and in private +life perfectly delightful. + +He gave me a dinner and it was, like everything he did, original. +Instead of the usual formal entertainment, he had the dinner at +one of the old royal castles in the country, which had become a +very exclusive hotel. He carried us out there in coaches. + +The company of authors, playwrights, and men of affairs made the +entertainment late and the evening memorable. Returning home +on the top of the coach, the full moon would appear and reappear, +but was generally under a cloud. Irving remarked: "I do much +better with that old moon in my theatre. I make it shine or +obscure it with clouds, as the occasion requires." + +I received a note from him at the time of his last visit to the +United States, in which he said that a friend from the western part +of the country was giving him a dinner at Delmonico's to precede +his sailing in the early morning on his voyage home. The company +was to be large and all good friends, and he had the positive +assurance that there would be no speaking, and wished I would come. + +The dinner was everything that could be desired. The company was +a wonderful one of distinguished representatives of American life. +The hours passed along rapidly and joyously, as many of these +original men contributed story, racy adventure, or song. + +Suddenly the host arose and said: "Gentlemen, we have with us +to-night--" Of course, that meant an introductory speech about +Irving and a reply from the guest. Irving turned to me, and in +his deepest and most tragic Macbeth voice said: "God damn his +soul to hell!" However, he rose to the occasion, and an hour or +so afterwards, when everybody else had spoken, not satisfied with +his first effort, he arose and made a much better and longer +speech. He was an admirable after-dinner speaker as well as +an unusual actor. His wonderful presentations, not only of +Shakespeare's but of other dramas, did very much for the stage +both in his own country and in ours. + +Those who heard him only in his last year had no conception of +him in his prime. In his later years he fell into the fault, so +common with public speakers and actors, of running words together +and failing to articulate clearly. I have known a fine speech and +a superior sermon and a great part in a play ruined because of +the failure to articulate clearly. The audience could not follow +the speaker and so lost interest. + +Sir Henry told me a delightful story about Disraeli. A young +relative of Irving's took orders and became a clergyman in the +Established Church. At the request of Irving, Disraeli appointed +this young man one of the curates at Windsor. + +One day the clergyman came to Irving in great distress and said: +"The unexpected has happened. Every one has dropped out, and +I have been ordered to preach on Sunday." + +Irving took him to see Disraeli for advice. The prime minister +said to the young clergyman: "If you preach thirty minutes, +Her Majesty will be bored. If you preach fifteen minutes, +Her Majesty will be pleased. If you preach ten minutes, Her Majesty +will be delighted." + +"But," said the young clergyman, "my lord, what can a preacher +possibly say in only ten minutes?" + +"That," answered the statesman, "will be a matter of indifference +to Her Majesty." + + + +Sir Frederick Leighton, the eminent English artist, and at one time +president of the Royal Academy, was one of the most charming men +of his time. His reminiscences were delightful and told with rare +dramatic effect. I remember a vivid description which he gave me +of the wedding of one of the British royalties with a German +princess. Sir Frederick was one of the large and distinguished +delegation which accompanied the prince. + +The principality of the bride's father had been shorn of territory, +power, and revenue during the centuries. Nevertheless, at the +time of the wedding he maintained a ministry, the same as in the +Middle Ages, and a miniature army. Palaces, built centuries +before, housed the Cabinet. + +The minister of foreign affairs came to Sir Frederick and unbosomed +himself of his troubles. He said: "According to the usual +procedure I ought to give a ball in honor of the union of our house +with the royal family of England. My palace is large enough, but +my salary is only eight hundred a year, and the expense would eat +up the whole of it." + +Sir Frederick said: "Your Excellency can overcome the difficulty +in an original way. The state band can furnish the music, and +that will cost nothing. When the time comes for the banquet, +usher the guests with due ceremony to a repast of beer and pretzels." + +The minister followed the instructions. The whole party appreciated +the situation, and the minister was accredited with the most +brilliant and successful ball the old capital had known for a century. + + + +For several years one of the most interesting men in Europe was +the Duke d'Aumale, son of Louis Philippe. He was a statesman +and a soldier of ability and a social factor of the first rank. +He alone of the French royalty was relieved from the decree of +perpetual banishment and permitted to return to France and enjoy +his estates. In recognition of this he gave his famous chateau +and property at Chantilly to the French Academy. The gift was +valued at ten millions of dollars. In the chateau at Chantilly +is a wonderful collection of works of art. + +I remember at one dinner, where the duke was the guest of honor, +those present, including the host, were mostly new creations in +the British peerage. After the conversation had continued for +some time upon the fact that a majority of the House of Lords had +been raised to the peerage during the reign of Queen Victoria, +those present began to try and prove that on account of their +ancient lineage they were exempt from the rule of parvenu peers. +The duke was very tolerant with this discussion and, as always, +the soul of politeness. + +The host said: "Your Royal Highness, could you oblige us with +a sketch of your ancestry?" + +"Oh, certainly," answered the duke; "it is very brief. My family, +the Philippes, are descendants from AEneas of Troy, and AEneas +was the son of Venus." The mushrooms seemed smaller than even +the garden variety. + +The duke was talking to me at one time very interestingly about the +visit of his father to America. At the time of the French Revolution +his father had to flee for his life and came to the United States. +He was entertained at Mount Vernon by Washington. He told me +that after his father became King of France, he would often +hesitate, or refuse to do something or write something which his +ministers desired. The king's answer always was: "When I visited +that greatest man of all the world, General Washington, at his +home, I asked him at one time: 'General, is it not possible that +in your long and wonderful career as a soldier and statesman that +you have made mistakes?' The general answered: 'I have never +done anything which I cared to recall or said anything which I would +not repeat,' and the king would say: 'I cannot do that or sign +that, because if I do I cannot say for myself what General Washington +said of himself.'" + +The duke asked me to spend a week-end with him at Chantilly, and +it is one of the regrets of my life that I was unable to accept. + +I happened to be in London on two successive Sundays. On the first +I went to Westminster Abbey to hear Canon Farrar preach. The +sermon was worthy of its wonderful setting. Westminster Abbey is +one of the most inspiring edifices in the world. The orator has to +reach a high plane to be worthy of its pulpit. I have heard many +dull discourses there because the surroundings refuse to harmonize +with mediocrity. The sermon of Canon Farrar was classic. It +could easily have taken a place among the gems of English +literature. It seemed to me to meet whatever criticism the eminent +dead, buried in that old mausoleum, might have of these modern +utterances. I left the Abbey spiritually and mentally elated. + +The next Sunday I went to hear Charles Spurgeon. It was a wonderful +contrast. Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle was a very plain +structure of immense proportions but with admirable acoustics. +There was none of the historic enshrining the church, which is +the glory of Westminster Abbey, no church vestments or ceremonials. + +Mr. Spurgeon, a plain, stocky-looking man, came out on the platform +dressed in an ordinary garb of black coat, vest, and trousers. +It was a vast audience of what might be called middle-class people. +Mr. Spurgeon's sermon was a plain, direct, and exceedingly forcible +appeal to their judgment and emotions. There was no attempt at +rhetoric, but hard, hammerlike blows. As he rose in his indignation +and denunciation of some current evils, and illustrated his +argument with the Old Testament examples of the punishment of +sinners, the audience became greatly excited. One of the officers +of the church, in whose pew I sat, groaned aloud and gripped his +hands so that the nails left their mark. Others around him were +in the same frame of mind and spirit. + +I saw there and then that the men who fought with Cromwell and won +the battle of Naseby had in modern England plenty of descendants. +They had changed only in outward deference to modern usages and +conditions. If there had been occasion, Mr. Spurgeon could have +led them for any sacrifice to what they believed to be right. +I felt the power of that suppressed feeling--I would not say +fanaticism, but intense conscientiousness--which occasionally +in elections greatly surprises English politicians. + +Canon Farrar's sermon easily takes its place among the selected +books of the library. Spurgeon's address was straight from the +shoulder, blow for blow, for the needs of the hour. + + + +One of the novel incidents of the generous hospitality which I +enjoyed every year in London was a dinner at the Athenaeum Club +given to me by one of the members of the government at that time. +He was a gentleman of high rank and political importance. There +were twenty-six at the dinner, and it was a representative gathering. + +At the conclusion our host made a very cordial speech on more +intimate relations between the United States and Great Britain, +and then in a complimentary phrase introduced me, saying: "I hope +you will speak freely and without limit." + +I was encouraged by a most sympathetic audience and had a good +time during my effort. No one else was called upon. My host was +complimentary and said: "Your speech was so satisfactory that +I thought best not to have any more." + +Some time afterwards he said to me: "Many of my friends had heard +of you but never heard you, so I made up my mind to give them +the opportunity, and what was really a purely social affair for +every other guest, I turned into an international occasion just +to draw you out. However, the fraud, if it was a fraud, was an +eminent success." + + + +No one in England did more for Americans than Sir Henry Lucy. +Every American knew all about him, because of his reputation, and +particularly because he was the author of that most interesting +column in Punch called the "Essence of Parliament." + +At his luncheons he gathered eminent men in public life and in +the literary and journalistic activities of Great Britain. These +luncheons were most informal, and under the hospitable genius +of Lucy the guests became on intimate terms. There was no table +in London where so many racy stories and sometimes valuable +historical reminiscences could be heard. + +To be a guest at one of Sir Lucy's luncheons was for an American +to meet on familiar terms with distinguished men whom he knew all +about and was most anxious to see and hear. + +At a large dinner I had a pleasant encounter with Sir Henry. +In order to meet another engagement, he tried to slip quietly +out while I was speaking. I caught sight of his retreating figure +and called loudly the refrain of the familiar song, "Linger longer, +Lucy." The shout of the crowd brought Sir Henry back, and the +other entertainment lost a guest. + + + +In several of my visits to London I went to see not only places +of interest but also houses and streets made famous in English +literature. In one of my many trips to St. Paul's Cathedral I was +looking at the tomb of the Duke of Wellington in the crypt and +also at the modest tomb of Cruikshank, the artist, near by. + +The superintendent asked me who I was and many questions about +America, and then said: "Many Americans come here, but the most +remarkable of them all was Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll. He was +very inquisitive and wanted to know all about Wellington's tomb. +I told him that the duke's body was first put in a wooden coffin, +and this was incased in steel; that this had made for it a position +in a stone weighing twenty tons and over that was a huge stone +weighing forty tons. He gave me a slap on the back which sent +me flying quite a distance and exclaimed: 'Old man, you have +got him safe. If he ever escapes cable at my expense to +Robert G. Ingersoll, Peoria, Illinois, U. S. A.'" + + + +I had an opportunity to know that the war by Germany against France +and England was a surprise to both countries. While in London +during part of June, 1914, I met Cabinet ministers and members +of Parliament, and their whole thought and anxiety were concentrated +on the threatened revolution in Ireland. + +The Cabinet had asked the king to intervene and he had called +representatives of all parties to meet him at Buckingham Palace. +After many consultations he declared settlement or compromise were +impossible. The situation was so critical that it absorbed the +attention of the government, the press, and the public. + +About the first of July I was in Paris and found the French worried +about their finances and the increase in their military expenses +which were reaching threatening figures. The syndicate of French +bankers were seriously alarmed. There was no suspicion of German +purpose and preparations for attack. + +While in Geneva a few weeks afterwards I became alarmed by letters +from relatives in Germany who were socially intimate with people +holding very important positions in the government and the army, +and their apprehensions from what their German friends told them +and what they saw led to their joining us in Switzerland. + +One day the Swiss refused to take foreign money or to make exchange +for Swiss, or to cash letters of credit or bank checks. I immediately +concluded that the Swiss bankers knew of or suspected Germany's +hostile intentions, and with only two hours, and two families +with their trunks to pack, we managed to reach and secure +accommodations on the regular train for Paris. There was nothing +unusual either at the railroad station or in the city. + +One of the amusing incidents which are my life-preservers occurred +at the station. Two elderly English spinsters were excitedly +discussing the currency trouble. One of them smoothed out a bank +of England note and said to her sister: "There, Sarah, is a bank +of England note which has been good as gold all over the world +since Christ came to earth, and these Swiss pigs won't take it." + +I told this incident afterwards to a banker in London. He said +they were very ignorant women, there were no bank of England notes +at that time. + +German hostility developed so rapidly that our train was the last +which left Switzerland for France for nearly two months. We were +due in Paris at ten o'clock in the evening, but did not arrive until +the next morning because of the mobilization of French recruits. + +The excitement in Paris was intense. A French statesman said +to me: "We are doing our best to avoid war. Our troops are kept +ten kilometres from the frontier, but the Germans have crossed +and seized strategic points. They will hear nothing and accept +nothing and are determined to crush us if they can." + +From all ranks of the people was heard: "We will fight to the +last man, but we are outnumbered and will be destroyed unless +England helps. Will England help? Will England help?" I have +been through several crises but never witnessed nor felt such +a reaction to ecstatic joy as occurred when Great Britain joined +France. + +The restrictions on leaving Paris required time, patience, and +all the resources of our Embassy to get us out of France. The +helpfulness, resourcefulness, and untiring efforts of our Ambassador, +Myron T. Herrick, won the gratitude of all Americans whom the war +had interned on the continent and who must get home. + +There was a remarkable change in England. When we left in July +there was almost hysteria over the threatening civil war. In October +the people were calm though involved in the greatest war in their +history. They did not minimize the magnitude of the struggle, or +the sacrifices it would require. There was a characteristic grim +determination to see the crisis through, regardless of cost. +Cabinet ministers whom I met thought the war would last three years. + +The constant appeal to me, as to other Americans, was, "When will +you join us? If we fail it is your turn next. It is autocracy and +militarism against civilization, liberty, and representative +government for the whole world." + +We had a perilous and anxious voyage home and found few grasping +the situation or working to be prepared for the inevitable, except +Theodore Roosevelt and General Wood. + + + +XX. ORATORS AND CAMPAIGN SPEAKERS + +During my college days at Yale Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison, +and Henry Ward Beecher were frequent lecturers, and generally +on the slavery question. I have heard most of the great orators +of the world, but none of them produced such an immediate and +lasting effect upon their audience as Wendell Phillips. He was +the finest type of a cultured New Englander. He was the recipient +of the best education possible in his time and with independent +means which enabled him to pursue his studies and career. Besides, +he was one of the handsomest men I ever saw upon the platform, +and in his inspired moments met one's imaginative conception +of a Greek god. + +Phillips rarely made a gesture or spoke above the conversational, +but his musical voice reached the remotest comers of the hall. +The eager audience, fearful of losing a word, would bend forward +with open mouths as well as attentive ears. It was always a +hostile audience at the beginning of Mr. Phillips's address, but +before the end he swayed them to applause, tears, or laughter, +as a skilled performer upon a perfect instrument. His subject +was nearly always slavery, his views very extreme and for immediate +abolition, but at that time he had a very small following. +Nevertheless, his speeches, especially because of the riots and +controversies they caused, set people thinking, and largely +increased the hostility to slavery, especially to its extension. + +I met Mr. Phillips one evening, after a lecture, at the house of +Professor Goodrich. He was most courtly and considerate to students +and invited questions. While I was charmed, even captivated, by +his eloquence, I had at that time very little sympathy with his +views. I said to him: "Mr. Phillips, your attack to-night upon +Caleb Cushing, one of the most eminent and able public men in +the country, was very vitriolic and most destructive of character +and reputation. It seems so foreign to all I know of you that, +if you will pardon me, I would like to know why you did it." He +answered: "I have found that people, as a rule, are not interested +in principles or their discussions. They are so absorbed in their +personal affairs that they do very little thinking upon matters +outside their business or vocation. They embody a principle in +some public man in whom they have faith, and so that man stands +for a great body of truth or falsehood, and may be exceedingly +dangerous because a large following connects the measure with +the man, and, therefore, if I can destroy the man who represents a +vicious principle I have destroyed the principle." It did not strike +me favorably at the time, nor does it now. Nevertheless, in politics +and in the battles of politics it represents a dynamic truth. + +The perfect preparation of a speech was, in Wendell Phillip's +view, that one in which the mental operations were assisted in +no way by outside aid. Only two or three times in his life did +he prepare with pen and paper an address, and he felt that these +speeches were the poorest of his efforts. He was constantly +studying the art of oratory. In his daily walks or in his library +metaphors and similes were suggested, which he tucked away in +his memory, and he even studied action as he watched the muscular +movements of men whom he saw in public places. He believed that +a perfect speech could be prepared only after intense mental +concentration. Of course the mind must first be fortified by such +reading as provided facts. Having thus saturated his mind with +information, he would frequently lie extended for hours upon his +sofa, with eyes closed, making mental arrangements for the address. +In fact, he used to write his speeches mentally, as Victor Hugo +is said to have written some of his poems. A speech thus prepared, +Phillips thought, was always at the command of the speaker. It +might vary upon every delivery, and could be altered to meet +emergencies with the audience, but would always be practically +the same. + +This method of preparation explains what has been a mystery to +many persons. The several reports of Phillips's lecture on +"The Lost Arts" differ in phraseology and even in arrangement. +Mr. Phillips did not read his speeches in print, and, therefore, +never revised one. He was firmly of the belief that the printed +thought and the spoken thought should be expressed in different +form, and that the master of one form could not be the master +of the other. + +I met many young men like myself in the canvass of 1856, and also +made many acquaintances of great value in after-life. It was +difficult for the older stump speakers to change the addresses +they had been delivering for years, so that the young orators, +with their fresh enthusiasm, their intense earnestness and undoubting +faith, were more popular with the audiences, who were keenly alive +to the issues raised then by the new Republican party. + +The Republican party was composed of Whigs and anti-slavery +Democrats. In this first campaign the old-timers among the Whigs +and the Democrats could not get over their long antagonism and +distrusted each other. The young men, whether their ancestry was +Democratic or Whig, were the amalgam which rapidly fused all +elements, so that the party presented a united front in the campaign +four years afterwards when Mr. Lincoln was elected. + +In the course of that campaign I had as fellow speakers many times +on the platform statesmen of national reputation. These gentlemen, +with few exceptions, made heavy, ponderous, and platitudinous +speeches. If they ever had possessed humor they were afraid of it. +The crowd, however, would invariably desert the statesman for +the speaker who could give them amusement with instruction. The +elder statesmen said by way of advice: "While the people want +to be amused, they have no faith in a man or woman with wit or +anecdote. When it comes to the election of men to conduct public +affairs, they invariably prefer serious men." There is no doubt +that a reputation for wit has seriously impaired the prospects +of many of the ablest men in the country. + +The only exception to this rule was Abraham Lincoln. But when +he ran for president the first time he was comparatively unknown +outside his State of Illinois. The campaign managers in their +literature put forward only his serious speeches, which were very +remarkable, especially the one he delivered in Cooper Union, +New York, which deeply impressed the thoughtful men of the East. +He could safely tell stories and jokes after he had demonstrated +his greatness as president. Then the people regarded his +story-telling as the necessary relief and relaxation of an +overburdened and overworked public servant. But before he had +demonstrated his genius as an executive, they would probably have +regarded these same traits as evidences of frivolity, unfitting +the possessor for great and grave responsibilities. + +I had a very interesting talk on the subject with General Garfield, +when he was running for president. He very kindly said to me: +"You have every qualification for success in public life; you might +get anywhere and to the highest places except for your humor. +I know its great value to a speaker before an audience, but it is +dangerous at the polls. When I began in politics, soon after +graduation, I found I had a keen sense of humor, and that made +me the most sought-after of all our neighborhood speakers, but +I also soon discovered it was seriously impairing the public +opinion of me for responsible positions, so I decided to cut it +out. It was very difficult, but I have succeeded so thoroughly +that I can no longer tell a story or appreciate the point of one +when it is told to me. Had I followed my natural bent I should +not now be the candidate of my party for President of the +United States." + +The reason so few men are humorists is that they are very shy of +humor. My own observations in studying the lives and works of +our public men demonstrate how thoroughly committed to this idea +they have been. There is not a joke, nor a mot, nor a scintilla +of humor irradiating the Revolutionary statesmen. There is a +stilted dignity about their utterances which shows that they were +always posing in heroic attitudes. If they lived and moved in +family, social, and club life, as we understand it, the gloom of +their companionship accounts for the enjoyment which their +contemporaries took in the three hours' sermons then common from +the pulpit. + +As we leave the period of Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, and +the Adamses, we find no humor in the next generation. The only +relief from the tedium of argument and exhaustless logic is found +in the savage sarcasm of John Randolph, which was neither wit +nor humor. + +A witty illustration or an apt story will accomplish more than +columns of argument. The old-time audience demanded a speech +of not less than two hours' duration and expected three. The +audience of to-day grows restive after the first hour, and is +better pleased with forty minutes. It prefers epigrams to arguments +and humor to rhetoric. It is still true, however, that the press +presents to readers from a speaker who indulges in humor only +the funny part of his effort, and he is in serious danger of +receiving no credit for ability in the discussion of great questions, +no matter how conspicuous that ability may be. The question is +always presented to a frequent speaker whether he shall win the +applause of the audience and lose the flattering opinion of the +critics, or bore his audience and be complimented by readers +for wisdom. + +When I look back over sixty-five years on the platform in public +speaking, and the success of different methods before audiences, +political, literary, business, or a legislative committee, or a +legislature itself, and especially when I consider my own pleasure +in the efforts, the results and compensations have been far greater +than the attainment of any office. For, after all, a man might +be dull and a bore to himself and others for a lifetime and have +the reputation of being a serious thinker and a solid citizen, +and yet never reach the presidency. + +It was always a delight to listen to George W. Curtis. He was +a finished orator of the classic type, but not of the Demosthenian +order. His fine personal appearance, his well-modulated and +far-reaching voice, and his refined manner at once won the favor +of his audience. He was a splendid type of the scholar in politics. +In preparing a speech he took as much pains as he did with a +volume which he was about to publish. + +I accepted under great pressure the invitation to deliver the +oration at the unveiling of the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty in +New York harbor, because the time was so short, only a few days. +Mr. Curtis said to me afterwards: "I was very much surprised that +you accepted that invitation. I declined it because there was only +a month left before the unveiling. I invariably refuse an invitation +for an important address unless I can have three months. I take +one month to look up authorities and carefully prepare it and then +lay it on the shelf for a month. During that period, while you +are paying no attention to the matter, your mind is unconsciously +at work upon it. When you resume correcting your manuscript you +find that in many things about which you thought well you have +changed your mind. Leisurely corrections and additions will +perfect the address." + +As my orations and speeches have always been the by-product of +spare evenings and Sundays taken from an intensely active and busy +life, if I had followed any of these examples my twelve volumes of +speeches would never have seen the light of day. + +One of the greatest orators of his generation, and I might say of +ours, was Robert G. Ingersoll. I was privileged to meet +Colonel Ingersoll many times, and on several occasions to be +a speaker on the same platform. The zenith of his fame was reached +by his "plumed-knight" speech, nominating James G. Blaine for +president at the national Republican convention in 1876. It was +the testimony of all the delegates that if the vote could have +been taken immediately at the conclusion of the speech, Mr. Blaine +would have been elected. + +Colonel Ingersoll carried off the oratorical honors that campaign +in a series of speeches, covering the whole country. I say a +series of speeches; he really had but one, which was the most +effective campaign address I ever heard, but which he delivered +over and over again, and every time with phenomenal success, +a success the like of which I have never known. He delivered it +to an immense audience in New York, and swept them off their feet. +He repeated this triumph the next day at an open-air meeting in +Wall Street, and again the next day at a great gathering in +New Jersey. The newspapers printed the speech in full every day +after its delivery, as if it had been a new and first utterance +of the great orator. + +I spoke with him several times when he was one of the speakers +after an important dinner. It was a rare treat to hear him. The +effort apparently was impromptu, and that added to its effect upon +his auditors. That it was thoroughly prepared I found by hearing +it several times, always unchanged and always producing the same +thrilling effect. + +He spoke one night at Cooper Institute at a celebration by the +colored people of Mr. Lincoln's proclamation emancipating them +from slavery. As usual he was master of the occasion and of his +audience. He was then delivering a series of addresses attacking +the Bible. His mind was full of that subject, and apparently he +could not help assailing the faith of the negroes by asking, if +there was a God of justice and mercy, why did he leave them so +long in slavery or permit them ever to be slaves. + +To an emotional audience like the one before him it was a most +dangerous attack upon faith. I was so fond of the colonel and +such an intense admirer of him, I hated to controvert him, but +felt it was necessary to do so. The religious fervor which is so +intense with the colored people, made it comparatively easy to +restore their faith, if it had been weakened, and to bring them +to a recognition of the fact that their blessings had all come +from God. + +Probably the most brilliant speaker of the period immediately +preceding the Civil War was Thomas Corwin, of Ohio. We have +on the platform in these times no speaker of his type. He had +remarkable influence whenever he participated in debate in the +House of Representatives. On the stump or hustings he would draw +audiences away from Henry Clay or any of the famous speakers of +the time. I sometimes wonder if our more experienced and more +generally educated audiences of to-day would be swayed by Corwin's +methods. He had to the highest degree every element of effective +speech. He could put his audience in tears or hilarious laughter, +or arouse cheers. He told more stories and told them better than +any one else, and indulged freely in what is called Fourth of July +exaggeration. He would relieve a logical presentation which was +superb and unanswerable by a rhetorical flight of fancy, or by +infectious humor. Near the close of his life he spoke near +New York, and his great reputation drew to the meeting the +representatives of the metropolitan press. He swept the audience +off their feet, but the comment of the journals was very critical +and unfavorable, both of the speech and the orator. It was an +illustration of what I have often met with: of a speech which was +exactly the right thing for the occasion and crowd, but lost its +effect in publication. Corwin's humor barred his path to great +office, and he saw many ordinary men advance ahead of him. + +The most potent factor in the destruction of his enemies and +buttressing his own cause was his inimitable wit and humor. In +broad statesmanship, solid requirements, and effective eloquence, +he stood above the successful mediocrity of his time--the Buchanans +and the Polks, the Franklin Pierces and the Winfield Scotts--like +a star of the first magnitude above the Milky Way. But in later +years he thought the failure to reach the supreme recognition to +which he was entitled was due to his humor having created the +impression in the minds of his countrymen that he was not a serious +person. + +Wayne MacVeagh was a very interesting and original speaker. He +had a finished and cultured style and a very attractive delivery. +He was past master of sarcasm as well as of burning eloquence on +patriotic themes. When I was a freshman at Yale he was a senior. +I heard him very often at our debating society, the Linonian, where +he gave promise of his future success. His father-in-law was +Simon Cameron, secretary of war, and he was one of the party which +went with Mr. Lincoln to Gettysburg and heard Lincoln's famous +address. He told me that it did not produce much impression at +the time, and it was long after before the country woke up to its +surpassing excellence, and he did not believe the story still +current that Mr. Lincoln wrote it on an envelope while on the train +to Gettysburg. + +MacVeagh became one of the leaders of the American bar and was +at one time attorney-general of the United States. He was successful +as a diplomat as minister to Turkey and to Italy. + +I heard him on many occasions and spoke with him on many after-dinner +platforms. As an after-dinner speaker he was always at his best +if some one attacked him, because he had a very quick temper. He +got off on me a witticism which had considerable vogue at the time. +When I was elected president of the New York Central Railroad, +the Yale Association of New York gave me a dinner. It was largely +attended by distinguished Yale graduates from different parts of +the country. MacVeagh was one of the speakers. In the course of +his speech he said: "I was alarmed when I found that our friend +Chauncey had been elected president of the most unpopular railroad +there is in the country. But rest assured, my friends, that he +will change the situation, and before his administration is closed +make it the most popular of our railroad corporations, because +he will bring the stock within the reach of the poorest citizen +of the land." The stock was then at the lowest point in its history +on account of its life-and-death fight with the West Shore Railroad, +and so, of course, the reverse of my friend MacVeagh's prediction +was not difficult. + +One of the greatest and most remarkable orators of his time was +Henry Ward Beecher. I never met his equal in readiness and +versatility. His vitality was infectious. He was a big, healthy, +vigorous man with the physique of an athlete, and his intellectual +fire and vigor corresponded with his physical strength. There +seemed to be no limit to his ideas, anecdotes, illustrations, and +incidents. He had a fervid imagination and wonderful power of +assimilation and reproduction and the most observant of eyes. He +was drawing material constantly from the forests, the flowers, +the gardens, and the domestic animals in the fields and in the +house, and using them most effectively in his sermons and speeches. +An intimate friend of mine, a country doctor and great admirer of +Mr. Beecher, became a subscriber to the weekly paper in which was +printed his Sunday sermon, and carefully guarded a file of them +which he made. He not only wanted to read the sermons of his +favorite preacher, but he believed him to have infinite variety, +and was constantly examining the efforts of his idol to see if +he could not find an illustration, anecdote, or idea repeated. + +Mr. Beecher seemed to be teeming with ideas all the time, almost +to the point of bursting. While most orators are relying upon +their libraries and their commonplace book, and their friends for +material, he apparently found more in every twenty-four hours than +he could use. His sermons every Sunday appeared in the press. +He lectured frequently; several times a week he delivered +after-dinner speeches, and during such intervals as he had he +made popular addresses, spoke at meetings on municipal and general +reform, and on patriotic occasions. One of the most effective, +and for the time one of the most eloquent addresses I ever heard +in my life was the one he delivered at the funeral of Horace Greeley. + +When the sentiment in England in favor of the the South in our +Civil War seemed to be growing to a point where Great Britain +might recognize the Southern Confederacy, Mr. Lincoln asked +Mr. Beecher to go over and present the Union side. Those speeches +of Mr. Beecher, a stranger in a strange country, to hostile +audiences, were probably as extraordinary an evidence of oratorical +power as was ever known. He captured audiences, he overcame +the hostility of persistent disturbers of the meetings, and with +his ready wit overwhelmed the heckler. + +At one of the great meetings, when the sentiment was rapidly +changing from hostility to favor, a man arose and asked Mr. Beecher: +"If you people of the North are so strong and your cause is so +good, why after all these years of fighting have you not licked +the South?" Mr. Beecher's instant and most audacious reply was: +"If the Southerners were Englishmen we would have licked them." +With the English love of fair play, the retort was accepted with cheers. + +While other orators were preparing, he seemed to be seeking +occasions for talking and drawing from an overflowing reservoir. +Frequently he would spend an hour with a crowd of admirers, just +talking to them on any subject which might be uppermost in his +mind. I knew an authoress who was always present at these +gatherings, who took copious notes and reproduced them with great +fidelity. There were circles of Beecher worshippers in many towns +and in many States. This authoress used to come to New Haven +in my senior year at Yale, and in a circle of Beecher admirers, +which I was permitted to attend, would reproduce these informal +talks of Mr. Beecher. He was the most ready orator, and with his +almost feminine sympathies and emotional nature would add immensely +to his formal speech by ideas which would occur to him in the heat +of delivery, or with comment upon conversations which he had heard +on the way to church or meeting. + +I happened to be on a train with him on an all-day journey, and +he never ceased talking in the most interesting and effective way, +and pouring out from his rich and inexhaustible stores with +remarkable lucidity and eloquence his views upon current topics, +as well as upon recent literature, art, and world movements. + +Beecher's famous trial on charges made by Theodore Tilton against +him on relations with Tilton's wife engrossed the attention of the +world. The charge was a shock to the religious and moral sense +of countless millions of people. When the trial was over the +public was practically convinced of Mr. Beecher's innocence. The +jury, however, disagreed, a few holding out against him. The case +was never again brought to trial. The trial lasted six months. + +One evening when I was in Peekskill I went from our old homestead +into the crowded part of the village, to be with old friends. +I saw there a large crowd and also the village military and fire +companies. I asked what it was all about, and was informed that +the whole town was going out to Mr. Beecher's house, which was +about one and one-half miles from the village, to join in a +demonstration for his vindication. I took step with one of the +companies to which I belonged when I was a boy, and marched out +with the crowd. + +The president of the village and leading citizens, one after +another, mounted the platform, which was the piazza of Mr. Beecher's +house, and expressed their confidence in him and the confidence +of his neighbors, the villagers. Then Mr. Beecher said to me: +"You were born in this town and are known all over the country. +If you feel like saying something it would travel far." Of course, +I was very glad of the opportunity because I believed in him. +In the course of my speech I told a story which had wonderful +vogue. I said: "Mr. Lincoln told me of an experience he had in +his early practice when he was defending a man who had been +accused of a vicious assault upon a neighbor. There were no +witnesses, and under the laws of evidence at that time the accused +could not testify. So the complainant had it all his own way. +The only opportunity Mr. Lincoln had to help his client was to +break down the accuser on a cross-examination. Mr. Lincoln said +he saw that the accuser was a boastful and bumptious man, and so +asked him: 'How much ground was there over which you and my client +fought?' The witness answered proudly: 'Six acres, Mr. Lincoln.' +'Well,' said Lincoln, 'don't you think this was a mighty small +crop of fight to raise on such a large farm?' Mr. Lincoln said +the judge laughed and so did the district attorney and the jury, +and his client was acquitted." + +The appositeness was in the six acres of ground of the Lincoln +trial and of the six months of the Beecher trial. As this was a +new story of Lincoln's, which had never been printed, and as it +related to the trial of the most famous of preachers on the worst +of charges that could be made against a preacher, the story was +printed all over the country, and from friends and consular agents +who sent me clippings I found was copied in almost every country +in the world. + +Mr. Beecher was one of the few preachers who was both most effective +in the pulpit and, if possible, more eloquent upon the platform. +When there was a moral issue involved he would address political +audiences. In one campaign his speeches were more widely printed +than those of any of the senators, members of the House, or +governors who spoke. I remember one illustration of his about +his dog, Noble, barking for hours at the hole from which a squirrel +had departed, and was enjoying the music sitting calmly in the +crotch of a tree. The illustration caught the fancy of the country +and turned the laugh upon the opposition. + +Hugh J. Hastings, at one time editor and proprietor of the +Albany Knickerbocker, and subsequently of the New York Commercial +Advertiser, was full of valuable reminiscences. He began life +in journalism as a very young man under Thurlow Weed. This +association made him a Whig. Very few Irishmen belonged to that +party. Hastings was a born politician and organized an Irish Whig +club. He told me that he worshipped Daniel Webster. + +Webster, he said, once stopped over at Albany while passing through +the State, and became a guest of one of Albany's leading citizens +and its most generous host and entertainer. The gentleman gave +in Webster's honor a large dinner at which were present all the +notables of the capital. + +Hastings organized a procession which grew to enormous proportions +by the time it reached the residence where Mr. Webster was dining. +When the guests came out, it was evident, according to Hastings, +that they had been dining too well. This was not singular, because +then no dinner was perfect in Albany unless there were thirteen +courses and thirteen different kinds of wine, and the whole closed +up with the famous Regency rum, which had been secured by Albany +bon-vivants before the insurrection in the West Indies had stopped +its manufacture. There was a kick in it which, if there had been +no other brands preceding, was fatal to all except the strongest +heads. I tested its powers myself when I was in office in Albany +fifty-odd years ago. + +Hastings said that when Webster began his speech he was as near +his idol as possible and stood right in front of him. When the +statesman made a gesture to emphasize a sentence he lost his hold +on the balustrade and pitched forward. The young Irishman was +equal to the occasion, and interposed an athletic arm, which +prevented Mr. Webster from falling, and held him until he had +finished his address. The fact that he could continue his address +under such conditions increased, if that was possible, the admiration +of young Hastings. Webster was one of the few men who, when drunk +all over, had a sober head. + +The speech was very effective, not only to that audience, but, +as reported, all over the country. Hastings was sent for and +escorted to the dining-room, where the guests had reassembled. +Webster grasped him by the hand, and in his most Jovian way +exclaimed: "Young man, you prevented me from disgracing myself. +I thank you and will never forget you." Hastings reported his +feelings as such that if he had died that night he had received +of life all it had which was worth living for. + +I do not know what were Mr. Webster's drinking habits, but the +popular reports in regard to them had a very injurious effect upon +young men and especially young lawyers. It was the universal +conversation that Webster was unable to do his best work and have +his mind at its highest efficiency except under the influence of +copious drafts of brandy. Many a young lawyer believing this +drank to excess, not because he loved alcohol, but because he +believed its use might make him a second Webster. + +Having lived in that atmosphere, I tried the experiment myself. +Happily for me, I discovered how utterly false it is. I tried +the hard liquors, brandy, whiskey, and gin, and then the wines. +I found that all had a depressing and deadening effect upon the +mind, but that there was a certain exhilaration, though not a +healthy one, in champagne. I also discovered, and found the same +was true with every one else, that the mind works best and produces +the more satisfactory results without any alcohol whatever. + +I doubt if any speaker, unless he has become dependent upon +stimulants, can use them before making an important effort without +having his mental machinery more or less clogged. I know it is +reported that Addison, whose English has been the model of succeeding +generations, in writing his best essays wore the carpet out while +walking between sentences from the sideboard where the brandy +was to his writing-table. But they had heroic constitutions and +iron-clad digestive apparatus in those times, which have not been +transmitted to their descendants. + +I heard another story of Webster from Horace F. Clarke, a famous +lawyer of New York, and a great friend of his. Mr. Clarke said +that he had a case involving very large interests before the +chancellor. He discovered that Mr. Webster was at the Astor House, +and called upon him. Mr. Webster told him that his public and +professional engagements were overwhelming, and that it was +impossible for him to take up anything new. Clarke put a thousand +dollars on the table and pleaded with Mr. Webster to accept a +retainer. Clarke said that Webster looked longingly at the money, +saying: "Young man, you cannot imagine, and I have no words which +can express how much I need that money, but it is impossible. +However, let me see your brief." Webster read it over and then +said to Clarke: "You will not win on that brief, but if you will +incorporate this, I think your case is all right." Clarke said +that when he presented the brief and made his argument before +the chancellor, the chancellor decided in his favor, wholly on +the suggestion made by Mr. Webster. An eminent lawyer told me +that studying Mr. Webster's arguments before the Supreme Court +and the decisions made in those cases he discovered very often +that the opinion of the court followed the reasoning of this +marvellous advocate. + +Henry J. Raymond told me the following story of Mr. William H. Seward. +He said that one morning a messenger came to his office (Raymond +at that time was editor of the New York Times) and said that +Mr. Seward was at the Astor House and wanted to see me. When I +arrived Mr. Seward said: "I am on my way to my home at Auburn, +where I am expected to deliver a speech for the whole country in +explanation and defense of our administration. [Johnson was +president.] When I am ready I will wire you, and then send me +one of your best reporters." About two weeks afterwards Mr. Raymond +received this cryptic telegram from Mr. Seward: "Send me the man +of whom I spoke." + +When the reporter returned he said to Mr. Raymond: "When I arrived +at Auburn I expected that a great meeting had been advertised, but +there were no handbills, notices, or anything in the local papers, +so I went up to Mr. Seward's house. He said to me: 'I am very +glad to see you. Have you your pencil and note-book? If so, we +will make a speech.' After the dictation Mr. Seward said: 'Please +write that out on every third line, so as to leave room for +corrections, and bring it back to me in the morning.' When I gave +the copy to Mr. Seward, he took it and kept it during the day, +and when I returned in the evening the vacant space had been +filled with corrections and new matter. Mr. Seward said to me: +'Now make me a clean copy as corrected.' When I returned with +the corrected copy he remarked: 'I think you and I made a very +poor speech. Let us try it again.' The same process was repeated +a second time, and this corrected copy of the speech was delivered +in part to a few friends who were called into Mr. Seward's library +for the occasion. The next morning these headlines appeared in +all the leading papers in the country: 'GREAT SPEECH ON BEHALF +OF THE ADMINISTRATION BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT A BIG MASS +MEETING AT AUBURN, N. Y.'" + +In the career of a statesman a phrase will often make or unmake +his future. In the height of the slavery excitement and while +the enforcement of the fugitive-slave law was arousing the greatest +indignation in the North, Mr. Seward delivered a speech at +Rochester, N. Y., which stirred the country. In that speech, +while paying due deference to the Constitution and the laws, he +very solemnly declared that "there is a higher law." Mr. Seward +sometimes called attention to his position by an oracular utterance +which he left the people to interpret. This phrase, "the higher +law," became of first-class importance, both in Congress, in the +press, and on the platform. On the one side, it was denounced as +treason and anarchy. On the other side, it was the call of +conscience and of the New Testament's teaching of the rights of +man. It was one of the causes of his defeat for the presidency. + +Senator Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, afterwards vice-president, +was in great demand. He was clear in his historical statements +and emphatic in his expression of views. If he had any apprehension +of humor he never showed it in his speeches. His career had been +very picturesque from unskilled laborer to the Senate and the +vice-presidency. The impression he gave was of an example of +American opportunity, and he was more impressive and influential +by his personality and history than by what he said. + +One of the most picturesque and popular stump speakers was +Daniel S. Dickinson. He had been a United States senator and +party leader, and was a national figure. His venerable appearance +gave force to his oratory. He seemed to be of great age, but was +remarkably vigorous. His speeches were made up of epigrams which +were quotable and effective. He jumped rapidly from argument to +anecdote and was vitriolic in attack. + +I had an interesting experience with Mr. Dickinson when running +for secretary of state in 1863. The drawing card for that year, +and the most sought-after and popular for campaign speaking, was +Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts. He had a series of appointments +in New York State, but on account of some emergency cancelled them +all. The national and State committees selected me to fill his +appointments. The most unsatisfactory and disagreeable job in +the world is to meet the appointments of a popular speaker. The +expectations of the audience have been aroused to a degree by +propaganda advertising the genius and accomplishments of the +expected speaker. The substitute cannot meet those expectations, +and an angry crowd holds him responsible for their disappointment. + +When I left the train at the station I was in the midst of a +mass-meeting of several counties at Deposit, N. Y. A large +committee, profusely decorated with campaign badges, were on the +platform to welcome the distinguished war governor of Massachusetts. +I did not meet physically their expectations of an impressive +statesman of dignified presence, wearing a Prince Albert suit +and a top hat. I had been long campaigning, my soft hat was +disreputable, and I had added a large shawl to my campaigning +equipment. Besides that, I was only twenty-eight and looked much +younger. The committee expected at least sixty. Finally the +chairman rushed up to me and said: "You were on the train. Did +you see Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts?" I answered him: +"Governor Andrew is not coming; he has cancelled all his engagements, +and I have been sent to take his place." The chairman gasped and +then exclaimed: "My God!" He very excitedly summoned his fellow +members of the committee and said to them: "Gentlemen, Governor +Andrew is not coming, but the State committee has sent THIS," +pointing to me. I was the party candidate as secretary of state, +and at the head of the ticket, but nobody asked me who I was, nor +did I tell them. I was left severely alone. + +Some time after, the chairman of the committee came to me and +said: "Young fellow, we won't be hard on you, but the State +committee has done this once before. We were promised a very +popular speaker well known among us, but in his place they sent +the damnedest fool who ever stood before an audience. However, +we have sent to Binghamton for Daniel S. Dickinson, and he will +be here in a short time and save our big mass-meeting." + +Mr. Dickinson came and delivered a typical speech; every sentence +was a bombshell and its explosion very effective. He had the +privilege of age, and told a story which I would not have dared +to tell, the audience being half women. He said: "Those +constitutional lawyers, who are proclaiming that all Mr. Lincoln's +acts are unconstitutional, don't know any law. They remind me +of a doctor we have up in Binghamton, who has a large practice +because of his fine appearance, his big words, and gold-headed +cane. He was called to see a young lad who was sitting on his +grandmother's lap. After looking at the boy's tongue and feeling +his pulse, he rested his head in deep thought for a while on his +gold-headed cane and then said: 'Madam, this boy has such +difficulties with the epiglottis and such inflamed larynx that +we will have to apply phlebotomy.' The old lady clasped the boy +frantically to her bosom and cried: 'For heaven's sake, doctor, +what on earth can ail the boy that you are going to put all that +on his bottom?'" + +Mr. Dickinson introduced me as the head of the State ticket. My +speech proved a success, and the chairman paid me the handsome +compliment of saying: "We are glad they sent you instead of +Governor Andrew." + +One of the most effective of our campaign speakers was General Bruce, +of Syracuse, N. Y. The general had practically only one speech, +which was full of picturesque illustrations, striking anecdotes, +and highly wrought-up periods of patriotic exaltation. He delivered +this speech, with necessary variations, through many campaigns. +I was with the general, who was Canal commissioner when I was +secretary of state, on our official tour on the Canal. + +One night the general said to me: "Mr. Blank, who has a great +reputation, is speaking in a neighboring town, and I am going to +hear him." He came back enraged and unhappy. In telling me about +it, he said: "That infernal thief delivered my speech word for +word, and better than I can do it myself. I am too old to get up +another one, and, as I love to speak, I am very unhappy." + +This illustrated one of the accidents to which a campaign speaker +is liable. The man who stole the general's speech afterwards +played the same trick on me. He came into our State from New England +with a great reputation. He was a very fine elocutionist, of +excellent presence and manner, but utterly incapable of original +thought. He could not prepare a speech of any kind. However, +he had a phenomenal memory. He could listen to a speech made +by another and repeat it perfectly. His attractive appearance, +good voice, and fine elocution made the speech a great success. +Several orators told me that when they found their efforts a failure +they asked for the cause, and discovered that this man had delivered +their speeches a few nights before, and the audience, of course, +thought the last speaker was a fraud and a thief. + +General Bruce told me a good campaign story of Senator James W. Nye, +of Nevada. Nye was a prominent lawyer of western New York, and +the most eloquent and witty member of the bar of that section, +and also the most popular campaign speaker. He moved to Nevada +and so impressed the people of that young State that he was elected +United States senator. In the Senate he became a notable figure. + +Nye and General Bruce were sent by the national committee to +canvass New England. Nye had become senatorial in his oratory, +with much more dignity and elevation of style than before. He +began his first speech at Bridgeport, Conn., in this way: "Fellow +citizens, I have come three thousand miles from my mountain home, +three thousand feet above the level of the sea, to discuss with +you these vital questions for the safety of our republic." The +next night, at New Haven, he said: "I have come from my mountain +home, five thousand feet above the level of the sea, to discuss +with you these vital questions of the safety of our republic." +Bruce interrupted him, saying: "Why, senator, it was only three +thousand feet last night." Nye turned savagely on Bruce: "Bruce, +you go to the devil!" Resuming with the audience, he remarked +very impressively: "As I was saying, fellow citizens, I have +come from my mountain home, ten thousand feet above the level +of the sea, to, etc." + +A story which illustrates and enforces the argument helps a political +speech, and it is often the only part of the speech which is +remembered. I have often heard people say to me: "I heard you +speak thirty, forty, or fifty years ago, and this is the story +you told." Sometimes, however, the story may prove a boomerang +in the most unexpected way. + +For many years, when I spoke in northern New York I was always +met at the Syracuse station by a superintendent of the Lackawanna +Railroad with a special train filled with friends. He carried +me up to my destination and brought me back in the morning. It +was his great day of the year, and during the trip he was full +of reminiscences, and mainly of the confidences reposed in him +by the president of the road, my old and valued friend, Samuel Sloan. + +One fall he failed to appear, and there was no special train to +meet me. I was told by friends that the reason was his wife had +died and he was in mourning. The morning after the meeting I +started to call upon him, but was informed that he was very hostile +and would not see me. I was not going to lose an old friend like +that and went up to his office. As soon as I entered, he said: +"Go away, I don't want to see you again." I appealed to him, +saying: "I cannot lose so good a friend as you. If there is +anything I have done or said, I will do everything in my power +to make it right." He turned on me sharply and with great emotion +told this story: "My wife and I lived in loving harmony for over +thirty years, and when she died recently I was heartbroken. The +whole town was sympathetic; most of the business houses closed +during the hour of the funeral. I had arranged to have ministers +whom my wife admired, and with them selected passages of scriptures +and hymns to which she was devoted. A new minister in town was +invited by the others to participate, and without my knowledge. +I looked over the congregation, all Mary's friends. I listened +to the services, which Mary herself would have chosen, and said +to Mary's spirit, which I knew to be hovering about: 'We are all +paying you a loving tribute.' Then the new minister had for his +part the announcement and reading of a hymn. At the last Republican +convention at Saratoga, in order to illustrate the condition of +the Democratic party, you told a story about a boy walking among +the children's graves in the old cemetery at Peekskill, eating +green apples and whistling 'Nearer, my God, to Thee.' The new +minister gave that hymn, 'Nearer, my God, to Thee.' Your story +came up in my mind, and I burst out laughing. I disgraced myself, +insulted the memory of Mary, and I never want to see you again." + + + +XXI. NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTIONS + +When the Republican convention met in 1912 I was again a delegate. +In my fifty-six years of national conventions I never had such an +intensely disagreeable experience. I felt it my duty to support +President Taft for renomination. I thought he had earned it by +his excellent administration. I had many ties with him, beginning +with our associations as graduates of Yale, and held for him a +most cordial regard. I was swayed by my old and unabated love +for Roosevelt. In that compromise and harmony were impossible. +I saw that, with the control of the organization and of the +convention on the side of Mr. Taft, and with the wild support for +Roosevelt of the delegates from the States which could be relied +upon to give Republican majorities, the nomination of either +would be sure defeat. + +I was again a delegate to the Republican convention of 1916. +The party was united. Progressives and conservatives were acting +together, and the convention was in the happiest of moods. It was +generally understood that Justice Hughes would be nominated if +he could be induced to resign from the Supreme Court and accept. +The presiding officer of the convention was Senator Warren G. Harding. +He made a very acceptable keynote speech. His fine appearance, +his fairness, justice, and good temper as presiding officer +captured the convention. There was a universal sentiment that if +Hughes declined the party could do no better than to nominate +Senator Harding. It was this impression among the delegates, many +of whom were also members of the convention of 1920, which led +to the selection as the convention's candidate for president of +Warren G. Harding. + +My good mother was a Presbyterian and a good Calvinist. She +believed and impressed upon me the certainty of special Providence. +It is hard for a Republican to think that the election of +Woodrow Wilson was a special Providence, but if our candidate, +Mr. Hughes, had been elected he would have had a hostile Democratic +majority in Congress. + +When the United States went into the war, as it must have done, +the president would have been handicapped by this pacifist Congress. +The draft would have been refused, without which our army of +four millions could not have been raised. The autocratic measures +necessary for the conduct of the war would have been denied. +With the conflict between the executive and Congress, our position +would have been impossible and indefensible. + +I had a personal experience in the convention. Chairman Harding +sent one of the secretaries to me with a message that there was +an interval of about an hour when the convention would have nothing +to do. It was during such a period the crank had his opportunity +and the situation was dangerous, and he wished me to come to +the platform and fill as much of that hour as possible. I refused +on the ground that I was wholly unprepared, and it would be madness +to attempt to speak to fourteen thousand people in the hall and +a hundred million outside. + +A few minutes afterwards Governor Whitman, chairman of the New York +delegation, came to me and said: "You must be drafted. The +chairman will create some business to give you fifteen minutes +to think up your speech." I spurred my gray matter as never before, +and was then introduced and spoke for forty-five minutes. I was +past eighty-two. The speech was a success, but when I returned +to my seat I remembered what General Garfield had so earnestly +said to me: "You are the only man of national reputation who +will speak without preparation. Unless you peremptorily and +decisively stop yielding you will some day make such a failure +as to destroy the reputation of a lifetime." + +In a letter President Harding has this to say in reference to +the occasion: "Just about a year ago (1916) it was my privilege +as chairman of the Republican convention at Chicago to call upon +you for an address. There was a hiatus which called for a speech, +and you so wonderfully met the difficult requirements that I sat +in fascinated admiration and have been ready ever since to pay +you unstinted tribute. You were ever eloquent in your more active +years, but I count you the old man eloquent and incomparable in +your eighties. May many more helpful and happy years be yours." + +I was again a delegate to the convention in June, 1920. The +Republicans had been for eight years out of office during +Mr. Wilson's two terms. The delegates were exceedingly anxious +to make no mistake and have no friction in the campaign. + +The two leading candidates, General Wood and Governor Lowden, +had nearly equal strength and were supported by most enthusiastic +admirers and advocates. As the balloting continued the rivalry +and feeling grew between their friends. It became necessary to +harmonize the situation and it was generally believed that this +could be best done by selecting Senator Warren G. Harding. + +Very few conventions have a dramatic surprise, but the nomination +of Governor Coolidge, of Massachusetts, for vice-president came +about in a very picturesque way. He had been named for president +among the others, and the speech in his behalf by Speaker +Frederick H. Gillett was an excellent one. Somehow the convention +did not seem to grasp all that the governor stood for and how +strong he was with each delegate. When the nominations for +vice-president were called for, Senator Medill McCormick presented +Senator Lenroot, of Wisconsin, in an excellent speech. There +were also very good addresses on behalf of the Governor of Kansas +and others. + +When the balloting was about to start, a delegate from Oregon +who was in the rear of the hall arose and said: "Mr. Chairman." +The chairman said: "The gentleman from Oregon." The Oregon +delegate, in a far-reaching voice, shouted: "Mr. Chairman, +I nominate for vice-president Calvin Coolidge, a one-hundred-per-cent +American." The convention went off its feet with a whoop and +Coolidge was nominated hands down. + +I again had a personal experience. The committee on resolutions, +not being prepared to report, there was that interval of no +business which is the despair of presiding officers of conventions. +The crowd suddenly began calling for me. While, of course, I had +thought much on the subject, I had not expected to be called upon +and had no prepared speech. Happily, fifteen thousand faces and +fifteen thousand voices giving uproarious welcome both steadied +and inspired me. Though I was past eighty-six years of age, my +voice was in as good condition as at forty, and was practically +the only one which did fill that vast auditorium. The press of +the country featured the effort next day in a way which was +most gratifying. + +Among the thousands who greeted me on the streets and in the +hotel lobbies with congratulations and efforts to say something +agreeable and complimentary, I selected one compliment as unique. +He was an enthusiast. "Chauncey Depew," he said, "I have for +over twenty years wanted to shake hands with you. Your speech +was a wonder. I was half a mile off, way up under the roof, and +heard every word of it, and it was the only one I was able to hear. +That you should do this in your eighty-seventh year is a miracle. +But then my father was a miracle. On his eighty-fifth birthday he +was in just as good shape as you are to-day, and a week afterwards +he was dead." + + + +XXII. JOURNALISTS AND FINANCIERS + +In reminiscences of my journalistic friends I do not include many +of the most valued who are still living. Of those who have passed +away one of the most faithful and devoted was Edward H. Butler, +editor and proprietor of the Buffalo Evening News. + +Mr. Butler began at the bottom as a newspaper man and very early +and rapidly climbed to the top. He secured control of the +Evening News and soon made one of the most, if not the most, +widely circulated, influential, and prosperous papers of western +New York. Personally and through his paper he was for many years +my devoted friend. To those he loved he had an unbounded fidelity +and generosity. He possessed keen insight and kept thoroughly +abreast of public affairs was a journalist of high order. + +It was my privilege to know Charles A. Dana very well. I first +met him when he was on the New York Tribune and closely allied +with Horace Greeley. He made the New York Sun one of the brightest, +most original, and most quoted newspapers in the United States. +His high culture, wonderful command of English, and refined taste +gave to the Sun a high literary position, and at the same time +his audacity and criticism made him a terror to those with whom +he differed, and his editorials the delight of a reader. + +Personally Mr. Dana was one of the most attractive and charming +of men. As assistant secretary of war during Lincoln's administration +he came in intimate contact with all the public men of that period, +and as a journalist his study was invaded and he received most +graciously men and women famous in every department of intellectual +activity. His reminiscences were wonderful and his characterizations +remarkable. He might have published an autobiography of rare value +and interest. + +When the elder James Gordon Bennett died the newspaper world +recognized the loss of one of the most remarkable and successful +of journalists and publishers. His son had won reputation in the +field of sport, but his contemporaries doubted his ability to +maintain, much less increase, the sphere of the New York Herald. +But young Bennett soon displayed rare originality and enterprise. +He made his newspaper one of national and international importance. +By bringing out an edition in Paris he conferred a boon upon +Americans abroad. For many years there was little news from the +United States in foreign newspapers, but Americans crazy for news +from home found it in the Paris edition of the New York Herald. + +Mr. Bennett was a good friend of mine for half a century. He was +delightful company, with his grasp of world affairs and picturesque +presentation of them. A President of the United States who wished +to change the hostile attitude of the Herald towards his +administration and himself asked me to interview Mr. Bennett. +The editor was courteous, frank, but implacable. But some time +afterwards the Herald became a cordial supporter of the president. +The interview and its subsequent result displayed a characteristic +of Bennett. He would not recognize that his judgment or action +could be influenced, but his mind was so open and fair that when +convinced that he was wrong he would in his own way and at his +own time do the right thing. + +Mr. Bennett did me once an essential service. It was at the time +when I was a candidate for re-election to the United States Senate. +I cabled him in Paris and asked that he would look into the situation +through his confidential friends, reporters, and employees, and +if he found the situation warranted his taking a position to do so. +Of course the Herald was an independent and not a party journal +and rarely took sides. But not long afterwards, editorially and +reportorially, the emphatic endorsement of the Herald came, and +positive prediction of success, and were of great help. He was +one of my groomsmen at my wedding in 1901. + +Among the thousands of stories which appear and disappear like +butterflies, it is a curious question what vogue and circulation +one can have over others. By an accident I broke one of the +tendons of my heel and was laid up in my house for some time, +unable to walk. The surgeon fixed the bandage in place by a +liquid cement which soon solidified like glass. + +Julian Ralph, a brilliant young newspaper reporter, wrote a long +story in the New York Sun about a wonderful glass leg, which had +been substituted for the natural one and did better work. The +story had universal publication not only in the United States +but abroad, and interested scientists and surgeons. My mail grew +to enormous proportions with letters from eager inquirers wanting +to know all the particulars. The multitude of unfortunates who +had lost their legs or were dissatisfied with artificial ones wrote +to me to find out where these wonderful glass legs could be obtained. + +The glass-leg story nearly killed me, but it gave Ralph such a +reputation that he was advanced to positions both at home and +abroad, where his literary genius and imagination won him many +honors, but he never repeated his success with my glass leg. + +I suppose, having been more than half a century in close contact +with matters of interest to the public, or officially in positions +where I was a party to corporate activities or movements which +might affect the market, I have been more interviewed than any +one living and seen more reporters. No reporter has ever abused +the confidence I reposed in him. He always appreciated what I +told him, even to the verge of indiscretion, and knew what was +proper for him to reveal and what was not for publication. In the +critical situations which often occurred in railway controversies, +this cordial relationship with reporters was of great value in +getting our side before the public. + +One reporter especially, a space writer, managed for a long time +to get from me one-half to a column nearly every day, sometimes +appearing as interviews and at other times under the general +phrase: "It has been learned from a reliable source." + +I recall a personal incident out of the ordinary. I was awakened +one stormy winter night by a reporter who was well known to me, +a young man of unusual promise. I met him in dressing gown and +slippers in my library. There he told me that his wife was ill, +and to save her life the doctor informed him that he must send +her West to a sanitarium. + +"I have no money," he continued, "and will not borrow nor beg, +but you must give me a story I can sell." + +We discussed various matters which a paper would like to have, +and finally I gave him a veiled but still intelligible story, +which we both knew the papers were anxious to get. He told me +afterwards that he sold the interview for enough to meet his +present needs and his wife's journey. Some time after he entered +Wall Street and made a success. + + + +I have known well nearly all the phenomenally successful business +men of my time. It is a popular idea that luck or chance had much +to do with their careers. This is a mistake. All of them had +vision not possessed by their fellows. They could see opportunities +where others took the opposite view, and they had the courage of +their convictions. They had standards of their own which they +lived up to, and these standards differed widely from the ethical +ideas of the majority. + +Russell Sage, who died in the eighties, had to his credit an estate +which amounted to a million dollars for every year of his life. +He was not always a money-maker, but he was educated in the art +as a banker, was diverted into politics, elected to Congress, and +became a very useful member of that body. When politics changed +and he was defeated, he came to New York and speedily found his +place among the survival of the fittest. Mr. Sage could see before +others when bad times would be followed by better ones and +securities rise in value, and he also saw before others when +disasters would follow prosperity. Relying upon his own judgment, +he became a winner, whether the market went up or down. + +I met Mr. Sage frequently and enjoyed his quick and keen appreciation +of men and things. Of course, I knew that he cultivated me because +he thought that from my official position he might possibly gain +information which he could use in the market. I never received +any points from him, or acted upon any of his suggestions. I think +the reason why I am in excellent health and vigor in my eighty-eighth +year is largely due to the fact that the points or suggestions of +great financiers never interested me. I have known thousands who +were ruined by them. The financier who gives advice may mean well +as to the securities which he confidentially tells about, but an +unexpected financial storm may make all prophecies worthless, +except for those who have capital to tide it over. + +One of the most certain opportunities for fortune was to buy Erie +after Commodore Vanderbilt had secured every share and the shorts +were selling wildly what they did not have and could not get. An +issue of fraudulent and unauthorized stock suddenly flooded the +market and thousands were ruined. + +As Mr. Sage's wealth increased, the generous and public-spirited +impulses which were his underlying characteristics, became entirely +obscured by the craze for accumulation. His wife, to whom he was +devotedly attached, was, fortunately for him, one of the most +generous, philanthropic, and open-minded of women. She was most +loyal to the Emma Willard School at Troy, N. Y., from which she +graduated. Mrs. Sage wrote me a note at one time, saying: "Mr. Sage +has promised to build and give to the Willard School a building +which will cost one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and he +wants you to deliver the address at the laying of the corner-stone." +I wrote back that I was so overwhelmed with business that it was +impossible for me to accept. She replied: "Russell vows he will +not give a dollar unless you promise to deliver the address. This +is the first effort in his life at liberal giving. Don't you +think he ought to be encouraged?" I immediately accepted. + +Mrs. Sage was a Mayflower descendant. At one of the anniversaries +of the society she invited me to be her guest and to make a speech. +She had quite a large company at her table. When the champagne +corks began to explode all around us, she asked what I thought she +ought to do. I answered: "As the rest are doing." Mr. Sage +vigorously protested that it was a useless and wasteful expense. +However, Mrs. Sage gave the order, and Mr. Sage and two objecting +gentlemen at the table were the most liberal participants of her +hospitality. The inspiration of the phizz brought Sage to his +feet, though not on the programme. He talked until the committee +of arrangements succeeded in persuading him that the company +was entirely satisfied. + +Jay Gould told me a story of Sage. The market had gone against +him and left him under great obligations. The shock sent Sage +to bed, and he declared that he was ruined. Mr. Gould and +Mr. Cyrus W. Field became alarmed for his life and went to see +him. They found him broken-hearted and in a serious condition. +Gould said to him: "Sage, I will assume all your obligations and +give you so many millions of dollars if you will transfer to me +the cash you have in banks, trust, and safe-deposit companies, +and you keep all your securities and all your real estate." The +proposition proved to be the shock necessary to counteract Sage's +panic and save his life. He shouted, "I won't do it!" jumped out +of bed, met all his obligations and turned defeat into a victory. + +Sage could not personally give away his fortune, so he left it +all, without reservations, to his wife. The world is better and +happier by her wise distribution of his accumulations. + +One of Mr. Sage's lawyers was an intimate friend of mine, and he +told me this story. Sage had been persuaded by his fellow directors +in the Western Union Telegraph Company to make a will. As he was +attorney for the company, Sage came to him to draw it. + +The lawyer began to write: "I, Russell Sage, of the City of +New York, being of sound mind" . . . (Sage interrupted him in +his quick way by saying, "Nobody will dispute that") "do publish +and devise this to be my last will and testament as follows: +First, I direct that all my just debts will be paid." . . . +("That's easy," said Sage, "because I haven't any.") "Also my +funeral expenses and testamentary expenses." ("Make the funeral +simple. I dislike display and ostentation, and especially at +funerals," said Sage.) "Next," said the lawyer, "I give, devise, +and bequeath" . . . (Sage shouted: "I won't do it! I won't do it!" +and left the office.) + +Nothing is so absorbing as the life of Wall Street. It is more +abused, misunderstood, and envied than any place in the country. +Wall Street means that the sharpest wits from every State in the +Union, and many from South America and Europe, are competing with +each other for the great prizes of development, exploitation, +and speculation. + +I remember a Wall Street man who was of wide reading and high +culture, and yet devoted to both the operation and romance of +the Street. He rushed into my room one night at Lucerne in +Switzerland and said: "I have just arrived from Greece and have +been out of touch with everything for six weeks. I am starving for +news of the market." + +I enlightened him as well as I could, and then he remarked: "Do +you know, while in Athens our little party stood on the Acropolis +admiring the Parthenon, and one enthusiastic Grecian exclaimed: +'There is the wonder of the world. For three thousand years its +perfection has baffled and taught the genius of every generation. +It can be copied, but never yet has been equalled. Surely, +notwithstanding your love of New York and devotion to the ticker, +you must admire the Parthenon.' I answered him, if I could be +transported at this minute to Fifth Avenue and Broadway and could +look up at the Flatiron Building, I would give the money to +rebuild that old ruin." + +While conditions in the United States because of the World War +are serious, they are so much better than in the years following +the close of the Civil War, that we who have had the double +experience can be greatly encouraged. Then one-half of our country +was devastated, its industries destroyed or paralyzed; now we are +united and stronger in every way. Then we had a paper currency +and dangerous inflation, now we are on a gold standard and with +an excellent banking and credit system. The development of our +resources and wonderful inventions and discoveries since the +Civil War place us in the foremost position to enter upon world +commerce when all other nations have come as they must to +co-operation and co-ordination upon lines for the preservation +of peace and the promotion of international prosperity. + +Many incidents personal to me occur which illustrate conditions +following the close of the war between the States. I knew very +rich men who became paupers, and strong institutions and corporations +which went into bankruptcy. I was in the Union Trust Company of +New York when our financial circles were stunned by the closing +of its doors following the closing of the New York Stock Exchange. + +One of my clients was Mr. Augustus Schell, one of the ablest and +most successful of financiers and public-spirited citizens. The +panic had ruined him. As we left the Union Trust Company he had +his hat over his eyes, and his head was buried in the upturned +collar of his coat. When opposite Trinity Church he said: +"Mr. Depew, after being a rich man for over forty years, it is +hard to walk under a poor man's hat." When we reached the +Astor House a complete reaction had occurred. His collar was +turned down, his head came out confident and aggressive, his hat +had shifted to the back of his head and on a rakish angle. The +hopeful citizen fairly shouted: "Mr. Depew, the world has always +gone around, it always will go around." He managed with the aid +of Commodore Vanderbilt to save his assets from sacrifice. In +a few years they recovered normal value, and Mr. Schell with his +fortune intact found "the world had gone around" and he was +on top again. + +I have often felt the inspiration of Mr. Schell's confidence and +hope and have frequently lifted others out of the depths of despair +by narrating the story and emphasizing the motto "The world always +has gone around, the world always will go around." + +Illustrating the wild speculative spirit of one financial period, +and the eagerness with which speculators grasped at what they +thought points, the following is one of my many experiences. + +Running down Wall Street one day because I was late for an important +meeting, a well-known speculator stopped me and shouted: "What +about Erie?" I threw him off impatiently, saying, "Damn Erie!" +and rushed on. I knew nothing about Erie speculatively and was +irritated at being still further delayed for my meeting. + +Sometime afterwards I received a note from him in which he said: +"I never can be grateful enough for the point you gave me on Erie. +I made on it the biggest kill of my life." + +I have often had quoted to me that sentence about "fortune comes +to one but once, and if rejected never returns." When I declined +President Harrison's offer of the position of secretary of state +in his Cabinet, I had on my desk a large number of telegrams +signed by distinguished names and having only that quotation. +There are many instances in the lives of successful men where +they have repeatedly declined Dame Fortune's gift, and yet she +has finally rewarded them according to their desires. I am inclined +to think that the fickle lady is not always mortally offended by +a refusal. I believe that there come in the life of almost everybody +several opportunities, and few have the judgment to wisely decide +what to decline and what to accept. + +In 1876 Gardner Hubbard was an officer in the United States railway +mail service. As this connection with the government was one of +my duties in the New York Central, we met frequently. One day +he said to me: "My son-in-law, Professor Bell, has made what +I think a wonderful invention. It is a talking telegraph. We +need ten thousand dollars, and I will give you one-sixth interest +for that amount of money." + +I was very much impressed with Mr. Hubbard's description of the +possibilities of Professor Bell's invention. Before accepting, +however, I called upon my friend, Mr. William Orton, president +of the Western Union Telegraph Company. Orton had the reputation +of being the best-informed and most accomplished electrical expert +in the country. He said to me: "There is nothing in this patent +whatever, nor is there anything in the scheme itself, except as +a toy. If the device has any value, the Western Union owns a +prior patent called the Gray's patent, which makes the Bell +device worthless." + +When I returned to Mr. Hubbard he again convinced me, and I would +have made the investment, except that Mr. Orton called at my house +that night and said to me: "I know you cannot afford to lose +ten thousand dollars, which you certainly will if you put it in +the Bell patent. I have been so worried about it that contrary +to my usual custom I have come, if possible, to make you promise +to drop it." This I did. + +The Bell patent was sustained in the courts against the Gray, +and the telephone system became immediately popular and profitable. +It spread rapidly all over the country, and innumerable local +companies were organized, and with large interests for the privilege +to the parent company. + +I rarely ever part with anything, and I may say that principle +has brought me so many losses and so many gains that I am as yet, +in my eighty-eighth year, undecided whether it is a good rule or +not. However, if I had accepted my friend Mr. Hubbard's offer, it +would have changed my whole course of life. With the dividends, +year after year, and the increasing capital, I would have netted +by to-day at least one hundred million dollars. I have no regrets. +I know my make-up, with its love for the social side of life and +its good things, and for good times with good fellows. I also +know the necessity of activity and work. I am quite sure that +with this necessity removed and ambition smothered, I should +long ago have been in my grave and lost many years of a life which +has been full of happiness and satisfaction. + +My great weakness has been indorsing notes. A friend comes and +appeals to you. If you are of a sympathetic nature and very fond +of him, if you have no money to loan him, it is so easy to put +your name on the back of a note. Of course, it is rarely paid at +maturity, because your friend's judgment was wrong, and so the note +is renewed and the amount increased. When finally you wake up +to the fact that if you do not stop you are certain to be ruined, +your friend fails when the notes mature, and you have lost the +results of many years of thrift and saving, and also your friend. + +I declined to marry until I had fifty thousand dollars. The happy +day arrived, and I felt the fortunes of my family secure. My +father-in-law and his son became embarrassed in their business, +and, naturally, I indorsed their notes. A few years afterwards +my father-in-law died, his business went bankrupt, I lost my +fifty thousand dollars and found myself considerably in debt. As +an illustration of my dear mother's belief that all misfortunes +are sent for one's good, it so happened that the necessity of +meeting and recovering from this disaster led to extraordinary +exertions, which probably, except under the necessity, I never +would have made. The efforts were successful. + +Horace Greeley never could resist an appeal to indorse a note. +They were hardly ever paid, and Mr. Greeley was the loser. I met +him one time, soon after he had been a very severe sufferer from +his mistaken kindness. He said to me with great emphasis: +"Chauncey, I want you to do me a great favor. I want you to have +a bill put through the legislature, and see that it becomes a law, +making it a felony and punishable with imprisonment for life for +any man to put his name by way of indorsement on the back of +another man's paper." + +Dear old Greeley kept the practice up until he died, and the law +was never passed. There was one instance, which I had something +to do with, where the father of a young man, through whom Mr. Greeley +lost a great deal of money by indorsing notes, arranged after +Mr. Greeley's death to have the full amount of the loss paid to +Mr. Greeley's heirs. + + + +XXIII. ACTORS AND MEN OF LETTERS + +One cannot speak of Sir Henry Irving without recalling the wonderful +charm and genius of his leading lady, Ellen Terry. She never +failed to be worthy of sharing in Irving's triumphs. Her remarkable +adaptability to the different characters and grasp of their +characteristics made her one of the best exemplifiers of Shakespeare +of her time. She was equally good in the great characters of other +playwrights. Her effectiveness was increased by an unusual ability +to shed tears and natural tears. I was invited behind the scenes +one evening when she had produced a great impression upon the +audience in a very pathetic part. I asked her how she did what +no one else was ever able to do. + +"Why," she answered, "it is so simple when you are portraying ----" +(mentioning the character), "and such a crisis arises in your +life, that naturally and immediately the tears begin to flow." +So they did when she was illustrating the part for me. + +It was a privilege to hear Edwin Booth as Richelieu and Hamlet. +I have witnessed all the great actors of my time in those characters. +None of them equalled Edwin Booth. For a number of years he was +exiled from the stage because his brother, Wilkes Booth, was +the assassin of President Lincoln. His admirers in New York felt +that it was a misfortune for dramatic art that so consummate an +artist should be compelled to remain in private life. In order +to break the spell they united and invited Mr. Booth to give a +performance at one of the larger theatres. The house, of course, +was carefully ticketed with selected guests. + +The older Mrs. John Jacob Astor, a most accomplished and cultured +lady and one of the acknowledged leaders of New York society, +gave Mr. Booth a dinner in honor of the event. The gathering +represented the most eminent talent of New York in every department +of the great city's activities. Of course, Mr. Booth had the seat +of honor at the right of the hostess. On the left was a distinguished +man who had been a Cabinet minister and a diplomat. During the +dinner Mr. Evarts said to me: "I have known so and so all our +active lives. He has been a great success in everything he has +undertaken, and the wonder of it is that if there was ever an +opportunity for him to say or do the wrong thing he never failed." + +Curiously enough, the conversation at the dinner ran upon men +outliving their usefulness and reputations. Several instances +were cited where a man from the height of his fame gradually +lived on and lived out his reputation. Whereupon our diplomat, +with his fatal facility for saying the wrong thing, broke in by +remarking in a strident voice: "The most remarkable instance of a +man dying at the right time for his reputation was Abraham Lincoln." +Then he went on to explain how he would have probably lost his +place in history through the mistakes of his second term. Nobody +heard anything beyond the words "Abraham Lincoln." Fortunately +for the evening and the great embarrassment of Mr. Booth, the tact +of Mrs. Astor changed the subject and saved the occasion. + +Of all my actor friends none was more delightful either on the +stage or in private life than Joseph Jefferson. He early appealed +to me because of his Rip Van Winkle. I was always devoted to +Washington Irving and to the Hudson River. All the traditions +which have given a romantic touch to different points on that +river came from Irving's pen. In the days of my youth the influence +of Irving upon those who were fortunate enough to have been born +upon the banks of the Hudson was very great in every way. + +As I met Jefferson quite frequently, I recall two of his many +charming stories. He said he thought at one time that it would +be a fine idea to play Rip Van Winkle at the village of Catskill, +around which place was located the story of his hero. His manager +selected the supernumeraries from among the farmer boys of the +neighborhood. At the point of the play where Rip wakes up and +finds the lively ghosts of the Hendrick Hudson crew playing bowls +in the mountains, he says to each one of them, who all look and +are dressed alike: "Are you his brother?" + +"No," answered the young farmer who impersonated one of the ghosts, +"Mr. Jefferson, I never saw one of these people before." As ghosts +are supposed to be silent, this interruption nearly broke up +the performance. + +During the Spanish-American War I came on the same train with +Mr. Jefferson from Washington. The interest all over the country +at that time was the remarkable victory of Admiral Dewey over the +Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila. People wondered how Dewey +could sink every Spanish ship and never be hit once himself. +Jefferson said in his quaint way: "Everybody, including the +secretary of the navy and several admirals, asked me how that could +have happened. I told them the problem might be one which naval +officers could not solve, but it was very simple for an actor. The +failure of the Spanish admiral was entirely due to his not having +rehearsed. Success is impossible without frequent rehearsals." + +Returning for a moment to Washington Irving, one of the most +interesting spots near New York is his old home, Wolfert's Roost, +and also the old church at Tarrytown where he worshipped, and +of which he was an officer for many years. The ivy which partially +covers the church was given to Mr. Irving by Sir Walter Scott, +from Abbotsford. At the time when the most famous of British +reviewers wrote, "Whoever read or reads an American book?" +Sir Walter Scott announced the merit and coming fame of +Washington Irving. But, as Rip Van Winkle says, when he returns +after twenty years to his native village, "how soon we are forgot." + +There was a dinner given in New York to celebrate the hundredth +anniversary of Washington Irving's birth. I was one of the speakers. +In an adjoining room was a company of young and very successful +brokers, whose triumphs in the market were the envy of speculative +America. While I was speaking they came into the room. When +I had finished, the host at the brokers' dinner called me out and +said: "We were much interested in your speech. This Irving you +talked about must be a remarkable man. What is the dinner about?" + +I answered him that it was in celebration of the hundredth +anniversary of the birth of Washington Irving. + +"Well," he said, pointing to an old gentleman who had sat beside +me on the speakers' platform, "it is astonishing how vigorous he +looks at that advanced age." + +It was my good fortune to hear often and know personally +Richard Mansfield. He was very successful in many parts, but +his presentation of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was wonderful. +At one time he came to me with a well-thought-out scheme for +a national theatre in New York, which would be amply endowed and +be the home of the highest art in the dramatic profession, and +at the same time the finest school in the world. He wanted me +to draw together a committee of the leading financiers of the +country and, if possible, to impress them so that they would +subscribe the millions necessary for carrying out his ideas. +I was too busy a man to undertake so difficult a project. + +One of the colored porters in the Wagner Palace Car service, who +was always with me on my tours of inspection over the railroad, +told me an amusing story of Mr. Mansfield's devotion to his art. +He was acting as porter on Mansfield's car, when he was making +a tour of the country. This porter was an exceedingly intelligent +man. He appreciated Mansfield's achievements and played up to +his humor in using him as a foil while always acting. When they +were in a station William never left the car, but remained on guard +for the protection of its valuable contents. + +After a play at Kansas City Mansfield came into the car very late +and said: "William, where is my manager?" + +"Gone to bed, sir, and so have the other members of the company," +answered William. + +Then in his most impressive way Mansfield said: "William, they +fear me. By the way, were you down at the depot to-night when +the audience from the suburbs were returning to take their trains +home?" + +"Yes, sir," answered William, though he had not been out of the car. + +"Did you hear any remarks made about my play?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Can you give me an instance?" + +"Certainly," replied William; "one gentleman remarked that he +had been to the theatre all his life, but that your acting to-night +was the most rotten thing he had ever heard or seen." + +"William," shouted Mansfield, "get my Winchester and find that man." + +So Mansfield and William went out among the crowds, and when +William saw a big, aggressive-looking fellow who he thought would +stand up and fight, he said: "There he is." + +Mansfield immediately walked up to the man, covered him with his +rifle, and shouted: "Hold up your hands, you wretch, and take +back immediately the insulting remark you made about my play +and acting and apologize." + +The man said: "Why, Mr. Mansfield, somebody has been lying to +you about me. Your performance to-night was the best thing I ever +saw in my life." + +"Thank you," said Mansfield, shouldering his rifle, and added in +the most tragic tone: "William, lead the way back to the car." + +Among the most interesting memories of old New Yorkers are the +suppers which Mr. Augustin Daly gave on the one hundredth performance +of a play. Like everything which Daly did, the entertainment was +perfect. A frequent and honored guest on these occasions was +General Sherman, who was then retired from the army and living +in New York. Sherman was a military genius but a great deal more. +He was one of the most sensitive men in the world. Of course, +the attraction at these suppers was Miss Rehan, Daly's leading +lady. Her personal charm, her velvet voice, and her inimitable +coquetry made every guest anxious to be her escort. She would +pretend to be in doubt whether to accept the attentions of +General Sherman or myself, but when the general began to display +considerable irritation, the brow of Mars was smoothed and the +warrior made happy by a gracious acceptance of his arm. + +On one of these occasions I heard the best after-dinner speech +of my life. The speaker was one of the most beautiful women +in the country, Miss Fanny Davenport. That night she seemed +to be inspired, and her eloquence, her wit, her humor, her sparkling +genius, together with the impression of her amazing beauty were +very effective. + +P. T. Barnum, the showman, was a many-sided and interesting +character. I saw much of him as he rented from the Harlem Railroad +Company the Madison Square Garden, year after year. Barnum never +has had an equal in his profession and was an excellent business +man. In a broad way he was a man of affairs, and with his vast +fund of anecdotes and reminiscences very entertaining socially. + +An Englishman of note came to me with a letter of introduction, +and I asked him whom he would like to meet. He said: "I think +principally Mr. P. T. Barnum." I told this to Barnum, who knew +all about him, and said: "As a gentleman, he knows how to meet me." +When I informed my English friend, he expressed his regret and +at once sent Barnum his card and an invitation for dinner. At the +dinner Barnum easily carried off the honors with his wonderful +fund of unusual adventures. + +My first contact with Mr. Barnum occurred many years before, when +I was a boy up in Peekskill. At that time he had a museum and +a show in a building at the corner of Ann Street and Broadway, +opposite the old Astor House. By skilful advertising he kept +people all over the country expecting something new and wonderful +and anxious to visit his show. + +There had been an Indian massacre on the Western plains. The +particulars filled the newspapers and led to action by the government +in retaliation. Barnum advertised that he had succeeded in +securing the Sioux warriors whom the government had captured, +and who would re-enact every day the bloody battle in which they +were victorious. + +It was one of the hottest afternoons in August when I appeared +there from the country. The Indians were on the top floor, under +the roof. The performance was sufficiently blood-curdling to +satisfy the most exacting reader of a penny-dreadful. After +the performance, when the audience left, I was too fascinated +to go, and remained in the rear of the hall, gazing at these +dreadful savages. One of them took off his head-gear, dropped +his tomahawk and scalping-knife, and said in the broadest Irish +to his neighbor: "Moike, if this weather don't cool off, I will +be nothing but a grease spot." This was among the many illusions +which have been dissipated for me in a long life. Notwithstanding +that, I still have faith, and dearly love to be fooled, but not +to have the fraud exposed. + + + +Wyndham, the celebrated English actor, was playing one night in +New York. He saw me in the audience and sent a messenger inviting +me to meet him at supper at the Hoffman House. After the theatre +I went to the hotel, asked at the desk in what room the theatrical +supper was, and found there Bronson Howard, the playwright, and +some others. I told them the object of my search, and Mr. Howard +said: "You are just in the right place." + +The English actor came later, and also a large number of other +guests. I was very much surprised and flattered at being made +practically the guest of honor. In the usual and inevitable +after-dinner speeches I joined enthusiastically in the prospects +of American contributions to drama and especially the genius of +Bronson Howard. + +It developed afterwards that the actors' dinner was set for several +nights later, and that I was not invited or expected to this +entertainment, which was given by Mr. Howard to my actor friend, +but by concert of action between the playwright and the actor, +the whole affair was turned into a dinner to me. Broadway was +delighted at the joke, but did not have a better time over it than I did. + +The supper parties after the play which Wyndham gave were among +the most enjoyable entertainments in London. His guests represented +the best in society, government, art, literature, and drama. His +dining-room was built and furnished like the cabin of a yacht and +the illusion was so complete that sensitive guests said they felt +the rolling of the sea. + +One evening he said to me: "I expect a countryman of yours, +a charming fellow, but, poor devil, he has only one hundred and +fifty thousand pounds a year. He is still young, and all the +managing mothers are after him for their daughters." + +When the prosperous American with an income of three-quarters +of a million arrived, I needed no introduction. I knew him very +well and about his affairs. He had culture, was widely travelled, +was both musical and artistic, and his fad was intimacy with +prominent people. His dinners were perfection and invitations +were eagerly sought. On the plea of delicate health he remained +a brief period in the height of the season in London and Paris. +But during those few weeks he gave all that could be done by lavish +wealth and perfect taste, and did it on an income of twenty +thousand dollars a year. + +Most of the year he lived modestly in the mountains of Switzerland +or in Eastern travel, but was a welcome guest of the most important +people in many lands. The only deceit about it, if it was a +deceit, was that he never went out of his way to deny his vast +wealth, and as he never asked for anything there was no occasion +to publish his inventory. The pursuing mothers and daughters +never succeeded, before his flight, in leading him far enough to ask +for a show-down. + +Many times during my visits to Europe I have been besieged to know +the income of a countryman. On account of the belief over there +in the generality of enormous American fortunes, it is not difficult +to create the impression of immense wealth. While the man would +have to make a statement and give references, the lady's story +is seldom questioned. I have known some hundreds and thousands +of dollars become in the credulous eyes of suitors as many millions, +and a few millions become multimillions. In several instances +the statements of the lady were accepted as she achieved her ambition. + + + +For a tired man who has grown stale with years of unremitting work +I know of no relief and recuperation equal to taking a steamer +and crossing the ocean to Europe. I did this for a few weeks +in midsummer many times and always with splendid and most refreshing +results. With fortunate introductions, I became acquainted with +many of the leading men of other countries, and this was a +liberal education. + +There is invariably a concert for charities to help the sailors +on every ship. I had many amusing experiences in presiding on +these occasions. I remember once we were having a rough night +of it, and one of our artists, a famous singer, who had made a +successful tour of the United States, was a little woman and +her husband a giant. He came to me during the performance and +said: "My wife is awfully seasick, but she wants to sing, and +I want her to. In the intervals of her illness she is in pretty +good shape for a little while. If you will stop everything when +you see me coming in with her, she will do her part." + +I saw him rushing into the saloon with his wife in his arms, and +immediately announced her for the next number. She made a great +triumph, but at the proper moment was caught up by her husband +and carried again to the deck. He said to me afterwards: "My wife +was not at her best last night, because there is a peculiarity +about seasickness and singers; the lower notes in which she is +most effective are not at such times available or in working order." + +Augustin Daly did a great service to the theatre by his wonderful +genius as a manager. He discovered talent everywhere and encouraged +it. He trained his company with the skill of a master, and produced +in his theatres here and in London a series of wonderful plays. He +did not permit his artists to take part, as a rule, in these concerts +on the ship, but it so happened that on one occasion we celebrated +the Fourth of July. I went to Mr. Daly and asked him if he would +not as an American take the management of the whole celebration. +This appealed to him, and he selected the best talent from his +company. Among them was Ada Rehan. I knew Miss Rehan when she +was in the stock company at Albany in her early days. With +Mr. Daly, who discovered her, she soon developed into a star of +the first magnitude. + +Mr. Daly persisted on my presiding and introducing the artists, +and also delivering the Fourth of July oration. The celebration +was so successful in the saloon that Mr. Daly had it repeated +the next night in the second cabin, and the night after that in +the steerage. The steerage did its best, and was clothed in +the finest things which it was carrying back to astonish the old +folks in the old country, and its enthusiasm was greater, if +possible, than the welcome which had greeted the artists among +the first and second cabin passengers. + +After Miss Rehan had recited her part and been encored and encored, +I found her in tears. I said: "Miss Rehan, your triumph has been +so great that it should be laughter." + +"Yes," she said, "but it is so pathetic to see these people who +probably never before met with the highest art." + + + +Among the many eminent English men of letters who at one time +came to the United States was Matthew Arnold. The American lecture +promoters were active in securing these gentlemen, and the American +audiences were most appreciative. Many came with letters of +introduction to me. + +Mr. Arnold was a great poet, critic, and writer, and an eminent +professor at Oxford University and well-known to our people. +His first address was at Chickering Hall to a crowded house. +Beyond the first few rows no one could hear him. Explaining this +he said to me: "My trouble is that my lectures at the university +are given in small halls and to limited audiences." I advised +him that before going any farther he should secure an elocutionist +and accustom himself to large halls, otherwise his tour would be +a disappointment. + +He gave me an amusing account of his instructor selecting +Chickering Hall, where he had failed, and making him repeat his +lecture, while the instructor kept a progressive movement farther +and farther from the stage until he reached the rear seats, when +he said he was satisfied. It is a tribute to the versatility of +this great author that he learned his lesson so well that his +subsequent lectures in different parts of the country were very +successful. + +Once Mr. Arnold said to me: "The lectures which I have prepared +are for university audiences, to which I am accustomed. I have +asked my American manager to put me only in university towns, but +I wish you would look over my engagements." + +Having done this, I remarked: "Managers are looking for large +and profitable audiences. There is no university or college in +any of these towns, though one of them has an inebriate home and +another an insane asylum. However, both of these cities have +a cultured population. Your noisiest and probably most appreciative +audience will be at the one which is a large railroad terminal. +Our railroad people are up-to-date." + +I saw Mr. Arnold on his return from his tour. The description +he gave of his adventures was very picturesque and the income +had been exceedingly satisfactory and beyond expectation. + +Describing the peculiarities of the chairmen who introduced him, +he mentioned one of them who said: "Ladies and gentlemen, next +week we will have in our course the most famous magician there +is in the world, and the week after, I am happy to say, we shall +be honored by the presence of a great opera-singer, a wonderful +artist. For this evening it is my pleasure to introduce to you +that distinguished English journalist Mr. Edwin Arnold." Mr. Arnold +began his lecture with a vigorous denial that he was Edwin Arnold, +whom I judged he did not consider in his class. + +Mr. Arnold received in New York and in the larger cities which +he visited the highest social attention from the leading families. +I met him several times and found that he never could be reconciled +to our two most famous dishes--terrapin and canvasback duck--the +duck nearly raw. He said indignantly to one hostess, who chided +him for his neglect of the canvasback: "Madam, when your ancestors +left England two hundred and fifty years ago, the English of that +time were accustomed to eat their meat raw; now they cook it." +To which the lady answered: "I am not familiar with the customs +of my ancestors, but I know that I pay my chef, who cooked the +duck, three hundred dollars a month." + +We were all very fond of Thackeray. He did not have the general +popularity of Charles Dickens, nor did he possess Dickens's dramatic +power, but he had a large and enthusiastic following among our +people. It was an intellectual treat and revelation to listen +to him. That wonderful head of his seemed to be an enormous and +perennial fountain of wit and wisdom. + +They had a good story of him at the Century Club, which is our +Athenaeum, that when taken there after a lecture by his friends +they gave him the usual Centurion supper of those days: saddlerock +oysters. The saddlerock of that time was nearly as large as +a dinner-plate. Thackeray said to his host: "What do I do with +this animal?" + +The host answered: "We Americans swallow them whole." + +Thackeray, always equal to the demand of American hospitality, +closed his eyes and swallowed the oyster, and the oyster went +down. When he had recovered he remarked: "I feel as if I had +swallowed a live baby." + +We have been excited at different times to an absorbing extent +by the stories of explorers. None were more generally read than +the adventures of the famous missionary, David Livingstone, +in Africa. When Livingstone was lost the whole world saluted +Henry M. Stanley as he started upon his famous journey to find him. +Stanley's adventures, his perils and escapes, had their final +success in finding Livingstone. The story enraptured and thrilled +every one. The British Government knighted him, and when he +returned to the United States he was Sir Henry Stanley. He was +accompanied by his wife, a beautiful and accomplished woman, and +received with open arms. + +I met Sir Henry many times at private and public entertainments +and found him always most interesting. The Lotos Club gave him +one of its most famous dinners, famous to those invited and to +those who spoke. + +It was arranged that he should begin his lecture tour of the +United States in New York. At the request of Sir Henry and his +committee I presided and introduced him at the Metropolitan +Opera House. The great auditorium was crowded to suffocation +and the audience one of the finest and most sympathetic. + +We knew little at that time of Central Africa and its people, and +the curiosity was intense to hear from Sir Henry a personal and +intimate account of his wonderful discoveries and experiences. +He thought that as his African life was so familiar to him, it must +be the same to everybody else. As a result, instead of a thriller +he gave a commonplace talk on some literary subject which bored +the audience and cast a cloud over a lecture tour which promised +to be one of the most successful. Of course Sir Henry's effort +disappointed his audience the more because their indifference +and indignation depressed him, and he did not do justice to himself +or the uninteresting subject which he had selected. He never again +made the same mistake, and the tour was highly remunerative. + +For nearly a generation there was no subject which so interested +the American people as the adventures of explorers. I met many +of them, eulogized them in speeches at banquets given in their +honor. The people everywhere were open-eyed, open-eared, and +open-mouthed in their welcome and eagerness to hear them. + +It is a commentary upon the fickleness of popular favor that the +time was so short before these universal favorites dropped out +of popular attention and recollection. + + + +XXIV. SOCIETIES AND PUBLIC BANQUETS + +The most unique experience in my life has been the dinners given +to me by the Montauk Club of Brooklyn on my birthday. The Montauk +is a social club of high standing, whose members are of professional +and business life and different political and religious faiths. + +Thirty years ago Mr. Charles A. Moore was president of the club. +He was a prominent manufacturer and a gentleman of wide influence +in political and social circles. Mr. McKinley offered him the +position of secretary of the navy, which Mr. Moore declined. He +came to me one day with a committee from the club, and said: +"The Montauk wishes to celebrate your birthday. We know that it +is on the 23d of April, and that you have two distinguished +colleagues who also have the 23d as their birthday--Shakespeare +and St. George. We do not care to include them, but desire only +to celebrate yours." + +The club has continued these celebrations for thirty years by +an annual dinner. The ceremonial of the occasion is a reception, +then dinner, and, after an introduction by the president, a speech +by myself. To make a new speech every year which will be of +interest to those present and those who read it, is not easy. + +These festivities had a fortunate beginning. In thinking over +what I should talk about at the first dinner, I decided to get +some fun out of the municipality of Brooklyn by a picturesque +description of its municipal conditions. It was charged in the +newspapers that there had been serious graft in some public +improvements which had been condoned by the authorities and excused +by an act of the legislature. It had also been charged that the +Common Council had been giving away valuable franchises to their +favorites. Of course, this presented a fine field of contrast +between ancient and modern times. In ancient times grateful +citizens erected statues to eminent men who had deserved well of +their country in military or civic life, but Brooklyn had improved +upon the ancient model through the grant of public utilities. +The speech caused a riot after the dinner as to its propriety, +many taking the ground that it was a criticism, and, therefore, +inappropriate to the occasion. However, the affair illustrated +a common experience of mine that unexpected results will sometimes +flow from a bit of humor, if the humor has concealed in it a stick +of dynamite. + +The Brooklyn pulpit, which is the most progressive in the world, +took the matter up and aroused public discussion on municipal +affairs. The result was the formation of a committee of one hundred +citizens to investigate municipal conditions. They found that +while the mayor and some other officials were high-toned and +admirable officers, yet the general administration of the city +government had in the course of years become so bad that there +should be a general reformation. The reform movement was successful; +it spread over to New York and there again succeeded, and the +movement for municipal reform became general in the country. + +The next anniversary dinner attracted an audience larger than +the capacity of the club, and every one of the thirty has been +an eminent success. For many years the affair has received wide +publicity in the United States, and has sometimes been reported +in foreign newspapers. I remember being in London with the late +Lieutenant-Governor Woodruff, when we saw these head-lines at +a news-stand on the Strand: "Speech by Chauncey Depew at his +birthday dinner at the Montauk Club, Brooklyn." During this nearly +third of a century the membership of the club has changed, sons +having succeeded fathers and new members have been admitted, but +the celebration seems to grow in interest. + +During the last fourteen years the president of the club has been +Mr. William H. English. He has done so much for the organization +in every way that the members would like to have him as their +executive officer for life. Mr. English is a splendid type of +the American who is eminently successful in his chosen career, +and yet has outside interest for the benefit of the public. Modest +to a degree and avoiding publicity, he nevertheless is the motive +power of many movements progressive and charitable. + +Twenty-four years ago a company of public-spirited women in the +city of Des Moines, Iowa, organized a club. They named it after +me. For nearly a quarter of a century it has been an important +factor in the civic life of Des Moines. It has with courage, +intelligence, and independence done excellent work. At the time +of its organization there were few if any such organizations in +the country, and it may claim the position of pioneer in women's +activity in public affairs. + +Happily free from the internal difficulties and disputes which so +often wreck voluntary associations, the Chauncey Depew Club is +stronger than ever. It looks forward with confidence to a successful +celebration of its quarter of a century. + +I have never been able to visit the club, but have had with it +frequent and most agreeable correspondence. It always remembers +my birthday in the most gratifying way. I am grateful to its +members for bestowing upon me one of the most pleasurable compliments +of my life. + +A public dinner is a fine form of testimonial. I have had many +in my life, celebrating other things than my birthday. One of +the most notable was given me by the citizens of Chicago in +recognition of my efforts to make their great Columbian exhibition +a success. Justice John M. Harlan presided, and distinguished +men were present from different parts of the country and representing +great interests. Probably the speech which excited the most +comment was a radical attack of Andrew Carnegie on the government +of Great Britain, in submitting to the authority of a king or a +queen. Canada was represented by some of the high officials of +that self-governing colony. The Canadians are more loyal to the +English form of government than are the English themselves. My +peppery Scotch friend aroused a Canadian official, who returned +his assault with vigor and interest. + +It is a very valuable experience for an American to attend the +annual banquet of the American Chamber of Commerce in Paris. +The French Government recognizes the affair by having a company +of their most picturesquely uniformed soldiers standing guard both +inside and outside the hall. The highest officials of the French +Government always attend and make speeches. The American Ambassador +replies in a speech partly in English, and, if he is sufficiently +equipped, partly in French. General Horace Porter and Henry White +were equally happy both in their native language and in that of +the French. The French statesmen, however, were so fond of +Myron T. Herrick that they apparently not only grasped his cordiality +but understood perfectly his eloquence. The honor has several +times been assigned to me of making the American speech in +unadulterated American. The French may not have understood, but +with their quick apprehension the applause or laughter of the +Americans was instantly succeeded by equal manifestations on +the part of the French. + +Among the many things which we have inherited from our English +ancestry are public dinners and after-dinner speeches. The public +dinner is of importance in Great Britain and utilized for every +occasion. It is to the government the platform where the ministers +can lay frankly before the country matters which they could not +develop in the House of Commons. Through the dinner speech they +open the way and arouse public attention for measures which they +intend to propose to Parliament, and in this way bring the pressure +of public opinion to their support. + +In the same way every guild and trade have their festive functions +with serious purpose, and so have religious, philanthropic, economic, +and sociological movements. We have gone quite far in this +direction, but have not perfected the system as they have on the +other side. I have been making after-dinner speeches for sixty +years to all sorts and conditions of people, and on almost every +conceivable subject. I have found these occasions of great value +because under the good-fellowship of the occasion an unpopular +truth can be sugar-coated with humor and received with applause, +while in the processes of digestion the next day it is working with +the audience and through the press in the way the pill was intended. +A popular audience will forgive almost anything with which they +do not agree, if the humorous way in which it is put tickles +their risibilities. + +Mr. Gladstone was very fine at the lord mayor's dinner at Guild Hall, +where the prime minister develops his policies. So it was with +Lord Salisbury and Balfour, but the prince of after-dinner speakers +in England is Lord Rosebery. He has the humor, the wit, and the +artistic touch which fascinates and enraptures his audience. + +I have met in our country all the men of my time who have won fame +in this branch of public address. The most remarkable in +effectiveness and inspiration was Henry Ward Beecher. A banquet +was always a success if it could have among its speakers +William M. Evarts, Joseph H. Choate, James S. Brady, Judge John R. Brady, +General Horace Porter, or Robert G. Ingersoll. + +After General Grant settled in New York he was frequently a guest +at public dinners and always produced an impression by simple, +direct, and effective oratory. + +General Sherman, on the other hand, was an orator as well as a +fighter. He never seemed to be prepared, but out of the occasion +would give soldierly, graphic, and picturesque presentations of +thought and description. + +Not to have heard on these occasions Robert G. Ingersoll was to +have missed being for the evening under the spell of a magician. +I have been frequently asked if I could remember occasions of this +kind which were of more than ordinary interest. + +After-dinner oratory, while most attractive at the time, is +evanescent, but some incidents are interesting in memory. At +the time of Queen Victoria's jubilee I was present where a +representative of Canada was called upon for a speech. With the +exception of the Canadian and myself the hosts and guests were +all English. My Canadian friend enlarged upon the wonders of his +country. A statement of its marvels did not seem sufficient for +him unless it was augmented by comparisons with other countries +to the glory of Canada, and so he compared Canada with the +United States. Canada had better and more enduring institutions, +she had a more virile, intelligent, and progressive population, +and she had protected herself, as the United States did not, +against undesirable immigration, and in everything which constituted +an up-to-date, progressive, healthy, and hopeful commonwealth she +was far in advance of the United States. + +I was called upon immediately afterwards and said I would agree +with the distinguished gentleman from Canada that in one thing +at least Canada was superior to the United States, and it was +that she had far more land, but it was mostly ice. I regret to +remember that my Canadian friend lost his temper. + +One of the historical dinners of New York, which no one will forget +who was there, was just after the close of the Civil War, or, as +my dear old friend, Colonel Watterson, called it, "The War between +the States." The principal guests were General Sherman and +Henry W. Grady of Atlanta, Ga. General Sherman, in his speech, +described the triumphant return of the Union Army to Washington, +its review by the President, and then its officers and men returning +to private life and resuming their activities and industries as +citizens. It was a word-picture of wonderful and startling +picturesqueness and power and stirred an audience, composed +largely of veterans who had been participants both in the battles +and in the parades, to the highest degree of enthusiasm. Mr. Grady +followed. He was a young man with rare oratorical gifts. He +described the return of the Confederate soldiers to their homes +after the surrender at Appomattox. They had been four years +fighting and marching. They were ragged and poor. They returned +to homes and farms, many of which had been devastated. They had +no capital, and rarely animals or farming utensils necessary to +begin again. But with superb courage, not only on their own part +but with the assistance of their wives, sisters, and daughters, +they made the desert land flourish and resurrected the country. + +This remarkable description of Grady, which I only outline, came +as a counterpart to the triumphant epic of General Sherman. The +effect was electric, and beyond almost any that have ever occurred +in New York or anywhere, and Grady sprang into international fame. + +Joseph H. Choate was a most dangerous fellow speaker to his +associates who spoke before him. I had with him many encounters +during fifty years, and many times enjoyed being the sufferer by +his wit and humor. On one occasion Choate won the honors of the +evening by an unexpected attack. There is a village in western +New York which is named after me. The enterprising inhabitants, +boring for what might be under the surface of their ground, +discovered natural gas. According to American fashion, they +immediately organized a company and issued a prospectus for the +sale of the stock. The prospectus fell into the hands of Mr. Choate. +With great glee he read it and then with emphasis the name of +the company: "The Depew Natural Gas Company, Limited," and waving +the prospectus at me shouted: "Why limited?" + +There have been two occasions in Mr. Choate's after-dinner speeches +much commented upon both in this country and abroad. As I was +present on both evenings, it seems the facts ought to be accurately +stated. The annual dinner of the "Friendly Sons of St. Patrick" +occurred during one of the years when the Home Rule question was +most acute in England and actively discussed here. At the same +time our Irish fellow citizens, with their talent for public life, +had captured all the offices in New York City. They had the mayor, +the majority of the Board of Aldermen, and a large majority of +the judges. When Mr. Choate spoke he took up the Home Rule +question, and, without indicating his own views, said substantially: +"We Yankees used to be able to govern ourselves, but you Irish +have come here and taken the government away from us. You have +our entire city administration in your hands, and you do with us +as you like. We are deprived of Home Rule. Now what you are +clamoring for both at home and abroad is Home Rule for Ireland. +With such demonstrated ability in capturing the greatest city on +the western continent, and one of the greatest in the world, why +don't you go back to Ireland and make, as you would, Home Rule +there a success?" + +I was called a few minutes afterwards to a conference of the +leading Irishmen present. I was an honorary member of that society, +and they were in a high state of indignation. The more radical +thought that Mr. Choate's speech should be resented at once. +However, those who appreciated its humor averted hostile action, +but Mr. Choate was never invited to an Irish banquet again. + +The second historical occasion was when the Scotch honored their +patron Saint, St. Andrew. The attendance was greater than ever +before, and the interest more intense because the Earl of Aberdeen +was present. The earl was at that time Governor-General of Canada, +but to the Scotchmen he was much more than that, because he was +the chief of the Clan Gordon. The earl came to the dinner in full +Highland costume. Lady Aberdeen and the ladies of the vice-regal +court were in the gallery. I sat next to the earl and Choate sat +next to me. Choate said: "Chauncey, are Aberdeen's legs bare?" +I looked under the table-cloth and discovered that they were +naturally so because of his costume. I answered: "Choate, they are." + +I thought nothing of it until Choate began his speech, in which +he said: "I was not fully informed by the committee of the +importance of the occasion. I did not know that the Earl of Aberdeen +was to be here as a guest of honor. I was especially and +unfortunately ignorant that he was coming in the full panoply of +his great office as chief of Clan Gordon. If I had known that +I would have left my trousers at home." + +Aberdeen enjoyed it, the ladies in the gallery were amused, but +the Scotch were mad, and Choate lost invitations to future Scotch dinners. + +Few appreciate the lure of the metropolis. It attracts the +successful to win greater success with its larger opportunities. +It has resistless charm with the ambitious and the enterprising. +New York, with its suburbs, which are really a part of itself, +is the largest city in the world. It is the only true cosmopolitan +one. It has more Irish than any city in Ireland, more Germans +and Italians than any except the largest cities in Germany or +Italy. It has more Southerners than are gathered in any place +in any Southern State, and the same is true of Westerners and +those from the Pacific coast and New England, except in Chicago, +San Francisco, or Boston. There is also a large contingent from +the West Indies, South America, and Canada. + +The people who make up the guests at a great dinner are the +survival of the fittest of these various settlers in New York. +While thousands fail and go back home or drop by the way, these +men have made their way by superior ability, foresight, and +adaptability through the fierce competitions of the great city. +They are unusually keen-witted and alert. For the evening of +the banquet they leave behind their business and its cares and +are bent on being entertained, amused, and instructed. They are +a most catholic audience, broad-minded, hospitable, and friendly +to ideas whether they are in accord with them or not, providing +they are well presented. There is one thing they will not submit +to, and that is being bored. + +These functions are usually over by midnight, and rarely last +so long; while out in the country and in other towns, it is no +unusual thing to have a dinner with speeches run along until +the early hours of the next morning. While public men, politicians, +and aspiring orators seek their opportunities upon this platform +in New York, few succeed and many fail. It is difficult for a +stranger to grasp the situation and adapt himself at once to its +atmosphere. I have narrated in preceding pages some remarkable +successes, and will give a few instances of very able and +distinguished men who lost touch of their audiences. + +One of the ablest men in the Senate was Senator John T. Morgan, +of Alabama. I was fond of him personally and admired greatly his +many and varied talents. He was a most industrious and admirable +legislator, and a debater of rare influence. He was a master of +correct and scholarly English, and one of the very few who never +went to the reporters' room to correct his speeches. As they were +always perfect, he let them stand as they were delivered. + +Senator Morgan was a great card on a famous occasion among the +many well-known men who were also to speak. Senator Elihu Root +presided with his usual distinction. Senator Morgan had a prepared +speech which he read. It was unusually long, but very good. On +account of his reputation the audience was, for such an audience, +wonderfully patient and frequent and enthusiastic in its applause. +Mistaking his favorable reception, Senator Morgan, after he had +finished the manuscript, started in for an extended talk. After +the hour had grown to nearly two, the audience became impatient, +and the senator, again mistaking its temper, thought they had +become hostile and announced that at many times and many places +he had been met with opposition, but that he could not be put down +or silenced. Mr. Root did the best he could to keep the peace, +but the audience, who were anxious to hear the other speakers, +gave up hope and began to leave, with the result that midnight +saw an empty hall with a presiding officer and an orator. + +At another great political dinner I sat beside Governor Oglesby, +of Illinois. He was famous as a war governor and as a speaker. +There were six speakers on the dais, of whom I was one. Happily, +my turn came early. The governor said to me: "How much of the +gospel can these tenderfeet stand?" "Well, Governor," I answered, +"there are six speakers to-night, and the audience will not allow +the maximum of time occupied to be more than thirty minutes. Any +one who exceeds that will lose his crowd and, worse than that, +he may be killed by the eloquent gentlemen who are bursting with +impatience to get the floor, and who are to follow him." + +"Why," said the governor, "I don't see how any one can get started +in thirty minutes." + +"Well," I cautioned, "please do not be too long." + +When the midnight hour struck the hall was again practically +empty, the governor in the full tide of his speech, which evidently +would require about three hours, and the chairman declared the +meeting adjourned. + +Senator Foraker, of Ohio, who was one of the appointed speakers, +told me the next morning that at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where +he was stopping, he was just getting into bed when the governor +burst into his room and fairly shouted: "Foraker, no wonder +New York is almost always wrong. You saw to-night that it would +not listen to the truth. Now I want to tell you what I intended +to say." He was shouting with impassioned eloquence, his voice +rising until, through the open windows, it reached Madison Square Park, +when the watchman burst in and said: "Sir, the guests in this +hotel will not stand that any longer, but if you must finish your +speech I will take you out in the park." + +During Cleveland's administration one of the New York banquets +became a national affair. The principal speaker was the secretary +of the interior, Lucius Q. C. Lamar, who afterwards became +United States senator and justice of the Supreme Court. Mr. Lamar +was one of the ablest and most cultured men in public life, and +a fine orator. I was called upon so late that it was impossible +to follow any longer the serious discussions of the evening, and +what the management and the audience wanted from me was some fun. + +Lamar, with his Johnsonian periods and the lofty style of +Edmund Burke, furnished an opportunity for a little pleasantry. +He came to me, when I had finished, in great alarm and said: +"My appearance here is not an ordinary one and does not permit +humor. I am secretary of the interior, and the representative of +the president and his administration. My speech is really the +message of the president to the whole country, and I wish you +would remedy any impression which the country might otherwise +receive from your humor." + +This I was very glad to do, but it was an instance of which I have +met many, of a very distinguished and brilliant gentleman taking +himself too seriously. At another rather solemn function of this +kind I performed the same at the request of the management, but +with another protest from the orator and his enmity. + +In reminiscing, after he retired from the presidency, Mr. Cleveland +spoke to me of his great respect and admiration for Mr. Lamar. +Cleveland's speeches were always short. His talent was for +compression and concentration, and he could not understand the +necessity for an effort of great length. He told me that while +Justice Lamar was secretary of the interior he came to him one +day and said: "Mr. President, I have accepted an invitation to +deliver an address in the South, and as your administration may +be held responsible for what I say, I wish you would read it over +and make any corrections or suggestions." + +Mr. Cleveland said the speech was extraordinarily long though +very good, and when he returned it to Secretary Lamar he said to +him: "That speech will take at least three hours to deliver. +A Northern audience would never submit to over an hour. Don't +you think you had better cut it down?" The secretary replied: +"No, Mr. President; a Southern audience expects three hours, and +would be better satisfied with five." + +Justice Miller, one of the ablest of the judges of the Supreme Court +at that time, was the principal speaker on another occasion. He +was ponderous to a degree, and almost equalled in the emphasis +of his utterances, what was once said of Daniel Webster, that +every word weighed twelve pounds. I followed him. The Attorney-General +of the United States, who went back to Washington the next +day with Justice Miller, told me that as soon as they had got +on the train the justice commenced to complain that I had wholly +misunderstood his speech, and that no exaggeration of interpretation +would warrant what I said. The judge saw no humor in my little +effort to relieve the situation, and took it as a reply of opposing +counsel. He said that the justice took it up from another phase +after leaving Philadelphia, and resumed his explanation from +another angle as to what he meant after they reached Baltimore. +When the train arrived at its destination and they separated in the +Washington station, the justice turned to the attorney-general +and said: "Damn Depew! Good-night." + +Such are the perils of one who good-naturedly yields to the +importunities of a committee of management who fear the failure +with their audience of their entertainment. + +The great dinners of New York are the Chamber of Commerce, which +is a national function, as were also for a long time, during the +presidency of Mr. Choate, those of the New England Society. The +annual banquets of the Irish, Scotch, English, Welsh, Holland, +St. Nicholas, and the French, are also most interesting, and +sometimes by reason of the presence of a national or international +figure, assume great importance. The dinner which the Pilgrims +Society tenders to the British ambassador gives him an opportunity, +without the formalities and conventions of his office, of speaking +his mind both to the United States and to his own people. + +The annual banquets of the State societies are now assuming greater +importance. Each State has thousands of men who have been or +still are citizens, but who live in New York. Those dinners +attract the leading politicians of their several States. It is +a platform for the ambitious to be president and sometimes succeeds. + +Garfield made a great impression at one of these State dinners, +so did Foraker, and at the last dinner of the Ohio Society the +star was Senator Warren G. Harding. On one occasion, when McKinley +and Garfield were present, in the course of my speech I made a +remark which has since been adopted as a sort of motto by the +Buckeye State. Ohio, I think, has passed Virginia as a mother +of presidents. It is remarkable that the candidates of both great +parties are now of that State. I said in the closing of my speech, +alluding to the distinguished guests and their prospects: "Some +men have greatness thrust upon them, some are born great, and some +are born in Ohio." + +One of the greatest effects produced by a speech was by +Henry Ward Beecher at an annual dinner of the Friendly Sons of +St. Patrick. At the time, the Home Rule question was more than +ordinarily acute and Fenianism was rabid. While Mr. Beecher had +great influence upon his audience, his audience had equal influence +upon him. As he enlarged upon the wrongs of Ireland the responses +became more enthusiastic and finally positively savage. This +stirred the orator up till he gave the wildest approval to direct +action and revolution, with corresponding cheers from the diners, +standing and cheering. Mr. Beecher was explaining that speech +for about a year afterwards. I was a speaker on the same platform. + +Mr. Beecher always arrived late, and everybody thought it was +to get the applause as he came in but he explained to me that it +was due to his method of preparation. He said his mind would +not work freely until three hours after he had eaten. Many speakers +have told me the same thing. He said when he had a speech to make +at night, whether it was at a dinner or elsewhere, that he took +his dinner in the middle of the day, and then a glass of milk +and crackers at five o'clock, with nothing afterwards. Then in +the evening his mind was perfectly clear and under absolute control. + +The Lotos Club has been for fifty years to New York what the +Savage Club is to London. It attracts as its guests the most +eminent men of letters who visit this country. Its entertainments +are always successful. For twenty-nine years it had for its +president Mr. Frank R. Lawrence, a gentleman with a genius for +introducing distinguished strangers with most felicitous speeches, +and a committee who selected with wonderful judgment the other +speakers of the evening. A successor to Mr. Lawrence, and of +equal merit, has been found in Chester S. Lord, now president of +the Lotos Club. Mr. Lord was for more than a third of a century +managing editor of the New York Sun, and is now chancellor of +the University of the State of New York. + +I remember one occasion where the most tactful man who ever appeared +before his audience slipped his trolley, and that was Bishop Potter. +The bishop was a remarkably fine preacher and an unusually attractive +public speaker and past master of all the social amenities of life. +The guest of the evening was the famous Canon Kingsley, author +of "Hypatia" and other works at that time universally popular. +The canon had the largest and reddest nose one ever saw. The +bishop, among the pleasantries of his introduction, alluded to +this headlight of religion and literature. The canon fell from +grace and never forgave the bishop. + +On Lotos nights I have heard at their best Lord Houghton, statesman +and poet, Mark Twain, Stanley the explorer, and I consider it one +of the distinctions as well as pleasures of my life to have been +a speaker at the Lotos on more occasions than any one else during +the last half century. + +In Mr. Joseph Pulitzer's early struggles with his paper, the +New York World, the editorial columns frequently had very severe +attacks on Mr. William H. Vanderbilt and the New York Central +Railroad. They were part, of course, of attacks upon monopoly. +I was frequently included in these criticisms. + +The Lotos Club gave a famous dinner to George Augustus Sala, the +English writer and journalist. I found myself seated beside +Mr. Pulitzer, whom I had never met. When I was called upon to +speak I introduced, in what I had to say about the distinguished +guest, this bit of audacity. I said substantially, in addition to +Mr. Sala: "We have with us to-night a great journalist who comes +to the metropolis from the wild and woolly West. After he had +purchased the World he came to me and said, 'Chauncey Depew, +I have a scheme, which I am sure will benefit both of us. Everybody +is envious of the prestige of the New York Central and the wealth +of Mr. Vanderbilt. You are known as his principal adviser. Now, +if in my general hostility to monopoly I include Mr. Vanderbilt and +the New York Central as principal offenders, I must include you, +because you are the champion in your official relationship of the +corporation and of its policies and activities. I do not want +you to have any feeling against me because of this. The policy +will secure for the World everybody who is not a stockholder in +the New York Central, or does not possess millions of money. When +Mr. Vanderbilt finds that you are attacked, he is a gentleman and +broad-minded enough to compensate you and will grant to you both +significant promotion and a large increase in salary.'" Then I +added: "Well, gentlemen, I have only to say that Mr. Pulitzer's +experiment has been eminently successful. He has made his newspaper +a recognized power and a notable organ of public opinion; its +fortunes are made and so are his, and, in regard to myself, all +he predicted has come true, both in promotion and in enlargement +of income." When I sat down Mr. Pulitzer grasped me by the hand +and said: "Chauncey Depew, you are a mighty good fellow. I have +been misinformed about you. You will have friendly treatment +hereafter in any newspaper which I control." + +The Gridiron Club of Washington, because of both its ability and +genius and especially its national position, furnishes a wonderful +platform for statesmen. Its genius in creating caricatures and +fake pageants of current political situations at the capital and +its public men is most remarkable. The president always attends, +and most of the Cabinet and justices of the Supreme Court. The +ambassadors and representatives of the leading governments +represented in Washington are guests, and so are the best-known +senators and representatives of the time. The motto of the club +is "Reporters are never present. Ladies always present." Though +the association is made up entirely of reporters, the secrecy is +so well kept that the speakers are unusually frank. + +There was a famous contest one night there, however, between +President Roosevelt and Senator Foraker, who at the time were +intensely antagonistic, which can never be forgotten by those +present. There was a delightful interplay between William J. Bryan +and President Roosevelt, when Bryan charged the president with +stealing all his policies and ideas. + +If the speaker grasped the peculiarities of his audience and its +temperament, his task was at once the most difficult and the most +delightful, and my friend, Mr. Arthur Dunn, has performed most +useful service in embalming a portion of Gridiron history in his +volume, "Gridiron Nights." + +Pierpont Morgan, the greatest of American bankers, was much more +than a banker. He had a wonderful collection in his library and +elsewhere of rare books and works of art. He was always delightful +on the social side. He was very much pleased when he was elected +president of the New England Society. The annual dinner that year +was a remarkably brilliant affair. It was the largest in the +history of the organization. The principal speaker was William Everett, +son of the famous Edward Everett and himself a scholar of great +acquirements and culture. His speech was another evidence of +a very superior man mistaking his audience. He was principal of +the Adams Academy, that great preparatory institution for +Harvard University, and he had greatly enlarged its scope and +usefulness. + +Mr. Everett evidently thought that the guests of the New England +Society of New York would be composed of men of letters, educators, +and Harvard graduates. Instead of that, the audience before him +were mainly bankers and successful business men whose Puritan +characteristics had enabled them to win great success in the +competitions in the great metropolis in every branch of business. +They were out for a good time and little else. + +Mr. Everett produced a ponderous mass of manuscript and began +reading on the history of New England education and the influence +upon it of the Cambridge School. He had more than an hour of +material and lost his audience in fifteen minutes. No efforts of +the chairman could bring them to attention, and finally the educator +lost that control of himself which he was always teaching to the +boys and threw his manuscript at the heads of the reporters. From +their reports in their various newspapers the next day, they did +not seem to have absorbed the speech by this original method. + +Choate and I were both to speak, and Choate came first. As usual, +he threw a brick at me. He mentioned that a reporter had come to +him and said: "Mr. Choate, I have Depew's speech carefully prepared, +with the applause and laughter already in. I want yours." Of +course, no reporter had been to either of us. Mr. Choate had in +his speech an unusual thing for him, a long piece of poetry. When +my turn came to reply I said: "The reporter came to me, as +Mr. Choate has said, and made the remark: 'I already have Choate's +speech. It has in it a good deal of poetry.' I asked the reporter: +'From what author is the poetry taken?' He answered: 'I do not +know the author, but the poetry is so bad I think Choate has +written it himself.'" + +Mr. Choate told me a delightful story of his last interview with +Mr. Evarts before he sailed for Europe to take up his ambassadorship +at the Court of St. James. "I called," he said, "on Mr. Evarts +to bid him good-by. He had been confined to his room by a fatal +illness for a long time. 'Choate,' he said, 'I am delighted with +your appointment. You eminently deserve it, and you are +pre-eminently fit for the place. You have won the greatest +distinction in our profession, and have harvested enough of its +rewards to enable you to meet the financial responsibilities of +this post without anxiety. You will have a most brilliant and +useful career in diplomacy, but I fear I will never see you again.'" + +Mr. Choate said: "Mr. Evarts, we have had a delightful partnership +of over forty years, and when I retire from diplomacy and resume +the practice of the law I am sure you and I will go on together +again for many years in the same happy old way." + +Evarts replied: "No, Choate, I fear that cannot be. When I think +what a care I am to all my people, lying so helpless here, and +that I can do nothing any more to repay their kindness, or to help +in the world, I feel like the boy who wrote from school to his +mother a letter of twenty pages, and then added after the end: +'P. S. Dear mother, please excuse my longevity.'" + +Where one has a reputation as a speaker and is also known to oblige +friends and to be hardly able to resist importunities, the demands +upon him are very great. They are also sometimes original and unique. + +At one time, the day before Christmas, a representative of the +New York World came to see me, and said: "We are going to give +a dinner to-night to the tramps who gather between ten and eleven +o'clock at the Vienna Restaurant, opposite the St. Denis Hotel, +to receive the bread which the restaurant distributes at that hour." +This line was there every night standing in the cold waiting their +turn. I went down to the hotel, and a young man and young lady +connected with the newspaper crossed the street and picked out +from the line a hundred guests. + +It was a remarkable assemblage. The dinner provided was a beautiful +and an excellent one for Christmas. As I heard their stories, +there was among them a representative of almost every department +of American life. Some were temporarily and others permanently +down and out. Every one of the learned professions was represented +and many lines of business. The most of them were in this +condition, because they had come to New York to make their way, +and had struggled until their funds were exhausted, and then they +were ashamed to return home and confess their failure. + +I presided at this remarkable banquet and made not only one speech +but several. By encouraging the guests we had several excellent +addresses from preachers without pulpits, lawyers without clients, +doctors without patients, engineers without jobs, teachers without +schools, and travellers without funds. One man arose and said: +"Chauncey Depew, the World has given us such an excellent dinner, +and you have given us such a merry Christmas Eve, we would like +to shake hands with you as we go out." + +I had long learned the art of shaking hands with the public. Many +a candidate has had his hands crushed and been permanently hurt +by the vise-like grip of an ardent admirer or a vicious opponent. +I remember General Grant complaining of this, of how he suffered, +and I told him of my discovery of grasping the hand first and +dropping it quickly. + +The people about me were looking at these men as they came along, +to see if there was any possible danger. Toward the end of the +procession one man said to me: "Chauncey Depew, I don't belong +to this crowd. I am well enough off and can take care of myself. +I am an anarchist. My business is to stir up unrest and discontent, +and that brings me every night to mingle with the crowd waiting +for their dole of bread from Fleischmann's bakery. You do more +than any one else in the whole country to create good feeling and +dispel unrest, and you have done a lot of it to-night. I made up +my mind to kill you right here, but you are such an infernal good +fellow that I have not the heart to do it, so here's my hand." + +On one occasion I received an invitation to address a sociological +society which was to meet at the house of one of the most famous +entertainers in New York. My host said that Edward Atkinson, +the well-known New England writer, philosopher, and sociologist, +would address the meeting. When I arrived at the house I found +Atkinson in despair. The audience were young ladies in full +evening dress and young men in white vests, white neckties, and +swallow-tails. There was also a band present. We were informed +that this society had endeavored to mingle instruction with +pleasure, and it really was a dancing club, but they had conceived +the idea of having something serious and instructive before the ball. + +Mr. Atkinson said to me: "What won me to come here is that in +Boston we have a society of the same name. It is composed of +very serious people who are engaged in settlement and sociological +work. They are doing their best to improve the conditions of +the young women and young men who are in clerical and other +employment. I have delivered several addresses before that society, +and before the audiences which they gather, on how to live +comfortably and get married on the smallest possible margin. Now, +for instance, for my lecture here to-night I have on a ready-made +suit of clothes, for which I paid yesterday five dollars. In that +large boiler there is a stove which I have invented. In the oven +of the stove is beef and various vegetables, and to heat it is +a kerosene lamp with a clockwork attached. A young man or a young +woman, or a young married couple go to the market and buy the cheap +cuts of beef, and then, according to my instructions, they put it +in the stove with the vegetables, light the lamp, set the clockwork +and go to their work. When they return at five, six, or seven +o'clock they find a very excellent and very cheap dinner all ready +to be served. Now, of what use is my five-dollar suit of clothes +and my fifty-cent dinner for this crowd of butterflies?" + +However, Mr. Atkinson and I made up our minds to talk to them as +if they needed it or would need it some day or other, and they +were polite enough to ask questions and pretend to enjoy it. +I understand that afterwards at the midnight supper there was more +champagne and more hilarity than at previous gatherings of this +sociological club. + +During one of our presidential campaigns some young men came up +from the Bowery to see me. They said: "We have a very hard time +down in our district. The crowd is a tough one but intelligent, +and we think would be receptive of the truth if they could hear +it put to them in an attractive form. We will engage a large +theatre attached to a Bowery beer saloon if you will come down +and address the meeting. The novelty of your appearance will +fill the theatre." + +I knew there was considerable risk, and yet it was a great +opportunity. I believe that in meeting a crowd of that sort one +should appear as they expect him to look when addressing the best +of audiences. These people are very proud, and they resent any +attempt on your part to be what they know you are not, but that +you are coming down to their level by assuming a character which +you presume to be theirs. So I dressed with unusual care, and +when I went on the platform a short-sleeved, short-haired genius +in the theatre shouted: "Chauncey thinks he is in Carnegie Hall." + +The famous Tim Sullivan, who was several times a state senator +and congressman, and a mighty good fellow, was the leader of the +Bowery and controlled its political actions. He came to see me +and said: "I hope you will withdraw from that appointment. I do +not want you to come down there. In the first place, I cannot +protect you, and I don't think it is safe. In the second place, +you are so well known and popular among our people that I am +afraid you will produce an impression, and if you get away with +it that will hurt our machine." + +In the course of my speech a man arose whom I knew very well as +a district leader, and who was frequently in my office, seeking +positions for his constituents and other favors. That night he +was in his shirt-sleeves among the boys. With the old volunteer +fireman's swagger and the peculiar patois of that part of New York, +he said: "Chauncey Depew, you have no business here. You are +the president of the New York Central Railroad, ain't you, hey? +You are a rich man, ain't you, hey? We are poor boys. You don't +know us and can't teach us anything. You had better get out +while you can." + +My reply was this: "My friend, I want a little talk with you. +I began life very much as you did. Nobody helped me. I was a +country boy and my capital was this head," and I slapped it, +"these legs," and I slapped them, "these hands," and I slapped +them, "and by using them as best I could I have become just what +you say I am and have got where you will never arrive." + +A shirt-sleeved citizen jumped up from the audience and shouted: +"Go ahead, Chauncey, you're a peach." That characterization +of a peach went into the newspapers and was attached to me wherever +I appeared for many years afterwards, not only in this country +but abroad. It even found a place in the slang column of the great +dictionaries of the English language. The result of the meeting, +however, was a free discussion in the Bowery, and for the first +time in its history that particular district was carried by +the Republicans. + +After their triumph in the election I gave a dinner in the +Union League Club to the captains of the election districts. +There were about a hundred of them. The district captains were +all in their usual business suits, and were as sharp, keen, +intelligent, and up-to-date young men as one could wish to meet. +The club members whom I had invited to meet my guests were, of +course, in conventional evening dress. The novelty of the occasion +was so enjoyed by them that they indulged with more than usual +liberality in the fluids and fizz and became very hilarious. Not +one of the district captains touched a drop of wine. + +While the club members were a little frightened at the idea of +these East-siders coming, my guests understood and met every +convention of the occasion before, during, and after dinner, as if +it was an accustomed social function with them. The half dozen +who made speeches showed a grasp of the political questions of +the hour and an ability to put their views before an audience which +was an exhibition of a high order of intelligence and self-culture. + +In selecting a few out-of-the-way occasions which were also most +interesting and instructive, I recall one with a society which +prided itself upon its absence of narrowness and its freedom of +thought and discussion. The speakers were most critical of all +that is generally accepted and believed. Professor John Fiske, +the historian, was the most famous man present, and very critical +of the Bible. My good mother had brought me up on the Bible and +instilled in me the deepest reverence for the good book. The +criticism of the professor stirred me to a rejoinder. I, of course, +was in no way equal to meeting him, with his vast erudition and +scholarly accomplishments. I could only give what the Bible critic +would regard as valueless, a sledge-hammer expression of faith. +Somebody took the speech down. Doctor John Hall, the famous +preacher and for many years pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian +Church, told me that the Bible and the church societies in England +had put the speech into a leaflet, and were distributing many +millions of them in the British Isles. + +It is singular what vogue and circulation a story of the hour will +receive. Usually these decorations of a speech die with the +occasion. There was fierce rivalry when it was decided to celebrate +the four hundredth anniversary of the landing of Columbus in +America, between New York and Chicago, as to which should have +the exhibition. Of course the Western orators were not modest in +the claims which they made for the City by the Lakes. To dampen +their ardor I embroidered the following story, which took wonderfully +when told in my speech. + +It was at the Eagle Hotel in Peekskill, at which it was said +George Washington stopped many times as a guest during the +Revolutionary War, where in respect to his memory they preserved +the traditions of the Revolutionary period. At that time the bill +of fare was not printed, but the waiter announced to the guest +what would be served, if asked for. A Chicago citizen was dining +at the hotel. He ordered each of the many items announced to him +by the waiter. When he came to the deserts the waiter said: "We +have mince-pie, apple-pie, pumpkin-pie, and custard-pie." The +Chicago man ordered mince-pie, apple-pie, and pumpkin-pie. The +disgusted waiter remarked: "What is the matter with the custard?" +Alongside me sat a very well-known English gentleman of high +rank, who had come to this country on a sort of missionary and +evangelistic errand. Of course, he was as solemn as the task he +had undertaken, which was to convert American sinners. He turned +suddenly to me and, in a loud voice, asked: "What was the matter +with the custard-pie?" The story travelled for years, was used +for many purposes, was often murdered in the narration, but managed +to survive, and was told to me as an original joke by one of the +men I met at the convention last June in Chicago. + +After Chicago received from Congress the appointment I did all +I could to help the legislation and appropriations necessary. +The result was that when I visited the city as an orator at the +opening of the exhibition I was voted the freedom of the city, was +given a great reception, and among other things reviewed the school +children who paraded in my honor. + +The Yale alumni of New York City had for many years an organization. +In the early days the members met very infrequently at a dinner. +This was a formal affair, and generally drew a large gathering, +both of the local alumni and from the college and the country. +These meetings were held at Delmonico's, then located in +Fourteenth Street. The last was so phenomenally dull that there +were no repetitions. + +The speakers were called by classes, and the oldest in graduation +had the platform. The result was disastrous. These old men all +spoke too long, and it was an endless stream of platitudes and +reminiscences of forgotten days until nearly morning. Then an +inspiration of the chairman led him to say: "I think it might be +well to have a word from the younger graduates." + +There was a unanimous call for a well-known humorist named Styles. +His humor was aided by a startling appearance of abundant red hair, +an aggressive red mustache, and eyes which seemed to push his +glasses off his nose. Many of the speakers, owing to the +imperfection of the dental art in those days, indicated their +false teeth by their trouble in keeping them in place, and the +whistling it gave to their utterances. One venerable orator in his +excitement dropped his into his tumbler in the midst of his address. + +Styles said to this tired audience: "At this early hour in the +morning I will not attempt to speak, but I will tell a story. +Down at Barnegat, N. J., where I live, our neighbors are very fond +of apple-jack. One of them while in town had his jug filled, and +on the way home saw a friend leaning over the gate and looking +so thirsty that he stopped and handed over his jug with an offer of +its hospitality. After sampling it the neighbor continued the +gurgling as the jug rose higher and higher, until there was not +a drop left in it. The indignant owner said: 'You infernal hog, +why did you drink up all my apple-jack?' His friend answered: +'I beg your pardon, Job, but I could not bite off the tap, because +I have lost all my teeth.'" The aptness of the story was the +success of the evening. + +Some years afterwards there was a meeting of the alumni to form +a live association. Among those who participated in the organization +were William Walter Phelps, afterwards member of Congress and +minister to Austria; Judge Henry E. Howland; John Proctor Clarke, +now chief justice of the Appellate Division; James R. Sheffield +(several years later) now president of the Union League Club; +and Isaac Bromley, one of the editors of the New York Tribune, +one of the wittiest writers of his time, and many others who have +since won distinction. They elected me president, and I continued +such by successive elections for ten years. + +The association met once a month and had a serious paper read, +speeches, a simple supper, and a social evening. These monthly +gatherings became a feature and were widely reported in the press. +We could rely upon one or more of the faculty, and there was always +to be had an alumnus of national reputation from abroad. We had +a formal annual dinner, which was more largely attended than +almost any function of the kind in the city, and, because of the +variety and excellence of the speaking, always very enjoyable. + +The Harvard and Princeton alumni also had an association at that +time, with annual dinners, and it was customary for the officers +of each of these organizations to be guests of the one which gave +the dinner. The presidents of the colleges represented always +came. Yale could rely upon President Dwight, Harvard upon +President Eliot, and Princeton upon President McCosh. + +Of course, the interchanges between the representatives of the +different colleges were as exciting and aggressive as their +football and baseball contests are to-day. I recall one occasion +of more than usual interest. It was the Princeton dinner, and +the outstanding figure of the occasion was that most successful +and impressive of college executives, President McCosh. He spoke +with a broad Scotch accent and was in every sense a literalist. +Late in the evening Mr. Beaman, a very brilliant lawyer and partner +of Evarts and Choate, who was president of the Harvard Alumni +Association, said to me: "These proceedings are fearfully prosaic +and highbrow. When you are called, you attack President McCosh, +and I will defend him." So in the course of my remarks, which +were highly complimentary to Princeton and its rapid growth under +President McCosh, I spoke of its remarkable success in receiving +gifts and legacies, which were then pouring into its treasury every +few months, and were far beyond anything which came either to +Yale or Harvard, though both were in great need. Then I hinted +that possibly this flow of riches was due to the fact that +President McCosh had such an hypnotic influence over the graduates +of Princeton and their fathers, mothers, and wives that none of +them felt there was a chance of a heavenly future unless Princeton +was among the heirs. + +Mr. Beaman was very indignant and with the continuing approval +and applause of the venerable doctor made a furious attack upon +me. His defense of the president was infinitely worse than my +attack. He alleged that I had intimated that the doctor kept tab +on sick alumni of wealth and their families, and at the critical +moment there would be a sympathetic call from the doctor, and, +while at the bedside he administered comfort and consolation, +yet he made it plain to the patient that he could not hope for +the opening of the pearly gates or the welcome of St. Peter unless +Princeton was remembered. Then Beaman, in a fine burst of oratory, +ascribed this wonderful prosperity not to any personal effort or +appeal, but because the sons of Princeton felt such reverence and +gratitude for their president that they were only too glad of an +opportunity to contribute to the welfare of the institution. + +The moment Beaman sat down the doctor arose, and with great +intensity expressed his thanks and gratitude to the eloquent +president of the Harvard alumni, and then shouted: "I never, +never, never solicited a gift for Princeton from a dying man. +I never, never, never sat by the bedside of a dying woman and +held up the terrors of hell and the promises of heaven, according +to the disposition she made of her estate. I never, never looked +with unsympathetic and eager anticipation whenever any of our +wealthy alumni appeared in ill health." + +The doctor, however, retaliated subsequently. He invited me to +deliver a lecture before the college, and entertained me most +delightfully at his house. It was a paid admission, and when +I left in the morning he said: "I want to express to you on behalf +of our college our thanks. We raised last evening through your +lecture enough to fit our ball team for its coming contest with +Yale." In that contest Princeton was triumphant. + +The Yale Alumni Association subsequently evoluted into the Yale Club +of New York, which has in every way been phenomenally prosperous. +It is a factor of national importance in supporting Yale and keeping +alive everywhere appreciation and enthusiasm for and practice of +Yale spirit. + +My class of 1856 at Yale numbered ninety-seven on graduation. +Only six of us survive. In these pages I have had a continuous +class meeting. Very few, if any, of my associates in the New York +Legislature of 1862 and 1863 are alive, and none of the State +officers who served with me in the succeeding years. There is +no one left in the service who was there when I became connected +with the New York Central Railroad, and no executive officer in +any railroad in the United States who held that position when +I was elected and is still active. + +It is the habit of age to dwell on the degeneracy of the times +and lament the good old days and their superiority, but Yale is +infinitely greater and broader than when I graduated sixty-five +years ago. The New York Legislature and State executives are +governing an empire compared with the problems which we had to +solve fifty-nine years ago. + +I believe in the necessity of leadership, and while recognizing +a higher general average in public life, regret that the world +crisis through which we have passed and which is not yet completed, +has produced no Washington, Lincoln, or Roosevelt. I rejoice that +President Harding, under the pressure of his unequalled responsibilities, +is developing the highest qualities of leadership. It is an +exquisite delight to visualize each administration from 1856 and +to have had considerable intimacy with the leaders in government +and the moulders of public opinion during sixty-five unusually +laborious years. + +Many who have given their reminiscences have kept close continuing +diaries. From these voluminous records they have selected according +to their judgment. As I have before said, I have no data and must +rely on my memory. This faculty is not logical, its operations are +not by years or periods, but its films unroll as they are moved +by association of ideas and events. + +It has been a most pleasurable task to bring back into my life +these worthies of the past and to live over again events of greater +or lesser importance. Sometimes an anecdote illumines a character +more than a biography, and a personal incident helps an understanding +of a period more than its formal history. + +Life has had for me immeasurable charms. I recognize at all times +there has been granted to me the loving care and guidance of God. +My sorrows have been alleviated and lost their acuteness from a +firm belief in closer reunion in eternity. My misfortunes, +disappointments, and losses have been met and overcome by abundant +proof of my mother's faith and teaching that they were the discipline +of Providence for my own good, and if met in that spirit and +with redoubled effort to redeem the apparent tragedy they would +prove to be blessings. Such has been the case. + +While new friends are not the same as old ones, yet I have found +cheer and inspiration in the close communion with the young of +succeeding generations. They have made and are making this a +mighty good world for me. + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's My Memories of Eighty Years, by Chauncey M. Depew + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MY MEMORIES OF EIGHTY YEARS *** + +***** This file should be named 2045.txt or 2045.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/4/2045/ + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +MY MEMORIES OF EIGHTY YEARS + +BY CHAUNCEY M. DEPEW + + + + +TO MY WIFE MAY PALMER DEPEW THIS BOOK GREW FROM HER ENCOURAGEMENT + + + + +FOREWORD + +For many years my friends have insisted upon my putting in +permanent form the incidents in my life which have interested +them. It has been my good fortune to take part in history-making +meetings and to know more or less intimately people prominent +in world affairs in many countries. Every one so situated has +a flood of recollections which pour out when occasion stirs the +memory. Often the listeners wish these transcribed for their +own use. + +My classmate at Yale in the class of 1856, John D. Champlin, a man +of letters and an accomplished editor, rescued from my own +scattered records and newspaper fiIes material for eight volumes. +My secretary has selected and compiled for publication two volumes +since. These are principally speeches, addresses, and contributions +which have appeared in public. Several writers, without my +knowledge, have selected special matter from these volumes +and made books. + +Andrew D. White, Senator Hoar, and Senator Foraker, with whom +I was associated for years, have published full and valuable +autobiographies. I do not attempt anything so elaborate or +complete. Never having kept a diary, I am dependent upon a good +memory. I have discarded the stories which could not well be +published until long after I have joined the majority. + +I trust and earnestly hope there is nothing in these recollections +which can offend anybody. It has been my object so to picture +events and narrate stories as to illumine the periods through +which I have passed for eighty-eight years, and the people whom +I have known and mightily enjoyed. + +C.M.D. + + + + +CONTENTS + +I. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH + +II. IN PUBLIC LIFE + +III. ABRAHAM LINCOLN + +IV. GENERAL GRANT + +V. ROSCOE CONKLING + +VI. HORACE GREELEY + +VII. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES AND WILLIAM M. EVARTS + +VIII. GENERAL GARFIELD + +IX. CHESTER A. ARTHUR + +X. GROVER CLEVELAND + +XI. BENJAMIN HARRISON + +XII. JAMES G. BLAINE + +XIII. WILLIAM McKINLEY + +XIV. THEODORE ROOSEVELT + +XV. UNITED STATES SENATE + +XVI. AMBASSADORS AND MINISTERS + +XVII. GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK STATE + +XVIII. FIFTY-SIX YEARS WITH THE NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY + +XIX. RECOLLECTIONS FROM ABROAD + +XX. ORATORS AND CAMPAIGN SPEAKERS + +XXI. NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTIONS + +XXII. JOURNALISTS AND FINANCIERS + +XXIII. ACTORS AND MEN OF LETTERS + +XXIV. SOCIETIES AND PUBLIC BANQUETS + +INDEX [not included] + + + + +MY MEMORIES OF EIGHTY YEARS + + + +I. CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH + +It has occurred to me that some reminiscences of a long life +would be of interest to my family and friends. + +My memory goes back for more than eighty years. I recall +distinctly when about five years old my mother took me to the +school of Mrs. Westbrook, wife of the well-known pastor of the +Dutch Reformed church, who had a school in her house, within +a few doors. The lady was a highly educated woman, and her +husband, Doctor Westbrook, a man of letters as well as a preacher. +He specialized in ancient history, and the interest he aroused +in Roman and Greek culture and achievements has continued with me +ever since. + +The village of Peekskill at that time had between two and three +thousand inhabitants. Its people were nearly all Revolutionary +families who had settled there in colonial times. There had been +very little immigration either from other States or abroad; +acquaintance was universal, and in the activities of the churches +there was general co-operation among the members. Church +attendance was so unanimous that people, young or old, who failed +to be in their accustomed places on Sunday felt the disapproval +of the community. + +Social activities of the village were very simple, but very +delightful and healthful. There were no very rich nor very poor. +Nearly every family owned its own house or was on the way to +acquire one. Misfortune of any kind aroused common interest +and sympathy. A helping hand of neighborliness was always extended +to those in trouble or distress. Peekskill was a happy community +and presented conditions of life and living of common interest, +endeavor, and sympathy not possible in these days of restless +crowds and fierce competition. + +The Peekskill Academy was the dominant educational institution, +and drew students not only from the village but from a distance. +It fitted them for college, and I was a student there for about +twelve years. The academy was a character-making institution, +though it lacked the thoroughness of the New England preparatory +schools. Its graduates entering into the professions or business +had an unusual record of success in life. I do not mean that they +accumulated great fortunes, but they acquired independence and were +prominent and useful citizens in all localities where they settled. + +I graduated from the Peekskill Academy in 1852. I find on the +programme of the exercises of that day, which some old student +preserved, that I was down for several original speeches, while +the other boys had mainly recitations. Apparently my teachers +had decided to develop any oratorical talent I might possess. + +I entered Yale in 1852 and graduated in 1856. The college of that +period was very primitive compared with the university to which +it has grown. Our class of ninety-seven was regarded as unusually +large. The classics and mathematics, Greek and Latin, were the +dominant features of instruction. Athletics had not yet appeared, +though rowing and boat-racing came in during my term. The +outstanding feature of the institution was the literary societies: +the Linonia and the Brothers of Unity. The debates at the weekly +meetings were kept up and maintained upon a high and efficient +plane. Both societies were practically deliberative bodies and +discussed with vigor the current questions of the day. Under this +training Yale sent out an unusual number of men who became +eloquent preachers, distinguished physicians, and famous lawyers. +While the majority of students now on leaving college enter business +or professions like engineering, which is allied to business, +at that time nearly every young man was destined for the ministry, +law, or medicine. My own class furnished two of the nine judges +of the Supreme Court of the United States, and a large majority +of those who were admitted to the bar attained judicial honors. +It is a singular commentary on the education of that time that the +students who won the highest honors and carried off the college +prizes, which could only be done by excelling in Latin, Greek, +and mathematics, were far outstripped in after-life by their +classmates who fell below their high standard of collegiate +scholarship but were distinguished for an all-around interest +in subjects not features in the college curriculum. + +My classmates, Justice David J. Brewer and Justice Henry Billings Brown, +were both eminent members of the Supreme Court of the United States. +Brewer was distinguished for the wide range of his learning and +illuminating addresses on public occasions. He was bicentennial +orator of the college and a most acceptable one. Wayne MacVeagh, +afterwards attorney-general of the United States, one of the leaders +of the bar, also one of the most brilliant orators of his time, +was in college with me, though not a classmate. Andrew D. White, +whose genius, scholarship, and organization enabled Ezra Cornell +to found Cornell University, was another of my college mates. +He became one of the most famous of our diplomats and the author +of many books of permanent value. My friendship with MacVeagh +and White continued during their lives, that is, for nearly sixty +years. MacVeagh was one of the readiest and most attractive of +speakers I ever knew. He had a very sharp and caustic wit, which +made him exceedingly popular as an after-dinner speaker and as a +host in his own house. He made every evening when he entertained, +for those who were fortunate enough to be his guests, an occasion +memorable in their experience. + +John Mason Brown, of Kentucky, became afterwards the leader of +the bar in his State, and was about to receive from President Harrison +an appointment as justice of the Supreme Court when he died +suddenly. If he had been appointed it would have been a remarkable +circumstance that three out of nine judges of the greatest of +courts, an honor which is sought by every one of the hundreds +of thousands of lawyers in the United States, should have been +from the same college and the same class. + +The faculty lingers in my memory, and I have the same reverence +and affection for its members, though sixty-five years out of +college, that I had the day I graduated. Our president, +Theodore D. Woolsey, was a wonderful scholar and a most inspiring +teacher. Yale has always been fortunate in her presidents, and +peculiarly so in Professor Woolsey. He had personal distinction, +and there was about him an air of authority and reserved power +which awed the most radical and rebellious student, and at the +same time he had the respect and affection of all. In his +historical lectures he had a standard joke on the Chinese, the +narration of which amused him the more with each repetition. It +was that when a Chinese army was beleaguered and besieged in a +fortress their provisions gave out and they decided to escape. +They selected a very dark night, threw open the gates, and as +they marched out each soldier carried a lighted lantern. + +In the faculty were several professors of remarkable force and +originality. The professor of Greek, Mr. Hadley, father of the +distinguished ex-president of Yale, was more than his colleagues +in the thought and talk of the undergraduates. His learning and +pre-eminence in his department were universally admitted. He had a +caustic wit and his sayings were the current talk of the campus. +He maintained discipline, which was quite lax in those days, by +the exercise of this ability. Some of the boys once drove a calf +into the recitation-room. Professor Hadley quietly remarked: +"You will take out that animal. We will get along to-day with +our usual number." It is needless to say that no such experiment +was ever repeated. + +At one time there was brought up in the faculty meeting a report +that one of the secret societies was about to bore an artesian +well in the cellar of their club house. It was suggested that such +an extraordinary expense should be prohibited. Professor Hadley +closed the discussion and laughed out the subject by saying from +what he knew of the society, if it would hold a few sessions over +the place where the artesian well was projected, the boring would +be accomplished without cost. The professor was a sympathetic +and very wise adviser to the students. If any one was in trouble +he would always go to him and give most helpful relief. + +Professor Larned inspired among the students a discriminating +taste for the best English literature and an ardent love for its +classics. Professor Thacher was one of the most robust and +vigorous thinkers and teachers of his period. He was a born +leader of men, and generation after generation of students who +graduated carried into after-life the effects of his teaching and +personality. We all loved Professor Olmstead, though we were not +vitally interested in his department of physics and biology. He +was a purist in his department, and so confident of his principles +that he thought it unnecessary to submit them to practical tests. +One of the students, whose room was immediately over that of +the professor, took up a plank from the flooring, and by boring +a very small hole in the ceiling found that he could read the +examination papers on the professor's desk. The information +of this reaching the faculty, the professor was asked if he had +examined the ceiling. He said that was unnecessary, because +he had measured the distance between the ceiling and the surface +of his desk and found that the line of vision connected so far +above that nothing could be read on the desk. + +Timothy Dwight, afterwards president, was then a tutor. Learning, +common sense, magnetism, and all-around good-fellowship were +wonderfully united in President Dwight. He was the most popular +instructor and best loved by the boys. He had a remarkable talent +for organization, which made him an ideal president. He possessed +the rare faculty of commanding and convincing not only the students +but his associates in the faculty and the members of the corporation +when discussing and deciding upon business propositions and +questions of policy. + +The final examinations over, commencement day arrived. The +literary exercises and the conferring of degrees took place in the +old Center Church. I was one of the speakers and selected for +my subject "The Hudson River and Its Traditions." I was saturated +from early association and close investigation and reading with the +crises of the Revolutionary War, which were successfully decided +on the patriots' side on the banks of the Hudson. I lived near +Washington Irving, and his works I knew by heart, especially +the tales which gave to the Hudson a romance like the Rhine's. +The subject was new for an academic stage, and the speech made +a hit. Nevertheless, it was the saddest and most regretful day of +my life when I left Yale. + +My education, according to the standard of the time, was completed, +and my diploma was its evidence. It has been a very interesting +question with me how much the academy and the college contributed +to that education. Their discipline was necessary and their +training essential. Four years of association with the faculty, +learned, finely equipped, and sympathetic, was a wonderful help. +The free associations of the secret and debating societies, the +campus, and the sports were invaluable, and the friendships formed +with congenial spirits added immensely to the pleasures and +compensations of a long life. + +In connection with this I may add that, as it has been my lot +in the peculiar position which I have occupied for more than +half a century as counsel and adviser for a great corporation +and its creators and the many successful men of business who +have surrounded them, I have learned to know how men who have +been denied in their youth the opportunities for education feel +when they are in possession of fortunes, and the world seems +at their feet. Then they painfully recognize their limitations, +then they know their weakness, then they understand that there +are things which money cannot buy, and that there are gratifications +and triumphs which no fortune can secure. The one lament of all +those men has been: "Oh, if I had been educated I would sacrifice +all that I have to obtain the opportunities of the college, to be +able to sustain not only conversation and discussion with the +educated men with whom I come in contact, but competent also +to enjoy what I see is a delight to them beyond anything which +I know." + +But I recall gratefully other influences quite as important to +one's education. My father was a typical business man, one of +the pioneers of river transportation between our village and +New York, and also a farmer and a merchant. He was a stern man +devoted to his family, and, while a strict disciplinarian, very +fond of his children. + +My mother was a woman of unusual intellect bordering upon genius. +There were no means of higher education at that period, but her +father, who was an eminent lawyer, and her grandfather, a judge, +finding her so receptive, educated her with the care that was +given to boys who were intended for a professional life. She was +well versed in the literature of the time of Queen Elizabeth and +Queen Anne, and, with a retentive memory, knew by heart many +of the English classics. She wrote well, but never for publication. +Added to these accomplishments were rare good sense and prophetic +vision. The foundation and much of the superstructure of all that +I have and all that I am were her work. She was a rigid Calvinist, +and one of her many lessons has been of inestimable comfort to +me. Several times in my life I have met with heavy misfortunes +and what seemed irreparable losses. I have returned home to find +my mother with wise advice and suggestions ready to devote herself +to the reconstruction of my fortune, and to brace me up. She +always said what she thoroughly believed: "My son, this which +you think so great a calamity is really divine discipline. +The Lord has sent it to you for your own good, because in His +infinite wisdom He saw that you needed it. I am absolutely +certain that if you submit instead of repining and protesting, +if you will ask with faith and proper spirit for guidance and +help, they both will come to you and with greater blessings than +you ever had before." That faith of my mother inspired and +intensified my efforts and in every instance her predictions +proved true. + +Every community has a public-spirited citizen who unselfishly +devotes himself or herself to the public good. That citizen of +Peekskill in those early days was Doctor James Brewer. He had +accumulated a modest competence sufficient for his simple needs +as bachelor. He was either the promoter or among the leaders of +all the movements for betterment of the town. He established +a circulating library upon most liberal terms, and it became an +educational institution of benefit. The books were admirably +selected, and the doctor's advice to readers was always available. +His taste ran to the English classics, and he had all the standard +authors in poetry, history, fiction, and essay. + +No pleasure derived in reading in after-years gave me such delight +as the Waverley Novels. I think I read through that library and +some of it several times over. + +The excitement as the novels of Dickens and Thackeray began +to appear equalled almost the enthusiasm of a political campaign. +Each one of those authors had ardent admirers and partisans. +The characters of Dickens became household companions. Every one +was looking for the counterpart of Micawber or Sam Weller, Pecksniff +or David Copperfield, and had little trouble in finding them either +in the family circle or among the neighbors. + +Dickens's lectures in New York, which consisted of readings from +his novels, were an event which has rarely been duplicated for +interest. With high dramatic ability he brought out before the +audience the characters from his novels with whom all were +familiar. Every one in the crowd had an idealistic picture in +his mind of the actors of the story. It was curious to note that +the presentation which the author gave coincided with the idea +of the majority of his audience. I was fresh from the country +but had with me that evening a rather ultra-fashionable young +lady. She said she was not interested in the lecture because +it represented the sort of people she did not know and never +expected to meet; they were a very common lot. In her subsequent +career in this country and abroad she had to her credit three +matrimonial adventures and two divorces, but none of her husbands +were of the common lot. + +Speaking of Dickens, one picture remains indelibly pressed upon +my memory. It was the banquet given him at which Horace Greeley +presided. Everybody was as familiar with Mr. Pickwick and his +portrait by Cruikshank in Dickens's works as with one's father. +When Mr. Greeley arose to make the opening speech and introduce +the guest of the evening, his likeness to this portrait of Pickwick +was so remarkable that the whole audience, including Mr. Dickens, +shouted their delight in greeting an old and welI-beloved friend. + +Another educational opportunity came in my way because one of +my uncles was postmaster of the village. Through his post-office +came several high-class magazines and foreign reviews. There +was no rural delivery in those days, and the mail could only be +had on personal application, and the result was that the subscribers +of these periodicals frequently left them a long time before they +were called for. I was an omnivorous reader of everything +available, and as a result these publications, especially the +foreign reviews, became a fascinating source of information and +culture. They gave from the first minds of the century criticisms +of current literature and expositions of political movements and +public men which became of infinite value in after-years. + +Another unincorporated and yet valuable school was the frequent +sessions at the drug store of the elder statesmen of the village. +On certain evenings these men, representing most of the activities +of the village, would avail themselves of the hospitable chairs +about the stove and discuss not only local matters but the general +conditions of the country, some of them revolving about the +constitutionality of various measures which had been proposed +and enacted into laws. They nearly all related to slavery, +the compromise measures, the introduction of slaves into new +territories, the fugitive slave law, and were discussed with much +intelligence and information. The boys heard them talked about +in their homes and were eager listeners on the outskirts of this +village congress. Such institutions are not possible except in the +universal acquaintance, fellowship, and confidences of village +and country life. They were the most important factors in forming +that public opinion, especially among the young, which supported +Mr. Lincoln in his successful efforts to save the Union at whatever +cost. + +A few days after returning home from Yale I entered the office +of Edward Wells, a lawyer of the village, as a student. Mr. Wells +had attained high rank in his profession, was a profound student +of the law, and had a number of young men, fitting them for the +bar under his direction. + +I was admitted to the bar in 1858, and immediately opened an +office in the village. My first client was a prosperous farmer +who wanted an opinion on a rather complicated question. I prepared +the case with great care. He asked me what my fee was, and +I told him five dollars. He said: "A dollar and seventy-five is +enough for a young lawyer like you." Subsequently he submitted +the case to one of the most eminent lawyers in New York, who +came to the same conclusion and charged him five hundred dollars. +On account of this gentleman's national reputation the farmer +thought that fee was very reasonable. In subsequent years I have +received several very large retainers, but none of them gave so +much satisfaction as that dollar and seventy-five cents, which I had +actually earned after having been so long dependent on my father. + +After some years of private practice Commodore Vanderbilt sent +for me and offered the attorneyship for the New York and Harlem +Railroad. I had just been nominated and confirmed United States +minister to Japan. The appointment was a complete surprise to me, +as I was not an applicant for any federal position. The salary was +seven thousand five hundred dollars and an outfit of nine thousand. +The commodore's offer of the attorneyship for the Harlem Railroad, +which was his first venture in railroading, was far less than +the salary as minister. When I said this to the commodore, he +remarked: "Railroads are the career for a young man; there is +nothing in politics. Don't be a damned fool." That decided me, +and on the 1st of January, 1921, I rounded out fifty-five years in +the railway service of this corporation and its allied lines. + +Nothing has impressed me more than little things, and apparently +immaterial ones, which have influenced the careers of many people. +My father and his brothers, all active business men, were also +deeply interested in politics, not on the practical side but in +policies and governmental measures. They were uncompromising +Democrats of the most conservative type; they believed that +interference with slavery of any kind imperilled the union of +the States, and that the union of the States was the sole salvation +of the perpetuity of the republic and its liberties. I went to +Yale saturated with these ideas. Yale was a favorite college +for Southern people. There was a large element from the +slaveholding States among the students. It was so considerable +that these Southerners withdrew from the great debating societies +of the college and formed a society of their own, which they +called the Calliopean. Outside of these Southerners there were +very few Democrats among the students, and I came very near being +drawn into the CaIliopean, but happily escaped. + +The slavery question in all its phases of fugitive slave law and +its enforcement, the extension of slavery into the new territories, +or its prohibition, and of the abolition of the institution by +purchase or confiscation were subjects of discussion on the campus, +in the literary societies, and in frequent lectures in the halls in +New Haven by the most prominent and gifted speakers and advocates. + +That was a period when even in the most liberal churches the pulpit +was not permitted to preach politics, and slavery was pre-eminently +politics. But according to an old New England custom, the pastor +was given a free hand on Thanksgiving Day to unburden his mind +of everything which had been bubbling and seething there for +a year. One of the most eminent and eloquent of New England +preachers was the Reverend Doctor Bacon, of Center Church, +New Haven. His Thanksgiving sermon was an event eagerly anticipated +by the whole college community. He was violently anti-slavery. +His sermons were not only intently listened to but widely read, +and their effect in promoting anti-slavery sentiment was very great. + +The result of several years of these associations and discussions +converted me, and I became a Republican on the principles +enunciated in the first platform of the party in 1856. When I came +home from Yale the situation in the family became very painful, +because my father was an intense partisan. He had for his party +both faith and love, and was shocked and grieved at his son's +change of principles. He could not avoid constantly discussing +the question, and was equally hurt either by opposition or silence. + + + +II. IN PUBLIC LIFE + +The campaign of 1856 created an excitement in our village which +had never been known since the Revolutionary War. The old +families who had been settled there since colonial days were +mainly pro-slavery and Democratic, while the Republican party was +recruited very largely from New England men and in a minority. + +Several times in our national political campaigns there has been +one orator who drew audiences and received public attention and +reports in the newspapers beyond all other speakers. On the +Democratic side during that period Horatio Seymour was pre-eminent. +On the Republican side in the State of New York the attractive +figure was George William Curtis. His books were very popular, +his charming personality, the culture and the elevation of his +speeches put him in a class by himself. + +The Republicans of the village were highly elated when they had +secured the promise of Mr. Curtis to speak at their most important +mass meeting. The occasion drew together the largest audience +the village had known, composed not only of residents but many from +a distance. The committee of arrangements finally reported to +the waiting audience that the last train had arrived, but +Mr. Curtis had not come. + +It suddenly occurred to the committee that it would be a good +thing to call a young recruit from a well-known Democratic family +and publicly commit him. First came the invitation, then the +shouting, and when I arose they cried "platform," and I was +escorted to the platform, but had no idea of making a speech. +My experience for years at college and at home had saturated me +with the questions at issue in all their aspects. From a full +heart, and a sore one, I poured out a confession of faith. +I thought I had spoken only a few minutes, but found afterwards +that it was over an hour. The local committee wrote to the State +committee about the meeting, and in a few days I received a letter +from the chairman of the State committee inviting me to fill +a series of engagements covering the whole State of New York. + +The campaign of 1856 differed from all others in memory of men +then living. The issues between the parties appealed on the +Republican side to the young. There had grown up among the young +voters an intense hostility to slavery. The moral force of the +arguments against the institution captured them. They had no +hostility to the South, nor to the Southern sIaveholders; they +regarded their position as an inheritance, and were willing to +help on the lines of Mr. Lincoln's original idea of purchasing +the slaves and freeing them. But the suggestion had no friends +among the slaveholders. These young men believed that any +extension or strengthening of the institution would be disastrous +to the country. The threatened dissolution of the Union, secession, +or rebellion did not frighten them. + +Political conventions are the most interesting of popular gatherings. +The members have been delegated by their fellow citizens to +represent them, and they are above the average in intelligence, +political information of conditions in the State and nation, as +the convention represents the State or the republic. The belief +that they are generally boss-governed is a mistake. The party +leader, sometimes designated as boss, invariably consults with +the strongest men there are in the convention before he arrives +at a decision. He is generally successful, because he has so well +prepared the way, and his own judgment is always modified and +frequently changed in these conferences. + +In 1858 I had the first sensation of the responsibility of public +office. I was not an applicant for the place; in fact, knew +nothing about it until I was elected a delegate to the Republican +State convention from the third assembly district of Westchester +County. The convention was held at Syracuse. The Westchester +delegates arrived late at night or, rather, early in the morning, +and we came to the hotel with large numbers of other delegates +from different sections who had arrived on the same train. It was +two o'clock, but the State leader, Thurlow Weed, was in the lobby +of the hotel to greet the delegates. He said to me: "You are +from Peekskill. With whom are you studying law?" I answered: +"With Judge William Nelson." "Oh," he remarked, "I remember +Judge Nelson well. He was very active in the campaign of 1828." +It was a feat of memory to thus recall the usefulness of a local +politician thirty years before. I noticed, as each delegate was +introduced, that Mr. Weed had some neighborhood recollections +of the man which put a tag on him. + +The next day, as we met the leader, he recalled us by name, the +places where we lived, and the districts represented. Mr. Blaine +was the only other man I ever met or knew who possessed this +extraordinary gift for party leadership. + +There was a revolt in the convention among the young members, +who had a candidate of their own. Mr. Weed's candidate for +governor was Edwin D. Morgan, a successful New York merchant, +who had made a good record as a State senator. I remember one +of Mr. Weed's arguments was that the Democrats were in power +everywhere and could assess their office-holders, while the +Republicans would have to rely for campaign funds upon voluntary +contributions, which would come nowhere so freely as from Mr. Morgan +and his friends. When the convention met Mr. Weed had won over +a large majority of the delegates for his candidate. It was +a triumph not only of his skill but of his magnetism, which were +always successfully exerted upon a doubtful member. + +I was elected to the assembly, the popular branch of the New York +Legislature, in 1861. I was nominated during an absence from +the State, without being a candidate or knowing of it until my +return. Of course, I could expect nothing from my father, and +my own earnings were not large, so I had to rely upon a personal +canvass of a district which had been largely spoiled by rich +candidates running against each other and spending large amounts +of money. I made a hot canvass, speaking every day, and with +an investment of less than one hundred dollars for travel and +other expenses I was triumphantly elected. + +By far the most interesting member of the legislature was the +speaker, Henry J. Raymond. He was one of the most remarkable +men I ever met. During the session I became intimate with him, +and the better I knew him the more I became impressed with his +genius, the variety of his attainments, the perfection of his +equipment, and his ready command of all his powers and resources. +Raymond was then editor of the New York Times and contributed +a leading article every day. He was the best debater we had +and the most convincing. I have seen him often, when some other +member was in the chair of the committee of the whole, and we were +discussing a critical question, take his seat on the floor and +commence writing an editorial. As the debate progressed, he would +rise and participate. When he had made his point, which he always +did with directness and lucidity, he would resume writing his +editorial. The debate would usually end with Mr. Raymond carrying +his point and also finishing his editorial, an example which seems +to refute the statement of metaphysicians that two parts of the mind +cannot work at the same time. + +Two years afterwards, when I was secretary of state, I passed much +of my time at Saratoga, because it was so near Albany. Mr. Raymond +was also there writing the "Life of Abraham Lincoln." I breakfasted +with him frequently and found that he had written for an hour or +more before breakfast. He said to me in explanation that if one +would take an hour before breakfast every morning and concentrate +his mind upon his subject, he would soon fill a library. + +Mr. Raymond had been as a young man a reporter in the United States +Senate. He told me that, while at that time there was no system +of shorthand or stenography, he had devised a crude one for +himself, by which he could take down accurately any address of +a deliberate speaker. + +Daniel Webster, the most famous orator our country has ever +produced, was very deliberate in his utterances. He soon discovered +Raymond's ability, and for several years he always had Raymond +with him, and once said to him: "Except for you, the world would +have very few of my speeches. Your reports have preserved them." + +Mr. Raymond told me this story of Mr. Webster's remarkable memory. +Once he said to Mr. Webster: "You never use notes and apparently +have made no preparation, yet you are the only speaker I report +whose speeches are perfect in structure, language, and rhetoric. +How is this possible?" Webster replied: "It is my memory. I can +prepare a speech, revise and correct it in my memory, and then +deliver the corrected speech exactly as finished." I have known +most of the great orators of the world, but none had any approach +to a faculty like this, though several could repeat after second +reading the speech which they had prepared. + +In 1862 I was candiate for re-election to the assembly. Political +conditions had so changed that they were almost reversed. The +enthusiasm of the war which had carried the Republicans into power +the year before had been succeeded by general unrest. Our armies +had been defeated, and industrial and commercial depression +was general. + +The leader of the Democratic Party in the State was Dean Richmond. +He was one of those original men of great brain-power, force, and +character, knowlege of men, and executive ability, of which that +period had a number. From the humblest beginning he had worked +his way in politics to the leadership of his party, to the presidency +of the greatest corporation in the State, the New York Central +Railroad Company, and in his many and successful adventures +had accumulated a fortune. His foresight was almost a gift of +prophecy, and his judgment was rarely wrong. He believed that +the disasters in the field and the bad times at home could be +charged up to the Lincoln administration and lead to a Democratic +victory. He also believed that there was only one man in the party +whose leadership would surely win, and that man was Horatio Seymour. +But Seymour had higher ambitions than the governorship of New York +and was very reluctant to run. Nevertheless, he could not resist +Richmond's insistence that he must sacrifice himself, if necessary, +to save the party. + +The Republicans nominated General James W. Wadsworth for governor. +Wadsworth had enlisted at the beginning of the war and made a most +brilliant record, both as a fighting soldier and administrator. +The Republican party was sharply divided between radicals who +insisted on immediate emancipation of the slaves, and conservatives +who thought the time had not yet arrived for such a revolution. +The radicals were led by Horace Greeley, and the conservatives +by Thurlow Weed and Henry J. Raymond. + +Horatio Seymour made a brilliant canvass. He had no equal in the +State in either party in charm of personality and attractive +oratory. He united his party and brought to its ranks all the +elements of unrest and dissatisfaction with conditions, military +and financial. While General Wadsworth was an ideal candidate, +he failed to get the cordial and united support of his party. +He represented its progressive tendencies as expressed and +believed by President Lincoln, and was hostile to reaction. +Under these conditions Governor Seymour carried the State. + +The election had reversed the overwhelming Republican majority +in the legislature of the year before by making the assembly a tie. +I was re-elected, but by reduced majority. The assembly being +a tie, it was several weeks before it could organize. I was the +candidate in the caucus of the Republican members for speaker, +but after the nomination one of the members, named Bemus, threatened +to bolt and vote for the Democratic candidate unless his candidate, +Sherwood, was made the nominee. So many believed that Bemus +would carry out his threat, which would give the organization of +the House to the Democrats by one majority, that I withdrew in +favor of Sherwood. After voting hopelessly in a deadlock, day +after day for a long period, a caucus of the Republican members +was called, at which Sherwood withdrew, and on his motion I was +nominated as the party candidate for speaker. + +During the night a Democratic member, T.C. Callicot, of Kings County, +came to my bedroom and said: "My ambition in life is to be speaker +of the assembly. Under the law the legislature cannot elect +the United States senator unless each House has first made a +nomination, then the Senate and the House can go into joint +convention, and a majority of that convention elect a senator. +You Republicans have a majority in the Senate, so that if the +House nominates, the legislature can go into joint convention +and elect a Republican senator. As long as the House remains +a tie this cannot be done. Now, what I propose is just this: +Before we meet tomorrow morning, if you will call your members +together and nominate me for speaker, the vote of your party and +I voting for myself will elect me. Then I will agree to name +General Dix, a Democrat, for United States senator, and if your +people will all vote with me for him he will be the assembly +nominee. The Senate has already nominated Governor Morgan. +So the next day the legislature can go into joint convention and, +having a Republican majority, elect Governor Morgan United States +senator." I told Mr. Callicot that I would present the matter +to my party associates. + +In the early morning Saxton Smith and Colonel John Van Buren, +two of the most eminent Democrats in the State and members of +the legislature, came to me and said: "We know what Callicot +has proposed. Now, if you will reject that proposition we will +elect you speaker practically unanimously." + +This assured my election for the speakership. I had a great +ambition to be on that roll of honor, and as I would have been +the youngest man ever elected to the position, my youth added +to the distinction. On the other hand, the government at Washington +needed an experienced senator of its own party, like Edwin D. Morgan, +who had been one of the ablest and most efficient of war governors, +both in furnishing troops and helping the credit of the country. +I finally decided to surrender the speakership for myself to gain +the senatorship for my party. I had difficulty in persuading my +associates, but they finally agreed. Callicot was elected speaker +and Edwin D. Morgan United States senator. + +The event was so important and excited so much interest, both in +the State and in the country, that representative men came to +Albany in great numbers. The rejoicing and enthusiasm were intense +at having secured so unexpectedly a United States Senator for +the support of Mr. Lincoln's administration. + +That night they all united in giving me a reception in the ballroom +of the hotel. There was a flood of euIogistic and prophetic +oratory. I was overwhelmed with every form of flattery and +applause, for distinguished service to the party. By midnight +I had been nominated and elected Governor of the State, and an hour +later I was already a United States senator. Before the morning +hour the presidency of the United States was impatiently waiting +for the time when I would be old enough to be eligible. All this +was soon forgotten. It is a common experience of the instability +of promises and hopes which come from gratified and happy +enthusiasts, and how soon they are dissipated like a dream! I have +seen many such instances, and from this early experience deeply +sympathize with the disillusionized hero. + +The Democrats of the assembly and also of the State were determined +that Mr. Callicot should not enjoy the speakership. They started +investigations in the House and movements in the courts to prevent +him from taking his seat. The result was that I became acting +speaker and continued as such until Mr. Callicot had defeated +his enemies and taken his place as speaker in the latter part of +the session. + +I was also chairman of the committee of ways and means and the +leader of the House. The budget of my committee was larger than +usual on account of the expenses of the war. It was about seven +million dollars. It created much more excitement and general +discussion than does the present budget of one hundred and forty +millions. The reason is the difference in conditions and public +necessities of the State of New York in the winter of 1863 and +now. It is also partly accounted for by the fact that the expenses +of the State had then to be met by a real-estate tax which affected +everybody, while now an income tax has been adopted which is +capable of unlimited expansion and invites limitless extravagance +because of the comparatively few interested. + +Eighteen hundred and sixty-three was an eventful year; the early +part was full of gloom and unrest. Horatio Seymour, as governor, +violently antagonized President Lincoln and his policies. Seymour +was patriotic and very able, but he was so saturated with State +rights and strict construction of the Constitution that it marred +his judgment and clouded his usually clear vision. In the critical +situation of the country Mr. Lincoln saw the necessity of support +of the State of New York. The president said: "The governor has +greater power just now for good than any other man in the country. +He can wheel the Democratic party into line, put down the rebellion +and preserve the government. Tell him from me that if he will +render this service to his country, I shall cheerfully make way +for him as my successor." To this message, sent through +Thurlow Weed, Governor Seymour made no reply. He did not believe +that the South could be defeated and the Union preserved. + +Later President Lincoln sent a personal letter to the governor. +It was a very human epistle. The president wrote: "You and I +are substantially strangers, and I write this that we may become +better acquainted. In the performance of duty the co-operation +of your State is needed and is indispensable. This alone is +sufficient reason why I should wish to be on a good understanding +with you. Please write me at least as long a letter as this, +of course saying in it just what you think fit." + +Governor Seymour made no reply. He and the other Democratic +leaders thought the president uncouth, unlettered, and very weak. +The phrase "please write me at least as long a letter as this" +produced an impression upon the scholarly, cultured, cautious, +and diplomatic Seymour which was most unfavorable to its author. +Seymour acknowledged the receipt of the letter and promised to +make a reply, but never did. + +Seymour's resentment was raised to fever heat when General Burnside, +in May, 1863, arrested Clement L. Vallandigham. The enemies of +the war and peace at any price people, and those who were +discouraged, called mass meetings all over the country to protest +this arrest as an outrage. A mass meeting was called in Albany +on the 16th of May. Erastus Corning, one of the most eminent +Democrats in the State, presided. + +I was in Albany at the time and learned this incident. One of +Governor Seymour's intimate friends, his adviser and confidant +in personal business affairs was Charles Cook, who had been +comptroller of the State and a State senator. Cook was an active +Republican, a very shrewd and able man. He called on the governor +and tried to persuade him not to write a letter to the Vallandigham +meeting, but if he felt he must say something, attend the meeting +and make a speech. Cook said: "Governor, the country is going +to sustain ultimately the arrest of Vallandigham. It will be proved +that he is a traitor to the government and a very dangerous man +to be at large. Whatever is said at the meeting will seriously +injure the political future of the authors. If you write a letter +it will be on record, so I beg you, if you must participate, attend +the meeting and make a speech. A letter cannot be denied; it can +always be claimed that a speech has been misreported." + +The Governor wrote the letter, one of the most violent of his +utterances, and it was used against him with fatal effect when +he ran for governor, and also when a candidate for president. + +On July 11th the draft began in New York City. It had been +denounced as unconstitutional by every shade of opposition to +Mr. Lincoln's administration and to the prosecution of the war. +The attempt to enforce it led to one of the most serious riots +in the history of the city, and the rage of the rioters was against +the officers of the law, the headquarters of the draft authorities, +and principally against the negroes. Every negro who was caught +was hung or burned, and the negro orphan asylum was destroyed +by fire. The governor did his best to stop the rioting. He issued +a proclamation declaring the city in a state of insurrection, and +commanded obedience to the law and the authorities. + +In this incident again the governor permitted his opposition to +the war to lead him into political indiscretion. He made a speech +from the steps of the City Hall to the rioters. He began by +addressing them as "My friends." The governor's object was to +quiet the mob and send them to their homes. So instead of saying +"fellow citizens" he used the fatal words "my friends." No two +words were ever used against a public man with such fatal effect. +Every newspaper opposed to the governor and every orator would +describe the horrors, murders, and destruction of property by +the mob and then say: "These are the people whom Governor Seymour +in his speech from the steps of the City Hall addressed as +'my friends.'" + +The Vallandigham letter and this single utterance did more harm +to Governor Seymour's future ambitions than all his many eloquent +speeches against Lincoln's administration and the conduct of the war. + +The political situation, which had been so desperate for the +national administration, changed rapidly for the better with +the victory at Gettysburg, which forced General Lee out of +Pennsylvania and back into Virginia, and also by General Grant's +wonderful series of victories at Vicksburg and other places which +liberated the Mississippi River. + +Under these favorable conditions the Republicans entered upon +the canvass in the fall of 1863 to reverse, if possible, the +Democratic victory the year before. The Republican State ticket was: + +Secretary of State ..... Chauncey M. Depew. +Comptroller ..... Lucius Robinson. +Canal Commissioner ..... Benjamin F. Bruce. +Treasurer ..... George W. Schuyler. +State Engineer ..... William B. Taylor. +Prison Inspector ..... James K. Bates. +Judge of the Court of Appeals ..... Henry S. Selden. +Attorney-General ..... John Cochran. + +The canvass was one of the most interesting of political campaigns. +The president was unusually active, and his series of letters +were remarkable documents. He had the ear of the public; he +commanded the front page of the press, and he defended his +administration and its acts and replied to his enemies with skill, +tact, and extreme moderation. + +Public opinion was peculiar. Military disasters and increasing +taxation had made the position of the administration very critical, +but the victories which came during the summer changed the situation. +I have never known in any canvass any one incident which had +greater effect than Sheridan's victory in the Shenandoah Valley, +and never an adventure which so captured the popular imagination +as his ride from Washington to the front; his rallying the retreating +and routed troops, reforming them and turning defeat into victory. +The poem "Sheridan's Ride," was recited in every audience, from +every platform, and from the stage in many theatres and created +the wildest enthusiasm. + +My friend, Wayne MacVeagh, who was at Yale College with me, +had succeeded as a radical leader in defeating his brother-in-law, +Don Cameron, and getting control for the first time in a generation +against the Cameron dynasty of the Republican State organization +of Pennsylvania. He had nominated a radical ticket, with +Andrew G. Curtin as a candidate for governor. + +MacVeagh wrote to me, saying: "You are running at the head of +the Republican ticket in New York. Your battle is to be won +in Pennsylvania, and unless we succeed you cannot. Come over +and help us." + +I accepted the invitation and spent several most exciting and +delightful weeks campaigning with Governor Curtin and his party. +The meetings were phenomenal in the multitudes which attended +and their interest in the speeches. I remember one dramatic +occasion at the city of Reading. This was a Democratic stronghold; +there was not a single Republican office-holder in the county. +The only compensation for a Republican accepting a nomination +and conducting a canvass, with its large expenses and certain +defeat, was that for the rest of his life he was given as an +evidence of honor the title of the office for which he ran, and so +the county was full of "judges, Mr. District Attorneys, State +Senators, and Congressmen" who had never been elected. + +We arrived at Reading after midday. The leading street, a very +broad one, was also on certain days the market-pIace. A friend +of the governor, who had a handsome house on this street, had +the whole party for luncheon. The luncheon was an elaborate +banquet. Governor Curtin came to me and said: "You go out and +entertain the crowd, which is getting very impatient, and in about +twenty minutes I will send some one to relieve you." It was +raining in torrents; the crowd shouted to me encouragingly: "Never +mind the rain; we are used to that, but we never heard you." As +I would try to stop they would shout: "Go ahead!" In the meantime +the banquet had turned into a festive occasion, with toasts and +speeches. I had been speaking over two hours before the governor +and his party appeared. They had been dining, and the Eighteenth +Amendment had not been dreamed of. I was drenched to the skin, +but waited until the governor had delivered his twenty-minute +speech; then, without stopping for the other orators, I went over +to the house, stripped, dried myself, and went to bed. + +Utterly exhausted with successive days and nights of this experience, +I did not wake until about eight o'clock in the evening. Then +I wandered out in the street, found the crowd still there, and +the famous John W. Forney making a speech. They told me that +he had been speaking for four hours, delivering an historical address, +but had only reached the administration of General Jackson. I never +knew how long he kept at it, but there was a tradition with our party +that he was still speaking when the train left the next morning. + +Governor Curtin was an ideal party leader and candidate. He was +one of the handsomest men of his time, six feet four inches in +height, perfectly proportioned and a superb figure. He never +spoke over twenty minutes, but it was the talk in the familiar +way of an expert to his neighbors. He had a cordial and captivating +manner, which speedily made him the idol of the crowd and a most +agreeable companion in social circles. When he was minister +to Russia, the Czar, who was of the same height and build, was +at once attracted to him, and he took a first place among the +diplomats in influence. + +When I returned to New York to enter upon my own canvass, the State +and national committees imposed upon me a heavy burden. Speakers +of State reputation were few, while the people were clamoring for +meetings. Fortunately I had learned how to protect my voice. In +the course of the campaign every one who spoke with me lost his +voice and had to return home for treatment. When I was a student +at Yale the professor in elocution was an eccentric old gentleman +named North. The boys paid little attention to him and were +disposed to ridicule his peculiarities. He saw that I was specially +anxious to learn and said: "The principal thing about oratory +is to use your diaphragm instead of your throat." His lesson +on that subject has been of infinite benefit to me all my life. + +The programme laid out called upon me to speak on an average +between six and seven hours a day. The speeches were from ten +to thirty minutes at different railway stations, and wound up with +at least two meetings at some important towns in the evening, +and each meeting demanded about an hour. These meetings were +so arranged that they covered the whole State. It took about four +weeks, but the result of the campaign, due to the efforts of the +orators and other favorable conditions, ended in the reversal +of the Democratic victory of the year before, a Republican majority +of thirty thousand and the control of the legislature. + + +In 1864 the political conditions were very unfavorable for the +Republican party, owing to the bitter hostility between the +conservative and radical elements. Led by such distinguished men +as Thurlow Weed and Henry J. Raymond, on the one side, and +Horace Greeley, with an exceedingly capable body of earnest +lieutenants on the other, the question of success or defeat depended +upon the harmonizing of the two factions. + +Without having been recognized by the politicians or press of +the State, Reuben E. Fenton, who had been for ten years a congressman +from the Chatauqua district, had developed in Congress remarkable +ability as an organizer. He had succeeded in making Galusha A. Grow +speaker of the House of Representatives, and had become a power +in that body. He had behind him the earnest friendship and support +of the New York delegation in the House of Representatives and had +not incurred the enmity of either faction in his own State. His +nomination saved the party in that campaign. + +As an illustration how dangerous was the situation, though the +soldiers' vote in the field was over one hundred thousand and +almost unanimously for the Republican ticket, the presidential and +gubernatorial candidates received less than eight thousand +majority, the governor leading the president. + +The re-election of Mr. Lincoln and the election Reuben E. Fenton +over Governor Seymour made our State solidly Republican, and +Governor Fenton became at once both chief executive and party +leader. He had every quality for political leadership, was a shrewd +judge of character, and rarely made mistakes in the selection +of his lieutenants. He was a master of all current political +questions and in close touch with public opinion. My official +relations with him as secretary of state became came at once +intimate and gratifying. It required in after-years all the +masterful genius of Roscoe Conkling and the control of federal +patronage granted to him by President Grant to break Fenton's +hold upon his party. + +Governor Fenton was blessed with a daughter of wonderfuI executive +ability, singular charm, and knowledge of public affairs. She made +the Executive Mansion in Albany one of the most charming and +hospitable homes in the State. Its influence radiated everywhere, +captured visitors, legislators, and judges, and was a powerful +factor in the growing popularity and influence of the governor. + +One of the most interesting of political gatherings was the +Democratic convention, which met at Tredwell Hall in Albany +in the fall of 1864, to select a successor to Governor Seymour. +The governor had declared publicly that he was not a candidate, +and that under no conditions would he accept a renomination. He +said that his health was seriously impaired, and his private affairs +had been neglected so long by his absorption in public duties +that they were in an embarrassing condition and needed attention. + +The leaders of the convention met in Dean Richmond's office and +selected a candidate for governor and a full State ticket. When +the convention met the next day I was invited to be present as +a spectator. It was supposed by everybody that the proceedings +would be very formal and brief, as the candidates and the platform +had been agreed upon. The day was intensely hot, and most of +the delegates discarded their coats, vests, and collars, especially +those from New York City. + +When the time came for the nomination, the platform was taken +by one of the most plausible and smooth talkers I ever heard. +He delivered a eulogy upon Governor Seymour and described in +glowing terms the debt the party owed him for his wonderful public +services, and the deep regret all must have that he felt it necessary +to retire to private life. He continued by saying that he acquiesced +in that decision, but felt it was due to a great patriot and +the benefactor of the party that he should he tendered a +renomination. Of course, they all knew it would be merely a +compliment, as the governor's position had been emphatically +stated by himself. So he moved that the governor be nominated by +acclamation and a committee appointed to wait upon him at the +Executive Mansion and ascertain his wishes. + +When Mr. Richmond was informed of this action, he said it was +all right but unnecessary, because the situation was too serious +to indulge in compliments. + +In an hour the delegation returned, and the chairman, who was +the same gentleman who made the speech and the motion, stepped +to the front of the platform to report. He said that the governor +was very grateful for the confidence reposed in him by the +convention, and especially for its approval of his official actions +as governor of the State and the representative of his party at +the national convention, that in his long and intense application +to public duties he had impaired his health and greatly embarrassed +his private affairs, but, but, he continued with emphasis. . . He +never got any further. Senator Shafer, of Albany, who was unfriendly +to the governor, jumped up and shouted: "Damn him, he has accepted!" + +The convention, when finally brought to order, reaffirmed its +complimentary nomination as a real one, with great enthusiasm +and wild acclaim. + +When the result was reported to Mr. Richmond at his office, I was +told by one who was present that Richmond's picturesque vocabulary +of indignation and denunciation was enriched to such a degree +as to astonish and shock even the hardened Democrats who listened +to the outburst. + +A committee was appointed to wait on the governor and request him +to appear before the convention. In a little while there stepped +upon the platform the finest figure in the State or country. +Horatio Seymour was not only a handsome man, with a highly +intellectual and expressive face of mobile features, which added +to the effect of his oratory, but he never appeared unless perfectly +dressed and in the costume which was then universally regarded +as the statesman's apparel. His patent-leather boots, his +Prince Albert suit, his perfectly correct collar and tie were +evidently new, and this was their first appearance. From head to +foot he looked the aristocrat. In a few minutes he became the idol +of that wild and overheated throng. His speech was a model of +tact, diplomacy, and eloquence, with just that measure of restraint +which increased the enthusiasm of the hearers. The convention, +which had gathered for another purpose, another candidate, and +a new policy, hailed with delight its old and splendid leader. + +Commodore Vanderbilt had a great admiration for Dean Richmond. +The commodore disliked boasters and braggarts intensely. Those +who wished to gain his favor made the mistake, as a rule, of boasting +about what they had done, and were generally met by the remark: +"That amounts to nothing." Mr. Tillinghast, a western New York man +and a friend of Richmond, was in the commodore's office one day, +soon after Richmond died. Tillinghast was general superintendent +of the New York Central and had been a sufferer from being stepped +on by the commodore when he was lauding his own achievements and +so took the opposite line of extreme moderation. The commodore +asked Tillinghast, after praising Mr. Richmond very highly, "How +much did he leave?" "Oh," said Tillinghast, "his estate is a +great disappointment, and compared with what it was thought to be +it is very little." "I am surprised," remarked the commodore, +"but how much?" "Oh, between five or six millions," Tillinghast +answered. For the first time in his life the commodore was thrown +off his guard and said: "Tillinghast, if five or six million +of dollars is a disappointment, what do you expect in western +New York?" At that time there were few men who were worth that +amount of money. + +Governor Seymour made a thorough canvass of the State, and I was +appointed by our State committee to follow him. It was a singular +experience to speak and reply to the candidate the day after his +address. The local committee meets you with a very complete report +of his speech. The trouble is that, except you are under great +restraint, the urgency of the local committee and the inevitable +temptations of the reply under such conditions, when your adversary +is not present, will lead you to expressions and personalities which +you deeply regret. + +When the canvass was over and the governor was beaten, I feared +that the pleasant relations which had existed between us were +broken. But he was a thorough sportsman. He sent for and received +me with the greatest cordiality, and invited me to spend a week-end +with him at his home in Utica. There he was the most delightful +of hosts and very interesting as a gentleman farmer. In the +costume of a veteran agriculturist and in the farm wagon he drove +me out mornings to his farm, which was so located that it could +command a fine view of the Mohawk Valley. After the inspection +of the stock, the crops, and buildings, the governor would spend +the day discoursing eloquently and most optimistically upon +the prosperity possible for the farmer. To his mind then the food +of the future was to be cheese. There was more food value +in cheese than in any known edible article, animal or vegetable. +It could sustain life more agreeably and do more for Iongevity +and health. + +No one could have imagined, who did not know the governor and +was privileged to listen to his seemingly most practical and +highly imaginative discourse, that the speaker was one of the +ablest party managers, shrewdest of politicians, and most eloquent +advocates in the country, whose whole time and mind apparently +were absorbed in the success of his party and the fruition of +his own ambitions. + +As we were returning home he said to me: "You have risen higher +than any young man in the country of your age. You have a talent +and taste for public life, but let me advise you to drop it and +devote yourself to your profession. Public life is full of +disappointments, has an unusual share of ingratitude, and its +compensations are not equal to its failures. The country is full +of men who have made brilliant careers in the public service and +then been suddenly dropped and forgotten. The number of such men +who have climbed the hill up State Street to the capitol in Albany, +with the applause of admiring crowds whom none now can recall, +would make a great army." + +He continued by telling this story: "In the war of 1812 the +governor and the legislature decided to bring from Canada to +Albany the remains of a hero whose deeds had excited the admiration +of the whole State. There was an imposing and continuous +procession, with local celebrations all along the route, from +the frontier to the capital. The ceremonies in Albany were attended +by the governor, State officers, legislature, and judges, and the +remains were buried in the capitol park. No monument was erected. +The incident is entirely forgotten, no one remembers who the hero +was, what were his deeds, nor the spot where he rests." + +Years afterwards, when the State was building a new capitol and +I was one of the commissioners, in excavating the grounds +a skeleton was found. It was undoubtedly the forgotten hero +of Governor Seymour's story. + + +When my term was about expiring with the year 1865 I decided +to leave public life and resume the practice of my profession. +I was at the crossroads of a political or a professional career. +So, while there was a general assent to my renomination, I +emphatically stated the conclusion at which I had arrived. + +The Republican convention nominated for my successor as secretary +of state General Francis C. Barlow, a very brilliant soldier in +the Civil War. The Democratic convention adopted a patriotic +platform of advanced and progressive views, and nominated at the +head of their ticket for secretary of state General Henry W. Slocum. +General Slocum had been a corps commander in General Sherman's +army, and came out of the war among the first in reputation and +achievement of the great commanders. It was a master stroke on +the part of the Democratic leaders to place him at the head of +their ticket. He was the greatest soldier of our State and very +popular with the people. In addition to being a great commander, +he had a charming personality, which fitted him for success +in public life. + +The Democrats also on the same ticket nominated for attorney-general +John Van Buren. He was a son of President Van Buren and a man +of genius. Although he was very erratic, his ability was so great +that when serious he captured not only the attention but the judgment +of people. He was an eloquent speaker and had a faculty of +entrancing the crowd with his wit and of characterization of his +opponent which was fatal. I have seen crowds, when he was +elaborately explaining details necessary for the vindication of his +position, or that of his party which did not interest them, +to remain with close attention, hoping for what was certain to come, +namely, one of those sallies of wit, which made a speech of +Van Buren a memorable thing to have listened to. + +Van Buren was noted for a reckless disregard of the confidences +of private conversation. Once I was with him on the train for +several hours, and in the intimacy which exists among political +opponents who know and trust each other we exchanged views in +regard to public measures and especially public men. I was very +indiscreet in talking with him in my criticism of the leaders of +my own party, and he equally frank and delightful in flaying alive +the leaders of his party, especially Governor Seymour. + +A few days afterwards he made a speech in which he detailed what +I had said, causing me the greatest embarrassment and trouble. +In retaliation I wrote a letter to the public, stating what he had +said about Governor Seymour. The Democratic ticket was beaten +by fifteen thousand in a very heavy vote, and Van Buren always +charged it to the resentment of Governor Seymour and his friends. + + +In our country public life is a most uncertain career for a young +man. Its duties and activities remove him from his profession or +business and impose habits of work and thought which unfit him +for ordinary pursuits, especially if he remains long in public +service. With a change of administration or of party popularity, +he may be at any time dropped and left hopelessly stranded. +On the other hand, if his party is in power he has in it a position +of influence and popularity. He has a host of friends, with many +people dependent upon him for their own places, and it is no easy +thing for him to retire. + +When I had decided not to remain any longer in public life and +return home, the convention of my old district, which I had +represented in the legislature, renominated me for the old position +with such earnestness and affection that it was very difficult +to refuse and to persuade them that it was absolutely necessary +for me to resume actively my profession. + +Our village of Peekskill, which has since grown into the largest +village in the State, with many manufacturing and other interests, +was then comparatively small. A large number of people gathered +at the post-office every morning. On one occasion when I arrived +I found them studying a large envelope addressed to me, which +the postmaster had passed around. It was a letter from +William H. Seward, secretary of state, announcing that the president +had appointed me United States minister to Japan, and that the +appointment had been sent to the Senate and confirmed by that +body, and directing that I appear at the earliest possible moment +at his office to receive instructions and go to my post. A few +days afterwards I received a beautiful letter from Henry J. Raymond, +then in Congress, urging my acceptance. + +On arriving in Washington I went to see Mr. Seward, who said to me: +"I have special reasons for securing your appointment from the +president. He is rewarding friends of his by putting them in +diplomatic positions for which they are wholly unfit. I regard +the opening of Japan to commerce and our relations to that new +and promising country so important, that I asked the privilege +to select one whom I thought fitted for the position. Your youth, +familiarity with public life, and ability seem to me ideal for this +position, and I have no doubt you will accept." + +I stated to him how necessary it was that after long neglect in +public life of my private affairs I should return to my profession, +if I was to make a career, but Mr. Seward brushed that aside by +reciting his own sucess, notwithstanding his long service in our +State and in Washington. "However," he continued, "I feared that +this might be your attitude, so I have made an appointment for you +to see Mr. Burlingame, who has been our minister to China, and +is now here at the head of a mission from China to the different +nations of the world." + +Anson Burlingame's career had been most picturesque and had +attracted the attention of not only the United States but of +Europe. As a member of the House of Representatives he had +accepted the challenge of a "fire-eater," who had sent it under +the general view that no Northern man would fight. As minister +to China he had so gained the confidence of the Chinese Government +that he persuaded them to open diplomatic relations with the Western +world, and at their request he had resigned his position from +the United States and accepted the place of ambassador to the great +powers, and was at the head of a large delegation, composed of +the most important, influential, and representative mandarins of +the old empire. + +When I sent up my card to his room at the hotel his answer was: +"Come up immediately." He was shaving and had on the minimum +of clothes permissible to receive a visitor. He was expecting me +and started in at once with an eloquent description of the attractions +and importance of the mission to Japan. With the shaving brush +in one hand and the razor in the other he delivered an oration. +In order to emphasize it and have time to think and enforce a new +idea, he would apply the brush and the razor vigorously, then pause +and resume. I cannot remember his exact words, but have a keen +recollection of the general trend of his argument. + +He said: "I am surprised that a young man like you, unmarried +and with no social obligations, should hesitate for a moment +to accept this most important and attractive position. If you +think these people are barbarians, I can assure you that they +had a civilization and a highly developed literature when our +forefathers were painted savages. The western nations of Europe, +in order to secure advantages in this newly opened country for +commerce, have sent their ablest representatives. You will meet +there with the diplomats of all the western nations, and your +intimacy with them will be a university of the largest opportunity. +You will come in contact with the best minds of Europe. You can +make a great reputation in the keen rivalry of this situation +by securing the best of the trade of Japan for your own country +to its western coasts over the waters of the Pacific. You will +be welcomed by the Japanese Government and the minister of +foreign affairs will assign you a palace to live in, with a garden +attached so perfectly appointed and kept as to have been the envy +of Shenstone. You will be attended by hundreds of beautiful and +accomplished Japanese maidens." + +When I repeated to a large body of waiting office-seekers who had +assembled in my room what Mr. Burlingame had said, they all became +applicants for the place. + +There is no more striking evidence of the wonderful advance in +every way of the Japanese Empire and its people than the conditions +existing at that time and now. Then it took six months to reach +Japan and a year for the round trip. Of course, there was no +telegraphic or cable communication, and so it required a year +for a message to be sent and answered. The Japanese army at that +time was mostly clad in armor and its navy were junks. + +In fifty years Japan has become one of the most advanced nations +of the world. It has adopted and assimilated all that is best of +Western civilization, and acquired in half a century what required +Europe one thousand years to achieve. Its army is unexcelled +in equipment and discipline, and its navy and mercantile marine are +advancing rapidly to a foremost place. It demonstrated its prowess +in the war with Russia, and its diplomacy and power in the recent war. + +Japan has installed popular education, with common schools, +academies, and universities, much on the American plan. It has +adopted and installed every modern appliance developed by +electricity--telegraph, cable, telephone, etc. + +While I was greatly tempted to reverse my decision and go, +my mother, who was in delicate health, felt that an absence so +long and at such distance would be fatal, and so on her account +I declined. + +As I look back over the fifty years I can see plainly that four +years, and probably eight, in that mission would have severed +me entirely from all professional and business opportunities +at home, and I might have of necessity become a place holder +and a place seeker, with all its adventures and disappointments. + +If I had seriously wanted an office and gone in pursuit of one, +my pathway would have had the usual difficulties, but fickle +fortune seemed determined to defeat my return to private life +by tempting offers. The collectorship of the port of New York +was vacant. It was a position of great political power because +of its patronage. There being no civil service, the appointments +were sufficientIy numerous and important to largely control the +party in the State of New York, and its political influence reached +into other commonwealths. It was an office whose fees were +enormous, and the emoluments far larger than those of any position +in the country. + +The party leaders had begun to doubt President Johnson, and they +wanted in the collectorship a man in whom they had entire +confidence, and so the governor and State officers, who were all +Republicans, the Republican members of the legislature, the State +committee, the two United States senators, and the Republican +delegation of New York in the House of Representatives unanimously +requested the president to appoint me. + +President Johnson said to me: "No such recommendation and +indorsement has ever been presented to me before." However, +the breach between him and the party was widening, and he could +not come to a decision. + +One day he suddenly sent for Senator Morgan, Henry J. Raymond, +Thurlow Weed, and the secretary of the treasury for a consultation. +He said to them: "I have decided to appoint Mr. Depew." The +appointment was made out by the secretary of the treasury, and the +president instructed him to send it to the Senate the next morning. +There was great rejoicing among the Republicans, as this seemed +to indicate a favorable turn in the president's mind. Days and +weeks passed, however, and when the veto of the Civil Rights Bill +was overridden in the Senate and, with the help of the votes +of the senators from New York, the breach between the president +and his party became irreconcilable, the movement for his +impeachment began, which ended in the most sensational and perilous +trial in our political history. + +On my way home to New York, after the vote of the New York senators +had ended my hope for appointment, I had as a fellow traveller +my friend, Professor Davies, from West Point. He was a brother +of that eminent jurist, Henry E. Davies, a great lawyer and +chief justice of our New York State Court of Appeals. Professor +Davies said to me: " I think I must tell you why your nomination +for collector was not sent to the Senate. I was in Washington +to persuade the president, with whom I am quite intimate, to make +another appointment. I was calling on Secretary Hugh McCulloch +and his family in the evening of the day when the conference decided +to appoint you. Secretary McCulloch said to me: 'The contest +over the collectorship of the port of New York is settled, and +Chauncey Depew's name will be sent to the Senate to-morrow +morning.' I was at the White House," continued the professor, +"the next morning before breakfast. The president received me +at once because I said my mission was urgent and personal. I told +him what the secretary of the treasury had told me and said: +'You are making a fatal mistake. You are going to break with +your party and to have a party of your own. The collectorship +of the port of New York is the key to your success. Depew is +very capable and a partisan of his party. If you have any doubt, +I beg of you to withhold the appointment until the question +comes up in the Senate of sustaining or overriding of the veto +of the Civil Rights Bill. The votes of the two New York senators +will decide whether they are your friends or not.' The president +thought that was reasonable, and you know the result." + +There was at least one satisfaction in the professor's amazingly +frank revelation: it removed all doubt why I had lost a great +office and, for my age and circumstances, a large fortune. + +President Andrew Johnson differed radically from any President +of the United States whom it has been my good fortune to know. +This refers to all from and including Mr. Lincoln to Mr. Harding. +A great deal must be forgiven and a great deal taken by way of +explanation when we consider his early environment and opportunities. + +In the interviews I had with him he impressed me as a man of +vigorous mentality, of obstinate wilfulness, and overwhelming +confidence in his own judgment and the courage of his convictions. +His weakness was alcoholism. He made a fearful exhibition of +himself at the time of his inauguration and during the presidency, +and especially during his famous trip "around the circle" he +was in a bad way. + +He was of humble origin and, in fact, very poor. It is said of him +that he could neither read nor write until his wife taught him. +He made a great career both as a member of the House of Representatives +and a senator, and was of unquestionable influence in each branch. +With reckless disregard for his life, he kept east Tennessee +in the Union during the Civil War. + +General Grant told me a story of his own experience with him. +Johnson, he said, had always been treated with such contempt +and ignored socially by the members of the old families and slave +aristocracy of the South that his resentment against them was +vindictive, and so after the surrender at Appomattox he was +constantly proclaiming "Treason is odious and must be punished." +He also wanted and, in fact, insisted upon ignoring Grant's parole +to the Confederate officers, in order that they might be tried +for treason. On this question of maintaining his parole and +his military honor General Grant was inflexible, and said he would +appeal not only to Congress but to the country. + +One day a delegation, consisting of the most eminent, politically, +socially, and in family descent, of the Southern leaders, went to +the White House. They said: "Mr. President, we have never +recognized you, as you belong to an entirely different class +from ourselves, but it is the rule of all countries and in all ages +that supreme power vested in the individual raises him, no matter +what his origin, to supreme leadership. You are now President +of the United States, and by virtue of your office our leader, +and we recognize you as such." Then followed attention from +these people whom he admired and envied, as well as hated, +of hospitality and deference, of which they were past masters. +It captivated him and changed his whole attitude towards them. + +He sent for General Grant and said to him: "The war is over +and there should be forgiveness and reconciliation. I propose +to call upon all of the States recently in rebellion to send +to Washington their United States senators and members of the House, +the same as they did before the war. If the present Congress +will not admit them, a Congress can be formed of these Southern +senators and members of the House and of such Northern senators +and representatives as will believe that I am right and acting +under the Constitution. As President of the United States, I will +recognize that Congress and communicate with them as such. +As general of the army I want your support." General Grant replied: +"That will create civil war, because the North will undoubtedly +recognize the Congress as it now exists, and that Congress will +assert itself in every way possible." "In that case," said the +president, "I want the to support the constitutional Congress +which I am recognizing." General Grant said: "On the contrary, +so far as my authority goes, the army will support the Congress +as it is now and disperse the other." President Johnson then +ordered General Grant to Mexico on a mission, and as he had +no power to send a general of the army out of the United States, +Grant refused to go. + +Shortly afterwards Grant received a very confidential communication +from General Sherman, stating that he had been ordered to Washington +to take command of the army, and wanted to know what it meant. +General Grant explained the situation, whereupon General Sherman +announced to the president that he would take exactly the same +position as General Grant had. The president then dropped +the whole subject. + + + +III. ABRAHAM LINCOLN + +The secretaryship of the State of New York is a very delightful +office. Its varied duties are agreeable, and the incumbent is +brought in close contact with the State administration, +the legislature, and the people. + +We had in the secretary of state's office at the time I held +the office, about fifty-eight years ago, very interesting archives. +The office had been the repository of these documents since +the organization of the government. Many years afterwards they +were removed to the State Library. Among these documents were +ten volumes of autograph letters from General Washington to +Governor Clinton and others, covering the campaign on the Hudson +in the effort by the enemy to capture West Point, the treason of +Arnold and nearly the whole of the Revolutionary War. In the course +of years before these papers were removed to the State Library, +a large part of them disappeared. It was not the fault of the +administration succeeding me, but it was because the legisIature, +in its effort to economize, refused to make appropriation for the +proper care of these invaluable historic papers. Most of +Washington's letters were written entirely in his own hand, and +one wonders at the phenomenal industry which enabled him to do +so much writing while continuously and laboriously engaged in +active campaigning. + +In view of the approaching presidential election, the legislature +passed a law, which was signed by the governor, providing machinery +for the soldiers' vote. New York had at that time between three +and four hundred thousand soldiers in the field, who were scattered +in companies, regiments, brigades, and divisions all over the South. +This law made it the duty of the secretary of state to provide +ballots, to see that they reached every unit of a company, to gather +the votes and transmit them to the home of each soldier. The State +government had no machinery by which this work could be done. +I applied to the express companies, but all refused on the ground +that they were not equipped. I then sent for old John Butterfield, +who was the founder of the express business but had retired and +was living on his farm near Utica. He was intensely patriotic and +ashamed of the lack of enterprise shown by the express companies. +He said to me: "If they cannot do this work they ought to retire." +He at once organized what was practically an express company, +taking in all those in existence and adding many new features +for the sole purpose of distributing the ballots and gathering +the soldiers' votes. It was a gigantic task and successfully +executed by this patriotic old gentleman. + +Of course, the first thing was to find out where the New York +troops were, and for that purpose I went to Washington, remaining +there for several months before the War Department would give +me the information. The secretary of war was Edwin M. Stanton. +It was perhaps fortunate that the secretary of war should not only +possess extraordinary executive ability, but be also practically +devoid of human weakness; that he should be a rigid disciplinarian +and administer justice without mercy. It was thought at the time +that these qualities were necessary to counteract, as far as +possible, the tender-heartedness of President Lincoln. If the boy +condemned to be shot, or his mother or father, could reach the +president in time, he was never executed. The military authorities +thought that this was a mistaken charity and weakened discipline. +I was at a dinner after the war with a number of generals who +had been in command of armies. The question was asked one of +the most famous of these generals: "How did you carry out the +sentences of your courts martial and escape Lincoln's pardons?" +The grim old warrior answered: "I shot them first." + +I took my weary way every day to the War Department, but could +get no results. The interviews were brief and disagreeable and +the secretary of war very brusque. The time was getting short. +I said to the secretary: "If the ballots are to be distributed +in time I must have information at once." He very angrily refused +and said: "New York troops are in every army, all over the enemy's +territory. To state their location would be to give invaluable +information to the enemy. How do I know if that information would +be so safeguarded as not to get out?" + +As I was walking down the long corridor, which was full of hurrying +officers and soldiers returning from the field or departing for it, +I met Elihu B. Washburne, who was a congressman from Illinois +and an intimate friend of the president. He stopped me and said: + +"Hello, Mr. Secretary, you seem very much troubled. Can I help you?" +I told him my story. + +"What are you going to do?" he asked. I answered: "To protect +myself I must report to the people of New York that the provision +for the soldiers' voting cannot be carried out because the +administration refuses to give information where the New York +soldiers are located." + +"Why," said Mr. Washburne, "that would beat Mr. Lincoln. You don't +know him. While he is a great statesman, he is also the keenest +of politicians alive. If it could be done in no other way, the +president would take a carpet-bag and go around and collect those +votes himself. You remain here until you hear from me. I will +go at once and see the president." + +In about an hour a staff officer stepped up to me and asked: "Are +you the secretary of state of New York?" I answered "Yes." +"The secretary of war wishes to see you at once," he said. I found +the secretary most cordial and charming. + +"Mr. Secretary, what do you desire?" he asked. I stated the case +as I had many times before, and he gave a peremptory order to one +of his staff that I should receive the documents in time for me +to leave Washington on the midnight train. + +The magical transformation was the result of a personal visit of +President Lincoln to the secretary of war. Mr. Lincoln carried +the State of New York by a majority of only 6,749, and it was +a soldiers' vote that gave him the Empire State. + +The compensations of my long delay in Washington trying to move +the War Department were the opportunity it gave me to see +Mr. Lincoln, to meet the members of the Cabinet, to become intimate +with the New York delegation in Congress, and to hear the wonderful +adventures and stories so numerous in Washington. + +The White House of that time had no executive offices as now, +and the machinery for executive business was very primitive. +The east half of the second story had one large reception-room, +in which the president could always be found, and a few rooms +adjoining for his secretaries and clerks. The president had very +little protection or seclusion. In the reception-room, which was +always crowded at certain hours, could be found members of Congress, +office-seekers, and an anxious company of fathers and mothers +seeking pardons for their sons condemned for military offenses, +or asking permission to go to the front, where a soldier boy was +wounded or sick. Every one wanted something and wanted it very +bad. The patient president, wearied as he was with cares of state, +with the situation on several hostile fronts, with the exigencies +in Congress and jealousies in his Cabinet, patiently and +sympathetically listened to these tales of want and woe. My position +was unique. I was the only one in Washington who personally did +not want anything, my mission being purely in the public interest. + +I was a devoted follower of Mr. Seward, the secretary of state, +and through the intimacies with officers in his department I learned +from day to day the troubles in the Cabinet, so graphically described +in the diary of the secretary of the navy Gideon Welles. + +The antagonism between Mr. Seward and Mr. Chase, the secretary +of the treasury, though rarely breaking out in the open, was +nevertheless acute. Mr. Seward was devoted to the president and +made every possible effort to secure his renomination and election. +Mr. Chase was doing his best to prevent Mr. Lincoln's renomination +and secure it for himself. + +No president ever had a Cabinet of which the members were so +independent, had so large individual followings, and were so +inharmonious. The president's sole ambition was to secure the +ablest men in the country for the departments which he assigned +to them without regard to their loyalty to himself. One of +Mr. Seward's secretaries would frequently report to me the acts +of disloyalty or personal hostility on the part of Mr. Chase with +the lament: "The old man--meaning Lincoln--knows all about it +and will not do a thing." + +I had a long and memorable interview with the president. As +I stepped from the crowd in his reception-room, he said to me: +"What do you want?" I answered: "Nothing, Mr. President, I only +came to pay my respects and bid you good-by, as I am leaving +Washington." "It is such a luxury," he then remarked, "to find +a man who does not want anything. I wish you would wait until +I get rid of this crowd." + +When we were alone he threw himself wearily on a lounge and was +evidently greatly exhausted. Then he indulged, rocking backward +and forward, in a reminiscent review of different crises in his +administration, and how he had met them. In nearly every instance +he had carried his point, and either captured or beaten his +adversaries by a story so apt, so on all fours, and such complete +answers that the controversy was over. I remember eleven of +these stories, each of which was a victory. + +In regard to this story-telling, he said: "I am accused of telling +a great many stories. They say that it lowers the dignity of the +presidential office, but I have found that plain people (repeating +with emphasis plain people), take them as you find them, are more +easily influenced by a broad and humorous illustration than in any +other way, and what the hypercritical few may think, I don't care." + +In speaking Mr. Lincoln had a peculiar cadence in his voice, caused +by laying emphasis upon the key-word of the sentence. In answer +to the question how he knew so many anecdotes, he answered: +"I never invented story, but I have a good memory and, I think, +tell one tolerably well. My early life was passed among pioneers +who had the courage and enterprise to break away from civilization +and settle in the wilderness. The things which happened to these +original people and among themselves in their primitive conditions +were far more dramatic than anything invented by the professional +story-tellers. For many years I travelled the circuit as a lawyer, +and usually there was only one hotel in the county towns where +court was held. The judge, the grand and petit juries, the lawyers, +the clients, and witnesses would pass the night telling exciting +or amusing occurrences, and these were of infinite variety and +interest." He was always eager for a new story to add to his +magazine of ammunition and weapons. + +One night when there was a reception at the executive mansion +Rufus F. Andrews, surveyor of the port of New York, and I went +there together. Andrews was a good lawyer and had been a +correspondent in New York of Mr. Lincoln, while he was active +at the bar in Illinois. He was a confidential adviser of the +president on New York matters and frequently at the executive +mansion. As the procession moved past the president he stopped +Andrews and, leaning over, spoke very confidentially to him. +The conversation delayed the procession for some time. When +Andrews and I returned to the hotel, our rooms were crowded with +newspaper men and politicians wanting to know what the confidential +conversation was about. Andrews made a great mystery of it and so +did the press. He explained to me when we were alone that during +his visit to the president the night before he told the president +a new story. The president delayed him at the reception, saying: +"Andrews, I forgot the point of that story you told me last night; +repeat it now." + +While Mr. Lincoln had the most logical of minds and his letters +and speeches on political controversies were the most convincing +of any statesman of his period, he rarely would enter into a long +discussion in conversation; he either would end the argument by +an apt story or illustration enforcing his ideas. + +John Ganson, of Buffalo, was the leader of the bar in western +New York. Though elected to the House of Representatives as +a Democrat, he supported the war measures of the administration. +He was a gentleman of the old school, of great dignity, and always +immaculately dressed. He was totally bald and his face also +devoid of hair. It was a gloomy period of the war and the reports +from the front very discouraging. Congressman Ganson felt it his +duty to see the president about the state of the country. He made +a formal call and said to Mr. Lincoln: "Though I am a Democrat, +I imperil my political future by supporting your war measures. +I can understand that secrecy may be necessary in miIitary +operations, but I think I am entitled to know the exact conditions, +good or bad, at the front." + +Mr. Lincoln looked at him earnestly for a minute and then said: +"Ganson, how clean you shave!" That ended the interview. + +The first national convention I ever attended was held in Baltimore +in 1864, when Mr. Lincoln was renominated. I have since been four +times a delegate-at-large, representing the whole State, and many +times a delegate representing a congressional district. Judge +W. H. Robertson, of Westchester County, and I went to the convention +together. We thought we would go by sea, but our ship had a +collision, and we were rescued by a pilot boat. Returning to +New York, we decided to accept the security of the railroad. +Judge Robertson was one of the shrewdest and ablest of the Republican +politicians in the State of New York. He had been repeatedly +elected county judge, State senator, and member of Congress, and +always overcoming a hostile Democratic majority. + +We went to Washington to see Mr. Seward first, had an interview +with him at his office, and dined with him in the evening. To dine +with Secretary Seward was an event which no one, and especially +a young politician, ever forgot. He was the most charming of hosts +and his conversation a liberal education. + +There was no division as to the renomination of Mr. Lincoln, but +it was generally conceded that the vice-president should be a war +Democrat. The candidacy of Daniel S. Dickinson, of New York, +had been so ably managed that he was far and away the favorite. +He had been all his life, up to the breaking out of the Civil War, +one of the most pronounced extreme and radical Democrats in the +State of New York. Mr. Seward took Judge Robertson and me into +his confidence. He was hostile to the nomination of Mr. Dickinson, +and said that the situation demanded the nomination for vice-president +of a representative from the border States, whose loyalty had been +demonstrated during the war. He eulogized Andrew Johnson, of +Tennessee, and gave a gIowing description of the courage and +patriotism with which Johnson, at the risk of his life, had advocated +the cause of the Union and kept his State partially loyal. + +He said to us: "You can quote me to the delegates, and they will +believe I express the opinion of the president. While the president +wishes to take no part in the nomination for vice-president, yet +he favors Mr. Johnson." + +When we arrived at the convention this interview with Mr. Seward +made us a centre of absorbing interest and at once changed the +current of opinion, which before that had been almost unanimously +for Mr. Dickinson. It was finally left to the New York delegation. + +The meeting of the delegates from New York was a stormy one and +lasted until nearly morning. Mr. Dickinson had many warm friends, +especially among those of previous democratic affiliation, and +the State pride to have a vice-president was in his favor. Upon +the final vote Andrew Johnson had one majority. The decision +of New York was accepted by the convention and he was nominated +for vice-president. + +This is an instance of which I have met many in my life, where +the course of history was changed on a very narrow margin. Political +histories and the newspapers' discussions of the time assigned +the success of Mr. Johnson to the efforts of several well-known +delegates, but really it was largely if not wholly due to the +message of Mr. Seward, which was carried by Judge Robertson and +myself to the delegates. + +The year of 1864 was full of changes of popular sentiment and +surprises. The North had become very tired of the war. The people +wanted peace, and peace at almost any price. Jacob Thompson +and Clement C. Clay, ex-United States senators from the South, +appeared at Niagara Falls, on the Canadian side, and either they +or their friends gave out that they were there to treat for peace. +In reference to them Mr. Lincoln said to me: "This effort was +to inflame the peace sentiment of the North, to embarrass the +administration, and to demoralize the army, and in a way it was +successful. Mr. Greeley was hammering at me to take action for +peace and said that unless I met these men every drop of blood +that was shed and every dollar that was spent I would be responsible +for, that it would be a blot upon my conscience and soul. I wrote +a letter to Mr. Greeley and said to him that those two +ex-United States senators were Whigs and old friends of his, +personally and politically, and that I desired him to go to +Niagara Falls and find out confidentially what their credentials +were and let me know." + +The president stated that instead of Mr. Greeley doing it that +way, he went there as an ambassador, and with an array of reporters +established himself on the American side and opened negotiations +with these two alleged envoys across the bridge. Continuing, +Mr. Lincoln said: "I had reason to believe from confidential +information which I had received from a man I trusted and who had +interviewed Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, +that these envoys were without authority, because President Davis +had said to this friend of mine and of his that he would treat on +no terms whatever but on absolute recognition of the independence +of the Southern Confederacy. The attention of the whole country +and of the army centred on these negotiations at Niagara Falls, +and to stop the harm they were doing I recalled Mr. Greeley and +issued my proclamation 'To Whom It May Concern,' in which I stated +if there was anybody or any delegation at Niagara Falls, or anywhere +else, authorized to represent the Southern Confederacy and to treat +for peace, they had free conduct and safety to Washington and +return. Of course, they never came, because their mission was +a subterfuge. But they made Greeley believe in them, and the +result is that he is still attacking me for needlessly prolonging +the war for purposes of my own." + +At a Cabinet meeting one of the members said to Mr. Lincoln: +"Mr. President, why don't you write a letter to the public stating +these facts, and that will end Mr. Greeley's attacks?" The president +answered: "Mr. Greeley owns a daily newspaper, a very widely +circulated and influential one. I have no newspaper. The press +of the country would print my letter, and so would the New York +Tribune. In a little while the public would forget all about it, +and then Mr. Greeley would begin to prove from my own letter that +he was right, and I, of course, would be helpless to reply." He +brought the Cabinet around to unanimous agreement with him by +telling one of his characteristic stories. + +This affair and the delays in the prosecution of the war had +created a sentiment early in 1864 that the re-election of Mr. Lincoln +was impossible. The leaders of both the conservative and the +radical elements in the Republican party, Mr. Weed, on the one +hand, and Mr. Greeley, on the other, frankly told the president +that he could not be re-elected, and his intimate friend, +Congressman Elihu B. Washburne, after a canvass of the country, +gave him the same information. + +Then came the spectacular victory of Farragut at Mobile and the +triumphant march of Sherman through Georgia, and the sentiment +of the country entirely changed. There was an active movement +on foot in the interest of the secretary of the treasury, Chase, +and fostered by him, to hold an independent convention before +the regular Republican convention as a protest against the +renomination of Mr. Lincoln. It was supported by some of the most +eminent and powerful members of the party, who threw into the +effort their means and influence. After these victories the effort +was abandoned and Mr. Lincoln was nominated by acclamation. +I recall as one of the excitements and pleasures of a lifetime +the enthusiastic confidence of that convention when they acclaimed +Lincoln their nominee. + +Governor Seymour, who was the idol of his party, headed the +New York delegation to the national Democratic convention to +nominate the president, and his journey to that convention was +a triumphal march. There is no doubt that at the time he had +with him not only the enthusiastic support of his own party but +the confidence of the advocates of peace. His own nomination +and election seemed inevitable. However, in deference to the war +sentiment, General McClellan was nominated instead, and here +occurred one of those littIe things which so often in our country +have turned the tide. + +The platform committee, and the convention afterwards, permitted +to go into the platform a phrase proosed by Clement C. Vallandigham, +of Ohio, the phrase being, "The war is a failure." Soon after +the adjournment of the convention, to the victories of Farragut +and Sherman was added the spectacular campaign and victory of +Sheridan in the Valley of Shenandoah. The Campaign at once took +on a new phase. It was the opportunity for the orator. + +It is difficult now to recreate the scenes of that campaign. +The people had been greatly disheartened. Every family was +in bereavement, with a son lost and others still in the service. +Taxes were onerous and economic and business conditions very bad. +Then came this reaction, which seemed to promise an early victory +for the Union. The orator naturally picked up the phrase, "The war +is a failure"; then he pictured Farragut tied to the shrouds of his +flag-ship; then he portrayed Grant's victories in the Mississippi +campaign, Hooker's "battle above the clouds," the advance of the +Army of Cumberland; then he enthusiastically described Sheridan +leaving the War Department hearing of the battle in Shenandoah +Valley, speeding on and rallying his defeated troops, reforming +and leading them to victory, and finished with reciting some of +the stirring war poems. + +Mr. Lincoln's election under the conditions and circumstances +was probably more due to that unfortunate phrase in the Democratic +platform than to any other cause. + +The tragedy of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln was followed by +the most pathetic incident of American life--his funeral. After +the ceremony at Washington the funeral train stopped at Philadelphia, +New York, and Albany. In each of these cities was an opportunity +for the people to view the remains. + +I had charge in my official capacity as secretary of state of +the train after it left Albany. It was late in the evening when +we started, and the train was running all night through central +and western New York. Its schedule was well known along the route. +Wherever the highway crossed the railway track the whole population +of the neighborhood was assembled on the highway and in the fields. +Huge bonfires lighted up the scene. Pastors of the local churches +of all denominations had united in leading their congregations +for greeting and farewell for their beloved president. As we +would reach a crossing there sometimes would be hundreds and +at others thousands of men, women, and children on their knees, +praying and singing hymns. + +This continuous service of prayer and song and supplication lasted +over the three hundred miles between Albany and Buffalo, from +midnight until dawn. + + + +IV. GENERAL GRANT + +The fairies who distribute the prizes are practical jokers. +I have known thousands who sought office, some for its distinction, +some for its emoluments, and some for both; thousands who wanted +promotion from places they held, and other thousands who wanted to +regain positions they had lost, all of whom failed in their search. + +I probably would have been in one of those classes if I had been +seeking an office. I was determined, however, upon a career in +railroad work until, if possible, I had reached its highest rewards. +During that period I was offered about a dozen political +appointments, most of them of great moment and very tempting, +all of which I declined. + +Near the close of President Grant's administration George Jones, +at that time the proprietor and publisher of the New York Times, +asked me to come and see him. Mr. Jones, in his association with +the brilliant editor, Henry J. Raymond, had been a progressive and +staying power of the financial side of this great journal. He was +of Welsh descent, a very hardheaded, practical, and wise business +man. He also had very definite views on politics and parties, and +several times nearly wrecked his paper by obstinately pursuing +a course which was temporarily unpopular with its readers and +subscribers. I was on excellent terms with Mr. Jones and admired +him. The New York Times became under his management one of +the severest critics of General Grant's administration and of +the president himself. + +I went to his house and during the conversation Jones said to me: +"I was very much surprised to receive a letter from the president +asking me to come and see him at the White House. Of course I +went, anticipating a disagreeable interview, but it turned out +absolutely the reverse. The president was most cordial, and his +frankness most attractive. After a long and full discussion, +the president said the Times had been his most unsparing critic, +but he was forced to agree with much the Times said; that he had +sent for me to make a request; that he had come to the presidency +without any preparation whatever for its duties or for civic +responsibilities; that he was compelled to take the best advice he +could find and surround himself with men, many of whom he had +never met before, and they were his guides and teachers; that he, +however, assumed the entire responsibility for everything he had +done. He knew perfectly well, in the retrospect and with the +larger experience he had gained, that he had made many mistakes. +'And now, Mr. Jones,' he continued, 'I have sent for you as +the most powerful as well as, I think, the fairest of my critics, +to ask that you will say in your final summing up of my eight years +that, however many my errors or mistakes, they were faults of +judgment, and that I acted conscientiously and in any way I thought +was right and best.' + +"I told the president I would be delighted to take that view in +the Times. Then the president said that he would like to show +his appreciation in some way which would be gratifying to me. +I told him that I wanted nothing for myself, nor did any of my +friends, in the line of patronage. Then he said he wanted my +assistance because he was looking for the best man for United States +district attorney for the district of New York. With my large +acquaintance he thought that I should be able to tell him whom +among the lawyers would be best to appoint. After a little +consideration I recommended you. + +"The president then said: 'Mr. Depew supported Greeley, and +though he is back in the party and doing good service in the +campaigns, I do not like those men. Nevertheless, you can tender +him the office and ask for his immediate acceptance.'" + +I told Mr. Jones what my determination was in regard to a career, +and while appreciating most highly both his own friendship and +the compliment from the president, I must decline. + +General Grant's mistakes in his presidency arose from his possession +of one of the greatest of virtues, and that is loyalty to one's +friends. He had unlimited confidence in them and could not see, +or be made to see, nor listen to any of their defects. He was +himself of such transparent honesty and truthfulness that he +gauged and judged others by his own standard. Scandals among +a few of the officials of his administration were entirely due +to this great quality. + +His intimacy among his party advisers fell among the most extreme +of organization men and political machinists. When, under the +advice of Senator Conkling, he appointed Thomas Murphy coIlector +of the port of New York, it was charged in the press that the +collector removed employees at the rate of several hundred per +day and filled their places with loyal supporters of the organization. +This policy, which was a direct reversal of the ideas of +civil-service reform which were then rapidly gaining strength, +incurred the active hostility of civil-service reformers, of whom +George William Curtis was the most conspicuous. + +When General Grant came to reside in New York, after his tour +around the world, he was overwhelmed with social attentions. +I met him at dinners several times a week and was the victim +of a characteristic coldness of manner which he had towards +many people. + +One St. Patrick's Day, while in Washington, I received an earnest +telegraphic request from Judge John T. Brady and his brother-in-law, +Judge Charles P. Daly, president of the Society of the Friendly +Sons of St. Patrick, saying: "The Sons are to have their greatest +celebration because they are to be honored by the presence of +General Grant, who will also speak, and it is imperative that you +come and help us welcome him." + +I arrived at the dinner late and passed in front of the dais to my +seat at the other end, while General Grant was speaking. He +was not easy on his feet at that time, though afterwards he became +very felicitous in public speaking. He paused a moment until +I was seated and then said: "If Chauncey Depew stood in my shoes, +and I in his, I would be a much happier man." + +I immediately threw away the speech I had prepared during the six +hours' trip from Washington, and proceeded to make a speech on +"Who can stand now or in the future in the shoes of General Grant?" +I had plenty of time before my turn came to elaborate this idea, +gradually eliminating contemporary celebrities until in the future +the outstanding figure representing the period would be the hero +of our Civil War and the restoration of the Union. + +The enthusiasm of the audience, as the speech went on, surpassed +anything I ever saw. They rushed over tables and tried to carry +the general around the room. When the enthusiasm had subsided +he came to me and with much feeling said: "Thank you for that +speech; it is the greatest and most eloquent that I ever heard." +He insisted upon my standing beside him when he received the +families of the members, and took me home in his carriage. + +From that time until his death he was most cordial, and at many +dinners would insist upon my being assigned to a chair next to him. + +Among strangers and in general conversation General Grant was +the most reticent of men, but among those whom he knew a most +entertaining conversationalist. He went over a wide field on such +occasions and was interesting on all subjects, and especially +instructive on military campaigns and commanders. He gave me as +his judgment that among all the military geniuses of the world +the greatest was General Philip Sheridan, and that Sheridan's +grasp of a situation had no parallel in any great general of whom +he knew. + +I was with General Grant at his home the day before he went from +New York to Mount McGregor, near Saratoga, where he died. +I learned of the trip and went immediately to see him, and was +met by his son, General Frederick D. Grant. I said to him: +"I learn that your father is going to Mount McGregor to-morrow, +and I have come to tender him a special train." + +After all the necessary arrangements had been made he asked me +to go in and see the general. Before doing this I asked: "How +is he?" "Well," he answered, "he is dying, but it is of infinite +relief to him to see people whom he knows and likes, and I know +he wants to see you. Our effort is to keep his mind off from +himself and interest him with anything which we think will be +of relief to him, and if you have any new incidents do not fail +to tell him." + +When I entered the room the general was busy writing his "Memoirs." +He greeted me very cordially, said he was glad to see me, and +then remarked: "I see by the papers that you have been recently +up at Hartford delivering a lecture. Tell me about it." + +In reply I told him about a very interesting journey there; +the lecture and supper afterwards, with Mark Twain as the presiding +genius, concerning all of which he asked questions, wanting more +particulars, and the whole story seemed to interest him. What +seemed to specially please him was the incident when I arrived +at the hotel, after the supper given me at the close of my lecture. +It was about three o'clock in the morning, and I went immediately +to bed, leaving a call for the early train to New York. At five +o'clock there was violent rapping on the door and, upon opening +it, an Irish waiter stood there with a tray on which were a bottle +of champagne and a goblet of ice. + +"You have made a mistake," I said to the waiter. + +"No, sir," he answered, "I could not make a mistake about you." + +"Who sent this?" I asked. + +"The committee, sir, with positive instructions that you should +have it at five o'clock in the morning," he answered. + +"Well, my friend, I said, is it the habit of the good people of +Hartford, when they have decided to go to New York on an early +train to drink a bottle of champagne at five o'clock in the morning?" + +He answered: "Most of them do, sir." + +(Nobody at that time had dreamed of the Eighteenth Amendment +and the Volstead law.) + +With a smile General Grant then said: "Well, there are some +places in Connecticut where that could not be done, as local +option prevails and the towns have gone dry. For instance, my +friend, Senator Nye, of Nevada, spoke through Connecticut in +my interest in the last campaign. Nye was a free liver, though +not a dissipated man, and, as you know, a very excellent speaker. +He told me that when he arrived at one of the principal manufacturing +towns he was entertained by the leading manufacturer at his big +house and in magnificent style. The dinner was everything that +could be desired, except that the only fluid was ice-water. After +a long speech Nye, on returning to the house, had a reception, +and the supper was still dry, except plenty of ice-water. + +"Nye, completely exhausted, went to bed but could not sleep, +nor could he find any stimulants. So, about six o'clock in the +morning he dressed and wandered down to the dining-room. The head +of the house came in and, seeing him, exclaimed: 'Why, senator, +you are up early.' Nye replied: 'Yes, you know, out in Nevada we +have a great deal of malaria, and I could not sleep.' 'Well,' +said the host, 'this is a temperance town. We find it an excellent +thing for the working people, and especially for the young men, +but we have some malaria here, also, and for that I have a private +remedy.' Whereupon he went to a closet and pulled out a bottle +of brandy. + +"After his host had left, Nye continued there in a refreshed and +more enjoyable spirit. Soon his hostess came in and, much +surprised, said: 'Why, senator, you are up early!' 'Yes,' he +said, 'out in Nevada we have a great deal of malaria, and while +I am on these speaking tours I have sharp attacks and cannot +sleep. I had one last night.' + +"'Well,' she remarked, 'this is a temperance town, and it is +a good thing for the working people and the young men, but I have +a touch of malaria now and then myself.' Then she went to the +tea-caddy and pulled out a bottle of brandy. The senator by this +time was in perfect harmony with himself and the whole world. + +"When the boys came in (sons of the entertainer) they said: +'Senator, we hear that you are an expert on livestock, horses, +cattle, etc. Won't you come out in the barn so we can show you +some we regard as very fine specimens?' The boys took him out +to the barn, shut the door, locked it, and whispered: 'Senator, +we have no live stock, but we have a bottle here in the hay mow +which we think will do you good.' And the senator wound up his +narrative by saying: 'The wettest place that I know of is a dry +town in Connecticut.'" + +The next day General Grant went to Mount McGregor and, as we +all know, a few days afterwards he lost his voice completely. + + + +V. ROSCOE CONKLING + +For a number of years, instead of taking my usual vacation in +travel or at some resort, I spent a few weeks in the fall in the +political canvass as a speaker. In the canvass of 1868 1 was +associated with Senator Roscoe Conkling, who desired an assistant, +as the mass meetings usually wanted at least two and probably +three hours of speaking, and he limited himself to an hour. +General Grant was at the height of his popularity and the audiences +were enormous. As we had to speak every day and sometimes several +times a day, Mr. Conkling notified the committees that he would not +speak out of doors, and that they must in all cases provide a hall. + +When we arrived at Lockport, N. Y., the chairman of the committee, +Burt Van Horn, who was the congressman from the district, told +the senator that at least twenty thousand people from the town, +and others coming from the country on excursion trains, had filled +the Fair Grounds. Conkling became very angry and told the +congressman that he knew perfectly well the conditions under which +he came to Lockport, and that he would not speak at the +Fair Grounds. A compromise was finally effected by which the +senator was to appear upon the platform, the audience be informed +that he would speak in the Opera House, and I was to be left to +take care of the crowd. The departure of the senator from the +grounds was very dramatic. He was enthusiastically applauded +and a band preceded his carriage. + +For some reason I never had such a success as in addressing that +audience. Commencing with a story, which was new and effective, +I continued for two hours without apparently losing an auditor. + +Upon my return to the hotel I found the senator very indignant. +He said that he had gone to the Opera House with the committee; +that, of course, no meeting had been advertised there, but a band +had been placed on the balcony to play, as if it were a dime +museum attraction inside; that a few farmers' wives had straggled +in to have an opportunity to partake from their baskets their +luncheons, and that he had left the Opera House and returned +to the hotel. The committee coming in and narrating what had +occurred at the Fair Grounds, did not help his imperious temper. +The committee begged for a large meeting, which was to be held in +the evening, but Conkling refused and ordered me to do the same, +and we left on the first train. The cordial relations which had +existed up to that time were somehow severed and he became +very hostile. + +General Grant, as president, of course, never had had experience +or opportunity to know anything of practical politics. It was +said that prior to his election he had never voted but once, and +that was before the war, when he voted the Democratic ticket +for James Buchanan. + +All the senators, representatives, and public men who began to +press around him, seeking the appointment to office of their +friends, were unknown to him personalIy. He decided rapidly +whom among them he could trust, and once having arrived at that +conclusion, his decision was irrevocable. He would stand by a +friend, without regard to its effect upon himself, to the last ditch. + +Of course, each of the two United States senators, Conkling and +Fenton, wanted his exclusive favor. It is impossible to conceive of +two men so totally different in every characteristic. Grant liked +Conkling as much as he disliked Fenton. The result was that he +transferred the federal patronage of the State to Senator Conkling. + +Conkling was a born leader, very autocratic and dictatorial. He +immediately began to remove Fenton officials and to replace them +with members of his own organization. As there was no civil +service at that time and public officers were necessarily active +politicians, Senator Conkling in a few years destroyed the +organization which Fenton had built up as governor, and became +master of the Republican party in the State. + +The test came at the State convention at Saratoga. Senator Conkling +at that time had become hostile to me, why I do not know, nor +could his friends, who were most of them mine also, find out. +He directed that I must not be elected a delegate to the convention. +The collector of the port of New York, in order to make that +decree effective, filled my district in Westchester County with +appointees from the Custom House. + +Patronage, when its control is subject to a popular vote, is +a boomerang. The appointment of a citizen in a town arouses +the anger of many others who think they are more deserving. +I appealed to the farmers with the simple question whether old +Westchester should be controlled by federal authority in a purely +State matter of their own. The result of the appeal was +overwhelming, and when the district convention met, the Custom +House did not have a single delegate. + +The leader of the Custom House crowd came to me and said: "This +is a matter of bread-and-butter and living with us. It is nothing +to you. These delegates are against us and for you at the +convention. Now, we have devised a plan to save our lives. It is +that the three delegates elected shall all be friends of yours. +You shall apparently be defeated. A resolution will be passed +that if either delegate fails to attend or resigns, the other two +may fill the vacancy. One of these will resign when the convention +meets and you will be substituted in his place. In the meantime +we will send out through the Associated Press that you have been +defeated." I did not have the heart to see these poor fellows +dismissed from their employment, and I assented to the proposition. + +When we arrived at the convention Governor Cornell, then State +chairman, called to order. I arose to make a motion, when he +announced: "You, sir, are not a member of this convention." My +credentials, however, under the arrangement made in Westchester, +convinced him that he was misinformed. The Conkling side selected +for their chairman Andrew D. White, and the other side selected +me. Upon careful canvass of the votes we had a clear majority. + +There were several delegations which were controIled by federal +office-holders. It is at this point that patronage becomes +overwhelmingly effective. Several of those office-holders were +shown telegrams from Washington, which meant their removal unless +they did as directed by Senator Conkling. When the convention +met the next day, the office-holders kept their heads on their +shoulders, and my dear and valued old friend, Andrew D. White, +was elected chairman of the convention. + +I asked the leader of the federal crowd from Westchester how he +explained my getting into the convention. "Oh," he said, "that +was easy. Our people gained so many delegates by offers of +patronage and threats of removal that when I told them you had +bought my delegates away from me, they believed it without +question, and we are all safe in our places in the Custom House." +My success was entirely due to the farmers' indignation at federal +dictation, and the campaign did not cost me a dollar. + +Roscoe Conkling was created by nature for a great career. That +he missed it was entirely his own fault. Physically he was the +handsomest man of his time. His mental equipment nearly approached +genius. He was industrious to a degree. His oratorical gifts +were of the highest order, and he was a debater of rare power and +resources. But his intolerable egotism deprived him of vision +necessary for supreme leadership. With all his oratorical power +and his talent in debate, he made little impression upon the country +and none upon posterity. His position in the Senate was a masterful +one, and on the platform most attractive, but none of his speeches +appear in the schoolbooks or in the collections of great orations. +The reason was that his wonderful gifts were wholly devoted to +partisan discussions and local issues. + +His friends regarded his philippic against George W. Curtis at +the Republican State convention at Rochester as the high-water +mark of his oratory. I sat in the seat next to Mr. Curtis when +Conkling delivered his famous attack. His admirers thought this +the best speech he ever made, and it certainly was a fine effort, +emphasized by oratory of a high order, and it was received by them +with the wildest enthusiasm and applause. + +The assault upon Mr. Curtis was exceedingly bitter, the denunciation +very severe, and every resource of sarcasm, of which Mr. Conkling +was past master, was poured upon the victim. His bitterness was +caused by Mr. Curtis's free criticism of him on various occasions. +The speech lasted two hours, and it was curious to note its effect +upon Mr. Curtis. Under the rules which the convention had adopted, +he could not reply, so he had to sit and take it. The only feeling +or evidence of being hurt by his punishment was in exclamations +at different points made by his assailant. They were: "Remarkable!" +"Extraordinary!" "What an exhibition!" "Bad temper!" "Very +bad temper!" + +In the long controversy between them Mr. Curtis had the advantages +which the journalist always possesses. The orator has one +opportunity on the platform and the publication the next day in +the press. The editor--and Mr. Curtis was at that time editor +of Harper's Weekly--can return every Saturday and have an exclusive +hearing by an audience limited only by the circulation of his +newspaper and the quotations from it by journalistic friends. + +The speech illustrated ConkIing's methods of preparation. I used +to hear from the senator's friends very frequently that he had +added another phrase to his characterization of Curtis. While +he was a ready debater, yet for an effort of this kind he would +sometimes devote a year to going frequently over the ground, and +in each repetition produce new epigrams, quotable phrases, and +characterizations. + +There used to be an employee of the State committee named Lawrence. +He was a man of a good deal of receptive intelligence and worshipped +the senator. Mr. Conkling discovered this quality and used +Lawrence as a target or listening-post. I have often had Lawrence +come to my office and say: "I had a great night. The senator +talked to me or made speeches to me until nearly morning." He told +me that he had heard every word of the Curtis philippic many times. + +Lawrence told me of another instance of Conkling's preparation for +a great effort. When he was preparing the speech, which was to +bring his friends who had been disappointed at the convention +to the support of General Garfield, he summoned Lawrence for +clerical work at his home. Lawrence said that the senator would +write or dictate, and then correct until he was satisfied with the +effort, and that this took considerable time. When it was completed +he would take long walks into the country, and in these walks +recite the whole or part of his speech until he was perfect +master of it. + +This speech took four hours in delivery in New York, and he held +the audience throughout this long period. John Reed, one of +the editors of the New York Times, told me that he sat on the +stage near Conkling and had in his hands the proofs which had +been set up in advance and which filled ten columns of his paper. +He said that the senator neither omitted nor interpolated a word +from the beginning to the end. He would frequently refer apparently +to notes on his cuffs, or little memoranda, not that he needed +them, but it was the orator's always successful effort to create +impression that his speech is extemporaneous, and the audience +much prefer a speech which they think is such. + +Senator Conkling held an important position in a critical period +of our country's history. If his great powers had been devoted +in the largest way to the national constructive problems of the +time, he would have been the leader of the dominant party and +president of the United States. Instead, he became the leader +of a faction in his own State only, and by the merciless use +of federal patronage absolutely controlled for twelve years the +action of the State organization. + +All the young men who appeared in the legislature or in county +offices who displayed talent for leadership, independence, and +ambition were set aside. The result was remarkable. While prior +to his time there were many men in public life in the State with +national reputation and influence, this process of elimination +drove young men from politics into the professions or business, +and at the close of Senator Conkling's career there was hardly +an active member of the Republican party in New York of national +reputation, unless he had secured it before Mr. Conkling became +the autocrat of New York politics. The political machine in the +Republican party in his Congressional district early in his career +became jealous of his growing popularity and influence, both at +home and in Congress. By machine methods they defeated him and +thought they had retired him permanently from public life. + +When I was elected secretary of state I received a note from +Mr. Conkling, asking if I would meet him. I answered: "Yes, +immediately, and at Albany." He came there with Ward Hunt, +afterwards one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court +of the United States. He delivered an intense attack upon machine +methods and machine politics, and said they would end in the +elimination of all independent thought, in the crushing of all +ambition in promising young men, and ultimate infinite damage +to the State and nation. "You," he said, "are a very young man for +your present position, but you will soon be marked for destruction." + +Then he stated what he wanted, saying: "I was defeated by the +machine in the last election. They can defeat me now only by +using one man of great talent and popularity in my district. I want +you to make that man your deputy secretary of state. It is the +best office in your gift, and he will be entirely satisfied." + +I answered him: "I have already received from the chiefs of the +State organization designations for every place in my office, +and especially for that one, but the appointment is yours and +you may announce it at once." + +Mr. Conkling arose as if addressing an audience, and as he stood +there in the little parlor of Congress Hall in Albany he was +certainly a majestic figure. He said: "Sir, a thing that is +quickly done is doubly done. Hereafter, as long as you and I +both live, there never will be a deposit in any bank, personally, +politically, or financially to my credit which will not be subject +to your draft." + +The gentleman whom he named became my deputy. His name was +Erastus Clark. He was a man of ability and very broad culture, +and was not only efficient in the performance of his duties, but +one of the most delightful of companions. His health was bad, +and his friends were always alarmed, and justifiably so, about him. +Nevertheless, I met him years afterwards in Washington, when +he was past eighty-four. + +At Mr. Conkling's request Mr. Clark made an appointment for a +mutual visit to Trenton Falls, a charming resort near Utica. We +spent the week-end there, and I saw Mr. Conkling at his best. +He was charming in reminiscence, in discussion, in his +characterization of the leading actors upon the public stage, +and in varying views of ambitions and careers. + +When the patronage all fell into his hands after the election of +General Grant, he pressed upon me the appointment of postmaster +of the city of New York. It was difficult for him to understand +that, while I enjoyed politics and took an active part in +campaigns, I would not accept any office whatever. He then +appointed one of the best of postmasters, who afterwards became +postmaster-general, but who was also one of the most efficient +of his lieutenants, General Thomas L. James. + +When Mr. Conkling was a candidate for United States senator I was +regarded as a confidential friend of Governor Fenton. The governor +was one of the most secretive of men, and, therefore, I did not +know his views to the candidate, or whether he had preferences. +I think he had no preferences but wished Conkling defeated, and +at the same time did not want to take a position which would incur +the enmity of him or his friends. + +One night there was a great public demonstration, and, being +called upon, I made a speech to the crowd, which included the +legislature, to the effect that we had been voiceless in the +United States Senate too long; that the greatest State in the +Union should be represented by a man who had demonstrated his +ability to all, and that man was Mr. Conkling. This created an +impression that I was speaking for the governor as well as myself, +and the effect upon the election was great. Mr. Conkling thought +so, and that led to his pressing upon me official recognition. + +How the breach came between us, why he became persistently hostile +during the rest of his life, I never knew. President Arthur, +Governor Cornell, and other of his intimate friends told me that +they tried often to find out, but their efforts only irritated him +and never received any response. + +Senator Conkling's peculiar temperament was a source of great +trouble to his lieutenants. They were all able and loyal, but +he was intolerant of any exercise on their part of independent +judgment. This led to the breaking off of all relations with the two +most distinguished of them--President Arthur and Governor Cornell. + +A breach once made could not be healed. A bitter controversy +in debate with Mr. Blaine assumed a personal character. In the +exchanges common in the heat of such debates Blaine ridiculed +Conkling's manner and called him a turkey-cock. Mutual friends +tried many times to bring them together. Blaine was always +willing, but Conkling never. + +Conkling had a controversy which was never healed with Senator Platt, +who had served him long and faithfully and with great efficiency. +During the twenty years in which Platt was leader, following +Senator Conkling, he displayed the reverse qualities. He was +always ready for consultation, he sought advice, and was tolerant +of large liberty of individual judgment among his associates. He +was always forgiving, and taking back into confidence those with +whom he had quarrelled. + +One summer I was taking for a vacation a trip to Europe and had +to go aboard the steamer the night before, as she sailed very +early in the morning. One of my staff appeared and informed me +that a very serious attack upon the New York Central had been +started in the courts and that the law department needed outside +counsel and asked whom he should employ. I said: "Senator +Conkling." With amazement he replied: "Why, he has been bitterly +denouncing you for months." "Yes, but that was politics," I said. +"You know the most brilliant lawyer in the United States might come +to New York, and unless he formed advantageous associations with +some of the older firms he could get no practice. Now, this suit +will be very conspicuous, and the fact that Senator Conkling is +chief counsel for the Central will give him at once a standing +and draw to him clients." His appearance in the case gave him +immediate prominence and a large fee. + +Senator Conkling's career at the bar was most successful, and +there was universal sorrow when his life ended in the tragedy +of the great blizzard. + + + +VI. HORACE GREELEY + +While secretary of state of New York, the decennial State census +was taken, and the appointment of three thousand census takers +involved as much pressure from congressmen, State senators, +assemblymen, and local leaders as if the places had been very +remunerative and permanent. I discovered what a power political +patronage is in party organization, because it developed that +the appointment of this large number of men, located in every town +in the State, could easily have been utilized for the formation +of a personal organization within the party. + +I was exceedingly fond, as I am still and always have been, +of political questions, issues affecting the general government, +the State, or localities, party organizations, and political +leaders. So, while devoted to my profession and its work and +increasingly enjoying its labor and activities, politics became +an interesting recreation. With no desire for and with a +determination not to take any public office, to be called into +party councils, to be at an occasional meeting of the State +committee and a delegate to conventions were happy relief and +excursions from the routine of professional work, as golf is to +a tired business man or lawyer. + +The nomination of General Grant for president by the Republicans +and of Horatio Seymour by the Democrats had made New York the +pivotal State in the national election. John T. Hoffman, the most +popular among the younger Democrats, was their nominee for governor. +The Republicans, with great unanimity, agreed upon John A. Griswold, +a congressman from the Troy district. Griswold was the idol +of his colleagues in the New York delegation in Congress, and +his attractive personality and demonstrated business ability had +made him a great favorite with politicians, business men, and +labor. The canvass for his nomination had been conducted with +great ardor by enthusiastic friends in all parts of the State, and +the delegations were nearly all practically pledged to his +nomination. No one dreamed that there would be an opposition +candidate. + +On the train to the convention John Russell Young, then managing +editor of the New York Tribune under Mr. Greeley, came to me and +said: "Mr. Greeley has decided to be a candidate at the convention +for the nomination for governor. You are his friend, he lives in +your assembly district in Westchester County, and wishes you +to make the nomination speech." + +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 unanimously Republican, +that it may influence the whole State, and," continued Mr. Greeley, +"he suggests you as the speaker, and I earnestly ask you to go." + +When I arrived at the place I was entertained by the manufacturer. +The audience crowded the largest hall in the town. The principal +of the academy presided, the Congregational minister opened +the exercises with a prayer, and I was introduced and received +with great cordiality. + +For such an audience my line of talk was praising General Grant +as the greatest general of modern times, and how largely the +preservation of the Union depended upon his military genius. +Then to picture the tremendous responsibilities of the presidency +and the impossibility of a man, however great as a soldier, with +a lifetime of military education, environment, and experiences, +succeeding in civil office, especially as great a one as the +presidency of the United States. Then came, naturally, a eulogium +of Horace Greeley, the maker of public opinion, the moulder of +national policies, the most eloquent and resourceful leader of +the Republican party since its formation. The audience cheered +with great enthusiasm all these allusions to General Grant, +and responded with equal fervor to my praise of Horace Greeley. + +When I concluded they stood up and gave me cordial cheers, and +the presiding officer came forward and said: "I now suggest that +we close this meeting with three rousing cheers for Horace Greeley." +The principal of the academy, the manufacturer, the minister, +the lawyer, a very few of the audience, and several women responded. +After this frost a farmer rose gradually, and as he began to let +out link after link of his body, which seemed about seven feet +talI, he reached his full height, and then in a voice which could +be heard a mile shouted: "Three cheers for General Grant!" The +response nearly took the roof off the house. I left the State +the next morning and told Mr. Greeley that he could not carry Maine. + +Among the amusing episodes of the campaign was one which occurred +at an open-door mass meeting at Watertown, N. Y. John A. Dix had +been nominated for governor on the Republican ticket, and I was +speaking of him and his career. He had changed from one party to +the other five or six times in the course of his long career, and +each time received an office. There was great doubt as to his +age, because in the American Encyclopaedia the date of his birth +was given as of a certain year, and in the French Encyclopaedia, +which published his biography when he was minister to France, +a widely different date was given. In the full tide of partisan +oratory I went over these changes of political activity, and how +each one had been rewarded, also the doubt as to his age, and +then I shouted: "I have discovered among the records of the +Pilgrim Fathers that when they landed on Plymouth Rock they found +John A. Dix standing on the rock and announcing that unless they +made him justice of the peace he would join the Indians." An +indignant farmer, who could not hold his wrath any longer, shouted: +"That's a lie! The Pilgrims landed more than two hundred and +fifty years ago." I saw that my interrupter had swallowed my +bait, hook, and line, bob and sinker, pole and all, and shouted +with great indignation: "Sir, I have narrated that historical +incident throughout the State, from Montauk Point to Niagara Falls, +and you are the first man who has had the audacity to question it." + +Another farmer stepped up to the heckler and said: "Here is my +hat, neighbor. You can keep it. I am going bareheaded for the +rest of my life." In his uproarious laughter the crowd all joined. +It was years before the questioning farmer could visit Watertown +without encountering innumerable questions as to when the Pilgrims +landed on Plymouth Rock. + +The last meeting of the campaign was held at Mr. Greeley's home +at Chappaqua in Westchester County. We all knew that the contest +was hopeless and defeat sure. I was one of the speakers, both +as his neighbor and friend, and accompanied him to New York. +A rough crowd on the train jeered him as we rode along. We went +to his office, and there he spoke of the lies that had been told +about him, and which had been believed by the public; of the +cartoons which had misrepresented him, especially those of Tom Nast, +and of which there were many lying about. Leaning upon his desk, +a discouraged and hopeless man, he said: "I have given my life +to the freeing of the slaves, and yet they have been made to +believe that I was a slave driver. It has been made to appear, +and people have been made to believe, that I was wrong or faithless, +or on the other side of the reforms which I have advocated all my +life. I will be beaten in the campaign and I am ruined for life." +He was overcome with emotion, and it was the saddest interview +I ever had with any one. It was really the breaking of a great +heart. He died before the votes were counted. + +There was instantly a tremendous revulsion of popular feeling +in the country. He had lost his wife during the campaign, and +the people woke up suddenly to the sorrows under which he had +labored, to his genius as a journalist, to his activity as a +reformer, and to a usefulness that had no parallel among his +contemporaries. The president-elect, General Grant, and the +vice-president-elect, Schuyler Colfax, attended the funeral, and +without distinction of party his death was universally mourned. + +After the election, in consultation on railroad affairs, +Commodore Vanderbilt said to me, "I was very glad you were +defeated," which was his way of saying that he did not want me +either to leave the railroad or to have other duties which would +impair my efficiency. + +With the tragic death of Mr. Greeley the Liberal Republican +movement ended. Most of us who had followed him resumed at once +our Republican party relations and entered actively into its work +in the next campaign. The revolt was forgiven, except in very few +instances, and the Greeley men went back to their old positions +in their various localities and became prominent in the official +life of the State. I, as usual, in the fall took my vacation on +the platform for the party. + + + +VII. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES AND WILLIAM M. EVARTS + +It is one of the tragedies of history that in the procession of +events, the accumulation of incidents, year by year and generation +by generation, famous men of any period so rapidly disappear. + +At the close of the Civil War there were at least a score of +generals in the North, and as many in the South, whose names +were household words. About fifty-five years have passed since +the war closed, and the average citizen knows only two of +them--Grant and Lee. + +One of the last acts of General Grant was to tender to +Senator Conkling the position of chief justice of the Supreme Court +of the United States. Conkling had gained from the senatorship +and the leadership of his party a great reputation, to which +subsequent service in the Senate could add little or nothing. +He was in his early forties, in the prime of his powers, and he +would have had before him, as chief justice of this great court, +a long life of usefulness and distinction. + +Conkling was essentially an advocate, and as an advocate not +possessing the judicial temperament. While there was a great +surprise that he declined this wonderful opportunity, we can see +now that the environment and restrictions of the position would +have made it impossible for this fiery and ambitious spirit. It +was well known that General Grant, so far as he could influence +the actions of the national Republican convention, was in favor +of Senator Conkling as his successor. The senator's friends +believed, and they made him believe, that the presidency was +within his grasp. + +When the national convention met it was discovered that the +bitterness between the two leaders, Blaine and Conkling, made +harmony impossible. The bitterness by that time was on Conkling's +side against Blaine. With the latter's make-up, resentment could +not last very long. It is an interesting speculation what might +have happened if these two leaders had become friends. It is +among the possibilities that both might have achieved the great +object of their ambitions and been presidents of the United States. + +The outstanding feature of that convention in the history of those +interesting gatherings was the speech of Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, +nominating Mr. Blaine. In its effect upon the audience, in its +reception by the country, and by itself as an effort of that kind, +it stands unprecedented and unequalled. + +As usual in popular conventions, where the antagonism of the +leaders and the bitterness of their partisanship threatens the +unity of the party, the result was the nomination of a "dark horse," +and the convention cIosed its labors by presenting to the country +General Rutherford B. Hayes. + +President Hayes, although one of the most amiabIe, genial, and +companionable of our presidents, with every quality to attach men +to him and make warm friendships, was, nevertheless, one of the +most isolated. He inherited all the business troubles, economic +disorganization, and currency disturbances which grew out of the +panic of 1873. He was met with more bankruptcy than had ever +occurred in our business history. + +With rare courage and the most perfect good nature, he installed +essential reforms, which, in the then condition of party organization +and public sentiment, practically offended everybody. He threw +the extreme radicals of his party into a frenzy of rage by wiping +out the "carpet-bag" governments and restoring self-government +for the South. He inaugurated civil-service reform, but in doing +so antagonized most of the senators and members of the House. + +When he found that the collector of the port of New York, +Chester A. Arthur, and the surveyor, Alonzo B. Cornell, were +running their offices with their vast patronage on strictly machine +lines, and that this had the general approval of party leaders, +he removed them and appointed for their successors General +Edwin A. Merritt and Silas W. Burt, with instructions to remove +no one on account of politics, and to appoint no one except for +demonstrated efficiency for the place. He pursued the same policy +in the Internal Revenue and Post-Office Departments. This policy +threatened the primacy of the Conkling machine. + +President Hayes had a very strong Cabinet. The secretary of state, +William M. Evarts, and the secretary of the treasury, John Sherman, +were two of the ablest men in the country. Evarts was the leader +of the national bar, and in crystallized mentality had no equal in +the profession or outside of it. Sherman was the foremost and +best-informed economist, and also a great statesman. In close +consultation with Sherman, Hayes brought about the resumption +of specie payment. The "green-backers," who were for unlimited +paper, and the silver men, who were for unlimited coinage of +silver, and who were very numerous, joined the insurgent brigade. + +While Mr. Hayes retired from the presidency by what might be called +unanimous consent, he had created conditions which made possible +the success of his party in 1880. + +It was a refreshing experience to meet the president during these +troublous times. While everybody else was excited, he was perfectly +calm. While most of the great men at the Capitol were raging, he, +at the other end of the avenue, was placid and serene. He said +once to me: "It is a novel experience when you do what you think +right and best for the country to have it so generally criticised +and disapproved. But the compensation is that you expect antagonism +and disapproval and would think something was the matter with your +decisions if you did not receive them." + +The general abuse to which he was subjected from so many sources +affected the public's view of him. After he had left the presidency +he told me that he thought it was the duty of an ex-president to +utilize the prestige which belonged to the office in the aid of +education. "I have found," he said, "that it helps enormously in +colleges and schools to have lectures, lessons, etc., in history +and patriotism, and behind them the personality of an ex-president +of the United States." + +As an illustration of how distinguished men, when out of power, no +longer interest our people, I remember I met Mr. Hayes one day +in front of a fruit display of a well-known grocery establishment, +and after greeting said to the groceryman: "That is ex-President +Hayes. Don't you want to meet him?" The groceryman replied: +"I am not interested in him, but I have the finest collection of +pears in the city and want to sell you some." + +The Capitol was full of the rich and racy characterizations, +epigrams, and sarcasms which Senator Conkling was daily pouring +out upon President Hayes, and especially Secretary Evarts. By +all the rules of senatorial courtesy in those machine days, a +member of the Cabinet from New York should have been a friend of +its United States senator. Mr. Evarts was too big a man to be +counted in any other class or category except his own. Of course, +all these criticisms were carried to both the president and the +secretary of state. The president never mentioned them, and I never +heard Evarts, though I met him frequently, make any reply but once. + +Dining with Mr. Evarts, who entertained charmingly, a very +distinguished English jurist among the guests, here on a special +mission, said: "Mr. Secretary, I was at the Senate to-day and +heard Senator Conkling speaking. His magnificent personal +appearance, added to his fine oratory, must make him one of the +most formidable advocates at your bar and in your courts." The +English judge thought, of course, that Mr. Evarts, as the leader +of the American Bar and always in the courts, would know every +lawyer of distinction. Mr. Evarts dryly replied: "I never saw +Mr. Conkling in court." + +It is always dangerous to comment or narrate a racy story which +involves the personal affliction of anybody. Dining with Mr. Evarts +one night was also a very distinguished general of our Civil War, +who had been an important figure in national politics. He was very +curious to know about Mr. Tilden, and especially as to the truth +of a report that Mr. Tilden had a stroke of paralysis, and appealed +to me, as I was just from New York. I narrated a story which was +current at the time that Mr. Tilden had denied the report by saying +to a friend: "They say I cannot lift my left hand to my head." He +then put his right hand under the left elbow and shot the left one +easily up to his face and said: "See there, my left has reached +its goal." + +I saw that Mr. Evarts was embarrassed at the anecdote and discovered +afterwards that the distinguished guest had recently had a similar +stroke on his left side and could propel his left arm and hand +only with the assistance of his right. + +My old bogie of being put into office arose again in the senatorial +election of 1882. The legislature, for the first time in a +generation, was entirely leaderless. The old organization had +disappeared and a new one had not yet crystallized. + +Mr. Evarts was anxious to be senator, and I pledged him my +support. Evarts was totally devoid of the arts of popular appeal. +He was the greatest of lawyers and the most delightful of men, but +he could not canvass for votes. Besides, he was entirely independent +in his ideas of any organization dictation or control, and resented +both. He did not believe that a public man should go into public +office under any obligations, and resented such suggestions. + +A large body of representative men thought it would be a good +thing for the country if New York could have this most accomplished, +capable, and brilliant man in the United States Senate. They +urged him strongly upon the legislature, none of whose members +knew him personally, and Mr. Evarts would not go to Albany. + +The members selected a committee to come down to New York and +see Mr. Evarts. They went with the idea of ascertaining how far +he would remember with gratitude those who elected him. Their +visit was a miserable failure. They came in hot indignation to my +office and said they did not propose to send such a cold and +unsympathetic man as their representative to Washington and +earnestly requested my consent to their nominating me at the caucus +the next morning. + +The committee telephoned to Albany and received the assent of +every faction of their party to this proposition. Then they +proposed that when the caucus met, Mr. Evarts, of course, should +receive complimentary speeches from his friends. Meanwhile others +would be nominated, and then a veteran member, whom they designated, +should propose me in the interest of harmony and the union of +the party, whereat the sponsors of the other candidate would +withdraw their man, and I be nominated by acclamation. My answer +was a most earnest appeal for Mr. Evarts. Then Mr. Evarts's +friends rallied to his support and he was elected. + +I place Mr. Evarts in the foremost rank as a lawyer, a wit, and a +diplomat. He tried successfully the most famous cases of his +time and repeatedly demonstrated his remarkable genius. As a +general railway counsel and, therefore, as an administrator in +the retaining of distinguished counsels, I met with many of the +best men at the bar, but never any with such a complete and +clarified intellect as William M. Evarts. The mysteries of the +most complicated cases seemed simple, the legal difficulties plain, +and the solution comprehensible to everybody under his analysis. + +Mr. Evarts was the wittiest man I ever met. It is difficult to +rehabilitate in the sayings of a wit the complete flavor of the +utterance. It is easier with a man of humor. Evarts was very +proud of his efforts as a farmer on his large estate in Vermont. +Among his prizes was a drove of pigs. He sent to Chief Justice +Morrison R. Waite a copy of his eulogy on Chief Justice +Salmon P. Chase, Waite's predecessor, and at the same time a ham, +saying in his letter: "My dear Chief Justice, I send you to-day +one of my prize hams and also my eulogy on Chief Justice Chase, +both the products of my pen." + +The good things Mr. Evarts said would be talked of long after +a dinner. I remember on one occasion his famous partner, +Mr. Choate, who was a Harvard man, while Evarts was a graduate +from Yale, introduced Mr. Evarts by saying that he was surprised +that a Yale man, with all the prejudices of that institution +against the superior advantages of Harvard, should have risked +the coats of his stomach at a Harvard dinner. Mr. Evarts replied: +"When I go to a Harvard dinner I always leave the coats of my +stomach at home." + +Mr. Evarts once told me when I was visiting him at his country +place that an old man whom he pointed out, and who was sawing +wood, was the most sensible philosopher in the neighborhood. +Mr. Evarts said: "He is always talking to himself, and I asked +him why." His answer was: "I always talk to myself in preference +to talking to anybody else, because I like to talk to a sensible +man and to hear a man of sense talk." + + + +VIll. GENERAL GARFIELD + +The triumph of the Democrats in Maine in the September election, +1880, had a most depressing effect upon the Republicans and an +equally exhilarating one upon the Democrats. The paralyzing effect +of the simple utterances in popular elections almost makes one +think that every candidate should follow Matthew Quay's famous advice +to his candidate for governor: "Beaver, keep your mouth shut." + +In the campaign when General Winfield Scott ran for the presidency, +he began an important communication by stating that he would answer +as soon as he had taken a hasty plate of soup. That "hasty plate +of soup" appeared in cartoons, was pictured on walls, etc., in every +form of ridicule, and was one of the chief elements of his defeat. + +When towards the close of the canvass Garfield had succeeded +in making the tariff the leading issue, General Hancock was asked +what were his views on the tariff. (You must remember that the +general was a soldier and had never been in politics.) The general +answered: "The tariff was a purely local issue in Pennsylvania." +The whole country burst into a gale of laughter, and Hancock's +campaign had a crack which was never mended. + +There never were two more picturesque opponents than General Garfield +and General Hancock. Hancock was the idol of the Army of the +Potomac, and everybody remembered McClellan's despatch after one +of the bloodiest battles of the Peninsula campaign: "Hancock was +superb to-day." He was an exceedingly handsome man and one of +the finest figures in uniform in the whole country. + +General Garfield also presented a very fine appearance. He was +a large man, well-proportioned, and with very engaging manners. +He also had an unusual faculty for attractive public addresses, +not only on politics, but many subjects, especially education and +patriotism. I never can forget when the news of Lincoln's +assassination reached New York. The angry and dangerous crowd +which surged up and down Broadway and through Wall Street threatened +to wreck the banking and business houses which were supposed +to be sympathetic with the Confederates. + +Garfield suddenly appeared on the balcony of the Custom House +in Wall Street and succeeded in stilling the crowd. With a voice +that reached up to Trinity Church he urged calmness in thought +and action, deprecated any violence, and then, in an impassioned +appeal to hopefulness notwithstanding the tragedy, exclaimed +impulsively: "God reigns and the Republic still lives." + +I was requested by some friends to visit General Garfield and +see how he felt on the political situation, which during the +campaign of 1880 did not look hopeful. I took the next train, +spent the day with him, and was back in New York the following +day. + +When I left the train at Cleveland in the morning the newsboys +pushed at me a Cleveland Democratic daily, with a rooster's picture +covering the whole front page, and the announcement that the +Democrats had carried Maine. The belief was universal then that +"as Maine goes so goes the Union," and whichever party carried +that State in the September election, the country would follow +in the presidential contest in November. + +I took the next train to Mentor, the residence of General Garfield. +I found at the station a score or more of country wagons and +carriages waiting for passengers. I said to the farmers: "Will +any of you take me up to General Garfield's residence?" One of +them answered: "We will all take you up this morning, but if you +had come yesterday you would have had to wait your turn." + +It was a startling instance of the variableness of public opinion. +Delegations from everywhere, on their way to extend greetings +to the candidate, had read the morning papers and turned back, +deciding not to go. + +I found Garfield struggling bravely to overcome the depression +which he felt. He was in close touch with the situation everywhere, +and discussed it with discrimination and hopefulness. + +The most affecting incident occurred while I was talking with him. +His mother passed through the room and, patting him on the back, +said: "James, the neighbors think it is all right; they are raising +a banner at the corner." + +Two old soldier friends came in, and the noonday dinner was a +rare intellectual feast. The general was a brilliant +conversationalist. His mind turned first to the accidents of +careers. He asked me if there was not a time in my early struggles +when if Providence had offered a modest certainty I would not +have exchanged the whole future for it, and then continued: +"There was a period in my early struggles as a teacher when, if +I had been offered the principalship of an endowed academy, +with an adequate salary, with the condition that I must devote +myself to its interests and abandon everything else, I am quite +sure I would have accepted." + +Of course, the hopeful application of this incident to the Maine +defeat was that, no such offer having been made or accepted, he +had made a glorious career in the army, rising to the head of the +General Staff, and for twenty years had been the leading figure +in the House of Representatives, and was now a recently elected +United States senator and chosen candidate for president. + +Then he turned to the instances where victory had been plucked +from defeat in battles. After citing many instances he gave a word +picture of the Battle of Chickamauga which was the finest thing of +the kind I have ever heard or ever read. + +After his two comrades left I told him of the interest which my +friends were taking in his canvass, and that I would add their +contribution to the campaign committee. The general instantly +was exultant and jubilant. He fairly shouted: "Have I not proved +to you all day that there is always a silver lining to the cloud, +and that the darkest hour is just before dawn?" + +It was one of the sources of General Garfield's success as an +orator that he was very emotional and sentimental. He happily +carried with him amid all struggles and disappointments, as well +as successes in the making of a career, the buoyant, hopeful, +companionable, and affectionate interests which characterize +the ambitious senior who has just left college to take his plunge +into the activities of life. + +So far as our State was concerned, a great deal turned upon the +attitude of Senator Conkling. His great and triumphant speech +of four hours at the Academy of Music in New York brought all +his friends into line, but the greatest help which General Garfield +received was from the generous, unseIfish, and enthusiastic support +of General Grant. + +General Grant had been the leading candidate in the convention +which finally nominated Garfield, but he voluntarily appeared upon +the platform in several States and at Garfield's home. His brief +but most effective speeches gathered around Garfield not only the +whole of the old-soldier vote but those who had become disaffected +or indifferent because of the result of the national Republican +convention. + +There probably was no canvass where the Republican orator ever +had so many opportunities for the exercise of every faculty which +he possessed. His candidate had made an excellent record as +a soldier in the field and as a statesman in Congress, as an +educator and a popular speaker on questions of vital interest, +while the opposition presented abundant opportunities for attack. + +After the presidential election came the meeting of the New York +State legislature for the choosing of a United States senator. +The legislature was overwhelmingly Republican, and the organization +or machine Republicans were in a large majority. The assembly was +organized and the appointment of committees used to make certain +the election of an organization man. + +A very unusual thing happened. The forces of the organization +were divided between two candidates: Thomas C. Platt and +Richard Crowley. Mr. Conkling had not declared his preference +for either, as they were both devoted friends of his, though he had +the power to have made a selection and have that selection accepted +by the legislature. Vice-President-elect Chester A. Arthur appeared +as manager for Mr. Crowley. Platt conducted his own canvass. + +I was called to a meeting in New York, where Mr. Blaine, secretary +of state, was present. Mr. Blaine said that administration managers +had made a thorough canvass of the legislature and they had found +that I was the only one who could control enough anti-organization +votes to be elected, and, therefore, General Garfield and his +friends had decided that I must enter the race. I did not want +to do it, nor did I want the senatorship at that time. However, +it seemed a plain duty. A canvass showed that Mr. Platt, +Mr. Crowley, and myself had about an equal number of votes. +Of course, Mr. Blaine's object was, knowing that Senator Conkling +would be hostile to the administration, to prevent his having +a colleague who would join with him, and thus place the State +of New York against the policies of the incoming president. + +After the canvass had been going on for some time, Mr. Platt came +to me and asked why I was in it. I told him frankly that I was in +it to see, if possible, that the senator-elect should support +the administration. He said: "Very well, I will do that." + +I immediately called together my supporters. Mr. Platt appeared +before them and stated that if elected he would support the +president and his administration in every respect. He was asked +if he would vote for the confirmation of appointees whom the +president might select who were specially in disfavor with +Senator Conkling, conspicuously Senator William H. Robertson. +Mr. Platt said, "Yes, I will." My friends all went over to him +and he was elected. + +General Garfield was inaugurated in March, 1881, and his +difficulties began with his Cabinet. Senator Conkling, who saw +clearly that with Blaine in the Cabinet his organization was in +danger in New York, did not want any of his friends to accept +a Cabinet position. The navy was offered to Levi P. Morton, but +at the request of Senator Conkling he declined. + +When the time came for appointments in the Custom House of New York, +General Garfield sent in the name of William H. Robertson, who was +the leader of the anti-machine forces in the State. Mr. Conkling +at once demanded that Mr. Platt should join with him in inducing +the Senate to reject the nomination. Under the rule of senatorial +courtesy the Senate would undoubtedly have done this if the two +New York senators had acted together. Mr. Platt told Mr. Conkling +of his pledge to the members of the legislature, and that he must +abide by it, and, as he told me, suggested to Mr. Conkling that, +as he always had been his friend and did not want any breach +with him, the only thing to be done, consistent with honor, was +for both of them to resign and go back to the legislature for +re-election, with a mandate which should enable them to reject +the appointment of Judge Robertson and all similar appointments. + +As the legislature was overwhelmingly Republican, and the organization +had a large majority, it seemed to both senators that they would +be returned immediately. But it is singular how intense partisanship +will blind the ablest and shrewdest politicians. Senators Conkling +and Platt were among the ablest and most capable political managers +of their time. 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 lawyer--Elihu 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, who was editor of the Albany Evening Journal +and he became convinced that he had nothing to lose by entering +at once into an open antagonism, if there was any way by which it +could be made effective. + +I said to Mr. Dawson: "The only salvation for those who have been +benefited during the era of liberty occasioned by President Hayes's +civil-service policies is to prevent the national convention +adopting the unit rule." + +The unit rule is that if the majority of the delegates from any +State make a decision, the chairman of the delegation shall cast +the entire vote of the delegation from the State for the result +arrived at by the majority, whether it be a candidate or a policy. +Under the unit rule I have seen a bare majority of one vote for +a candidate, and then the chairman of the delegation cast the entire +vote for the candidate, though the minority were very hostile to him. + +The delegates of the State convention at Utica returned to Albany +that night. Many of them were State senators whose decapitation +was assured if the old machine supported by federal patronage was +revived. State Senator Webster Wagner was one of them. He and I +chartered a train and invited the whole State delegation to go with +us to Chicago. In the preliminary discussions, before the national +convention met, twenty-six out of seventy-eight delegates decided +to act independently. + +Wayne MacVeagh, a lifelong friend of mine, had a strong following +in the Pennsylvania delegation, and after he learned our position +brought over also his people. Emory Storrs, who led the Illinois +delegation, came to me and said that if we would not boom +Elihu B. Washburne, who was a candidate for the nomination, we +would have the Illinois vote. The result of the canvass was that +the convention decided against the unit rule. This released so +many individual delegates to independent action that the field +was cleared and nobody had majority. The leading candidates were +General Grant, James G. Blaine, and John Sherman. + +In the history of convention oratory the nominating speeches of +Senator Conkling for General Grant, and James A. Garfield for +John Sherman take the highest rank. Conkling took a lofty position +on the platform. His speech was perfectly prepared, delivered +with great dramatic effect, and received universal applause on +the floor and in the gallery. + +General Garfield, on the other hand, also a fine-looking man and +a practised orator, avoided the dramatic element, in which he +could not compete with Conkling, but delivered a speech along +the line of the average thought and general comprehension of his +audience that made a great impression. It was a common remark: +"He has nominated himself." + +There were among the audience thousands of Blaine enthusiasts. +No public man since Lincoln ever had such enthusiastic, devoted, +and almost crazy followers as Mr. Blaine. These enthusiasts were +waiting to raise the roof and secure the nomination of their +candidate when the chosen orator should present their favorite. + +The gentleman selected to present Mr. Blaine was eminent in business +and great enterprises, but I doubt if he had ever spoken before +except to a board of directors. Of course, in that vast hall such +a man was fearfully handicapped and could not be very well heard. +He closed by naming his candidate somewhat like this: "I now have +the pleasure and honor of proposing as the candidate of this +convention that eminent statesman, James S. Blaine." Nearly +every one in the convention knew that Mr. Blaine's middle name +was Gillespie. + +The Blaine followers, whose indignation had been growing throughout +the speech, because they expected the very highest type of oratory +for their favorite, shouted in chorus, "G., you fool, G!" + +When General Garfield was voted for, he indignantly repudiated +the votes as an imputation upon his honor, as he was there to +nominate his friend, John Sherman. Senator George F. Hoar, of +Massachusetts, presided at the convention. He interrupted Garfield +by calling him to order, as it was not in order to interrupt the +calling of the roll, and he did so for fear that Garfield would go +so far as to say he would not accept the nomination if it were +made. On the last ballot State after State, each striving to get +ahead of the other, changed its vote from Sherman or Blaine to +Garfield, and he was nominated. + +I sat close to him as a visitor to the Ohio delegation. It was +a curious exhibit of the ambition of a lifetime suddenly and +unexpectedly realized by a highly sensitive and highly wrought-up +man. He was so overcome that he practically had to be carried +out of the convention by his friends. + +Senator Conkling was very indignant at the result and expressed +his anger with his usual emphasis and picturesqueness. The Ohio +leaders were then anxious to placate New York, but Conkling would +have nothing to do with them. They then came to us, who had been +opposed to the unit rule, and wanted suggestions as to which +New Yorker they should select for vice-president. Levi P. Morton +was suggested. Mr. Morton said he would accept if Senator Conkling +was willing to agree to it, and that he would not act without the +senator's acquiescence, as he was an organization man. The senator +refused his consent, and told Mr. Morton that no friend of his +would go on the ticket. + +It was then suggested that they try General Arthur, who was +Conkling's first lieutenant and chairman of the Republican State +Committee of New York. Senator Conkling made the same answer +to General Arthur, but he frankly said to Conkling: "Such an honor +and opportunity comes to very few of the millions of Americans, +and to that man but once. No man can refuse it, and I will not." +And so General Arthur was nominated for vice-president. + + + +X. GROVER CLEVELAND + +Grover Cleveland was a remarkable man. He had more political +courage of the General Jackson type than almost any man who ever +held great responsible positions. He defied Tammany Hall while +governor of the State, and repeatedly challenged the strongest +elements of his party while president. Threats of defeat or +retaliation never moved him. If he had once made up his mind +and believed he was right, no suggestions of expediency or of +popularity had any influence on him. + +In personal intercourse he made friends and had great charm. +The campaign against him when he ran for governor of New York +was ruthlessly conducted. I considered the actions of his enemies +as unfair and that they would react in the canvass. I studiously +discredited all in my speeches, and begged our people not to +feature them. + +I knew Mr. Cleveland, and as an evidence of my appreciation of +his character and ability, when the office of general counsel of +the New York Central Railroad at Buffalo became vacant, I offered +it to him, saying: "I am exceedingly anxious that you should +accept this place. I think, by an adjustment of the administration +of your office, you can retain your private practice, and this +will add about fifteen thousand dollars a year to your income." + +Mr. Cleveland replied: "I have a very definite plan of life and +have decided how much work I can do without impairing my health, +and how much of additional responsibility I can assume. I have +accumulated about seventy-five thousand dollars and my practice +yields me an income which is sufficient for my wants and a prudent +addition for my old age to my capital. No amount of money whatever +would tempt me to add to or increase my present work." + +I doubt if there were many lawyers in the United States who had +that philosophy or control of their ambitions. His annual income +from his profession was considerably less than the compensation +offered by the general counselship of the New York Central. + +Cleveland was most satisfactory as president in his quick and +decisive judgment upon matters presented to him. There were no +delays, no revisions; in fact, no diplomatic methods of avoiding +a disagreeable decision. He told you in the briefest time and +in the clearest way what he would do. + +A great social leader and arbiter in social affairs in New York +was very desirous that the president should reverse his judgment +in regard to an appointment affecting a member of his family. +I gave him a letter which procured him a personal and confidential +interview. When he came back to me he said: "That is the most +extraordinary man I ever saw. After he had heard me through, he +said he understood the matter thoroughly and would not change +his opinion or action. He has no social position and never had. +I tried to present its attractions and my ability to help him in +that regard, but he only laughed; yes, he positively laughed." + +While President Hayes had difficulty with civil-service reform +and incurred the hostility of the Republican organization and +machine men, the situation with him was far less difficult than +it was with Cleveland, who was a sincere civil-service reformer, +and also an earnest Democrat. While a Democratic senator from +Ohio, Mr. Pendleton, had passed a bill during the Hayes +administration for reform in the civil service, the great majority +of the Democratic party believed in Secretary Marcy's declaration +that "to the victors belong the spoils." + +There was an aggravation, also, growing out of the fact that the +Democrats had been out of office for twenty-four years. We can +hardly visualize or conceive now of their hunger for office. +The rule for rescuing people dying of starvation is to feed them +in very small quantities, and frequently. By trying this, the +president became one of the most unpopular of men who had ever +held office; in fact, so unpopular among the Democratic senators +and members of the House that a story which Zebulon Vance, of +North Carolina, told went all over the country and still survives. +Vance, who had a large proportion of the citizens of North Carolina +on his waiting list, and could get none of them appointed, said +that the situation, which ought to be one of rejoicing at the +election of a president by his own party, was like that of a client +of his who had inherited a farm from his father. There were so +many difficulties about the title and getting possession of it +and delay, that the son said: "I almost wished father had not died." + +However, Mr. Cleveland, in his deliberate way did accomplish +the impossible. He largely regained favor with his party by +satisfying their demands, and at the same time so enlarged the +scope of civil-service requirements as to receive the commendation +of the two great leaders of the civil-service movement--George +William Curtis and Carl Schurz. + +President Cleveland entered upon his second term with greater +popularity in the country than most of his predecessors. When he +retired from office, it was practically by unanimous consent. +It is among the tragedies of public life that he lost entirely the +confidence of his party and, in a measure, of the whole people +by rendering to his country the greatest public service. + +A strike of the men on the railroads tied up transportation. +Railroads are the arteries of travel, commerce, and trade. To stop +them is to prevent the transportation of provisions or of coal, +to starve and freeze cities and communities. Cleveland used +the whole power of the federal government to keep free the +transportation on the railways and to punish as the enemies of the +whole people those who were trying to stop them. It was a lesson +which has been of incalculable value ever since in keeping open +these great highways. + +He forced through the repeal of the silver purchasing law by every +source and pressure and the unlimited use of patronage. His party +were almost unanimous for the silver standard and resented this +repeal as a crime, but it saved the country from general bankruptcy. +Except in the use of patronage to help his silver legislation, he +offended his party by improving the civil service and retaining +Theodore Roosevelt as head of the Civil Service Commission. +These crises required from the president an extraordinary degree +of courage and steadfastness. + +While Mr. Cleveland was in such unprecedented popular disfavor +when he retired to private life, his fame as president increases +through the years, and he is rapidly assuming foremost position +in the estimation of the people. + +Mr. Cleveland had a peculiar style in his speeches and public +documents. It was criticised as labored and that of an essayist. +I asked him, after he had retired to private life, how he had +acquired it. He said his father was a clergyman and he had been +educated by him largely at home. His father was very particular +about his compositions and his English, so that he acquired a +ministerial style. The result of this was that whenever any of +the members of the local bar died, he was called upon to write +the obituary resolutions. + +To take a leap over intervening years: After Mr. Cleveland retired +from his second term I used to meet him very frequently on social +occasions and formal celebrations. He soon left the practice of +law and settled in Princeton, where he did great and useful service, +until he died, as trustee of the university and a lecturer before +the students. + +Riding in the same carriage with him in the great procession at +the funeral of General Sherman, he reminisced most interestingly +in regard to his experiences while president. Every little while +there would break out a cheer and then a shout in the crowd of +one of the old campaign cries: "Grover, Grover, four years more." +Mr. Cleveland remarked: "I noticed while president a certain +regularity and recrudescence of popular applause, and it was +the same in every place I visited." That cry, "Grover, Grover, +four years more!" would occur every third block, and during +our long ride the mathematical tradition was preserved. + + + +XI. BENJAMIN HARRISON + +The year 1888 was one of singular experience for me. I was working +very hard in my professional duties and paying no attention to +public affairs. + +The district conventions to send delegates to the national +convention at Chicago began electing their delegates and alternates, +and passing resolutions instructing them to vote for me as their +candidate for president. + +After several districts had thus acted I was asked to meet in +Whitelaw Reid's office in the Tribune Building Thomas C. Platt, +our State leader, and United States Senator Frank Hiscock. Platt +demanded to know why I was making this canvass without consulting +the organization or informing them. I told him I was doing nothing +whatever by letter, telegram, or interview; that I had seen no one, +and no one had been to see me. + +Mr. Platt, who had been all his life accomplishing things through +the organization, was no believer in spontaneous uprisings, and +asked me frankly: "Are you a candidate?" I told him I was not, +because I did not believe I could be nominated with the present +condition of the public mind in regard to railways, and I was +president of one of the largest systems. + +Then it was suggested that I permit the Tribune, which was the +party organ, to state that I was not a candidate and did not want +to be. The next morning the Tribune had that fully explained. +The conventions kept on convening and instructing their delegates +the same way. + +Another conference was called, and then I was asked to make the +statement that if nominated I would not accept, and if elected +I would decline. I said to my conferees: "Gentlemen, there is +no American living big enough to say that. In the first place, +it is gross egotism to think such a thing might happen." The result +was that the organization accepted the situation. + +The only way that I can account for this unanimous action of the +party in its conventions in the congressional districts of the +State is the accumulative result of appreciation of unselfish +work for the party. Every fall, for a quarter of a century, I had +been on the platform in every part of the State, and according +to my means was a contributor to the State and local canvass. +During this period I had asked nothing and would accept nothing. +If I may apply so large a phrase to a matter so comparatively +unimportant, I would deny the often quoted maxim that "republics +are ungrateful." + +When the convention met there was an overwhelming sentiment for +Mr. Blaine, but his refusal was positive and absolute. I had +always been a warm supporter and friend of Mr. Blaine, and his +followers were very friendly to me. + +What were called "the Granger States," and especially Iowa, had +become very hostile to railway management and railway men. They +were passing laws which were practically confiscatory of railway +securities. The committees from those States visited all other +State delegations and spoke in bitter terms of my candidacy. The +strength of my candidacy was that New York was unanimously for +me, except for one vote from New York City, and no nominee could +hope to be elected unless he could carry New York. + +After receiving ninety-nine votes, I found that on the next ballot +my vote would be very largely increased, and decided to retire. +I called together the New York delegation and stated my position, +and the reason for it. A considerable debate took place. The +motion was made and unanimously carried that the four delegates +at large should meet and see if they could agree upon a candidate +who would command the support of the entire delegation of the +State. The object was, of course, to make the State, with its +larger number of delegates than any other commonwealth, a deciding +factor in the selection. + +The delegates at large were: Thomas C. Platt, Senator Frank Hiscock, +Warner Miller, and myself. When we met, Platt and Hiscock declared +for Senator Allison of Iowa. Warner Miller with equal warmth +announced that he was for John Sherman. + +A heated controversy arose between Mr. Platt and Mr. Miller, during +which Mr. Platt said that neither he nor any of his friends would +vote for Sherman if he was nominated. Senator Hiscock, who was +always a pacifier, interrupted them, saying: "Mr. Depew has said +nothing as yet. I suggest that we hear his views." + +Mr. Platt and Mr. Miller responded to this suggestion and I +replied: "Gentlemen, New York has given to me its cordial and +practically unanimous support, and I have felt under the +circumstances that I should follow and not lead. The situation +which has grown out of this discussion here eliminates two +candidates. Without the aid of Senator Platt and his friends, +Mr. Sherman could not carry New York. Iowa has gone to the extreme +of radical legislation which threatens the investment in securities +of her railroads, and New York is such a capitalistic State that +no man identified with that legislation could carry a majority +of the vote of its people, and that makes Allison impossible. +There is one candidate here who at present apparently has no +chance, but who, nevertheless, seems to me to possess more popular +qualifications than any other, and that is General Benjamin Harrison, +of Indiana. I do not know him, never met him, but he rose from +the humblest beginnings until he became the leader of the bar +of his State. He enlisted in the Civil War as a second lieutenant, +and by conspicuous bravery and skill upon the battle-field came +out as brigadier-general. As United States senator he became +informed about federal affairs. His grandfather, President +William H. Harrison, had one of the most picturesque campaigns +in our history. There are enough survivors of that 'hard cider +and log cabin' canvass to make an attractive contribution on +the platform at every meeting, and thus add a certain historic +flavor to General Harrison's candidacy." + +After some discussion the other three agreed. We reported our +conclusion to the delegation, which by an overwhelming majority +assented to the conclusions of the four delegates at large. This +decision settled the question in the convention, and after a few +ballots General Harrison was nominated. New York was awarded +the vice-presidency and selected Levi P. Morton. + +During Harrison's administration I was absorbed in my duties as +president of the New York Central Railroad, and was seldom in +Washington. But soon after his inauguration he sent to me a +member of Congress from Indiana with a special message. This +congressman said: "I come from President Harrison, and he has +instructed me to offer you a place in his Cabinet. He is anxious +to have you in his official family." + +I told him that I was not prepared to enter public life, and while +I was exceedingly gratified by the offer, it was impossible for +me to accept. + +The congressman said: "I am a poor man, but cannot understand +how anybody can refuse to be member of the Cabinet of the President +of the United States. If such an offer was made to me, and the +conditions of our overruling Providence were that I and my family +should live in want and poverty for the rest of our lives, I would +accept without hesitation." + +I had met Benjamin Harrison as we passed through Indianapolis +on business during the canvass, for the first time. I was much +impressed with him, but his austerity appeared to those who called +upon him while present upon official business. I found him one +of the most genial and agreeable of men, and this impression was +intensified when I met him at the White House. At his own table +and family dinners he was one of the most charming of hosts. He +had, unfortunately, a repellent manner and a harsh voice. In meeting +those who came to him for official favors this made him one of +the most unpopular presidents with senators and members of the +House of Representatives. + +On the platform as a public speaker he had few equals. He was +most lucid and convincing, and had what few orators possess, which +was of special use to him in campaigning and touring the country +as president, the ability to make a fresh speech every day and +each a good one. It was a talent of presenting questions from +many angles, each of which illuminated his subject and captivated +his audience. It was said of him by a senator who was his friend, +and the remark is quoted by Senator Hoar, that if he spoke to +an audience of ten thousand people, he would make every one of +them his friend, but if he were introduced to each of them +afterwards, each would depart his enemy. I think that his manner, +which was so unfortunate, came from the fact that his career had been +one of battle, from his early struggles to his triumphant success. + +A short time before the national convention met in 1892 Senator +Frank Hiscock came to me and said that President Harrison had +requested him to ask me to lead his forces on the floor in the +convention. I said to him that I was a loyal organization man +and did not want to quarrel with our leader, Senator Platt. Then +he told me that he had seen Platt, who remarked that no one +could help Harrison, and that I would conduct the campaign in +better spirit than any one, and so he had no objection to my +accepting the position. There was one obstacle which I wished +removed. I was devoted to Mr. Blaine and not only was one of +his political supporters but very fond of him personally. Mr. Blaine +happened to be in the city, and I immediately called upon him. +His health was then very bad. + +"Mr. Blaine," I said to him, "if you are a candidate, you know +I will support you with the greatest of pleasure, but if not, then +I will accept the invitation of the president." + +Mr. Blaine was most cordial. He said that he had no objections +whatever to my taking the commission, but he doubted if the +president could be renominated, and that he could not be re-elected +if nominated. Harrison had made an excellent president, but his +manner of treating people who came to him had filled the country +with bitter and powerful enemies, while his friends were very few. + +Then he mentioned several other possible candidates, but evidently +doubted the success of the Republican party in the election. In +regard to himself he said: "If I should accept the nomination I +could not endure the labors of the canvass and its excitements. +It would kill me." That diagnosis of his condition was correct and +was demonstrated by the fact that he died soon after the election, +but long before he could be inaugurated if elected. + +All organization leaders of the party were united against the +nomination of President Harrison. The leaders were Platt, Quay, +and Clarkson, who was also chairman of the national committee. +They were the greatest masters of organization and of its management +we ever had in politics, especially Platt and Quay. Their methods +were always secret, so I decided that the only hope of success +for President Harrison was in the greatest publicity. + +The position I had accepted soon became known, and I began to +give the fullest interviews, each one an argument for the +renomination of the president. I went to Chicago a few days +in advance of the convention, was met there by correspondents +of the press, some fifty of them, and gave them a talk in a body, +which made a broadside in the morning papers, each correspondent +treating it in his own way, as his own individual interview. + +This statement or, rather, argument, was intended to be read +and succeeded in being so by the delegates from everywhere who +were on their way to the convention and had to pass through +Chicago. The convention was held in Minneapolis. I received +from that city an invitation to address a gathering of New Yorkers +who had settled in the West to speak before two patriotic audiences, +and to make the address at the dedication of the great hall where +the convention was to meet. + +It was evident that before these engagements had been concluded, +every delegate would have attended some of these meetings, and, +therefore, with the relationship between a speaker and his audience, +I would be practically the only man in the convention who was +personally known to every member. This relationship was an +enormous benefit in conducting the canvass. + +The great organization leaders were difficult of access and carried +on their campaign through trusted members of each State delegation. +My rooms were wide open for everybody. On account of the conflicting +statements made by members of the State delegations, it was very +difficult to make an accurate and detailed list of those who were +for the president, and those who were for Mr. Blaine. It occurred +to me that it would help to call a meeting of the Harrison delegates. +Many thought it was hazardous, as it might develop a majority the +other way. + +The meeting was attended, however, by every delegate, those opposed +coming out of curiosity. Taking the chair, I asked some member +of each delegation to arise and state how many votes he believed +could be relied upon from his State. Of course the statement of each +delegate was often loudly challenged by others from his State who +were present. When the result was announced it showed a majority +of three for General Harrison. A veteran campaigner begged me +to announce it as fifty, but I refused. "No," I said, "the closeness +of the vote when there is every opportunity for manipulation would +carry conviction." + +An old gentleman who stood beside me had a gold-headed ebony +cane. I seized it and rapped it on the table with such force that +it broke in two and announced that the figures showed absolute +certainty of President Harrison's renomination. I doubt if there +was a reliable majority, but the announcement of this result +brought enough of those always anxious to get on the band-wagon +to make it certain. + +Soon after arriving home I received a letter from the owner of +the cane. He wrote: "I was very angry when you broke my cane. +It was a valued birthday present from my children. It is now +in a glass case in my library, and on the case is this label: 'This +cane nominated a president of the United States.'" + +Mr. McKinley, then Governor of Ohio, presided at the convention. +I stood close beside him when I made my speech for Harrison's +renomination. While thoroughly prepared, the speech was in a +way extemporaneous to meet calls or objections. In the midst +of a sentence McKinley said to me in a loud voice: "You are +making a remarkably fine speech." The remark threw me off my +balance as an opposition would never have done. I lost the +continuity and came near breaking down, but happily the applause +gave me time to get again upon the track. + +Among my colleagues in the New York delegation was James W. Husted. +General Husted was very ill and unable to leave his room during +the convention. He sent for me one morning and said: "I have +just had a call from Governor McKinley. He says that you have +the power to nominate him, and that Harrison cannot be nominated. +If you will direct the Harrison forces for him, he will be the next +president." + +I told Husted I was enlisted for the war and, while having a great +admiration for McKinley, it was impossible. + +Soon after arriving home I received an invitation from the president +to visit him at Washington. I took the night train, arriving there +in the morning. My appointment was to lunch with him. + +During the morning Stephen B. Elkins, then secretary of war, +called and asked me to take a walk. While we were walking he +told me that the president was going to offer me the secretaryship +of state, in succession to Mr. Blaine, and that I ought to accept. +He then led me to the State Department and pointed to the portraits +on the walls of the different secretaries, commencing with +Thomas Jefferson. Elkins said that to be in that list was a +greater distinction than to be on the walls of the White House, +because these men are of far greater eminence. + +After luncheon the president invited me into the Blue Room, and +with a great deal of emotion said: "You are the only man who +has ever unselfishly befriended me. It was largely through your +efforts that I became president, and I am greatly indebted to you +for my renomination. I have tried my best to show my appreciation +by asking you into my Cabinet and otherwise, but you have refused +everything I have heretofore offered. I now want to give you +the best I have, which is secretary of state. It is broken bread, +because if I am not re-elected it will be only till the 4th of March, +but if I am re-elected it will be for four years more. I personally +want you in my Cabinet." + +I told the president it was impossible for me to accept; that even +if I resigned my presidency of the railroad, coming directly +from that position would bring the railroad question, which was +very acute, into the canvass. He said he did not think there +was anything in that, but I realized that if he was defeated his +defeat would be charged to having made that mistake. + +He then said: "Well, how about it if I am re-elected?" I told +him that I would regard the appointment the greatest of honors, +and the associations the most pleasurable of a lifetime. + +"Very well," he said; "I will appoint Mr. John W. Foster, who +has been doing excellent service for the State Department, until +next 4th of March, and you can prepare to come here upon that date." + +The most painful thing that was connected with the canvass at +Minneapolis before the convention was the appearance of Mr. Blaine +as a candidate. He had resigned from the Cabinet and yielded +to the pressure of his friends to become a candidate. + +Notwithstanding my interview and what he had said, he sent no +word whatever to me, and personally I had no information and no +notification that his candidacy was authorized by himself. What +gave, however, much authority to the statement that he would accept +the nomination was the appearance of his son, Emmons, among those +who were endeavoring to bring it about. + +There has never been a statesman in our public life, except +Henry Clay, who had such devoted friends as Mr. Blaine. While +Henry Clay never reached the presidency and was fairly defeated +in his attempt, there is no doubt that Mr. Blaine was elected in +1884, and that notwithstanding the Burchard misfortune, he would +still have been a victor except for transparent frauds in New York. + +General Harrison was by far the ablest and profoundest lawyer +among our presidents. None of them equalled him as an orator. +His State papers were of a very high order. When history sums +up the men who have held the great place of president of the +United States, General Harrison will be among the foremost. + +He retired from office, like many of our presidents, a comparatively +poor man. After retirement he entered at once upon the practice +of his profession of the law and almost immediately became +recognized as one of the leaders of the American bar. + + + +XII. JAMES G. BLAINE + +I have spoken in every national canvass, beginning with 1856. +It has been an interesting experience to be on the same platform +as an associate speaker with nearly every man in the country who +had a national reputation. Most of them had but one speech, +which was very long, elaborately prepared, and so divided into +sections, each complete in itself, that the orator was equipped +for an address of any length, from fifteen minutes to four hours, +by selection or consolidation of these sections. Few of them +would trust themselves to extemporaneous speaking. The most +versatile and capable of those who could was James G. Blaine. +He was always ready, courted interruptions, and was brilliantly +effective. In a few sentences he had captured his audience and +held them enthralled. No public man in our country, except, +perhaps, Henry Clay, had such devoted following. + +Mr. Blaine had another extraordinary gift, which is said to belong +only to kings; he never forgot any one. Years after an introduction +he would recall where he had first met the stranger and remember +his name. This compliment made that man Blaine's devoted friend +for life. + +I had an interesting experience of his readiness and versatility +when he ran for president in 1884. He asked me to introduce him +at the different stations, where he was to deliver long or short +addresses. After several of these occasions, he asked: "What's +the next station, Chauncey?" I answered: "Peekskill." "Well," +he said, "what is there about Peekskill?" "I was born there," +I answered. "Well," he said, rising, "I always thought that you +were born at Poughkeepsie." "No, Peekskill." Just then we were +running into the station, and, as the train stopped, I stepped +forward to introduce him to the great crowd which had gathered +there from a radius of fifty miles. He pushed me back in a very +dramatic way, and shouted: "Fellow citizens, allow me to make +the introduction here. As I have many times in the last quarter +of a century travelled up and down your beautiful Hudson River, +with its majestic scenery made famous by the genius of +Washington Irving, and upon the floating palaces not equalled +anywhere else in the world, or when the steamer has passed through +this picturesque bay and opposite your village, I have had emotions +of tenderness and loving memories, greater than those impressed +by any other town, because I have said to myself: 'There is the +birthplace of one of my best friends, Chauncey Depew.'" + +Local committees who desire to use the candidate to help the party +in their neighborhood and also their county tickets are invariably +most unreasonable and merciless in their demands upon the time +of the candidate. They know perfectly well that he has to speak +many times a day; that there is a limit to his strength and to +his vocal cords, and yet they will exact from him an effort which +would prevent his filling other engagements, if they possibly can. +This was notoriousIy the case during Mr. Blaine's trip through +the State of New York and afterwards through the country. The +strain upon him was unprecedented, and, very naturally, he at times +showed his irritation and some temper. + +The local committees would do their best with the railroad company +and with Blaine's managers in New York to prolong his stay and speech +at each station. He would be scheduled according to the importance +of the place for five, ten, fifteen, twenty, or thirty minutes. + +Before we reached Albany he asked me to accompany him to the end +of our line at Buffalo, and make the introduction as usual at the +stations. The committee would sometimes succeed in changing +the programme and make the stays longer at their several places. +Mr. Blaine's arrangement with me was that after he had decided +how long he would speak, I should fill up the time, whether it +was longer or shorter. That would often enlarge my speech, but +I was young and vigorous and had no responsibilities. + +I remember one committee, where the train was scheduled for ten +minutes, succeed in having it delayed an hour, and instead of +a brief address from the platform of the car, carried the +presidential party to a stand in the central square where many +thousands had gathered. In the first place, this city was not +on Mr. Blaine's schedule, and as it was late in the afternoon, +after a fatiguing day, he therefore told the committee peremptorily +that ten minutes was his limit. Then he said to me: "Chauncey, +you will have to fill out the hour." + +Mr. Blaine's wonderful magnetism, the impression he made upon every +one, and his tactful flattery of local pride, did a great deal +to remove the prejudices against him, which were being fomented by +a propaganda of a "mugwump" committee in New York. This propaganda, +as is usually the case, assailed his personal integrity. + +Notwithstanding the predictions made at the time, he was nominated, +and it was subsequently repeated that he would not carry New York. +From my own experience of many years with the people of the State +and from the platform view-point, I felt confident that he would +have a majority in the election. + +It was a few days before the close of the canvass, when I was +in the western part of the State, I received an urgent telegram +from Mr. Blaine to join him on the train, which was to leave +the Grand Central Station in New York early next morning for his +tour of New England. Upon arrival I was met by a messenger, +who took me at once to Mr. Blaine's car, which started a few +minutes afterwards. + +There was an unusual excitement in the crowd, which was speedily +explained. The best account Mr. Blaine gave me himself in saying: +"I felt decidedly that everything was well in New York. It was +against my judgment to return here. Our national committee, +however, found that a large body of Protestant clergymen wanted +to meet me and extend their support. They thought this would +offset the charges made by the 'mugwump' committee. I did not +believe that any such recognition was necessary. However, their +demands for my return and to meet this body became so importunate +that I yielded my own judgment. + +"I was engaged in my room with the committee and other visitors +when I was summoned to the lobby of the hotel to meet the clergymen. +I had prepared no speech, in fact, had not thought up a reply. +When their spokesman, Reverend Doctor Burchard, began to address +me, my only hope was that he would continue long enough for me +to prepare an appropriate response. I had a very definite idea +of what he would say and so paid little attention to his speech. +In the evening the reporters began rushing in and wanted my opinion +of Doctor Burchard's statement that the main issue of the campaign +was 'Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion.' If I had heard him utter +these words, I would have answered at once, and that would have +been effective, but I am still in doubt as to what to say about it +now. The situation is very difficult, and almost anything I say +is likely to bitterly offend one side or the other. Now I want you +to do all the introductions and be beside me to-day as far as +possible. I have become doubtful about everybody and you are +always sure-footed." I have treasured that compliment ever since. + +As we rode through the streets of New Haven the Democrats had +placed men upon the tops of the houses on either side, and they +threw out in the air thousands of leaflets, charging Blaine with +having assented to the issue which Doctor Burchard had put out-- +"Rum, Romanism, and Rebellion." They so filled the air that it +seemed a shower, and littered the streets. + +A distinguished Catholic prelate said to me: "We had to resent +an insult like that, and I estimate that the remark has changed +fifty thousand votes." I know personally of about five thousand +which were changed in our State, but still Blaine lost New York +and the presidency by a majority against him of only one thousand +one hundred and forty-nine votes. + +Whenever I visited Washington I always called upon Mr. Blaine. +The fascination of the statesman and his wonderful conversational +power made every visit an event to be remembered. On one occasion +he said to me: "Chauncey, I am in very low spirits to-day. I have +read over the first volume of my 'Twenty Years in Congress,' which +is just going to the printer, and destroyed it. I dictated the +whole of it, but I find that accuracy and elegance can only be had +at the end of a pen. I shall rewrite the memoirs in ink. In these +days composition by the typewriter or through the stenographer +is so common." There will be many who differ with Mr. Blaine. + + + +XIII. WILLIAM McKINLEY + +In the canvass of 1896 the Republican organization of the State +of New York decided, if possible, to have the national convention +nominate Levi P. Morton for president. Mr. Morton won popular +favor as vice-president, and the canvass for him looked hopeful. +But a new man of extraordinary force and ability came into this +campaign, and that man was Mark Hanna, of Ohio. Mr. Hanna was +one of the most successful of our business men. He had a rare +genius for organization, and possessed resourcefulness, courage, +and audacity. He was most practical and at the same time had +imagination and vision. While he had taken very little part in +public affairs, he had rather suddenly determined to make his +devoted friend, William McKinley, president of the United States. + +In a little while every State in the Union felt the force of +Mr. Hanna's efforts. He applied to politics the methods by which +he had so successfully advanced his large manufacturing interests. +McKinley clubs and McKinley local organizations sprang up everywhere +under the magic of Hanna's management. When the convention met +it was plain that McKinley's nomination was assured. + +The New York delegation, however, decided to present Morton's name +and submit his candidacy to a vote. I was selected to make a +nominating speech. If there is any hope, an orator on such an +occasion has inspiration. But if he knows he is beaten he cannot +put into his effort the fire necessary to impress an audience. +It is not possible to speak with force and effect unless you have +faith in your cause. + +After Mr. McKinley was nominated I moved that the nomination be +made unanimous. The convention called for speech and platform +so insistently that their call had to be obeyed. The following is +an account from a newspaper of that date of my impromptu speech. +The story which is mentioned in the speech was told to me as I was +ascending the platform by Senator Proctor of Vermont. + +"I am in the happy position now of making a speech for the man +who is going to be elected. (Laughter and applause.) It is +a great thing for an amateur, when his first nomination has failed, +to come in and second the man who has succeeded. New York is +here with no bitter feeling and with no disappointment. We +recognize that the waves have submerged us, but we have bobbed +up serenely. (Loud laughter.) It was a cannon from New York that +sounded first the news of McKinley's nomination. They said of +Governor Morton's father that he was a New England clergyman, who +brought up a family of ten children on three hundred dollars a year, +and was, notwithstanding, gifted in prayer. (Laughter.) It does +not make any difference how poor he may be, how out of work, +how ragged, how next door to a tramp anybody may be in the +United States to-night, he will be 'gifted in prayer' at the result +of this convention. (Cheers and laughter.) + +"There is a principle dear to the American heart. It is the +principle which moves American spindles, starts the industries, +and makes the wage-earners sought for instead of seeking employment. +That principle is embodied in McKinley. His personality explains +the nomination to-day. And his personality will carry into the +presidential chair the aspirations of the voters of America, of the +families of America, of the homes of America, protection to American +industry and America for Americans." (Cheers.) + +As every national convention, like every individual, has its +characteristics, the peculiar distinction of the Republican +convention of 1896 was its adoption of the gold standard of value. +An amazing and illuminating part of our political literature of +that time is the claim which various statesmen and publicists make +to the authorship of the gold plank in the platform. + +Senator Foraker, who was chairman of the committee on resolutions, +devotes a considerable part of his interesting autobiography +to the discussion of this question. He is very severe upon all +those who claim to have originated the idea. I have been asked +by several statesmen to enforce their claims to its authorship. + +The silver craze had not yet subsided. Bimetallism had strong +advocates and believers in our convention. I think even our +candidate was not fully convinced at that time of the wisdom +of the declaration. It went into the platform rather as a venture +than an article of faith, but to the surprise of both the journalists +and campaign orators, it turned out that the people had become +converted to the gold standard, and it proved to be the strongest +and most popular declaration of the convention. + +When the campaign opened the genius of Mark Hanna soon became +evident. He organized a campaign of education such as had never +been dreamed of, much less attempted. Travelling publicity agents, +with wagonloads of pamphlets, filled the highways and the byways, +and no home was so isolated that it did not receive its share. +Columns in the newspapers, especially the country papers, were +filled with articles written by experts, and the platform was never +so rich with public speakers. + +Such a campaign is irresistible. Its influence is felt by everybody; +its arguments become automatically and almost insensibly the +common language of the people. But the expense is so terrific +that it will never again be attempted. There was no corruption +or purchase of votes in Mr. Hanna's management. It was publicity +and again publicity, but it cost nearly five millions of dollars. +To reach the one hundred and ten million of people in the +United States in such a way would involve a sum so vast that +public opinion would never permit any approach to it. + +Mr. McKinley's front-porch campaign was a picturesque and +captivating feature. The candidate was a handsome man and an +eloquent speaker, with a cordial and sympathetic manner which +won everybody. Delegations from all parts of the country and +representing every phase of American life appeared at Mr. McKinley's +residence. His address to them was always appropriate and his +reception made the visitors his fast friends. + +I received a personal request to visit him, and on the occasion +he said to me: "In certain large agricultural sections there is +a very dangerous revolt in our party, owing to the bad conditions +among the farmers. Wheat and corn are selling below the cost +of production. I wish you would go down among them and make +speeches explaining the economic conditions which have produced +this result, and how we propose to and will remedy it." + +"Mr. McKinley," I said, "my position as a railroad president, +I am afraid, would antagonize them." + +"On the contrary, your very position will draw the largest +audiences and receive the greater attention." + +The result proved that he was correct. + +I recall one meeting in particular. There were thousands present, +all farmers. In the midst of my speech one man arose and said: +"Chauncey Depew, we appreciate your coming here, and we are very +anxious to hear you. Your speech is very charming and interesting, +but I want to put this to you personally. We here are suffering +from market conditions for the products of our farms. The prices +are so low that we have difficulty in meeting the interest on +our mortgages and paying our taxes, no matter how seriously we +economize. Now you are the president of one of the greatest +railroads in the country. It is reported that you are receiving +a salary of fifty thousand dollars a year. You are here in a +private car. Don't you think that the contrast between you and +us makes it difficult for us poor farmers to give you the welcome +which we would like?" + +I saw at once I had lost my audience. I then ventured upon a +statement of conditions which I have often tried and always +successfully. I said: "My friend, what you say about me is true. +Now, as to my career, I was born and brought up in a village +similar to the one which is near you here. My father gave me +my education and nothing else with which to begin life. As a +young lawyer I was looking for clients and not for office. I made +up my mind that there were no opportunities offered in the village, +but that the chances of success were in the service of corporations. +The result is that I have accomplished what you have described. +Now, my friend, I believe that you have a promising boy. I also +believe that to your pride and satisfaction he is going through +the neighboring college here, and that you intend on account +of his brightness and ability to make him a lawyer. When he is +admitted to the bar, do you expect him to try to do what I have +accomplished and make an independent position in life, or fail?" + +The farmer shouted: "Chauncey, you are all right. Go ahead +and keep it up." + +My arguments and presentation were no better than many another +speaker's, but, as Mr. McKinley predicted, they received an +attention and aroused a discussion, because of what the old farmer +had said, that no other campaigner could command. + +Mr. McKinley sent for me again and said: "Sentiment is a +wonderful force in politics. Mr. Bryan, my opponent, has made +a remarkable speaking tour through our State. He started in the +early morning from Cleveland with a speech. His train made many +stops on the way to Cincinnati, where he arrived in the evening, +and at each place he addressed large audiences, traversing the +State from one side to the other. His endurance and versatility +have made a great impression upon our people. To meet and +overcome that impression, I have asked you to come here and +repeat Bryan's effort. You are so much older than he is--I think +we may claim nearly twice his age--that if you can do it, and +I hope you can, that sentiment will be dissipated." + +I traversed Mr. Bryan's route, stopped at the same stations and +delivered speeches to similar audiences of about the same length. +On arriving in Cincinnati in the evening I was met by a committee, +the chairman of which said: "We have followed you all along from +Cleveland, where you started at seven o'clock this morning, and +it is fine. Now Mr. Bryan, when he arrived here, had no meeting. +We have seven thousand people in the Music Hall, and if you will +go there and speak five minutes it will make your trip a +phenomenal success." + +I went to the Music Hall, of course had a wonderful time and wild +ovation, and spoke for an hour. The next day I was none the worse +for this twelve hours' experience. + +President McKinley had spent most of his life in the House of +Representatives. He loved the associations and life of Congress. +The most erratic and uncertain of bodies is Congress to an executive +who does not understand its temper and characteristics. McKinley +was past master of this. Almost every president has been greatly +relieved when Congress adjourned, but Mr. McKinley often expressed +to me his wish that Congress would always be in session, as he +never was so happy as when he could be in daily contact with it. +His door was open at all times to a senator or a member of the +House of Representatives. If either failed to see him at least +once a week, the absentee usually received a message stating that +the president desired him to call. He was very keen in discovering +any irritation on the part of any senator or member about any +disappointment or fancied slight, and always most tactfully managed +to straighten the matter out. He was quite as attentive and as +particular with the opposition as with members of his own party. + +President McKinley had a wonderful way of dealing with office-seekers +and with their friends and supporters. A phrase of his became +part of the common language of the capital. It was: "My dear +fellow, I am most anxious to oblige you, but I am so situated +that I cannot give you what you want. I will, however, try to find +you something equally as good." The anxious caller for favors, +if he or his congressman failed to get the office desired, always +carried away a flower or a bouquet given by the president, with +a complimentary remark to be remembered. It soon came to be +understood among applicants for office that a desired consulship +in England could not be granted, but one of equal rank in +South Africa was possible. + +There were many good stories in the Senate of his tact in dealing +with the opposition. A Southern senator, who as a general had +made a distinguished record in the Civil War on the Confederate +side, was very resentful and would frequently remark to his friends +"that our president unfortunately is not a gentleman, and in his +ancestry is some very common blood." + +Mr. McKinley persuaded some of the senator's Southern colleagues +to bring him to the White House. He expressed his regret to +the senator that he should have offended him in any way and asked +what he had done. The senator replied: "You have appointed for +the town where my sister lives a nigger, and a bad nigger at that, +for postmaster, and my sister has to go to him for her letters +and stamps." The president arranged for the transfer of this +postmaster and the appointment of a man recommended by the senator. +The senator then went to his friends and said: "Have I remarked +to you at any time that our president was not a gentleman and +had somewhere in his ancestry very common blood? If I did I recall +the statement and apologize. Mr. McKinley is a perfect gentleman." + +All the measures which the president wished passed, unless they +were absolutely partisan, always received afterwards the support +of the Southern senator. + +I was in the Senate during a part of his term and nearly every day +at the White House, where his reception was so cordial and his +treatment of the matter presented so sympathetic that it was +a delight to go there, instead of being, as usual, one of the +most disagreeable tasks imposed upon a senator. + +He had a way of inviting one to a private conference and with +impressing you with its confidential character and the trust he +reposed in your advice and judgment which was most flattering. + +Entertainments at the White House were frequent, and he managed +to make each dinner an event to be most pleasantly remembered. +I think, while he was very courteous to everybody, he was more than +usually so to me because of an incident prior to his inauguration. + +A well-known journalist came to my office one day and said: "I am +just from Canton, where I have been several days with the president. +I discussed with him federal appointments--among others, the +mission to England, in which I am interested because my father is +an Englishman, and both my father and I are exceedingly anxious +to have you take the post, and Mr. McKinley authorized me to ask +you if you would accept the mission." + +The embassy to England presented peculiar attraction to me, because +I knew personally the Prince of Wales and most of the leading +English statesmen and public men. The journalist said that if +I accepted he would sound the press. This he did, and the response +was most flattering from journals of all political views. + +About the time of the inauguration Vice-President Hobart, who was +a cordial friend of mine, said to me: "There is something wrong +about you with the president. It is very serious, and you can +expect no recognition from the administration." I was wholly +at a loss to account for the matter and would not investigate +any further. Not long afterwards the vice-president came to me +and said: "I have found out the truth of that matter of yours +and have explained it satisfactorily to the president, who deeply +regrets that he was misled by a false report from a friend in +whom he had confidence." Soon after the president made me the +offer of the mission to Germany. I did not understand the language +and felt that I could be of little service there, and so declined. + +When President McKinley was lying seriously wounded at Buffalo +from the shot of the anarchist Czolgosz, I went there to see if +anything could be done for his comfort. For some time there was +hope he would recover, and that it would be better for him to go +to Washington. I made every arrangement to take him to the capital +if the doctors decided it could be done. But suddenly, as is +always the case with wounds of that kind, a crisis arrived in +which he died. + +Vice-President Roosevelt was camping in the Adirondacks. A message +reached him, and the next morning he arrived in Buffalo. The +Cabinet of Mr. McKinley decided that the vice-president should be +at once inaugurated as president. Colonel Roosevelt was a guest +at the house of Mr. Ainsley Wilcox. He invited me to witness his +inauguration, which occurred the same evening. It was a small +company gathered in the parlor of Mr. Wilcox's house. Elihu Root, +secretary of state, choking with emotion and in a voice full of tears, +made a speech which was a beautiful tribute to the dead president +and a clear statement of the necessity of immediate action to avoid +an interregnum in the government. John Raymond Hazel, United States +district judge, administered the oath, and the new president +delivered a brief and affecting answer to Mr. Root's address. + +This inauguration was in pathetic and simple contrast to that +which had preceded at the Capitol at Washington. Among the few +present was Senator Mark Hanna. He had been more instrumental +than any one in the United States in the selection of Mr. McKinley +for president and his triumphant election. Mr. McKinley put +absolute trust in Hanna, and Hanna was the most powerful personality +in the country. No two men in public life were ever so admirably +fitted for each other as President McKinley and Senator Hanna. +The day before the death of the president Hanna could look forward +to four years of increasing power and usefulness with the president +who had just been re-elected. But as he walked with me from +Mr. Wilcox's house that night, he felt keenly that he never could +have any such relation with Colonel Roosevelt. He was personally +exceedingly fond of Mr. McKinley, and to his grief at the death +of his friend was added a full apprehension of his changed position +in American public life. + + + +XlV. THEODORE ROOSEVELT + +The bullet of the assassin had ended fatally, and McKinley was +no more. Theodore Roosevelt, vice-president, became president. +Few recognized at the time there had come into the presidency +of the United States one of the most remarkable, capable, and +original men who ever occupied the White House. + +During the following seven years President Roosevelt not only +occupied but filled the stage of public affairs in the United States. +Even now, two years or more after his death, with the exception +of President Wilson, Roosevelt is the best known American in +the world. It is difficult to predict the future because of the +idealization which sometimes though rarely occurs in regard to +public men, but Colonel Roosevelt is rapidly taking a position +as third, with Washington and Lincoln as the other two. + +My relations with Colonel Roosevelt were always most interesting. +His father, who was a cordial friend of mine, was one of the +foremost citizens of New York. In all civic duties and many +philanthropies he occupied a first place. The public activities +of the father had great influence in forming the character and +directing the ambitions of his son. + +Mr. Roosevelt entered public life very early and, as with +everything with him, always in a dramatic way. One of the +interesting characters of New York City was Frederick Gibbs, who +was an active politician and a district leader. Gibbs afterwards +became the national committeeman from New York on the Republican +national committee. When he died he left a collection of pictures +which, to the astonishment of everybody, showed that he was a +liberal and discriminating patron of art. + +Gibbs had a district difficult to manage, because, commencing +in the slums it ran up to Fifth Avenue. It was normally Democratic, +but he managed to keep his party alive and often to win, and +so gained the reputation that he was in league with Tammany. +He came to me one day and said: "Our organization has lost the +confidence of the 'highbrows.' They have not a great many votes, +but their names carry weight and their contributions are invaluable +in campaigns. To regain their confidence we are thinking of +nominating for member of the legislature young Theodore Roosevelt, +who has just returned from Harvard. What do you think of it?" + +Of course, I advocated it very warmly. "Well," he said, "we will +have a dinner at Delmonico's. It will be composed entirely of +'highbrows.' We wish you to make the principal speech, introducing +young Roosevelt, who, of course, will respond. I will not be at +the dinner, but I will be in the pantry." + +The dinner was a phenomenal success. About three hundred in +dress suits, white vests, and white neckties were discussing the +situation, saying: "Where did these stories and slanders originate +in regard to our district , about its being an annex of Tammany +and with Tammany affiliations? We are the district, and we all +know each other." + +Young Roosevelt, when he rose to speak, looked about eighteen +years old, though he was twenty-three. His speech was carefully +prepared, and he read it from a manuscript. It was remarkable +in the emphatic way in which he first stated the evils in the city, +State, and national governments, and how he would correct them +if he ever had the opportunity. It is a curious realization of +youthful aspirations that every one of those opportunities came +to him, and in each of them he made history and permanent fame. + +The term of office of Frank Black, Governor of the State of +New York, was about expiring. Black was a man of great ability +and courage. The people had voted nine millions of dollars to +improve the Erie Canal. There were persistent rumors of fraud +in the work. Governor Black ordered an investigation through an +able committee which he appointed. The committee discovered +that about a million dollars had been wasted or stolen. Black +at once took measures to recover the money if possible and to +prosecute the guilty. The opposition took advantage of this to +create the impression in the public mind of the corruption of the +Republican administration. The acute question was: "Should +Governor Black be renominated?" + +Colonel Roosevelt had just returned from Cuba, where he had won +great reputation in command of the Rough Riders, and he and his +command were in camp on Long Island. + +Senator Platt, the State leader, was accustomed to consult me, and +his confidence in my judgment was the greater from the fact that +he knew that I wanted nothing, while most of the people who +surrounded the leader were recipients of his favor, and either +the holders of offices or expecting some consideration. He asked +me to come and see him at Manhattan Beach. As usual, he entered +at once upon the question in hand by saying: "I am very much +troubled about the governorship. Frank Black has made an excellent +governor and did the right thing in ordering an investigation of +the Canal frauds, but the result of the investigation has been that +in discovering frauds the Democrats have been able to create +a popular impression that the whole State administration is guilty. +The political situation is very critical in any way. Benjamin Odell, +the chairman of our State committee, urges the nomination of +Colonel Roosevelt. As you know, Roosevelt is no friend of mine, and +I don't think very well of the suggestion. Now, what do you think?" + +I instantly replied: "Mr. Platt, I always look at a public question +from the view of the platform. I have been addressing audiences +ever since I became a voter, and my judgment of public opinion +and the views of the people are governed by how they take or will +take and act upon the questions presented. Now, if you nominate +Governor Black and I am addressing a large audience--and I certainly +will--the heckler in the audience will arise and interrupt me, +saying: 'Chauncey, we agree with what you say about the Grand +Old Party and all that, but how about the Canal steal?' I have +to explain that the amount stolen was only a million, and that +would be fatal. If Colonel Roosevelt is nominated, I can say to +the heckler with indignation and enthusiasm: 'I am mighty glad +you asked that question. We have nominated for governor a man +who has demonstrated in public office and on the battlefield that +he is a fighter for the right, and always victorious. If he is +selected, you know and we all know from his demonstrated +characteristics, courage and ability, that every thief will be +caught and punished, and every dollar that can be found restored +to the public treasury.' Then I will follow the colonel leading his +Rough Riders up San Juan Hill and ask the band to play the +'Star-Spangled Banner.'" + +Platt said very impulsively: "Roosevelt will be nominated." + +When the State convention met to nominate a State ticket, I was +selected to present the name of Colonel Roosevelt as a candidate +for governor. I have done that a great many times in conventions, +but have never had such a response. As I went on reciting the +achievements of Roosevelt, his career, his accomplishments, and +his great promise, the convention went wild with enthusiasm. +It was plain that no mistake had been made in selecting him as +the candidate. + +During the campaign he made one of the most picturesque canvasses +the State has ever experienced. He was accompanied in his travels +by a large staff of orators, but easily dominated the situation +and carried the audience with him. He was greatly amused at a +meeting where one of his Rough Riders, who was in the company, +insisted upon making a speech. The Rough Rider said: "My friends +and fellow citizens, my colonel was a great soldier. He will make +a great governor. He always put us boys in battle where we would be +killed if there was a chance, and that is what he will do with you." + +Roosevelt as governor was, as always, most original. New York +was an organization State, with Mr. Platt as leader, and with +county leaders of unusual ability and strength. Governors had +been accustomed to rely upon the organization both for advice +and support. Roosevelt could not bear any kind of control. He +sought advice in every direction and then made up his mind. This +brought him often in conflict with local leaders and sometimes +with the general organization. + +On one occasion the State chairman, who was always accustomed +to be in Albany during the closing day of the legislature, to prevent +in the haste and confusion, characteristic of legislation at this +time, the passage of bad or unpopular measures, bade the governor +good-by at midnight, as the legislature was to adjourn the following +day with the understanding that lawmaking was practically over. + +A large real-estate delegation arrived the next morning, with +the usual desire to relieve real-estate from taxation by putting +it somewhere else. They came with a proposition to place new +burdens upon public utilities. It was too late to formulate and +introduce a measure on a question so important, but there was +a bill which had been in the legislature most of the session and +never received serious consideration. The governor sent an +emergency message to the legislature, which had remaining only +one hour of life to pass that bill. + +Next day the tremendous interest in public utilities was +panic-stricken because the bill was so crude that it amounted +to confiscation. The governor, when applied to, said: "Yes, +I know that the bill is very crude and unfit to become a law, but +legislation on this subject is absolutely necessary. I will do +this: I have thirty days before I must make up my mind to sign +the bill, or let it become a law without my signature. Within +that thirty days I will call the legislature together again. Then +you can prepare and submit to me a proper bill, and if we can +agree upon it, I will present it to the legislature. If the +legislature passes that measure I will sign it, but if it does +not, I will let the present measure, bad as it is, become a law." + +The result of the threat was that a very good and timely act was +presented in regard to the taxation of public utilities, a measure +which largely increased municipal and State revenues. I know +of no governor in my time who would have had the originality and +the audacity to accomplish what he desired by such drastic operation. + +Roosevelt's administration was high-minded and patriotic. But by +his exercise of independent judgment and frequently by doing +things without consulting the leaders, State or local, he became +exceedingly unpopular with the organization. It was evident that +it would be very difficult to renominate him. It was also evident +that on account of his popularity with the people, if he failed +in the renomination, the party would be beaten. So it was unanimously +decided to put him on the national ticket as vice-president. + +The governor resisted this with all his passionate energy. He +liked the governorship. He thought there were many things which +he could do in another term, and he believed and so stated that +the vice-presidency was a tomb. He thought that nobody could be +resurrected when once buried in that sarcophagus. + +The national Republican convention of 1900 was a ratification +meeting. President McKinley's administration had been exceedingly +popular. The convention met practically to indorse McKinley's +public acts and renominate him for another term. The only doubtful +question was the vice-presidency. There was a general accord +of sentiment in favor of Governor Roosevelt, which was only +blocked by his persistent refusal. + +Roosevelt and I were both delegates at large, and that position +gave him greater opportunity to emphasize his disinclination. +A very intimate friend of his called upon me and begged that +I would use all my influence to prevent the colonel's nomination. +This friend said to me: "The governor's situation, officially and +personally, makes it impossible for him to go to Washington. On +the official side are his unfinished legislation and the new +legislation greatly needed by the State, which will add enormously +to his reputation and pave the way for his future. He has very +little means. As governor his salary is ample. The Executive Mansion +is free, with many contributory advantages, and the schools of +Albany admirable for the education of his six children. While in +Washington the salary of vice-president is wholly inadequate to +support the dignity of the position, and it is the end of a young +man of a most promising career." + +I knew what the friend did not know, and it was that Mr. Roosevelt +could not be governor again. I was so warmly attached to him and +so anxious for his future that I felt it was my duty to force his +nomination if possible. + +Governor Odell was chairman of the delegation for all convention +purposes, but in the distribution of honors I was made the presiding +officer at its meetings. The delegation met to consider the +vice-presidency. Several very eloquent speeches were made in +favor of Mr. Roosevelt, but in an emphatic address he declined +the nomination. He then received a unanimous vote, but again +declined. A delegate then arose and suggested that he reconsider +his determination, and several others joined most earnestly in +this request. Roosevelt was deeply affected, but, nevertheless, +firmly declined. + +I knew there was a member of the delegation who had canvassed it +to secure the honor in case Roosevelt became impossible, and that +the next motion would be the nomination of this aspirant. So I +abruptly declared the meeting adjourned. I did this in the hope +that during the night, with the pressure brought to bear upon him, +the colonel would change his mind. In the morning Mr. Roosevelt +surrendered his convictions and agreed to accept the nomination. + +In every convention there is a large number of men prominent in +their several delegations who wish to secure general attention +and publicity. As there were no disputes as to either candidate +or platform, these gentlemen all became anxious to make speeches +favoring the candidates, McKinley and Roosevelt. There were so +many of these speeches which, of course, were largely repetitions, +that the convention became wearied and impatient. The last few +were not heard at all on account of the confusion and impatience +of the delegates. While one orator was droning away, a delegation +from a Western State came over to me and said: "We in the extreme +West have never heard you speak, and won't you oblige us by +taking the platform?" + +I answered: "The audience will not stand another address." +Roosevelt, who sat right in front of me, then remarked: "Yes, they +will from you. These speeches have pretty nearly killed the ticket, +and if it keeps up, the election is over, and McKinley and I are +dead." He then seized me and almost threw me on the platform. + +The novelty of the situation, which was grasped by the delegates, +commanded attention. I recalled what Mr. Lincoln had once said +to me, defending his frequent use of anecdotes, and this is what +he said: "Plain people, take them as you find them, are more +easily influenced through the medium of a broad and humorous +illustration than in any other way." + +I had heard a new story, a rare thing, and began with the narration +of it. Alongside the chairman sat Senator Thurston. He was +a fine speaker, very ornate and highly rhetorical. He never +indulged in humor or unbent his dignity and formality. I heard +him say in a sepulchral voice to the chairman: "Great God, sir, +the dignity and solemnity of this most important and historical +occasion is to be ruined by a story." Happily the story was a +success and gave the wearied audience two opportunities to hear +my speech. Their laughter was internal relief, and it was giving +the external relief of changing their positions for new and more +restful ones. + +My friend, John M. Thurston, came to Philadelphia with a most +elaborate and excellent oration. Sitting in the audience on three +different occasions, I heard it with as much pleasure the last +time as I had the first. + +When Mr. Roosevelt as vice-president came to preside over the +Senate, it was soon evident that he would not be a success. His +talents were executive and administrative. The position of the +presiding officer of the United States Senate is at once easy and +difficult. The Senate desires impartiality, equable temper, and +knowledge of parliamentary law from its presiding officer. But it +will not submit to any attempt on the part of the presiding officer +to direct or advise it, and will instantly resent any arbitrary +ruling. Of course, Mr. Roosevelt presided only at a few meetings +before the final adjournment. When Congress met again he was +President of the United States. + +Senators and members soon found that there was a change at the +White House. No two men were ever so radically different in every +respect as McKinley and Roosevelt. Roosevelt loved to see the +people in a mass and rarely cared for private or confidential +interviews. He was most hospitable and constantly bringing visitors +to luncheon when the morning meetings in the executive offices had +closed, and he had not had a full opportunity to hear or see them. + +Senator Hanna was accustomed to have a few of his colleagues of +the Senate dine with him frequently, in order to consult on more +effective action upon pending measures. President Roosevelt, +who knew everything that was going on, often burst into Hanna's +house after dinner and with the utmost frankness submitted the +problems which had arisen at the White House, and upon which he +wished advice or, if not advice, support--more frequently support. + +Any one who attended the morning conferences, where he saw senators +and members of the House, and the public, was quite sure to be +entertained. I remember on one occasion I had been requested by +several friends of his, men of influence and prominence in New York, +to ask for the appointment of minister to a foreign government for +a journalist of some eminence. When I entered the Cabinet room +it was crowded, and the president knew that I was far from well, +so he at once called my name, asked how I was and what I wanted. +I told him that I had to leave Washington that day on the advice +of my doctor for a rest, and what I wanted was to present the name +of a gentleman for appointment as a minister, if I could see +him for five minutes. + +The president exclaimed: "We have no secrets here. Tell it +right out." I then stated the case. He asked who was behind +the applicant. I told him. Then he said, "Yes, that's all right," +to each one until I mentioned also the staff of the gentleman's +newspaper, which was one of the most prominent and powerful in +the country but a merciless critic of the president. He shouted +at once: "That settles it. Nothing which that paper wishes will +receive any consideration from me." Singularly enough, the paper +subsequently became one of his ardent advocates and supporters. + +On another occasion I was entering his private office as another +senator was coming out of the Cabinet room, which was filled. +He called out: "Senator Depew, do you know that man going out?" +I answered: "Yes, he is a colleague of mine in the Senate." +"Well," he shouted, "he is a crook." His judgment subsequently +proved correct. + +Mr. Roosevelt and his wife were all their lives in the social life +of the old families of New York who were admitted leaders. They +carried to the White House the culture and conventions of what +is called the best society of the great capitals of the world. +This experience and education came to a couple who were most +democratic in their views. They loved to see people and met and +entertained every one with delightful hospitality. + +Roosevelt was a marvel of many-sidedness. Besides being an +executive as governor of a great State and administrator as +civil-service commissioner and police commissioner of New York, +he was an author of popular books and a field naturalist of rare +acquirements. He was also a wonderful athlete. I often had +occasion to see him upon urgent matters, and was summoned to his +gymnasium, where he was having a boxing match with a well-known +pugilist, and getting the better of his antagonist, or else +launching at his fencing master. The athletics would cease, to +be resumed as soon as he had in his quick and direct way disposed +of what I presented. + +Horseback riding was a favorite exercise with him, and his experience +on his Western ranch and in the army had made him one of the best +riders in the world. The foreign diplomats in Washington, with +their education that their first duty was to be in close touch with +the chief magistrate, whether czar, queen, king, or president, +found their training unequal to keeping close to President Roosevelt, +except one, and he told me with great pleasure that though a poor +rider he joined the president in his horseback morning excursions. +Sometimes, he said, when they came to a very steep, high, and +rough hill the president would shout, "Let us climb to the top," +and the diplomat would struggle over the stones, the underbrush +and gullies, and return to his horse with torn garments after +sliding down the hill. At another time, when on the banks of +the Potomac, where the waters were raging rapids the president +said, "We will go to that island in the middle of the river," and +immediately plunge in. The diplomat followed and reached the +island after wading and swimming, and with great difficulty returned +with sufficient strength to reach home. He had an attack of +pneumonia from this unusual exposure, but thereafter was the envy +and admiration of his colleagues and increased the confidence of +his own government by this intimacy with the president. + +The president's dinners and luncheons were unique because of his +universal acquaintance with literary and scientific people. There +were generally some of them present. His infectious enthusiasm +and hearty cordiality drew out the best points of each guest. +I was present at a large dinner one evening when an instance +occurred which greatly amused him. There were some forty guests. +When they were seated, the president noticed four vacant chairs. +He sent one of his aides to ascertain the trouble. The aide +discovered an elderly senator standing with his wife, and another +senator and a lady looking very disconsolate. The aged senator +refused to take out a lady as his card directed or leave his wife +to a colleague. He said to the president's aide, who told him +that dinner was waiting and what he had to do: "When I eat I eat +with my wife, or I don't eat at all." The old gentleman had his way. + +The president had one story which he told often and with much glee. +While he was on the ranch the neighbors had caught a horse thief +and hung him. They soon discovered that they had made a mistake +and hung the wrong man. The most diplomatic among the ranchers +was selected to take the body home and break the news gently to +his wife. The cowboy ambassador asked the wife: "Are you the +wife of -----?" She answered "Yes." "Well," said the ambassador, +"you are mistaken. You are his widow. I have his body in the +wagon. You need not feel bad about it, because we hung him +thinking he was the horse thief. We soon after found that he was +innocent. The joke is on us." + +Mr. Roosevelt was intensely human and rarely tried to conceal +his feelings. He was to address the New York State Fair at +Syracuse. The management invited me as a United States Senator +from New York to be present. There were at least twenty thousand +on the fair ground, and Mr. Roosevelt read his speech, which he +had elaborately prepared, detailing his scheme for harmonizing +the relations between labor and capital. The speech was long and +very able and intended for publication all over the country. But +his audience, who were farmers, were not much interested in the +subject. Besides, they had been wearied wandering around the +grounds and doing the exhibits, waiting for the meeting to begin. +I know of nothing so wearisome to mind and body as to spend hours +going through the exhibits of a great fair. When the president +finished, the audience began calling for me. I was known practically +to every one of them from my long career on the platform. + +Knowing Roosevelt as I did, I was determined not to speak, but +the fair management and the audience would not be denied. I paid +the proper compliments to the president, and then, knowing that +humor was the only possible thing with such a tired crowd, I had +a rollicking good time with them. They entered into the spirit of +the fun and responded in a most uproarious way. I heard Roosevelt +turn to the president of the fair and say very angrily: "You +promised me, sir, that there would be no other speaker." + +When I met the president that evening at a large dinner given +by Senator Frank Hiscock, he greeted me with the utmost cordiality. +He was in fine form, and early in the dinner took entire charge +of the discussion. For three hours he talked most interestingly, +and no one else contributed a word. Nevertheless, we all enjoyed +the evening, and not the least the president himself. + +I used to wonder how he found time, with his great activities and +engagements, to read so much. Publishers frequently send me +new books. If I thought they would interest him I mentioned +the work to him, but invariably he had already read it. + +When my first term as senator expired and the question of my +re-election was before the legislature, President Roosevelt gave +me his most cordial and hearty support. + +Events to his credit as president, which will be monuments in +history, are extraordinary in number and importance. To mention +only a few: He placed the Monroe Doctrine before European +governments upon an impregnable basis by his defiance to the +German Kaiser, when he refused to accept arbitration and was +determined to make war on Venezuela. The president cabled: +"Admiral Dewey with the Atlantic Fleet sails to-morrow." And +the Kaiser accepted arbitration. Raissuli, the Moroccan bandit, +who had seized and held for ransom an American citizen named +Perdicaris, gave up his captive on receipt of this cable: +"Perdicaris alive or Raissuli dead." He settled the war between +Russia and Japan and won the Nobel prize for peace. + +Roosevelt built the Panama Canal when other efforts had failed +for five hundred years. As senator from his own State, I was in +constant consultation with him while he was urging legislation +necessary to secure the concession for the construction of the +canal. The difficulties to be overcome in both Houses seemed +insurmountable, and would have been so except for the marvellous +resourcefulness and power of the president. + +When the Republican convention met in 1908, I was again delegate +at large. It was a Roosevelt convention and crazy to have him +renominated. It believed that he could overcome the popular +feeling against a third term. Roosevelt did not think so. He +believed that in order to make a third term palatable there must +be an interval of another and different administration. When +the convention found that his decision was unalterably not to +accept the nomination himself, it was prepared to accept any one +he might advise. He selected his secretary of war and most +intimate friend, William Howard Taft. Taft had a delightful +personality, and won distinction upon the bench, and had proved +an admirable administrator as governor of the Philippine Islands. +After Mr. Taft's election the president, in order that the new +president and his administration might not be embarrassed by his +presence and prestige, went on a two years' trip abroad. + +During that trip he was more in the popular mind at home and +abroad than almost any one in the world. If he reviewed the German +army with the Kaiser, the press was full of the common characteristics +and differences between the two men and of the unprecedented +event of the guest giving advice to the Kaiser. + +When he visited England he told in a public speech of his experience +in Egypt, and recommended to the English Government that, if they +expected to continue to govern Egypt, to begin to govern it. + +All France was aghast and then hilarious when, in an address before +the faculties of Sorbonne, he struck at once at the weak point of +the future and power of France, and that was race suicide. + + + +XV. UNITED STATES SENATE + +My twelve years in the Senate were among the happiest of my life. +The Senate has long enjoyed the reputation of being the best club +in the world, but it is more than that. My old friend, +Senator Bacon, of Georgia, often said that he preferred the +position of senator to that of either President or Chief Justice +of the United States. There is independence in a term of six years +which is of enormous value to the legislative work of the senator. +The member of the House, who is compelled to go before his +district every two years, must spend most of his time looking +after his re-election. Then the Senate, being a smaller body, +the associations are very close and intimate. I do not intend +to go into discussion of the measures which occupied the attention +of the Senate during my time. They are a part of the history +of the world. The value of a work of this kind, if it has any +value, is in personal incidents. + +One of the most delightful associations of a lifetime personally +and politically, was that with Vice-President James S. Sherman. +During the twenty-two years he was in the House of Representatives +he rarely was in the City of New York without coming to see me. +He became the best parliamentarian in Congress, and was generally +called to the chair when the House met in committee of the whole. +He was intimately familiar with every political movement in +Washington, and he had a rare talent for discriminatory description, +both of events and analysis of the leading characters in the +Washington drama. He was one of the wisest of the advisers of +the organization of his party, both national and State. + +When President Roosevelt had selected Mr. Taft as his successor +he made no indication as to the vice-presidency. Of course, the +nomination of Mr. Taft under such conditions was a foregone +conclusion, and when the convention met it was practically +unanimous for Roosevelt's choice. Who was the best man to nominate +for vice-president in order to strengthen the ticket embarassed +the managers of the Taft campaign. The Republican congressmen +who were at the convention were practically unanimous for Sherman, +and their leader was Uncle Joe Cannon. We from New York found +the Taft managers discussing candidates from every doubtful State. +We finally convinced them that New York was the most important, but +they had gone so far with State candidates that it became a serious +question how to get rid of them without offending their States. + +The method adopted by one of the leading managers was both adroit +and hazardous. He would call up a candidate on the telephone and +say to him: "The friends of Mr. Taft are very favorable to you for +vice-president. Will you accept the nomination?" The candidate +would hesitate and begin to explain his ambitions, his career and +its possibilities, and the matter which he would have to consider. +Before the prospective candidate had finished, the manager would +say, "Very sorry, deeply regret," and put up the telephone. + +When the nomination was made these gentlemen who might have +succeeded would come around to the manager and say impatiently +and indignantly: "I was all right. Why did you cut me off?" +However, those gentlemen have had their compensation. Whenever you +meet one of them he will say to you: "I was offered the +vice-presidency with Taft but was so situated that I could not accept." + +One evening during the convention a wind and rain storm drove +everybody indoors. The great lobby of Congress Hall was crowded, +and most of them were delegates. Suddenly there was a loud call +for a speech, and some husky and athletic citizen seized and +lifted me on to a chair. After a story and a joke, which put the +crowd into a receptive mood, I made what was practically a +nominating speech for Sherman. The response was intense and +unanimous. When I came down from a high flight as to the ability +and popularity to the human qualities of "Sunny Jim," I found +"Sunny Jim" such a taking characterization, and it was echoed +and re-echoed. I do not claim that speech nominated Sherman, +only that nearly everybody who was present became a most vociferous +advocate for Sherman for vice-president. + +The position of vice-president is one of the most difficult in our +government. Unless the president requests his advice or assistance, +he has no public function except presiding over the Senate. No +president ever called the vice-president into his councils. +McKinley came nearest to it during his administration, with Hobart, +but did not keep it up. + +President Harding has made a precedent for the future by inviting +Vice-President Coolidge to attend all Cabinet meetings. The +vice-president has accepted and meets regularly with the Cabinet. + +Sherman had one advantage over other vice-presidents in having +been for nearly a quarter of a century a leader in Congress. Few, +if any, who ever held that office have been so popular with the +Senate and so tactful and influential when they undertook the very +difficult task of influencing the action of a Senate, very jealous +of its prerogatives and easily made resentful and hostile. + +Among my colleagues in the Senate were several remarkable men. +They had great ability, extraordinary capacity for legislation, +and, though not great orators, possessed the rare faculty of +pressing their points home in short and effective speeches. Among +them was Senator Frye, of Maine. He was for many years chairman +of the great committee on commerce. Whatever we had of a merchant +marine was largely due to his persistent efforts. He saved the +government scores of millions in that most difficult task of pruning +the River and Harbor Bill. He possessed the absolute confidence +of both parties, and was the only senator who could generally carry +the Senate with him for or against a measure. While wise and +the possessor of the largest measure of common sense, yet he was +one of the most simple-minded of men. I mean by this that he had +no guile and suspected none in others. Whatever was uppermost +in his mind came out. These characteristics made him one of the +most delightful of companions and one of the most harmonious +men to work with on a committee. + +Clement A. Griscom, the most prominent American ship owner and +director, was very fond of Senator Frye. Griscom entertained +delightfully at his country home near Philadelphia. He told me +that at one time Senator Frye was his guest over a week-end. +To meet the senator at dinner on Saturday evening, he had invited +great bankers, lawyers, and captains of industry of Philadelphia. +Their conversation ran from enterprises and combinations involving +successful industries and exploitations to individual fortunes +and how they were accumulated. The atmosphere was heavy with +millions and billions. Suddenly Griscom turned to Senator Frye +and said: "I know that our successful friends here would not only +be glad to hear but would learn much if you would tell us of your +career." "It is not much to tell," said Senator Frye, "especially +after these stories which are like chapters from the 'Arabian Nights.' +I was very successful as a young lawyer and rising to a leading +practice and head of the bar of my State when I was offered +an election to the House of Representatives. I felt that it would +be a permanent career and that there was no money in it. I +consulted my wife and told her that it meant giving up all prospects +of accumulating a fortune or independence even, but it was my +ambition, and I believed I could perform valuable service to +the public, and that as a career its general usefulness would far +surpass any success at the bar. My wife agreed with me cordially +and said that she would economize on her part to any extent required. + +"So," the senator continued, "I have been nearly thirty years in +Congress, part of this time in the House and the rest in the Senate. +I have been able on my salary to meet our modest requirements +and educate our children. I have never been in debt but once. Of +course, we had to calculate closely and set aside sufficient +to meet our extra expenses in Washington and our ordinary one +at home. We came out a little ahead every year but one. That +year the president very unexpectedly called an extra session, +and for the first time in twenty years I was in debt to our landlord +in Washington." + +Griscom told me that this simple narrative of a statesman of +national reputation seemed to make the monumental achievements +of his millionaire guests of little account. + +Senator Frye's genial personality and vivid conversation made +him a welcome guest at all entertainments in Washington. There +was a lady at the capital at that time who entertained a great deal +and was very popular on her own account, but she always began +the conversation with the gentleman who took her out by narrating +how she won her husband. I said one day to Senator Frye: "There +will be a notable gathering at So-and-So's dinner to-night. Are +you going?" He answered: "Yes, I will be there; but it has been +my lot to escort to dinner this lady"--naming her--"thirteen times +this winter. She has told me thirteen times the story of her +courtship. If it is my luck to be assigned to her to-night, and +she starts that story, I shall leave the table and the house +and go home." + +Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island, was once called by Senator Quay +the schoolmaster of the Senate. As the head of the finance +committee he had commanding influence, and with his skill in +legislation and intimate knowledge of the rules he was the leader +whenever he chose to lead. This he always did when the policy +he desired or the measure he was promoting had a majority, and +the opposition resorted to obstructive tactics. As there is no +restriction on debate in the Senate, or was none at my time, the +only way the minority could defeat the majority was by talking +the bill to death. I never knew this method to be used successfully +but once, because in the trial of endurance the greater number +wins. The only successful talk against time was by Senator Carter, +of Montana. Carter was a capital debater. He was invaluable at +periods when the discussion had become very bitter and personal. +Then in his most suave way he would soothe the angry elements +and bring the Senate back to a calm consideration of the question. +When he arose on such occasions, the usual remark among those +who still kept their heads was: "Carter will now bring out his +oil can and pour oil upon the troubled waters"--and it usually +proved effective. + +Senator George F. Hoar, of Massachusetts, seemed to be a revival +of what we pictured in imagination as the statesmen who framed +the Constitution of the United States, or the senators who sat +with Webster, Clay, and Calhoun. He was a man of lofty ideals +and devotion to public service. He gave to each subject on which +he spoke an elevation and dignity that lifted it out of ordinary +senatorial discussions. He had met and knew intimately most +of the historical characters in our public life for fifty years, +and was one of the most entertaining and instructive conversationalists +whom I ever met. + +On the other hand, Senator Benjamin Tillman, of South Carolina, +who was an ardent admirer of Senator Hoar, was his opposite in +every way. Tillman and I became very good friends, though at +first he was exceedingly hostile. He hated everything which +I represented. With all his roughness, and at the beginning +his brutality, he had a singular streak of sentiment. + +I addressed the first dinner of the Gridiron Club at its organization +and have been their guest many times since. The Gridiron Club +is an association of the newspaper correspondents at Washington, +and their dinners several times a year are looked forward to with +the utmost interest and enjoyed by everybody privileged to attend. + +The Gridiron Club planned an excursion to Charleston, S. C., that +city having extended to them an invitation. They invited me to +go with them and also Senator Tillman. Tillman refused to be +introduced to me because I was chairman of the board of directors +of the New York Central Railroad, and he hated my associations +and associates. We had a wonderful welcome from the most hospitable +of cities, the most beautifully located City of Charleston. On +the many excursions, luncheons, and gatherings, I was put forward +to do the speaking, which amounted to several efforts a day during +our three days' visit. The Gridiron stunt for Charleston was very +audacious. There were many speakers, of course, including +Senator Tillman, who hated Charleston and the Charlestonians, +because he regarded them as aristocrats and told them so. There +were many invited to speak who left their dinners untasted while +they devoted themselves to looking over their manuscripts, and +whose names were read in the list at the end of the dinner, but +their speeches were never called for. + +On our way home we stopped for luncheon at a place outside of +Charleston. During the luncheon an earthquake shook the table +and rattled the plates. I was called upon to make the farewell +address for the Gridiron Club to the State of South Carolina. +Of course the earthquake and its possibilities gave an opportunity +for pathos as well as humor, and Tillman was deeply affected. +When we were on the train he came to me and with great emotion +grasped my hand and said: "Chauncey Depew, I was mistaken about +you. You are a damn good fellow." And we were good friends +until he died. + +I asked Tillman to what he owed his phenomenal rise and strength +in the conservative State of South Carolina. He answered: "We +in our State were governed by a class during the colonial period +and afterwards until the end of the Civil War. They owned large +plantations, hundreds of thousands of negroes, were educated +for public life, represented our State admirably, and did great +service to the country. They were aristocrats and paid little +attention to us poor farmers, who constituted the majority of +the people. The only difference between us was that they had +been colonels or generals in the Revolutionary War, or delegates +to the Continental Congress or the Constitutional Convention, while +we had been privates, corporals, or sergeants. They generally +owned a thousand slaves, and we had from ten to thirty. I made +up my mind that we should have a share of the honors, and they +laughed at me. I organized the majority and put the old families +out of business, and we became and are the rulers of the State." + +Among the most brilliant debaters of any legislative body were +Senators Joseph W. Bailey, of Texas, and John C. Spooner, of +Wisconsin. They would have adorned and given distinction to any +legislative body in the world. Senator Albert J. Beveridge, of +Indiana, and Senator Joseph B. Foraker, of Ohio, were speakers +of a very high type. The Senate still has the statesmanship, +eloquence, scholarship, vision, and culture of Senator Lodge, +of Massachusetts. + +One of the wonders of the Senate was Senator W. M. Crane, of +Massachusetts. He never made a speech. I do not remember that +he ever made a motion. Yet he was the most influential member +of that body. His wisdom, tact, sound judgment, encyclopaedic +knowledge of public affairs and of public men made him an authority. + +Senator Hanna, who was a business man pure and simple, and wholly +unfamiliar with legislative ways, developed into a speaker of +remarkable force and influence. At the same time, on the social +side, with his frequent entertainments, he did more for the measures +in which he was interested. They were mainly, of course, of a +financial and economic character. + +One of the characters of the Senate, and one of the upheavals +of the Populist movement was Senator Jeff. Davis, of Arkansas. +Davis was loudly, vociferously, and clamorously a friend of the +people. Precisely what he did to benefit the people was never +very clear, but if we must take his word for it, he was the only +friend the people had. Among his efforts to help the people was +to denounce big business of all kinds and anything which gave large +employment or had great capital. I think that in his own mind +the ideal state would have been made of small landowners and +an occasional lawyer. He himself was a lawyer. + +One day he attacked me, as I was sitting there listening to him, +in a most vicious way, as the representative of big corporations, +especially railroads, and one of the leading men in the worst +city in the world, New York, and as the associate of bankers and +capitalists. When he finished Senator Crane went over to his seat +and told him that he had made a great mistake, warned him that +he had gone so far that I might be dangerous to him personally, +but in addition to that, with my ridicule and humor, I would make +him the laughing-stock of the Senate and of the country. Jeff, +greatly alarmed, waddled over to my seat and said: "Senator Depew, +I hope you did not take seriously what I said. I did not mean +anything against you. I won't do it again, but I thought that you +would not care, because it won't hurt you, and it does help me +out in Arkansas." I replied: "Jeff, old man, if it helps you, +do it as often as you like." Needless to say, he did not repeat. + +I have always been deeply interested in the preservation of the +forests and a warm advocate of forest preservers. I made a study +of the situation of the Appalachian Mountains, where the lumberman +was doing his worst, and millions of acres of fertile soil from the +denuded hills were being swept by the floods into the ocean every +year. I made a report from my committee for the purchase of this +preserve, affecting, as it did, eight States, and supported it +in a speech. Senator Eugene HaIe, a Senate leader of controlling +influence, had been generally opposed to this legislation. He +became interested, and, when I had finished my speech, came over +to me and said: "I never gave much attention to this subject. +You have convinced me and this bill should be passed at once, +and I will make the motion." Several senators from the States +affected asked for delay in order that they might deliver speeches +for local consumption. The psychological moment passed and that +legislation could not be revived until ten years afterwards, and +then in a seriously modified form. + +I worked very hard for the American mercantile marine. A subsidy +of four million dollars a year in mail contracts would have been +sufficient, in addition to the earnings of the ships, to have given +us lines to South and Central America, Australia, and Asia. + +Shakespeare's famous statement that a rose by any other name +would smell as sweet has exceptions. In the psychology of the +American mind the word subsidy is fatal to any measure. After +the most careful investigation, while I was in the Senate, I +verified this statement, that a mail subsidy of four millions +a year would give to the United States a mercantile marine which +would open new trade routes for our commerce. This contribution +would enable the ship-owners to meet the losses which made it +impossible for them to compete with the ships of other countries, +some having subsidies and all under cheaper expenses of operation. +It would not all be a contribution because part of it was a +legitimate charge for carrying the mails. The word subsidy, +however, could be relied upon to start a flood of fiery oratory, +charging that the people of the United States were to be taxed +to pour money into the pockets of speculators in New York and +financial crooks in Wall Street. + +We have now created a mercantile marine through the Shipping Board +which is the wonder and amazement of the world. It has cost about +five hundred millions. Part of it is junk already, and a part +available is run at immense loss, owing to discriminatory laws. +Recently a bill was presented to Congress for something like sixty +millions of dollars to make up the losses in the operations of our +mercantile marine for the year. While a subsidy of four millions +under private management would have been a success but was vetoed +as a crime, the sixty millions are hailed as a patriotic contribution +to public necessity. + +A river and harbor bill of from thirty to fifty millions of dollars +was eagerly anticipated and enthusiastically supported. It was +known to be a give and take, a swap and exchange, where a few +indispensable improvements had to carry a large number of dredgings +of streams, creeks, and bayous, which never could be made navigable. +Many millions a year were thrown away in these river and harbor +bills, but four millions a year to restore the American mercantile +marine aroused a flood of indignant eloquence, fierce protest, +and wild denunciation of capitalists, who would build and own +ships, and it was always fatal to the mercantile marine. + +Happily the war has, among its benefits, demonstrated to the +interior and mountain States that a merchant marine is as necessary +to the United States as its navy, and that we cannot hope to expand +and retain our trade unless we have the ships. + +I remember one year when the river and harbor bill came up for +passage on the day before final adjournment. The hour had been +fixed by both Houses, and, therefore, could not be extended by +one House. The administration was afraid of the bill because of +the many indefensible extravagances there were in it. At the +same time, it had so many political possibilities that the president +was afraid to veto it. Senator Carter was always a loyal +administration man, and so he was put forward to talk the bill +to death. He kept it up without yielding the floor for thirteen +hours, and until the hour of adjournment made action upon the +measure impossible. + +I sat there all night long, watching this remarkable effort. The +usual obstructor soon uses up all his own material and then sends +pages of irrelevant matter to the desk for the clerk to read, or +he reads himself from the pages of the Record, or from books, +but Carter stuck to his text. He was a man of wit and humor. +Many items in the river and harbor bill furnished him with an +opportunity of showing how creeks and trout streams were to be +turned by the magic of the money of the Treasury into navigable +rivers, and inaccessible ponds were to be dredged into harbors +to float the navies of the world. + +The speech was very rich in anecdotes and delightful in its success +by an adroit attack of tempting a supporter of the measure into +aiding the filibuster by indignantly denying the charge which +Carter had made against him. By this method Carter would get +a rest by the folly of his opponent. The Senate was full and +the galleries were crowded during the whole night, and when the +gavel of the vice-president announced that no further debate was +admissible and the time for adjournment had arrived, and began +to make his farewell speech, Carter took his seat amidst the wreck +of millions and the hopes of the exploiters, and the Treasury +of the United States had been saved by an unexpected champion. + +The country does not appreciate the tremendous power of the +committees, as legislative business constantly increases with +almost geometrical progression. The legislation of the country +is handled almost entirely in committees. It requires a possible +revolution to overcome the hostility of a committee, even if the +House and the country are otherwise minded. Some men whose names +do not appear at all in the Congressional Record, and seldom in +the newspapers, have a certain talent for drudgery and detail +which is very rare, and when added to shrewdness and knowledge +of human nature makes such a senator or representative a force +to be reckoned with on committees. Such a man is able to hold +up almost anything. + +I found during my Washington life the enormous importance of its +social side. Here are several hundred men in the two Houses of +Congress, far above the average in intelligence, force of character, +and ability to accomplish things. Otherwise they would not have +been elected. They are very isolated and enjoy far beyond those +who have the opportunity of club life, social attentions. At dinner +the real character of the guest comes out, and he is most responsive +to these attentions. Mrs. Depew and I gave a great many dinners, +to our intense enjoyment and, I might say, education. By this +method I learned to know in a way more intimate than otherwise +would have been possible many of the most interesting characters +I have ever met. + +Something must be done, and that speedily, to bridge the widening +chasm between the Executive and the Congress. Our experience +with President Wilson has demonstrated this. As a self-centred +autocrat, confident of himself and suspicious of others, hostile to +advice or discussion, he became the absolute master of the Congress +while his party was in the majority. + +The Congress, instead of being a co-ordinate branch, was really +in session only to accept, adopt, and put into laws the imperious +will of the president. When, however, the majority changed, there +being no confidence between the executive and the legislative +branch of the government, the necessary procedure was almost +paralyzed. The president was unyielding and the Congress insisted +upon the recognition of its constitutional rights. Even if the +president is, as McKinley was, in close and frequent touch with +the Senate and the House of Representatives, the relation is +temporary and unequal, and not what it ought to be, automatic. + +Happily we have started a budget system; but the Cabinet should +have seats on the floor of the Houses, and authority to answer +questions and participate in debates. Unless our system was +radically changed, we could not adopt the English plan of selecting +the members of the Cabinet entirely from the Senate and the House. +But we could have an administration always in close touch with +the Congress if the Cabinet members were in attendance when matters +affecting their several departments were under discussion and action. + +I heard Senator Nelson W. Aldrich, who was one of the shrewdest and +ablest legislators of our generation, say that if business methods +were applied to the business of the government in a way in which +he could do it, there would be a saving of three hundred millions +of dollars a year. We are, since the Great War, facing +appropriations of five or six billions of dollars a year. I think +the saving of three hundred millions suggested by Senator Aldrich +could be increased in proportion to the vast increase in appropriations. + +There has been much discussion about restricting unlimited debates +in the Senate and adopting a rigid closure rule. My own recollection +is that during my twelve years unlimited discussion defeated no +good measure, but talked many bad ones to death. There is a curious +feature in legislative discussion, and that is the way in which +senators who have accustomed themselves to speak every day on +each question apparently increase their vocabulary as their ideas +evaporate. Two senators in my time, who could be relied upon +to talk smoothly as the placid waters of a running brook for an +hour or more every day, had the singular faculty of apparently +saying much of importance while really developing no ideas. +In order to understand them, while the Senate would become empty +by its members going to their committee rooms, I would be a patient +listener. I finally gave that up because, though endowed with +reasonable intelligence and an intense desire for knowledge, +I never could grasp what they were driving at. + + + +XVI. AMBASSADORS AND MINISTERS + +The United States has always been admirably represented at the +Court of St. James. I consider it as a rare privilege and a +delightful memory that I have known well these distinguished +ambassadors and ministers who served during my time. I was not +in England while Charles Francis Adams was a minister, but his +work during the Civil War created intense interest in America. +It is admitted that he prevented Great Britain from taking such +action as would have prolonged the war and endangered the purpose +which Mr. Lincoln was trying to accomplish, namely, the preservation +of the Union. His curt answer to Lord John Russell, "This means +war," changed the policy of the British Government. + +James Russell Lowell met every requirement of the position, but, +more than that, his works had been read and admired in England +before his appointment. Literary England welcomed him with open +arms, and official England soon became impressed with his diplomatic +ability. He was one of the finest after-dinner speakers, and that +brought him in contact with the best of English public life. He +told me an amusing instance. As soon as he was appointed, everybody +who expected to meet him sent to the book stores and purchased +his works. Among them, of course, was the "Biglow Papers." One +lady asked him if he had brought Mrs. Biglow with him. + +The secretary of the embassy, William J. Hoppin, was a very +accomplished gentleman. He had been president of the Union +League Club, and I knew him very well. I called one day at +the embassy with an American living in Europe to ask for a favor +for this fellow countryman. The embassy was overwhelmed with +Americans asking favors, so Hoppin, without looking at me or +waiting for the request, at once brought out his formula for sliding +his visitors on an inclined plane into the street. He said: "Every +American--and there are thousands of them--who comes to London +visits the embassy. They all want to be invited to Buckingham +Palace or to have cards to the House of Lords or the House of +Commons. Our privileges in that respect are very few, so few that +we can satisfy hardly anybody. Why Americans, when there is so +much to see in this old country from which our ancestry came, and +with whose literature we are so familiar, should want to try to get +into Buckingham Palace or the Houses of Parliament is incomprehensible. +There is a very admirable cattle show at Reading. I have a few +tickets and will give them to you, gentlemen, gladly. You will +find the show exceedingly interesting." + +I took the tickets, but if there is anything of which I am not a +qualified judge, it is prize cattle. That night, at a large dinner +given by a well-known English host, my friend Hoppin was present, +and at once greeted me with warm cordiality. Of course, he had +no recollections of the morning meeting. Our host, as usual when +a new American is present, wanted to know if I had any fresh +American stories, and I told with some exaggeration and embroidery +the story of the Reading cattle show. Dear old Hoppin was +considerably embarrassed at the chafing he received, but took it +in good part, and thereafter the embassy was entirely at my service. + +Mr. Edward J. Phelps was an extraordinary success. He was a great +lawyer, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the +United States told me that there was no one who appeared before +that Court whose arguments were more satisfactory and convincing +than those of Mr. Phelps. He had the rare distinction of being a +frequent guest at the Benchers' dinners in London. One of the +English judges told me that at a Benchers' dinner the judges were +discussing a novel point which had arisen in one of the cases +recently before them. He said that in the discussion in which +Mr. Phelps was asked to participate, the view which the United States +minister presented was so forcible that the decision, which had +been practically agreed upon, was changed to meet Mr. Phelps's +view. I was at several of Mr. Phelps's dinners. They were +remarkable gatherings of the best in almost every department of +English life. + +At one of his dinners I had a delightful talk with Browning, +the poet. Browning told me that as a young man he was several +times a guest at the famous breakfasts of the poet and banker, +Samuel Rogers. Rogers, he said, was most arbitrary at these +breakfasts with his guests, and rebuked him severely for venturing +beyond the limits within which he thought a young poet should +be confined. + +Mr. Browning said that nothing gratified him so much as the +popularity of his works in the United States. He was especially +pleased and also embarrassed by our Browning societies, of which +there seemed to be a great many over here. They sent him papers +which were read by members of the societies, interpreting his poems. +These American friends discovered meanings which had never occurred +to him, and were to him an entirely novel view of his own +productions. He also mentioned that every one sent him presents +and souvenirs, all of them as appreciations and some as suggestions +and help. Among these were several cases of American wine. He +appreciated the purpose of the gifts, but the fluid did not +appeal to him. + +He told me he was a guest at one time at the dinners given to +the Shah of Persia. This monarch was a barbarian, but the +British Foreign Office had asked and extended to him every possible +courtesy, because of the struggle then going on as to whether +Great Britain or France or Russia should have the better part of +Persia. France and Russia had entertained him with lavish +military displays and other governmental functions, which a +democratic country like Great Britain could not duplicate. So +the Foreign Office asked all who had great houses in London or +in the country, and were lavish entertainers, to do everything they +could for the Shah. + +Browning was present at a great dinner given for the Shah at +Stafford House, the home of the Duke of Sutherland, and the finest +palace in London. Every guest was asked, in order to impress +the Shah, to come in all the decorations to which they were entitled. +The result was that the peers came in their robes, which they +otherwise would not have thought of wearing on such an occasion, +and all others in the costumes of honor significant of their rank. +Browning said he had received a degree at Oxford and that entitled +him to a scarlet cloak. He was so outranked, because the guests +were placed according to rank, that he sat at the foot of the +table. The Shah said to his host: "Who is that distinguished +gentleman in the scarlet cloak at the other end of the table?" +The host answered: "That is one of our greatest poets." "That +is no place for a poet," remarked the Shah; "bring him up here +and let him sit next to me." So at the royal command the poet +took the seat of honor. The Shah said to Browning: "I am mighty +glad to have you near me, for I am a poet myself." + +It was at this dinner that Browning heard the Shah say to the +Prince of Wales, who sat at the right of the Shah: "This is a +wonderful palace. Is it royal?" The Prince answered: "No, it +belongs to one of our great noblemen, the Duke of Sutherland." +"Well," said the Shah, "let me give you a point. When one of my +noblemen or subjects gets rich enough to own a palace like this, +I cut off his head and take his fortune." + +A very beautiful English lady told me that she was at +Ferdinand Rothschild's, where the Shah was being entertained. +In order to minimize his acquisitive talents, the wonderful treasures +of Mr. Rothschild's house had been hidden. The Shah asked for +an introduction to this lady and said to her: "You are the most +beautiful woman I have seen since I have been in England. I must +take you home with me." "But," she said, "Your Majesty, I am +married." "Well," he replied, "bring your husband along. When +we get to Teheran, my capital, I will take care of him." + +Mr. Phelps's talent as a speaker was quite unknown to his countrymen +before he went abroad. While he was a minister he made several +notable addresses, which aroused a great deal of interest and +admiration in Great Britain. He was equally happy in formal +orations and in the field of after-dinner speeches. Mrs. Phelps +had such a phenomenal success socially that, when her husband +was recalled and they left England, the ladies of both the great +parties united, and through Lady Rosebery, the leader of the +Liberal, and Lady Salisbury, of the Conservative, women, paid her +a very unusual and complimentary tribute. + +During John Hay's term as United States minister to Great Britain +my visits to England were very delightful. Hay was one of the +most charming men in public life of his period. He had won great +success in journalism, as an author, and in public service. At +his house in London one would meet almost everybody worth while +in English literary, public, and social life. + +In the hours of conversation with him, when I was posting him on +the latest developments in America, his comments upon the leading +characters of the time were most racy and witty. Many of them +would have embalmed a statesman, if the epigram had been preserved, +like a fly in amber. He had officially a very difficult task +during the Spanish War. The sympathies of all European governments +were with Spain. This was especially true of the Kaiser and the +German Government. It was Mr. Hay's task to keep Great Britain +neutral and prevent her joining the general alliance to help Spain, +which some of the continental governments were fomenting. + +Happily, Mr. Balfour, the British foreign minister, was cordially +and openly our friend. He prevented this combination against +the United States. + +During part of my term as a senator John Hay was secretary of state. +To visit his office and have a discussion on current affairs was +an event to be remembered. He made a prediction, which was the +result of his own difficulties with the Senate, that on account of +the two-thirds majority necessary for the ratification of a treaty, +no important treaty sent to the Senate by the president would ever +again be ratified. Happily this gloomy view has not turned out +to be entirely correct. + +Mr. Hay saved China, in the settlement of the indemnities arising +out of the Boxer trouble, from the greed of the great powers of +Europe. One of his greatest achievements was in proclaiming the +open door for China and securing the acquiescence of the great +powers. It was a bluff on his part, because he never could have +had the active support of the United States, but he made his +proposition with a confidence which carried the belief that he +had no doubt on that subject. He was fortunately dealing with +governments who did not understand the United States and do not +now. With them, when a foreign minister makes a serious statement +of policy, it is understood that he has behind him the whole +military, naval, and financial support of his government. But with +us it is a long road and a very rocky one, before action so serious, +with consequences so great, can receive the approval of the +war-making power in Congress. + +I called on Hay one morning just as Cassini, the Russian ambassador, +was leaving. Cassini was one of the shrewdest and ablest of +diplomats in the Russian service. It was said that for twelve +years he had got the better of all the delegations at Pekin and +controlled that extraordinary ruler of China, the dowager queen. +Cassini told me that from his intimate associations with her he +had formed the opinion that she was quite equal to Catherine of +Russia, whom he regarded as the greatest woman sovereign who +ever lived. + +Hay said to me: "I have just had a very long and very remarkable +discussion with Cassini. He is a revelation in the way of secret +diplomacy. He brought to me the voluminous instructions to him +of his government on our open-door policy. After we had gone +over them carefully, he closed his portfolio and, pushing it aside, +said: 'Now, Mr. Secretary, listen to Cassini.' He immediately +presented an exactly opposite policy from the one in the +instructions, and a policy entirely favorable to us, and said: +'That is what my government will do.'" It was a great loss to +Russian diplomacy when he died so early. + +As senator I did all in my power to bring about the appointment +of Whitelaw Reid as ambassador to Great Britain. He and I had +been friends ever since his beginning in journalism in New York +many years before. Reid was then the owner and editor of the +New York Tribune, and one of the most brilliant journalists in the +country. He was also an excellent public speaker. His long and +intimate contact with public affairs and intimacy with public men +ideally fitted him for the appointment. He had already served +with great credit as ambassador to France. + +The compensation of our representatives abroad always has been +and still is entirely inadequate to enable them to maintain, in +comparison with the representatives of other governments, the +dignity of their own country. All the other great powers at +the principal capitals maintain fine residences for their ambassadors, +which also is the embassy. Our Congress, except within the last +few years, has always refused to make this provision. The salary +which we pay is scarcely ever more than one-third the amount paid +by European governments in similar service. + +I worked hard while in the Senate to improve this situation because +of my intimate knowledge of the question. When I first began +the effort I found there was very strong belief that the whole +foreign service was an unnecessary expense. When Mr. Roosevelt +first became president, and I had to see him frequently about +diplomatic appointments, I learned that this was his view. He said +to me: "This foreign business of the government, now that the +cable is perfected, can be carried on between our State Department +and the chancellery of any government in the world. Nevertheless, +I am in favor of keeping up the diplomatic service. All the old +nations have various methods of rewarding distinguished public +servants. The only one we have is the diplomatic service. So when +I appoint a man ambassador or minister, I believe that I am giving +him a decoration, and the reason I change ambassadors and ministers +is that I want as many as possible to possess it." + +The longer Mr. Roosevelt remained president, and the closer he +came to our foreign relations, the more he appreciated the value +of the personal contact and intimate knowledge on the spot of +an American ambassador or minister. + +Mr. Reid entertained more lavishly and hospitably than any +ambassador in England ever had, both at his London house and at +his estate in the country. He appreciated the growing necessity +to the peace of the world and the progress of civilization of +closer union of English-speaking peoples. At his beautiful and +delightful entertainments Americans came in contact with Englishmen +under conditions most favorable for the appreciation by each of +the other. The charm of Mr. and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid's hospitality +was so genuine, so cordial, and so universal, that to be their +guest was an event for Americans visiting England. There is no +capital in the world where hospitality counts for so much as in +London, and no country where the house-party brings people together +under such favorable conditions. Both the city and the country +homes of Mr. and Mrs. Reid were universities of international +good-feeling. Mr. Reid, on the official side, admirably represented +his country and had the most intimate relations with the governing +powers of Great Britain. + +I recall with the keenest pleasure how much my old friend, +Joseph H. Choate, did to make each one of my visits to London +during his term full of the most charming and valuable recollections. +His dinners felt the magnetism of his presence, and he showed +especial skill in having, to meet his American guests, just the +famous men in London life whom the American desired to know. + +Choate was a fine conversationalist, a wit and a humorist of +a high order. His audacity won great triumphs, but if exercised +by a man less endowed would have brought him continuously into +trouble. He had the faculty, the art, of so directing conversation +that at his entertainments everybody had a good time, and an +invitation always was highly prized. He was appreciated most +highly by the English bench and bar. They recognized him as the +leader of his profession in the United States. They elected him +a Bencher of the Middle Temple, the first American to receive that +honor after an interval of one hundred and fifty years. Choate's +witticisms and repartees became the social currency of dinner-tables +in London and week-end parties in the country. + +Choate paid little attention to conventionalities, which count for +so much and are so rigidly enforced, especially in royal circles. +I had frequently been at receptions, garden-parties, and other +entertainments at Buckingham Palace in the time of Queen Victoria +and also of King Edward. At an evening reception the diplomats +representing all the countries in the world stand in a solemn row, +according to rank and length of service. They are covered with +decorations and gold lace. The weight of the gold lace on some +of the uniforms of the minor powers is as great as if it were a +coat of armor. Mr. Choate, under regulations of our diplomatic +service, could only appear in an ordinary dress suit. + +While the diplomats stand in solemn array, the king and queen +go along the line and greet each one with appropriate remarks. +Nobody but an ambassador and minister gets into that brilliant +circle. On one occasion Mr. Choate saw me standing with the other +guests outside the charmed circle and immediately left the diplomats, +came to me, and said: "I am sure you would like to have a talk +with the queen." He went up to Her Majesty, stated the case and +who I was, and the proposition was most graciously received. +I think the royalties were pleased to have a break in the formal +etiquette. Mr. Choate treated the occasion, so far as I was +concerned, as if it had been a reception in New York or Salem, +and a distinguished guest wanted to meet the hosts. The gold-laced +and bejewelled and highly decorated diplomatic circle was paralyzed. + +Mr. Choate's delightful personality and original conversational +powers made him a favorite guest everywhere, but he also carried +to the platform the distinction which had won for him the reputation +of being one of the finest orators in the United States. + +Choate asked at one time when I was almost nightly making speeches +at some entertainment: "How do you do it?" I told him I was +risking whatever reputation I had on account of very limited +preparation, that I did not let these speeches interfere at all +with my business, but that they were all prepared after I had +arrived home from my office late in the afternoon. Sometimes +they came easy, and I reached the dinner in time; at other times +they were more difficult, and I did not arrive till the speaking +had begun. Then he said: "I enjoy making these after-dinner +addresses more than any other work. It is a perfect delight for +me to speak to such an audience, but I have not the gift of quick +and easy preparation. I accept comparatively few of the constant +invitations I receive, because when I have to make such a speech +I take a corner in the car in the morning going to my office, +exclude all the intruding public with a newspaper and think all +the way down. I continue the same process on my way home in +the evening, and it takes about three days of this absorption and +exclusiveness, with some time in the evenings, to get an address +with which I am satisfied." + +The delicious humor of these efforts of Mr. Choate and the wonderful +way in which he could expose a current delusion, or what he thought +was one, and produce an impression not only on his audience but +on the whole community, when his speech was printed in the +newspapers, was a kind of effort which necessarily required +preparation. In all the many times I heard him, both at home and +abroad, he never had a failure and sometimes made a sensation. + +Among the many interesting characters whom I met on shipboard +was Emory Storrs, a famous Chicago lawyer. Storrs was a genius +of rare talent as an advocator. He also on occasions would make +a most successful speech, but his efforts were unequal. At one +session of the National Bar Association he carried off all honors +at their banquet. Of course, they wanted him the next year, but +then he failed entirely to meet their expectations.. Storrs was +one of the most successful advocates at the criminal bar, especially +in murder cases. He rarely failed to get an acquittal for his +client. He told me many interesting stories of his experiences. +He had a wide circuit, owing to his reputation, and tried cases +far distant from home. + +I remember one of his experiences in an out-of-the-way county of +Arkansas. The hotel where they all stopped was very primitive, +and he had the same table with the judge. The most attractive +offer for breakfast by the landlady was buckwheat-cakes. She +appeared with a jug of molasses and said to the judge: "Will you +have a trickle or a dab?" The judge answered: "A dab." She then +ran her fingers around the jug and slapped a huge amount of molasses +on the judge's cakes. Storrs said: "I think I prefer a trickle." +Whereupon she dipped her fingers again in the jug and let the +drops fall from them on Storrs's cakes. The landlady was +disappointed because her cakes were unpopular with such +distinguished gentlemen. + +Once Storrs was going abroad on the same ship with me on a sort +of semi-diplomatic mission. He was deeply read in English literature +and, as far as a stranger could be, familiar with the places made +famous in English and foreign classics. + +He was one of the factors, as chairman of the Illinois delegation, +of the conditions which made possible the nomination of Garfield +and Arthur. In the following presidential campaign he took an +active and very useful part. Then he brought all the influences +that he could use, and they were many, to bear upon President Arthur +to make him attorney-general. Arthur was a strict formalist and +could not tolerate the thought of having such an eccentric genius +in his Cabinet. Storrs was not only disappointed but hurt that +Arthur declined to appoint him. + +To make him happy his rich clients--and he had many of them--raised +a handsome purse and urged him to make a European trip. Then +the president added to the pleasure of his journey by giving him +an appointment as a sort of roving diplomat, with special duties +relating to the acute trouble then existing in regard to the +admission of American cattle into Great Britain. They were barred +because of a supposed infectious disease. + +Storrs's weakness was neckties. He told me that he had three +hundred and sixty-five, a new one for every day. He would come +on deck every morning, display his fresh necktie, and receive +a compliment upon its color and appropriateness, and then take +from his pocket a huge water-proof envelope. From this he would +unroll his parchment appointment as a diplomat, and the letters +he had to almost every one of distinction in Europe. On the last +day, going through the same ceremony, he said to me: "I am not +showing you these things out of vanity, but to impress upon you +the one thing I most want to accomplish in London. I desire to +compel James Russell Lowell, our minister, to give me a dinner." + +Probably no man in the world could be selected so antipathetic +to Lowell as Emory Storrs. Mr. Lowell told me that he was annoyed +that the president should have sent an interloper to meddle with +negotiations which he had in successful progress to a satisfactory +conclusion. So he invited Storrs to dinner, and then Storrs took +no further interest in his diplomatic mission. + +Mr. Lowell told me that he asked Storrs to name whoever he wanted +to invite. He supposed from his general analysis of the man that +Storrs would want the entire royal family. He was delighted to +find that the selection was confined entirely to authors, artists, +and scientists. + +On my return trip Mr. Storrs was again a fellow passenger. He +was very enthusiastic over the places of historic interest he had +visited, and eloquent and graphic in descriptions of them and of +his own intense feelings when he came in contact with things he +had dreamed of most of his life. + +"But," he said, "I will tell you of my greatest adventure. I was +in the picture-gallery at Dresden, and in that small room where +hangs Raphael's 'Madonna.' I was standing before this wonderful +masterpiece of divine inspiration when I felt the room crowded. +I discovered that the visitors were all Americans and all looking +at me. I said to them: 'Ladies and gentlemen, you are here in +the presence of the most wonderful picture ever painted. If you +study it, you can see that there is little doubt but with all his +genius Raphael in this work had inspiration from above, and yet +you, as Americans, instead of availing yourselves of the rarest +of opportunities, have your eyes bent on me. I am only a Chicago +lawyer wearing a Chicago-made suit of clothes.' + +"A gentleman stepped forward and said: 'Mr. Storrs, on behalf +of your countrymen and countrywomen present, I wish to say that +you are of more interest to us than all the works of Raphael put +together, because we understand that James Russell Lowell, +United States Minister to Great Britain, gave you a dinner.'" + +One other incident in my acquaintance with Mr. Storrs was original. +I heard the story of it both from him and Lord Coleridge, and they +did not differ materially. Lord Coleridge, Chief Justice of England, +was a most welcome visitor when he came to the United States. +He received invitations from the State Bar Associations everywhere +to accept their hospitality. I conducted him on part of his trip +and found him one of the most able and delightful of men. He was +a very fine speaker, more in our way than the English, and made +a first-class impression upon all the audiences he addressed. + +At Chicago Lord Coleridge was entertained by the Bar Association +of the State of Illinois. Storrs, who was an eminent member of +the bar of that State, came to him and said: "Now, Lord Coleridge, +you have been entertained by the Bar Association. I want you +to know the real men of the West, the captains of industry who +have created this city, built our railroads, and made the Great West +what it is." Coleridge replied that he did not want to go outside +bar associations, and he could not think of making another speech +in Chicago. Storrs assured him it would be purely a private affair +and no speeches permitted. + +The dinner was very late, but when they sat down Lord Coleridge +noticed a distinguished-looking gentleman, instead of eating his +dinner, correcting a manuscript. He said: "Mr. Storrs, I understood +there was to be no speaking." "Well," said Storrs, "you can't get +Americans together unless some one takes the floor. That man +with the manuscript is General and Senator John A. Logan, one of +our most distinguished citizens." Just then a reporter came up +to Storrs and said: "Mr. Storrs, we have the slips of your speech +in our office, and it is now set up with the laughter and applause +in their proper places. The editor sent me up to see if you wanted +to add anything." Of course Lord Coleridge was in for it and had +to make another speech. + +The cause of the lateness of the dinner is the most original +incident that I know of in historic banquets. Storrs received +great fees and had a large income, but was very careless about +his business matters. One of his creditors obtained a judgment +against him. The lawyer for this creditor was a guest at this +dinner and asked the landlord of the hotel if the dinner had been +paid for in advance. The landlord answered in the affirmative, +and so the lawyer telephoned to the sheriff, and had the dinner +levied upon. The sheriff refused to allow it to be served until +the judgment was satisfied. There were at least a hundred millions +of dollars represented among the guests, packers, elevator men, +real-estate operators, and grain operators, but millionaires +and multimillionaires in dress suits at a banquet never have any +money on their persons. So it was an hour or more before the +sheriff was satisfied. Lord Coleridge was intensely amused and +related the adventure with great glee. + +Several years afterwards Lord Coleridge had some difficulty in +his family which came into the courts of England. I do not remember +just what it was all about, but Storrs, in reading the gossip which +came across the cable, decided against the chief justice. +Lord Coleridge told me he received from Storrs a cable reading +something like this: "I have seen in our papers about your attitude +in the suit now pending. I therefore inform you that as far as +possible I withdraw the courtesies which I extended to you in +Chicago." In this unique way Storrs cancelled the dinner which +was given and seized by the sheriff years ago. + +I met Storrs many times, and he was always not only charming but +fascinating. He was very witty, full of anecdotes, and told a +story with dramatic effect. Except for his eccentricities he might +have taken the highest place in his profession. As it was, he +acquired such fame that an admirer has written a very good +biography of him. + + + +XVIl. GOVERNORS OF NEW YORK STATE + +There is nothing more interesting than to see the beginning of a +controversy which makes history. It is my good fortune to have +been either a spectator or a participant on several occasions. + +William M. Tweed was at the height of his power. He was the master +of New York City, and controlled the legislature of the State. +The rapid growth and expansion of New York City had necessitated +a new charter, or very radical improvements in the existing one. +Tweed, as chairman of the Senate committee on cities, had staged +a large and spectacular hearing at the State Capitol at Albany. +It was attended by a large body of representative citizens from +the metropolis. Some spoke for civic and commercial bodies, and +there were also other prominent men who were interested. Everybody +interested in public affairs in Albany at the time attended. Not +only was there a large gathering of legislators, but there were +also in the audience judges, lawyers, and politicians from all +parts of the State. + +After hearing from the Chamber of Commerce and various reform +organizations, Mr. Samuel J. Tilden came forward with a complete +charter. It was soon evident that he was better prepared and +informed on the subject than any one present. He knew intimately +the weaknesses of the present charter, and had thought out with +great care and wisdom what was needed in new legislation. + +From the contemptuous way in which Senator Tweed treated Mr. Tilden, +scouted his plans, and ridiculed his propositions, it was evident +that the whole scheme had been staged as a State-wide spectacle +to humiliate and end the political career of Samuel J. Tilden. + +In answer to Tilden's protest against this treatment, Tweed loudly +informed him that he represented no one but himself, that he had +neither influence nor standing in the city, that he was an +intermeddler with things that did not concern him, and a +general nuisance. + +Mr. Tilden turned ashy white, and showed evidences of suppressed +rage and vindictiveness more intense than I ever saw in any one +before, and abruptly left the hearing. + +I knew Mr. Tilden very well, and from contact with him in railroad +matters had formed a high opinion of his ability and acquirements. +He had a keen, analytic mind, tireless industry, and a faculty +for clarifying difficulties and untangling apparently impossible +problems to a degree that amounted to genius. + +In reference to what had happened, I said to a friend: "Mr. Tweed +must be very confident of his position and of his record, for he +has deliberately defied and invited the attacks of a relentless +and merciless opponent by every insult which could wound the +pride and incite the hatred of the man so ridiculed and abused. +Mr. Tilden is a great lawyer. He has made a phenomenal success +financially, he has powerful associates in financial and business +circles, and is master of his time for any purpose to which he +chooses to apply it." + +It was not long before one of the most remarkable and exhaustive +investigations ever conducted by an individual into public records, +books, ledgers, bank-accounts, and contracts, revealed to the +public the whole system of governing the city. This master mind +solved the problems so that they were plain to the average citizen +as the simplest sum in arithmetic, or that two and two make four. + +The result was the destruction of the power of Tweed and his +associates, of their prosecution and conviction, and of the +elevation of Samuel J. Tilden to a State and national figure of +the first importance. He not only became in the public mind a +leader of reforms in government, municipal, State, and national, +but embodied in the popular imagination REFORM ITSELF. + +Mr. Tilden carried this same indefatigable industry and power +of organization into a canvass for governor. His agencies reached +not only the counties and towns, but the election districts of the +State. He called into existence a new power in politics--the young +men. The old leaders were generally against him, but he discovered +in every locality ambitious, resourceful, and courageous youngsters +and made them his lieutenants. This unparalleled preparation made +him the master of his party and the governor of the State. + +After the election he invited me to come and see him at the +Executive Mansion in Albany, and in the course of the conversation +he said: "In your speeches in the campaign against me you were +absolutely fair, and as a fair and open-minded opponent I want to +have a frank talk. I am governor of the State, elected upon an +issue which is purely local. The Democratic party is at present +without principles or any definite issue on which to appeal to +the public. If I am to continue in power we must find an issue. +The Erie Canal is not only a State affair, but a national one. +Its early construction opened the great Northwest, and it was for +years the only outlet to the seaboard. The public not only in +the State of New York, but in the West, believes that there has +been, and is, corruption in the construction and management of +the Canal. This great waterway requires continuing contracts for +continuing repairs, and the people believe that these contracts +are given to favorites, and that the work is either not performed +at all or is badly done. I believe that matter ought to be looked +into and the result will largely justify the suspicion prevalent +in the public mind. I want your judgment on the question and +what will be the effect upon me." + +I then frankly answered him: "Governor, there is no doubt it will +be a popular movement, but you know that the Canal contractors +control the machinery of your party, and I cannot tell what the +effect of that may be upon what you desire, which is a second term." + +"Those contractors," he said, "are good Democrats, and their +ability to secure the contracts depends upon Democratic supremacy. +A prosecution against them has been tried so often that they have +little fear of either civil or criminal actions, and I think they +will accept the issue as the only one which will keep their party +in power." + +It is a part of the history of the time that he made the issue so +interesting that he became a national figure of the first importance +and afterwards the candidate of his party for President of the +United States. Not only that, but he so impressed the people +that popular judgment is still divided as to whether or not he was +rightfully elected president. + +Once I was coming from the West after a tour of inspection, and +when we left Albany the conductor told me that Governor Tilden +was on the train. I immediately called and found him very +uncomfortable, because he said he was troubled with boils. I +invited him into the larger compartment which I had, and made +him as comfortable as possible. His conversation immediately +turned upon the second term and he asked what I, as a Republican, +thought of his prospects as the result of his administration. We +had hardly entered upon the subject when a very excited gentleman +burst into the compartment and said: "Governor, I have been +looking for you everywhere. I went to your office at the Capitol +and to the Executive Mansion, but learned you were here and barely +caught the train. You know who I am." (The governor knew he +was mayor of a city.) "I want to see you confidentially." + +The governor said to him: "I have entire confidence in my +Republican friend here. You can trust him. Go on." + +I knew the mayor very well, and under ordinary conditions he would +have insisted on the interview with the governor being private +and personal. But he was so excited and bursting with rage that +he went right on. The mayor fairly shouted: "It is the station +agent of the New York Central Railroad in our city of whom I +complain. He is active in politics and controls the Democratic +organization in our county. He is working to prevent myself and +my friends and even ex-Governor Seymour from being delegates +to the national convention. It is to the interest of our party, +in fact, I may say, the salvation of our party in our county that +this New York Central agent be either removed or silenced, and +I want you to see Mr. Vanderbilt on the subject." + +The governor sympathized with the mayor and dismissed him. Then +in a quizzical way he asked me: "Do you know this agent?" + +"Yes," I answered. + +"What do you think of him?" + +"I know nothing about his political activities," I answered, "but he +is one of the most efficient employees of the company in the State." + +"Well," said the governor, "I am glad to hear you say so. He was +down to see me the other night; in fact, I sent for him, and I +formed a very high opinion of his judgment and ability." + +As a matter of fact, the governor had selected him to accomplish +this very result which the mayor had said would ruin the party in +the county. + +When the New York Democratic delegation left the city for the +Democratic national convention they had engaged a special train +to leave from the Grand Central Station. I went down to see that +the arrangements were perfected for its movement. It was a +hilarious crowd, and the sides of the cars were strung with Tilden +banners. + +Mr. Tilden was there also to see them off. After bidding good-by +to the leaders, and with a whispered conference with each, the +mass of delegates and especially reporters, of whom there was a +crowd, wished to engage him in conversation. He spied me and +immediately hurried me into one of the alcoves, apparently for +a private conversation. The crowd, of course, gathered around, +anxious to know what it was all about. He asked me a few questions +about the health of my family and then added: "Don't leave me. +I want to avoid all these people, and we will talk until the train +is off and the crowd disperses." + +Life was a burden for me the rest of the day and evening, made +so by the newspaper men and Democratic politicians trying to find +out what the mysterious chief had revealed to me in the alcove of +the Grand Central. + +I was very much gratified when meeting him after the fierce battles +for the presidency were over, to have him grasp me by the hand +and say: "You were about the only one who treated me absolutely +fairly during the campaign." + +I love little incidents about great men. Mr. Tilden was intensely +human and a great man. + +Doctor Buckley, who was at the head of the Methodist Book Concern +in New York, and one of the most delightful of men, told me that +there came into his office one day a Methodist preacher from one +of the mining districts of Pennsylvania, who said to him: "My church +burned down. We had no insurance. We are poor people, and, +therefore, I have come to New York to raise money to rebuild it." + +The doctor told him that New York was overrun from all parts of +the country with applicants for help, and that he thought he would +have great difficulty in his undertaking. + +"Well," the preacher said, "I am going to see Mr. Tilden." + +Doctor Buckley could not persuade him that his mission was next +to impossible, and so this rural clergyman started for Gramercy Park. +When he returned he told the doctor of his experience. + +"I rang the bell," he said, "and when the door was opened I saw +Governor Tilden coming down the stairs. I rushed in and told him +hastily who I was before the man at the door could stop me, and +he invited me into his library. I stated my mission, and he said +he was so overwhelmed with applications that he did not think he +could do anything. 'But, governor,' I said, 'my case differs from +all others. My congregation is composed of miners, honest, +hardworking people. They have hitherto been Republicans on the +protection issue, but they were so impressed by you as a great +reformer that they all voted for you in the last election.' The +governor said: 'Tell that story again.' So I started again to +tell him about my church, but he interrupted me, saying: 'Not that, +but about the election.' So I told him again about their having, +on account of their admiration for him as a reformer, turned from +the Republican party and voted the Democratic ticket. Then the +governor said: 'Well, I think you have a most meritorious case, +and so I will give you all I have.'" + +Doctor Buckley interrupted him hastily, saying: "Great heavens, +are you going to build a cathedral?" + +"No," answered the clergyman; "all he had in his pocket was two +dollars and fifty cents." + +Governor Tilden had many followers and friends whose admiration +for him amounted almost to adoration. They believed him capable +of everything, and they were among the most intelligent and able men +of the country. + +John Bigelow, journalist, author, and diplomat, was always sounding +his greatness, both with tongue and pen. Abram S. Hewitt was an +equally enthusiastic friend and admirer. Both of these gentlemen, +the latter especially, were, I think, abler than Mr. Tilden, but +did not have his hypnotic power. + +I was dining one night with Mr. Hewitt, whose dinners were always +events to be remembered, when Mr. Tilden became the subject of +discussion. After incidents illustrating his manifold distinctions +had been narrated, Mr. Hewitt said that Mr. Tilden was the only one +in America and outside of royalties in Europe who had some +blue-labelled Johannisberger. This famous wine from the vineyards +of Prince Metternich on the Rhine was at that time reported to be +absorbed by the royal families of Europe. + +Our host said: "The bouquet of this wonderful beverage is unusually +penetrating and diffusing, and a proof is that one night at a dinner +in the summer, with the windows all open, the guests noticed this +peculiar aroma in the air. I said to them that Governor Tilden had +opened a bottle of his Johannisberger." + +The governor's residence was on the other side of Gramercy Park +from Mr. Hewitt's. The matter was so extraordinary that everybody +at the table went across the park, and when they were admitted +they found the governor in his library enjoying his bottle of +blue-labelled Johannisberger. + +When Mr. Tilden was elected governor, my friend, General Husted, +was speaker of the assembly, which was largely Republican. The +governor asked General Husted to come down in the evening, because +he wanted to consult him about the improvements and alterations +necessary for the Executive Mansion, and to have the speaker secure +the appropriation. During the discussion the governor placed +before the speaker a bottle of rare whiskey, with the usual +accompaniments. In front of the governor was a bottle of his +Johannisberger and a small liqueur glass, a little larger than +a thimble, from which the governor would from time to time taste +a drop of this rare and exquisite fluid. The general, after a +while, could not restrain his curiosity any longer and said: +"Governor, what is that you are drinking?" + +The governor explained its value and the almost utter impossibility +of securing any. + +"Well, governor," said Speaker Husted, "I never saw any before +and I think I will try it." He seized the bottle, emptied it in +his goblet and announced to the astonished executive that he was +quite right in his estimate of its excellence. + +The governor lost a bottIe of his most cherished treasure but +received from the Republican legislature all the appropriation +he desired for the Executive Mansion. + +It has been my good fortune to know well the governors of our +State of New York, commencing with Edmund D. Morgan. With many +of them I was on terms of close intimacy. I have already spoken of +Governors Seymour, Fenton, Dix, Tilden, Cleveland, and Roosevelt. +It might be better to confine my memory to those who have joined +the majority. + +Lucius Robinson was an excellent executive of the business type, +as also were Alonzo B. Cornell and Levi P. Morton. Frank S. Black +was in many ways original. He was an excellent governor, but +very different from the usual routine. In the Spanish-American War +he had a definite idea that the National Guard of our State should +not go into the service of the United States as regiments, but +as individual volunteers. The Seventh Regiment, which was the +crack organization of the Guard, was severely criticised because +they did not volunteer. They refused to go except as the Seventh +Regiment, and their enemies continued to assail them as tin soldiers. + +General Louis Fitzgerald and Colonel Appleton came to me very +much disturbed by this condition. General Russell A. Alger, +secretary of war, was an intimate friend of mine, and I went to +Washington and saw him and the president on the acute condition +affecting the reputation of the Seventh Regiment. + +General Alger said: "We are about to make a desperate assault +upon the fortifications of Havana. Of course there will be many +casualties and the fighting most severe. Will the Seventh join +that expedition?" + +The answer of General Fitzgerald and Colonel Appleton was emphatic +that the Seventh would march with full ranks on the shortest possible +notice. Governor Black would not change his view of how the +National Guard should go, and so the Seventh was never called. +It seems only proper that I should make a record of this patriotic +proposition made by this organization. + +Governor Black developed after he became governor, and especially +after he had retired from office, into a very effective orator. +He had a fine presence and an excellent delivery. He was fond +of preparing epigrams, and became a master in this sort of literature. +When he had occasion to deliver an address, it would be almost +wholly made up of these detached gems, each perfect in itself. +The only other of our American orators who cultivated successfully +this style of speech was Senator John J. Ingalls, of Kansas. It is +a style very difficult to attain or to make successful. + +David B. Hill was an extraordinary man in many ways. He was +governor for three terms and United States senator for one. His +whole life was politics. He was a trained lawyer and an excellent +one, but his heart and soul was in party control, winning popular +elections, and the art of governing. He consolidated the rural +elements of his party so effectively that he compelled Tammany Hall +to submit to his leadership and to recognize him as its master. + +For many years, and winning in every contest, Governor Hill +controlled the organization and the policies of the Democratic +party of the State of New York. In a plain way he was an effective +speaker, but in no sense an orator. He contested with Cleveland +for the presidency, but in that case ran against a stronger and +bigger personality than he had ever encountered, and lost. He +rose far above the average and made his mark upon the politics +of his State and upon the United States Senate while he was a member. + +Levi P. Morton brought to the governorship business ability which +had made him one of the great merchants and foremost bankers. +As Governor of the State of New York, United States Minister to +France, Congressman, and Vice-President of the United States, +he filled every position with grace, dignity, and ability. A +lovable personality made him most popular. + +Roswell P. Flower, after a successful career as a banker, developed +political ambitions. He had a faculty of making friends, and had +hosts of them. He was congressman and then governor. While +the Democratic organization was hostile to him, he was of the +Mark Hanna type and carried his successful business methods into +the canvass for the nomination and the campaign for the election +and was successful. + +Passing through Albany while he was governor, I stopped over to +pay my respects. I was very fond of him personally. When I rang +the door-bell of the Executive Mansion and inquired for the +governor, the servant said: "The governor is very ill and can +see nobody." Then I asked him to tell the governor, when he was +able to receive a message, that Chauncey Depew called and expressed +his deep regret for his illness. Suddenly the governor popped +out from the parlor and seized me by the hand and said: "Chauncey, +come in. I was never so glad to see anybody in my life." + +He told me the legislature had adjourned and left on his hands +several thousands of thirty-days bills--that is, bills on which +he had thirty days to sign or veto, or let them become laws by +not rejecting them. So he had to deny himself to everybody to +get the leisure to read them over and form decisions. + +"Do you know, Chauncey," he said, "this is a new business to me. +Most of these bills are on subjects which I never have examined, +studied, or thought about. It is very difficult to form a wise +judgment, and I want to do in each case just what is right." For +the moment he became silent, seemingly absorbed by anxious thoughts +about these bills. Then suddenly he exclaimed: "By the way, +Chauncey, you've done a great deal of thinking in your life, and +I never have done any except on business. Does intense thinking +affect you as it does me, by upsetting your stomach and making +you throw up?" + +"No, governor," I answered; "if it did I fear I would be in a +chronic state of indigestion." + +While he was governor he canvassed the State in a private car +and made many speeches. In a plain, homely man-to-man talk he +was very effective on the platform. His train stopped at a station +in a Republican community where there were few Democrats, while +I was addressing a Republican meeting in the village. When I had +finished my speech I said to the crowd, which was a large one: +"Governor Flower is at the station, and as I passed he had very +few people listening to him. Let us all go over and give him +an audience." + +The proposition was received with cheers. I went ahead, got in +at the other end of the governor's car from the one where he was +speaking from the platform. As this Republican crowd began to +pour in, it was evident as I stood behind him without his knowing +of my presence, that he was highly delighted. He shouted: "Fellow +citizens, I told you they were coming. They are coming from the +mountains, from the hills, and from the valleys. It is the +stampede from the Republican party and into our ranks and for +our ticket. This is the happiest evidence I have received of +the popularity of our cause and the success of our ticket." + +Standing behind him, I made a signal for cheers, which was heartily +responded to, and the governor, turning around, saw the joke, +grasped me cordially by the hand, and the whole crowd, including +the veteran and hardened Democrats on the car, joined in the hilarity +of the occasion. + +He came to me when he was running for the second time for Congress, +and said that some of the people of his district were anxious for +me to deliver an address for one of their pet charities, and that +the meeting would be held in Harlem, naming the evening. I told +him I would go. He came for me in his carriage, and I said: +"Governor, please do not talk to me on the way up. I was so busy +that I have had no time since I left my office this afternoon to +prepare this address, and I want every minute while we are riding +to the meeting." + +The meeting was a large one. The governor took the chair and +introduced me in this original way: "Ladies and gentlemen," he +said, "I want to say about Chauncey Depew, whom I am now going +to introduce to you as the lecturer of the evening, that he is no +Demosthenes, because he can beat Demosthenes out of sight. He +prepared his speech in the carriage in which I was bringing him +up here, and he don't have, like the old Greek, to chew pebble-stones +in order to make a speech." + +Governor Flower in a conservative way was a successful trader +in the stock market. When he felt he had a sure point he would +share it with a few friends. He took special delight in helping +in this way men who had little means and no knowledge of the art +of moneymaking. There were a great many benefited by his bounty. + +I was dining one night with the Gridiron Club at Washington, and +before me was a plate of radishes. The newspaper man next to me +asked if I would object to having the radishes removed. + +I said: "There is no odor or perfume from them. What is the +matter with the radishes?" + +After they were taken away he told me his story. "Governor Flower," +he said, "was very kind to me, as he invariably was to all newspaper +men. He asked me one day how much I had saved in my twenty years +in journalism. I told him ten thousand dollars. He said: 'That +is not enough for so long a period. Let me have the money.' So +I handed over to him my bank-account. In a few weeks he told me +that my ten thousand dollars had become twenty, and I could have +them if I wished. I said: 'No, you are doing far better than I +could. Keep it.' In about a month or more my account had grown +to thirty thousand dollars. Then the governor on a very hot day +went fishing somewhere off the Long Island coast. He was a very +large, heavy man, became overheated, and on his return drank a +lot of ice-water and ate a bunch of radishes. He died that +afternoon. There was a panic in the stocks which were his favorites +the next day, and they fell out of sight. The result was that I +lost my fortune of ten thousand dollars and also my profit of +twenty. Since then the sight of a radish makes me sick." + + + +XVIII. FIFTY-SIX YEARS WITH THE NEW YORK CENTRAL RAILROAD COMPANY + +Heredity has much to do with a man's career. The village of +Peekskill-on-the-Hudson, about forty miles from New York, was +in the early days the market-town of a large section of the +surrounding country, extending over to the State of Connecticut. +It was a farming region, and its products destined for New York City +were shipped by sloops on the Hudson from the wharfs at Peekskill, +and the return voyage brought back the merchandise required by +the country. + +My father and his brother owned the majority of the sloops engaged +in this, at that time, almost the only transportation. The sloops +were succeeded by steamboats in which my people were also +interested. When Commodore Vanderbilt entered into active rivalry +with the other steamboat lines between New York and Albany, the +competition became very serious. Newer and faster boats were +rapidly built. These racers would reach the Bay of Peekskill in +the late afternoon, and the younger population of the village would +be on the banks of the river, enthusiastically applauding their +favorites. Among well-known boats whose names and achievements +excited as much interest and aroused as much partisanship and +sporting spirit as do now famous race-horses or baseball champions, +were the following: Mary Powell, Dean Ricbmond, The Alida, and +The Hendrick Hudson. + +I remember as if it were yesterday when the Hudson River Railroad +had reached Peekskill, and the event was locally celebrated. The +people came in as to a county fair from fifty miles around. When +the locomotive steamed into the station many of those present had +never seen one. The engineer was continuously blowing his whistle +to emphasize the great event. This produced much consternation +and confusion among the horses, as all farmers were there with +their families in carriages or wagons. + +I recall one team of young horses which were driven to frenzy; +their owner was unable to control them, but he kept them on the +road while they ran away with a wild dash over the hills. In +telling this story, as illustrating how recent is railway development +in the United States, at a dinner abroad, I stated that as far +as I knew and believed, those horses were so frightened that +they could not be stopped and were still running. A very successful +and serious-minded captain of industry among the guests sternly +rebuked me by saying: "Sir, that is impossible; horses were never +born that could run for twenty-five years without stopping." +American exaggeration was not so well known among our friends on +the other side then as it is now. + +As we boys of the village were gathered on the banks of the Hudson +cheering our favorite steamers, or watching with eager interest +the movements of the trains, a frequent discussion would be about +our ambitions in life. Every young fellow would state a dream +which he hoped but never expected to be realized. I was charged +by my companions with having the greatest imagination and with +painting more pictures in the skies than any of them. This was +because I stated that in politics, for I was a great admirer of +William H. Seward, then senator from New York, I expected to be +a United States senator, and in business, because then the largest +figure in the business world was Commodore Vanderbilt, I hoped +to become president of the Hudson River Railroad. It is one of +the strangest incidents of what seemed the wild imaginings of a +village boy that in the course of long years both these expectations +were realized. + +When I entered the service of the railroad on the first of January, +1866, the Vanderbilt system consisted of the Hudson River and +Harlem Railroads, the Harlem ending at Chatham, 128 miles, and +the Hudson River at Albany, 140 miles long. The Vanderbilt system +now covers 20,000 miles. The total railway mileage of the whole +United States at that time was 36,000, and now it is 261,000 miles. + +My connection with the New York Central Railroad covers practically +the whole period of railway construction, expansion, and development +in the United States. It is a singular evidence of the rapidity +of our country's growth and of the way which that growth has +steadily followed the rails, that all this development of States, +of villages growing into cities, of scattered communities becoming +great manufacturing centres, of an internal commerce reaching +proportions where it has greater volume than the foreign interchanges +of the whole world, has come about during a period covered by +the official career of a railroad man who is still in the service: +an attorney in 1866, a vice-president in 1882, president in 1885, +chairman of the board of directors in 1899, and still holds that office. + +There is no such record in the country for continuous service with +one company, which during the whole period has been controlled by +one family. This service of more than half a century has been in +every way satisfactory. It is a pleasure to see the fourth +generation, inheriting the ability of the father, grandfather, and +great-grandfather, still active in the management. + +I want to say that in thus linking my long relationship with the +railroads to this marvellous development, I do not claim to have +been better than the railway officers who during this time have +performed their duties to the best of their ability. I wish also +to pay tribute to the men of original genius, of vision and daring, +to whom so much is due in the expansion and improvement of the +American railway systems. + +Commodore Vanderbilt was one of the most remarkable men our +country has produced. He was endowed with wonderful foresight, +grasp of difficult situations, ability to see opportunities before +others, to solve serious problems, and the courage of his +convictions. He had little education or early advantages, but +was eminently successful in everything he undertook. As a boy on +Staten Island he foresaw that upon transportation depended the +settlement, growth, and prosperity of this nation. He began with +a small boat running across the harbor from Staten Island to +New York. Very early in his career he acquired a steamboat and +in a few years was master of Long Island Sound. He then extended +his operations to the Hudson River and speedily acquired the +dominating ownership in boats competing between New York and Albany. + +When gold was discovered in California he started a line on the +Atlantic side of the Isthmus of Darien and secured from the +government of Nicaragua the privilege of crossing the Isthmus +for a transportation system through its territory, and then +established a line of steamers on the Pacific to San Francisco. +In a short time the old-established lines, both on the Atlantic +and the Pacific, were compelled to sell out to him. Then he +entered the transatlantic trade, with steamers to Europe. + +With that vision which is a gift and cannot be accounted for, he +decided that the transportation work of the future was on land +and in railroads. He abandoned the sea, and his first enterprise +was the purchase of the New York and Harlem Railroad, which was +only one hundred and twenty-eight miles long. The road was bankrupt +and its road-bed and equipment going from bad to worse. The +commodore reconstructed the line, re-equipped it, and by making +it serviceable to its territory increased its traffic and turned +its business from deficiency into profit. This was in 1864. +The commodore became president, and his son, William H. Vanderbilt, +vice-president. He saw that the extension of the Harlem was not +advisable, and so secured the Hudson River Railroad, running from +New York to Albany, and became its president in 1865. It was +a few months after this when he and his son invited me to become +a member of their staff. + +The station of the Harlem Railroad in the city of New York was +at that time at Fourth Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street, and that of +the Hudson River Railroad at Chambers Street, near the North River. + +In a few years William H. Vanderbilt purchased the ground for the +Harlem Railroad Company, where is now located the Grand Central +Terminal, and by the acquisition by the New York Central and +Hudson River Railroad of the Harlem Railroad the trains of the +New York Central were brought around into the Grand Central Station. + +In 1867, two years after Mr. Vanderbilt had acquired the +Hudson River Railroad, he secured the control of the New York +Central, which ran from Albany to Buffalo. This control was +continued through the Lake Shore on one side of the lakes and +the Michigan Central on the other to Chicago. Subsequently the +Vanderbilt System was extended to Cincinnati and St. Louis. It +was thus in immediate connection with the West and Northwest +centering in Chicago, and the Southwest at Cincinnati and St. Louis. +By close connection and affiliation with the Chicago and Northwestern +Railway Company, the Vanderbilt system was extended beyond +to Mississippi. I became director in the New York Central in +1874 and in the Chicago and Northwestern in 1877. + +It has been my good fortune to meet with more or less intimacy +many of the remarkable men in every department of life, but I think +Commodore Vanderbilt was the most original. I had been well +acquainted for some years both with the commodore and his son, +William H. When I became attorney my relations were more intimate +than those usually existing. I was in daily consultation with the +commodore during the ten years prior to his death, and with his +son from 1866 to 1885, when he died. + +The commodore was constantly, because of his wealth and power, +importuned by people who wished to interest him in their schemes. +Most of the great and progressive enterprises of his time were +presented to him. He would listen patiently, ask a few questions, +and in a short time grasp the whole subject. Then with wonderful +quickness and unerring judgment he would render his decision. +No one knew by what process he arrived at these conclusions. +They seemed to be the results as much of inspiration as of insight. + +The Civil War closed in 1865, and one of its lessons had been +the necessity for more railroads. The country had discovered +that without transportation its vast and fertile territories could +neither be populated nor made productive. Every mile of railroad +carried settlers, opened farms and increased the national resources +and wealth. The economical and critical conditions of the country, +owing to the expansion of the currency and banking conditions, +facilitated and encouraged vast schemes of railroad construction. +This and a wild speculation resulted in the panic of 1873. Nearly +the whole country went bankrupt. The recovery was rapid, and +the constructive talent of the Republic saw that the restoration of +credit and prosperity must be led by railway solvency. In August, +1874, Commodore Vanderbilt invited the representatives of the +other and competitive lines to a conference at Saratoga. Owing, +however, to the jealousies and hostilities of the period, only the +New York Central, the Pennsylvania, and the Erie railways were +represented. + +The eastern railway situation was then dominated by Commodore +Vanderbilt, Colonel Thomas A. Scott, of the Pennsylvania, and +John W. Garrett, of the Baltimore and Ohio. Both Scott and Garrett +were original men and empire builders. There was neither +governmental nor State regulation. The head of a railway system +had practically unlimited power in the operation of his road. +The people were so anxious for the construction of railways that +they offered every possible inducement to capital. The result was +a great deal of unprofitable construction and immense losses to +the promoters. + +These able men saw that there was no possibility of railway +construction, operation, and efficiency, with a continuance of +unrestricted competition. It has taken from 1874 until 1920 to +educate the railway men, the shippers, and the government to a +realization of the fact that transportation facilities required +for the public necessities can only be had by the freest operations +and the strictest government regulations; that the solution of +the problem is a system so automatic that public arbitration shall +decide the justice of the demands of labor, and rates be advanced +to meet the decision, and that public authority also shall take +into consideration the other factors of increased expenses and +adequate facilities for the railroads, and that maintenance and +the highest efficiency must be preserved and also necessary +extensions. To satisfy and attract capital there must be the +assurance of a reasonable return upon the investment. + +The meeting called by Commodore Vanderbilt in 1874, at Saratoga, +was an epoch-making event. We must remember the railway management +of the country was in the absolute control of about four men, two +of whom were also largest owners of the lines they managed. +Fierce competition and cutting of rates brought on utter +demoralization among shippers, who could not calculate on the cost +of transportation, and great favoritism to localities and individuals +by irresponsible freight agents who controlled the rates. Under +these influences railway earnings were fluctuating and uncertain. +Improvements were delayed and the people on the weaker lines +threatened with bankruptcy. + +Public opinion, however, believed this wild competition to be the +only remedy for admitted railway evils. As an illustration of +the change of public opinion and the better understanding of +the railway problems, this occurred in the month of October, 1920. +A committee of shippers and producers representing the farmers, +manufacturers, and business men along a great railway system +came to see the manager of the railroad and said to him: "We have +been all wrong in the past. Our effort has always been for lower +rates, regardless of the necessities of the railways. We have +tried to get them by seeking bids from competing lines for our +shipments and by appealing to the Interstate Commerce Commission. +The expenses of the railroads have been increased by demands of +labor, by constantly rising prices and cost of rails, cars, +terminals, and facilities, but we have been against allowing the +railroads to meet this increased cost of operation by adequate +advances in rates. We now see that this course was starving the +railroads, and we are suffering for want of cars and locomotives +to move our traffic and terminals to care for it. We are also +suffering because the old treatment of the railroads has frightened +capital so that the roads cannot get money to maintain their lines +and make necessary improvements to meet the demands of business. +We know now that rates make very little difference, because they +can be absorbed in our business. What we must have is facilities +to transport our products, and we want to help the railroads to get +money and credit, and again we emphasize our whole trouble is +want of cars, locomotives, and terminal facilities." + +Happily, public opinion was reflected in the last Congress in the +passage of the Cummins-Esch bill, which is the most enlightened +and adaptable legislation of the last quarter of a century. + +To return to the conference at Saratoga, the New York Central, +the Pennsylvania, and the Erie came to the conclusion that they +must have the co-operation of the Baltimore and Ohio. As +Mr. Garrett, president and controlling owner of that road, would +not come to the conference, the members decided that the emergency +was so great that they must go to him. This was probably the most +disagreeable thing Commodore Vanderbilt ever did. The marvellous +success of his wonderful life had been won by fighting and defeating +competitors. The peril was so great that they went as associates, +and the visit interested the whole country and so enlarged +Mr. Garrett's opinion of his power that he rejected their offer +and said he would act independently. A railway war immediately +followed, and in a short time bankruptcy threatened all lines, +and none more than the Baltimore and Ohio. + +The trunk lines then got together and entered into an agreement +to stabilize rates and carry them into effect. They appointed +as commissioner Mr. Albert Fink, one of the ablest railway men +of that time. Mr. Fink's administration was successful, but the +rivalries and jealousies of the lines and the frequent breaking +of agreements were too much for one man. + +The presidents and general managers of all the railroads east of +Chicago then met and formed an association, and this association +was a legislative body without any legal authority to enforce its +decrees. It had, however, two effects: the disputes which arose +were publicly discussed, and the merits of each side so completely +demonstrated that the decision of the association came to be +accepted as just and right. Then the verdict of the association +had behind it the whole investment and banking community and the +press. The weight of this was sufficient to compel obedience to +its decisions by the most rebellious member. No executive could +continue to hold his position while endeavoring to break up +the association. + +It is one of the most gratifying events of my life that my associates +in this great and powerful association elected me their president, +and I continued in office until the Supreme Court in a momentous +decision declared that the railroads came under the provision of +the Sherman Anti-Trust Law and dissolved these associations in +the East, West, and South. + +It was a liberal education of the railway problems to meet the +men who became members of this association. Most of them left +an indelible impression upon the railway conditions of the time +and of the railway policies of the future. All were executives +of great ability and several rare constructive geniuses. + +In our system there was John Newell, president of the Lake Shore +and Michigan Southern, a most capable and efficient manager. +Henry B. Ledyard, president of the Michigan Central, was admirably +trained for the great responsibilities which he administered so +well. There was William Bliss, president of the Boston and Albany, +who had built up a line to be one of the strongest of the +New England group. + +Melville E. Ingalls, president of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, +Chicago and St. Louis, had combined various weak and bankrupt +roads and made them an efficient organization. He had also +rehabilitated and put in useful working and paying condition the +Chesapeake and Ohio. + +Ingalls told me a very good story of himself. He had left the +village in Maine, where he was born, and after graduation from +college and admission to the bar had settled in Boston. To protect +the interests of his clients he had moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, +and rescued railroad properties in which they were interested. +When his success was complete and he had under his control a large +and successfully working railway system, he made a visit to +his birthplace. + +One evening he went down to the store where the village congress +was assembled, sitting on the barrels and the counter. They +welcomed him very cordially, and then an inquisitive farmer said +to him: "Melville, it is reported around here that you are getting +a salary of nigh unto ten thousand dollars a year." + +Mr. Ingalls, who was getting several times that amount, modestly +admitted the ten, which was a prodigious sum in that rural +neighborhood. Whereupon the old farmer voiced the local sentiment +by saying: "Well, Melville that shows what cheek and circumstances +can do for a man." + +I recall an incident connected with one of the ablest of the +executives in our system. One day we had a conference of rival +interests, and many executives were there in the effort to secure +an adjustment. For this purpose we had an arbitrator. After a +most exhausting day in the battle of wits and experience for +advantages, I arrived home used up, but after a half-hour's sleep +I awoke refreshed and, consulting my diary, found I was down for +a speech at a banquet at Delmonico's that night. + +I arrived late, the intervening time being devoted to intensive +and rapid preparation. I was called early. The speech attracted +attention and occupied a column in the morning's papers. I was +in bed at eleven o'cIock and had between seven and eight hours' +refreshing sIeep. + +On arriving at our meeting-place the next morning, one of the +best-known presidents took me aside and said: "Chauncey, by +making speeches such as you did last night you are losing the +confidence of the people. They say you cannot prepare such +speeches and give proper attention to your business." + +"Well," I said to him, "my friend, did I lose anything before the +arbitrator yesterday?" + +He answered very angrily: "No, you gained entirely too much." + +"Well," I then said, "I am very fresh this morning. But what did +you do last night?" + +He answered that he was so exhausted that he went to DeImonico's +and ordered the best dinner possible. Then he went on to say: +"A friend told me a little game was going on up-stairs, and in +a close room filled with tobacco smoke I played poker until two +o'clock and drank several high-balls. The result is, I think we +better postpone this meeting, for I do not feel like doing +anything to-day." + +"My dear friend," I said, "you will get the credit of giving your +whole time to business, while I am by doing what refreshes my mind +discredited, because it gets in the papers. I shall keep my +method regardless of consequences." + +He kept his, and although much younger than myself died years ago. + +George B. Roberts, president of the Pennsylvania, was a very wise +executive and of all-around ability. Frank Thompson, vice-president +and afterwards president of the same road, was one of the ablest +operating officers of his time and a most delightful personality. +Mr. A. J. Cassatt was a great engineer and possessed rare foresight +and vision. He brought the Pennsylvania into New York City through +a tunnel under the Hudson River, continued the tunnel across the +city to the East River and then under the river to connect with the +Long Island, which he had acquired for his system. + +D. W. Caldwell, president of the New York, Chicago, and St. Louis, +added to railway ability wit and humor. He told a good story on +Mr. George Roberts. Caldwell was at one time division superintendent +under President Roberts. He had obtained permission to build a new +station-house, in whose plan and equipment he was deeply interested. +It was Mr. Roberts's habit, by way of showing his subordinates +that he was fully aware of their doings, to either add or take away +something from their projects. + +Caldwell prepared a station-house according to his ideas, and, +to prevent Roberts from making any essential changes he added +an unnecessary bay window to the front of the passengers' room. +Roberts carefully examined the plans and said: "Remove that bay +window," and then approved the plan, and Caldwell had what +he wanted. + +Caldwell used to tell of another occasion when on a Western line +he had over him a very severe and harsh disciplinarian as president. +This president was a violent prohibitionist and had heard that +Caldwell was a bonvivant. He sent for Caldwell to discipline or +discharge him. After a long and tiresome journey Caldwell arrived +at the president's house. His first greeting was: "Mr. Caldwell, +do you drink?" + +Caldwell, wholly unsuspicious, answered: "Thank you, Mr. President, +I am awfully tired and will take a little rye." + +Mr. E. B. Thomas, president of the Lehigh Valley, was a valuable +member of the association. The Baltimore and Ohio, as usual, had +its president, Mr. Charles F. Mayer, accompanied by an able staff. +The Erie was represented by one of the most capable and genial +of its many presidents, Mr. John King. + +King was a capital story-teller, and among them I remember this +one: At one time he was general manager of the Baltimore and Ohio +under John W. Garrett. In order to raise money for his projected +extensions, Garrett had gone to Europe. The times were financially +very difficult. Johns Hopkins, the famous philanthropist, died. +His immortal monument is the Johns Hopkins University and Medical +School. Everybody in Baltimore attended the funeral. Among the +leading persons present was another John King, a banker, who was +Hopkins's executor. A messenger-boy rushed in with a cable for +John King, and handed it to John King, the executor, who sat at +the head of the mourners. He read it and then passed it along +so that each one could read it until it reached John King, of the +Baltimore and Ohio, who sat at the foot of the line. The cable +read as follows: "Present my sympathies to the family and my high +appreciation of Mr. Johns Hopkins, and borrow from the executor +all you can at five per cent. Garrett." + +Commodore Vanderbilt was succeeded in the presidency by his son, +William H. Vanderbilt, who was then past forty years old and had +been a successful farmer on Staten Island. He was active in +neighborhood affairs and in politics. This brought him in close +contact with the people and was of invaluable benefit to him when +he became president of a great railroad corporation. He also +acquired familiarity in railway management as a director of one +on Staten Island. + +Mr. William H. Vanderbilt was a man of great ability, and his +education made him in many ways an abler man than his father +for the new conditions he had to meet. But, like many a capable +son of a famous father, he did not receive the credit which was +due him because of the overshadowing reputation of the commodore. +Nevertheless, on several occasions he exhibited the highest +executive qualities. + +One of the great questions of the time was the duty of railroads +to the cities in which they terminated, and the decision of the +roads south of New York to have lower rates to Philadelphia and +Baltimore. New York felt so secure in the strength of its unrivalled +harbor and superior shipping facilities that the merchants and +financiers were not alarmed. Very soon, however, there was such +a diversion of freight from New York as to threaten very seriously +its export trade and the superiority of its port. The commercial +leaders of the city called upon Mr. Vanderbilt, who after the +conference said to them: "I will act in perfect harmony with you +and will see that the New York Central Railroad protects New York City +regardless of the effect upon its finances." The city representatives +said: "That is very fine, and we will stand together." + +Mr. Vanderbilt immediately issued a statement that the rates to +the seaboard should be the same to all ports, and that the +New York Central would meet the lowest rates to any port by +putting the same in effect on its own lines. The result was +the greatest railroad war since railroads began to compete. +Rates fell fifty per cent, and it was a question of the survival +of the fittest. Commerce returned to New York, and the competing +railroads, to avoid bankruptcy, got together and formed the +Trunk Line Association. + +New York City has not always remembered how intimately bound is +its prosperity with that of the great railroad whose terminal is +within its city limits. Mr. Vanderbilt found that the railroad and +its management were fiercely assailed in the press, in the +legislature, and in municipal councils. He became convinced that +no matter how wise or just or fair the railroad might be in the +interests of every community and every business which were so +dependent upon its transportation, the public would not submit to +any great line being owned by one man. The Vanderbilt promptness +in arriving at a decision was immediately shown. He called upon +Mr. Pierpont Morgan, and through him a syndicate, which Morgan +formed, took and sold the greater part of Mr. Vanderbilt's +New York Central stock. The result was that the New York Central +from that time was owned by the public. It is a tribute to the +justice and fairness of the Vanderbilt management that though the +management has been submitted every year since to a stockholders' +vote, there has practically never been any opposition to a +continuance of the Vanderbilt policy and management. + +Among the most important of the many problems during Mr. Vanderbilt's +presidency was the question of railway commissions, both in national +and State governments. In my professional capacity of general +counsel, and in common with representatives of other railroads, +I delivered argumentative addresses against them. The discussions +converted me, and I became convinced of their necessity. The +rapidly growing importance of railway transportation had created +the public opinion that railway management should be under the +control and supervision of some public body; that all passengers +or shippers, or those whose land was taken for construction and +development, should have an appeal from the decision of the railway +managers to the government through a government commission. + +As soon as I was convinced that commissions were necessary for +the protection of both the public and the railroads, I presented +this view to Mr. Vanderbilt. The idea was contrary to his education, +training, and opinion. It seemed to me that it was either a +commission or government ownership, and that the commission, if +strengthened as a judicial body, would be as much of a protection +to the bond and stock holders and the investing public as to the +general public and the employees. Mr. Vanderbilt, always +open-minded, adopted this view and supported the commission system +and favored legislation in its behalf. + +In 1883 Mr. Vanderbilt decided, on account of illness, to retire +from the presidency, and Mr. James H. Rutter was elected his +successor. Mr. Rutter was the ablest freight manager in the +country, but his health gave way under the exactions of executive +duties, and I acted largely for him during his years of service. +He died early in 1885, and I was elected president. + +The war with the West Shore had been on for several years, with +disastrous results to both companies. The Ontario and Western, +which had large terminal facilities near Jersey City on the west +side of the Hudson, ran for fifty miles along the river before +turning into the interior. At its reorganization it had ten millions +of cash in the treasury. With this as a basis, its directors +decided to organize a new railroad, to be called the West Shore, +and parallel the New York Central through its entire length to +Buffalo. As the New York Central efficiently served this whole +territory, the only business the West Shore could get must be +taken away from the Central. To attract this business it offered +at all stations lower rates. To retain and hold its business the +New York Central met those rates at all points so that financially +the West Shore went into the hands of a receiver. + +The New York Central was sustained because of its superior +facilities and connections and established roadway and equipment. +But all new and necessary construction was abandoned, maintenance +was neglected, and equipment run down under forced reduction of +expenses. + +I had very friendly personal relations with the managers and +officers of the West Shore, and immediately presented to them +a plan for the absorption of their line, instead of continuing +the struggle until absolute exhaustion. Mr. Vanderbilt approved +of the plan, as did the financial interests represented by +Mr. Pierpont Morgan. + +By the reorganization and consolidation of the two companies the +New York Central began gradually to establish its efficiency and +to work on necessary improvements. As evidence of the growth +of the railway business of the country, the New York Central +proper has added since the reorganization an enormous amount of +increased trackage, and has practically rebuilt, as a necessary +second line, the West Shore and used fully its very large terminal +facilities on the Jersey side of the Hudson. + +During his active life Mr. Vanderbilt was very often importuned +to buy a New York daily newspaper. He was personally bitterly +assailed and his property put in peril by attacks in the press. +He always rejected the proposition to buy one. "If," he said, +"I owned a newspaper, I would have all the others united in +attacking me, and they would ruin me, but by being utterly out of +the journalistic field, I find that taking the press as a whole +I am fairly well treated. I do not believe any great interest +dealing with the public can afford to have an organ." + +Colonel Scott, of the Pennsylvania, thought otherwise, but the +result of his experiment demonstrated the accuracy of Mr. Vanderbilt's +judgment. Scott selected as editor of the New York World one of +the most brilliant journalistic writers of his time, William H. Hurlburt. +When it became known, however, that the World belonged to +Colonel Scott, Hurlburt's genius could not save it. The circulation +ran down to a minimum, the advertising followed suit, and the +paper was losing enormously every month. Mr. Joseph Pulitzer, +with the rare insight and foresight which distinguished him, saw +what could be made of the World, with its privileges in the +Associated Press, and so he paid Scott the amount he had originally +invested, and took over and made a phenomenal success of this +bankrupt and apparently hopeless enterprise. + +I tried during my presidency to make the New York Central popular +with the public without impairing its efficiency. The proof of the +success of this was that without any effort on my part and against +my published wishes the New York delegation in the national +Republican convention in 1888, with unprecedented unanimity +presented me as New York's candidate for president. I retired +from the contest because of the intense hostility to railroad men +in the Western States. Those States could not understand how +this hostility, which they had to railroads and everybody connected +with them, had disappeared in the great State of New York. + +During my presidency the labor question was very acute and strikes, +one after another, common. The universal method of meeting the +demands of labor at that time was to have a committee of employees +or a leader present the grievances to the division superintendent +or the superintendent of motive power. These officers were +arbitrary and hostile, as the demands, if acceded to, led to an +increase of expenses which would make them unpopular with the +management. They had a difficult position. The employees often +came to the conclusion that the only way for them to compel the +attention of the higher officers and directors was to strike. + +Against the judgment of my associates in the railway management +I decided to open my doors to any individual or committee of the +company. At first I was overwhelmed with petty grievances, but +when the men understood that their cases would be immediately heard +and acted upon, they decided among themselves not to bring to me +any matters unless they regarded them of vital importance. In +this way many of the former irritations, which led ultimately to +serious results, no longer appeared. + +I had no trouble with labor unions, and found their representatives +in heart-to-heart talks very generally reasonable. Mr. Arthur, +chief of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, had many of +the qualities of a statesman. He built up his organization to be +the strongest of its kind among the labor unions. I enjoyed his +confidence and friendship for many years. + +There never was but one strike on the New York Central during +my administration, and that one occurred while I was absent in +Europe. Its origin and sequel were somewhat dramatic. I had +nearly broken down by overwork, and the directors advised me to +take an absolute rest and a trip abroad. + +I sent word over the line that I wanted everything settled before +leaving, and to go without care. A large committee appeared in +my office a few mornings after. To my surprise there was a +representative from every branch of the service, passenger and +freight conductors, brakemen, shopmen, yardmen, switchmen, and +so forth. These had always come through their local unions. +I rapidly took up and adjusted what each one of the representatives +of his order claimed, and then a man said: "I represent the +locomotive engineers." + +My response was: "You have no business here, and I will have +nothing to do with you. I will see no one of the locomotive +engineers, except their accredited chief officer." + +"Well," he said, "Mr. President, there is a new condition on +the road, a new order of labor called the Knights of Labor. We +are going to absorb all the other unions and have only one. The +only obstacle in the way is the locomotive engineers, who refuse +to give up their brotherhood and come in with us, but if you will +recognize us only, that will force them to join. Now, the Brotherhood +intends to present a demand very soon, and if you will recognize +our order, the Knights of Labor, and not the Brotherhood of +Locomotive Engineers, we will take care of what they demand and +all others from every department for two years, and you can take +your trip to Europe in perfect peace of mind. If you do not do +this there will be trouble." + +I declined to deal with them as representatives of the Brotherhood +of Locomotive Engineers. Then their spokesman said: "As this +is so serious to you, we will give you to-night to think it over +and come back in the morning." + +I immediately sent for the superintendent of motive power and +directed him to have posted by telegraph in every roundhouse that +the request of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, of which +this committee had told me, had been granted. The next morning +the committee returned, and their leader said: "Well, Mr. President, +you have beaten us and we are going home." + +Then I appealed to them, saying: "I am a pretty badly broken-up +man. The doctors tell me that if I can have three months without +care I will be as good as ever. You must admit that I have at +all times been absolutely square with you and tried to adjust +fairly the matters you have brought to me. Now, will you take +care of me while I am absent?" + +They answered unanimously: "Mr. President, we will, and you can +be confident there will be no trouble on the New York Central while +you are away." + +I sailed with my mind free from anxiety, hopeful and happy, leaving +word to send me no cables or letters. After a visit to the +Passion Play at Ober-Ammergau in Upper Bavaria, I went into the +Austrian Tyrol. One night, at a hotel in Innsbruck, Mr. Graves, +a very enterprising reporter of a New York paper, suddenly burst +into my room and said: "I have been chasing you all over Europe +for an interview on the strike on the New York Central." This +was my first information of the strike. + +As soon as I had left New York and was on the ocean, the young +and ambitious officers who were at the head of the operations of +the railroad and disapproved of my method of dealing with the +employees, discharged every member of the committee who had +called upon me. Of course, this was immediately followed by a +sympathetic outburst in their behalf, and the sympathizers were +also discharged. Then the whole road was tied up by a universal +strike. After millions had been lost in revenue by the railroad +and in wages by the men, the strike was settled, as usual, by a +compromise, but it gave to the Knights of Labor the control, except +as to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. The early settlement +of the strike was largely due to the loyalty and courage of +the Brotherhood. + +During my presidency I was much criticised by the public, but +never by the directors of the company, because of my activities +in politics and on the platform. For some time, when the duties +of my office became most onerous, and I was in the habit of working +all day and far into the night, I discovered that this concentrated +attention to my railroad problems and intense and continuous +application to their solution was not only impairing my efficiency +but my health. As I was not a sport, and never had time for games +or horses, I decided to try a theory, which was that one's daily +duties occupied certain cells of the brain while the others +remained idle; that the active cells became tired by overwork +while others lost their power in a measure by idleness; that if, +after a reasonable use of the working cells, you would engage +in some other intellectual occupation, it would furnish as much +relief or recreation as outdoor exercise of any kind. I had a +natural facility for quick and easy preparation for public speaking, +and so adopted that as my recreation. The result proved entirely +successful. + +After a hard day's work, on coming home late in the afternoon, +I accustomed myself to take a short nap of about fifteen minutes. +Then I would look over my tablets to see if any engagement was +on to speak in the evening, and, if so, the preparation of the +speech might be easy, or, if difficult, cause me to be late at +dinner. These speeches were made several times a week, and mainly +at banquets on closing of the sessions of conventions of trade +organizations of the country. The reciprocaI favors and friendship +of these delegates transferred to the New York Central a large +amount of competitive business. + +While I was active in politics I issued strict orders that every +employee should have the same liberty, and that any attempt on +the part of their superior officers to influence or direct the +political action of a subordinate would be cause for dismissal. +This became so well known that the following incident, which was +not uncommon, will show the result. + +As I was taking the train the morning after having made a political +speech at Utica, the yardmaster, an Irishman, greeted me very +cordially and then said: "We were all up to hear ye last night, +boss, but this year we are agin ye." + +The position which this activity gave me in my own party, and the +fact that, unlike most employers, I protected the employees in +their liberty and political action, gave me immense help in +protecting the company from raids and raiders. + +We had a restaurant in the station at Utica which had deteriorated. +The situation was called to my attention in order to have the evils +corrected by the receipt of the following letter from an indignant +passenger: "Dear Mr. President: You are the finest after-dinner +speaker in the world. I would give a great deal to hear the speech +you would make after you had dined in the restaurant in your +station at Utica." + +After thirteen years of service as president I was elected chairman of +the board of directors. Mr. Samuel R. Callaway succeeded me as +president, and on his resignation was succeeded by Mr. William H. Newman, +and upon his resignation Mr. W. C. Brown became president. +Following Mr. Brown, Mr. Alfred H. Smith was elected and is still +in office. All these officers were able and did excellent service, +but I want to pay special tribute to Mr. Smith. + +Mr. Smith is one of the ablest operating officers of his time. +When the United States Government took over the railroads he was +made regional director of the government for railroads in this +territory. He received the highest commendation from the government +and from the owners of the railroads for the admirable way in +which he had maintained them and their efficiency during the +government control. + +On the surrender of the railroads by the government, Mr. Smith was +welcomed back by his directors to the presidency of the New York Central. +The splendid condition of the Central and its allied lines is +largely due to him. During his service as regional director the +difficult task of the presidency of the New York Central was very +ably performed by Mr. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr. Though the +youngest among the executive officers of the railroads of the +country, he was at the same time one of the best. + +Among the efficient officers who have served the New York Central +during the time I have been with the company, I remember many on +account of their worth and individuality. H. Walter Webb came +into the railway service from an active business career. With +rare intelligence and industry he rapidly rose in the organization +and was a very capable and efficient officer. There was +Theo. Voorhees, the general superintendent, an unusually young +man for such a responsible position. He was a graduate of +Troy PoIytechnical School and a very able operating officer. +Having gone directly from the college to a responsible position, +he naturally did not understand or know how to handle men until +after long experience. He showed that want of experience in a +very drastic way in the strike of 1892 and its settlement. Being +very arbitrary, he had his own standards. For instance, I was +appealed to by many old brakemen and conductors whom he had +discharged. I mention one particularly, who had been on the road +for twenty-five years. Voorhees's answer to me was: "These old +employees are devoted to Toucey, my predecessor, and for efficient +work I must have loyalty to me." + +I reversed his order and told him I would begin to discharge, if +necessary, the latest appointments, including himself, keeping +the older men in the service who had proved their loyalty to the +company by the performance of their duties. + +Mr. Voorhees became afterwards vice-president and then president +of the Philadelphia and Reading. With experience added to his +splendid equipment and unusual ability he became one of the best +executives in the country. + +Mr. John M. Toucey, who had come up from the bottom to be general +superintendent and general manager, was a hard student. His close +contact with his fellow employees gave him wonderful control over +men. He supplemented his practical experience by hard study and +was very well educated. Though self-taught, he had no confidence +in the graduates of the professional schools. + +In selecting an assistant, one of them told me that Toucey subjected +him to a rigid examination and then said: "What is your +railroad career?" + +"I began at the bottom," answered the assistant, "and have filled +every office on my old road up to division superintendent, which +I have held for so many years." + +"That is very fine," said Toucey, "but are you a graduate of the +Troy Technical School?" + +"No, sir." + +"Of the Stevens Tech.?" + +"No, sir." + +"Of Massachusetts Tech.?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then you are engaged," said Toucey. + +Mr. Toucey was well up-to-date, and differed from a superintendent +on another road in which I was a director. The suburban business +of that line had increased very rapidly, but there were not enough +trains or cars to accommodate the passengers. The overcrowding +caused many serious discomforts. I had the superintendent called +before the board of directors, and said to him: "Why don't you +immediately put on more trains and cars?" + +"Why, Mr. Depew," he answered, "what would be the use? They are +settling so fast along the line that the people would fill them up +and overcrowd them just as before." + +I was going over the line on an important tour at one time with +G. H. Burroughs, superintendent of the Western Division. We were +on his pony engine, with seats at the front, alongside the boiler, +so that we could look directly on the track. Burroughs sat on +one side and I on the other. He kept on commenting aloud by way +of dictating to his stenographer, who sat behind him, and praise +and criticism followed rapidly. I heard him utter in his monotonous +way: "Switch misplaced, we will all be in hell in a minute," and +then a second afterwards continue: "We jumped the switch and +are on the track again. Discharge that switchman." + +Major Zenas Priest was for fifty years a division superintendent. +It was a delightful experience to go with him over his division. +He knew everybody along the line, was general confidant in their +family troubles and arbiter in neighborhood disputes. He knew +personally every employee and his characteristics and domestic +situation. The wives were generally helping him to keep their +husbands from making trouble. To show his control and efficiency, +he was always predicting labor troubles and demonstrating that +the reason they did not occur was because of the way in which +he handled the situation. + +Mr. C. M. Bissell was a very efficient superintendent, and for +a long time in charge of the Harlem Railroad. He told me this +incident. We decided to put in effect as a check upon the +conductors a system by which a conductor, when a fare was paid +on the train, must tear from a book a receipt which he gave to +the passenger, and mark the amount on the stub from which the +receipt was torn. Soon after a committee of conductors called +upon Mr. Bissell and asked for an increase of pay. "Why," Bissell +asked, "boys, why do you ask for that now?" + +After a rather embarrassing pause the oldest conductor said: +"Mr. Bissell, you have been a conductor yourself." + +This half century and six years during which I have been in the +service of the New York Central Railroad has been a time of +unusual pleasure and remarkably free from friction or trouble. +In this intimate association with the railroad managers of the +United States I have found the choicest friendships and the most +enduring. The railroad manager is rarely a large stockholder, +but he is a most devoted and efficient officer of his company. +He gives to its service, for the public, the employees, the +investors, and the company, all that there is in him. In too many +instances, because these officers do not get relief from their labor +by variation of their work, they die exhausted before their time. + +The story graphically told by one of the oldest and ablest of +railroad men, Mr. Marvin Hughitt, for a long time president and +now chairman of the Chicago and Northwestern Railway, illustrates +what the railroad does for the country. Twenty-five years ago the +Northwestern extended its lines through Northern Iowa. Mr. Hughitt +drove over the proposed extension on a buckboard. The country +was sparsely settled because the farmers could not get their +products to market, and the land was selling at six dollars per acre. + +In a quarter of a century prosperous villages and cities had grown +up along the line, and farms were selling at over three hundred +dollars per acre. While this enormous profit from six dollars +per acre to over three hundred has come to the settlers who held +on to their farms because of the possibilities produced by the +railroad, the people whose capital built the road must remain +satisfied with a moderate return by way of dividend and interest, +and without any enhancement of their capital, but those investors +should be protected by the State and the people to whom their +capital expenditures have been such an enormous benefit. + + + +XIX. RECOLLECTIONS FROM ABROAD + +I know of nothing more delightful for a well-read American than +to visit the scenes in Great Britain with which he has become +familiar in his reading. No matter how rapidly he may travel, +if he goes over the places made memorable by Sir Walter Scott +in the "Waverley Novels," and in his poems, he will have had +impressions, thrills, and educational results which will be a +pleasure for the rest of his life. The same is true of an ardent +admirer of Dickens or of Thackeray, in following the footsteps +of their heroes and heroines. I gained a liberal education and +lived over again the reading and studies of a lifetime in my visits +to England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. I also had much the +same experience of vivifying and spiritualizing my library in +France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Holland. + +London is always most hospitable and socially the most delightful +of cities. While Mr. Gladstone was prime minister and more in +the eyes of the world than any statesman of any country, a dinner +was given to him with the special object of having me meet him. +The ladies and gentlemen at the dinner were all people of note. +Among them were two American bishops. The arrangement made by +the host and hostess was that when the ladies left the dining-room +I should take the place made vacant alongside Mr. Gladstone, but +one of the American bishops, who in his younger days was a famous +athlete, made a flying leap for that chair and no sooner landed +than he at once proposed to Mr. Gladstone this startling question: +"As the bishop of the old Catholic Church in Germany does not +recognize the authority of the pope, how can he receive absolution?" +--and some other abstruse theological questions. This at once +aroused Mr. Gladstone, who, when once started, was stopped with +difficulty, and there was no pause until the host announced that +the gentlemen should join the ladies. I made it a point at the +next dinner given for me to meet Mr. Gladstone that there should +be no American bishops present. + +At another time, upon arriving at my hotel in London from New York, +I found a note from Lord Rosebery saying that Mr. Gladstone was +dining with Lady Rosebery and himself that evening, and there +would be no other guests, and inviting me to come. I arrived early +and found Mr. Gladstone already there. While the custom in London +society then was for the guests to be late, Mr. Gladstone was +always from fifteen minutes to half an hour in advance of the time +set by his invitation. He greeted me with great cordiality, and +at once what were known as the Gladstone tentacles were fastened +on me for information. It was a peculiarity with the grand old +man that he extracted from a stranger practically all the man knew, +and the information was immediately assimilated in his wonderful +mind. He became undoubtedly the best-informed man on more subjects +than anybody in the world. + +Mr. Gladstone said to me: "It has been raining here for forty days. +What is the average rainfall in the United States and in New York?" +If there was any subject about which I knew less than another, it +was the meteorological conditions in America. He then continued +with great glee: "Our friend, Lord Rosebery, has everything and +knows everything, so it is almost impossible to find for him +something new. Great books are common, but I have succeeded +in my explorations among antiquarian shops in discovering the most +idiotic book that ever was written. It was by an old lord mayor of +London, who filled a volume with his experiences in an excursion +on the Thames, which is the daily experience of every Englishman." +To the disappointment of Mr. Gladstone, Lord Rosebery also had +that book. The evening was a memorable one for me. + +After a most charming time and dinner, while Lord Rosebery went +off to meet an engagement to speak at a meeting of colonial +representatives, Lady Rosebery took Mr. Gladstone and myself +to the opera at Covent Garden. There was a critical debate on +in the House of Commons, and the whips were running in to inform +him of the progress of the battle and to get instructions from +the great leader. + +During the entr'actes Mr. Gladstone most interestingly talked of +his sixty years' experience of the opera. He knew all the great +operas of that period, and criticised with wonderful skill the +composers and their characteristics. He gave a word picture of +all the great artists who had appeared on the English stage and +the merits and demerits of each. A stranger listening to him would +have said that a veteran musical critic, who had devoted his life +to that and nothing else, was reminiscing. He said that thirty +years before the manager of Covent Garden had raised the pitch, +that this had become so difficult that most of the artists, to reach +it, used the tremolo, and that the tremolo had taken away from him +the exquisite pleasure which he formerly had in listening to an opera. + +Mr. Gladstone was at that time the unquestionable master of the +House of Commons and its foremost orator. I unfortunately never +heard him at his best, but whether the question was of greater +or lesser importance, the appearance of Mr. Gladstone at once +lifted it above ordinary discussion to high debate. + +Mr. Gladstone asked many questions about large fortunes in the +United States, was curious about the methods of their accumulation, +and whether they survived in succeeding generations. He wanted +to know all about the reputed richest man among them. I told him +I did not know the amount of his wealth, but that it was at least +one hundred millions of dollars. + +"How invested?" he asked. + +I answered: "All in fluid securities which could be turned into +cash in a short time." + +He became excited at that and said: "Such a man is dangerous +not only to his own country but to the world. With that amount +of ready money he could upset the exchanges and paralyze the +borrowing power of nations." + +"But," I said, "you have enormous fortunes," and mentioned the +Duke of Westminster. + +"I know every pound of Westminster's wealth," he said. "It is in +lands which he cannot sell, and burdened with settlements of +generations and obligations which cannot be avoided." + +"How about the Rothschilds?" I asked. + +"Their fortunes," he answered, "are divided among the firms in +London, Paris, Vienna, and Frankfort, and it would be impossible +for them to be combined and used to unsettle the markets of the +world. But Mr. ------- could do this and prevent governments from +meeting their obligations." + +Mr. Gladstone had no hostility to great fortunes, however large, +unless so invested as to be immediately available by a single +man for speculation. But fortunes larger than that of one hundred +millions have since been acquired, and their management is so +conservative that they are brakes and safeguards against unreasoning +panics. The majority of them have been used for public benefit. +The most conspicuous instances are the Rockefeller Foundation, +the Carnegie Endowment, and the Frick Creation. + +Henry Labouchere told me a delightful story of Mr. Gladstone's +first meeting with Robert T. Lincoln, when he arrived in London +as American minister. Mr. Lincoln became in a short time after +his arrival one of the most popular of the distinguished list of +American representatives to Great Britain. He was especially noted +for the charm of his conversation. Labouchere said that Mr. Gladstone +told him that he was very anxious to meet Mr. Lincoln, both because +he was the new minister from the United States and because of his +great father, President Lincoln. Labouchere arranged for a dinner +at his house, which was an hour in the country from Mr. Gladstone's +city residence. Mrs. Gladstone made Mr. Labouchere promise, as +a condition for permitting her husband to go, that Mr. Gladstone +should be back inside of his home at ten o'clock. + +The dinner had no sooner started than some question arose which +not only interested but excited Mr. Gladstone. He at once entered +upon an eloquent monologue on the subject. There was no possibility +of interruption by any one, and Mr. Lincoln had no chance whatever +to interpose a remark. When the clock was nearing eleven Labouchere +interrupted this torrent of talk by saying: "Mr. Gladstone, it is +now eleven; it is an hour's ride to London, and I promised +Mrs. Gladstone to have you back at ten." When they were seated +in the carriage Labouchere said to Mr. Gladstone: "Well, you +have passed an evening with Mr. Lincoln; what do you think of him?" +He replied: "Mr. Lincoln is a charming personality, but he does +not seem to have much conversation." + +Among the very able men whom I met in London was Joseph Chamberlain. +When I first met him he was one of Mr. Gladstone's trusted +lieutenants. He was a capital speaker, a close and incisive +debater, and a shrewd politician. When he broke with Mr. Gladstone, +he retained his hold on his constituency and continued to be a +leader in the opposite party. + +Mr. Chamberlain told me that in a critical debate in the +House of Commons, when the government was in danger, Mr. Gladstone, +who alone could save the situation, suddenly disappeared. Every +known resort of his was searched to find him. Mr. Chamberlain, +recollecting Mr. Gladstone's interest in a certain subject, drove +to the house of the lady whose authority on that subject +Mr. Gladstone highly respected. He found him submitting to the +lady for her criticism and correction some of Watts's hymns, +which he had translated into Italian. + +The British Government sent Mr. Chamberlain to America, and he +had many public receptions given him by our mercantile and other +bodies. On account of his separating from Mr. Gladstone on +Home Rule, he met with a great deal of hostility here from the Irish. +I was present at a public dinner where the interruptions and +hostile demonstrations were very pronounced. But Mr. Chamberlain +won his audience by his skill and fighting qualities. + +I gave him a dinner at my house and had a number of representative +men to meet him. He made the occasion exceedingly interesting +by presenting views of domestic conditions in England and +international ones with this country, which were quite new to us. + +Mr. Chamberlain was a guest on the Teutonic at the famous review +of the British navy celebrating Queen Victoria's jubilee, where +I had the pleasure of again meeting him. He had recently married +Miss Endicott, the charming daughter of our secretary of war, and +everybody appreciated that it was a British statesman's honeymoon. + +He gave me a dinner in London, at which were present a large +company, and two subjects came under very acute discussion. There +had been a recent marriage in high English society, where there +were wonderful pedigree and relationships on both sides, but no +money. It finally developed, however, that under family settlements +the young couple might have fifteen hundred pounds a year, or +seven thousand five hundred dollars. The decision was unanimous +that they could get along very well and maintain their position on +this sum and be able to reciprocate reasonably the attentions they +would receive. Nothing could better illustrate the terrific +increase in the cost of living than the contrast between then and now. + +Some one of the guests at the dinner said that the Americans by +the introduction of slang were ruining the English language. +Mr. James Russell Lowell had come evidently prepared for this +controversy. He said that American slang was the common language +of that part of England from which the Pilgrims sailed, and that it +had been preserved in certain parts of the United States, notably +northern New England. He then produced an old book, a sort of +dictionary of that period, and proved his case. It was a surprise +to everybody to know that American slang was really classic English, +and still spoken in the remoter parts of Massachusetts and +New Hampshire, though no longer in use in England. + +The period of Mr. Gladstone's reign as prime minister was one of +the most interesting for an American visitor who had the privilege +of knowing him and the eminent men who formed his Cabinet. The +ladies of the Cabinet entertained lavishly and superbly. A great +favorite at these social gatherings was Miss Margot Tennant, +afterwards Mrs. Asquith. Her youth, her wit, her originality and +audacity made every function a success which was graced by +her presence. + +The bitterness towards Mr. Gladstone of the opposition party +surpassed anything I have met in American politics, except during +the Civil War. At dinners and receptions given me by my friends +of the Tory party I was supposed as an American to be friendly to +Mr. Gladstone and Home Rule. I do not know whether this was +the reason or whether it was usual, but on such occasions the +denunciation of Mr. Gladstone as a traitor and the hope of living +to see him executed was very frequent. + +I remember one important public man who was largely interested +and a good deal of a power in Canadian and American railroads. +He asked a friend of mine to arrange for me to meet him. I found +him a most agreeable man and very accurately informed on the +railway situation in Canada and the United States. He was +preparing for a visit, and so wanted me to fill any gaps there +might be in his knowledge of the situation. + +Apropos of the political situation at the time, he suddenly asked +me what was the attitude of the people of the United States towards +Mr. Gladstone and his Home Rule bill. I told him they were +practically unanimous in favor of the bill, and that Mr. Gladstone +was the most popular Englishman in the United States. He at once +flew into a violent rage, the rarest thing in the world for an +Englishman, and lost control of his temper to such a degree that +I thought the easiest way to dam the flood of his denunciation +was to plead another engagement and retire from the field. I met +him frequently afterwards, especially when he came to the +United States, but carefully avoided his pet animosity. + +One year, in the height of the crisis of Mr. Gladstone's effort +to pass the Home Rule bill, a member of his Cabinet said to me: +"We of the Cabinet are by no means unanimous in believing in +Mr. Gladstone's effort, but he is the greatest power in our country. +The people implicitly believe in him and we are helping all we can." + +It is well known that one after another broke away from him in +time. The same Cabinet minister continued: "Mr. Gladstone has +gone to the extreme limit in concessions made in his Home Rule +bill, and he can carry the English, Scotch, and Welsh members. +But every time the Irish seem to be satisfied, they make a new +demand and a greater one. Unless this stops and the present bill +is accepted, the whole scheme will break down. Many of the Irish +members are supported by contributions from America. Their +occupation is politics. If Home Rule should be adopted the serious +people of Ireland, whose economic interests are at stake, might +come to the front and take all representative offices themselves. +We have come to the conclusion that enough of the Irish members +to defeat the bill do not want Home Rule on any conditions. +I know it is a custom when you arrive home every year that your +friends meet you down the Bay and give you a reception. Then you +give an interview of your impressions over here, and that interview +is printed as widely in this country as in the United States. Now +I wish you would do this: At the reception put in your own way +what I have told you, and especially emphasize that Mr. Gladstone +is imperilling his political career and whole future for the sake +of what he believes would be justice to Ireland. He cannot go +any further and hold his English, Scotch, and Welsh constituencies. +He believes that he can pass the present bill and start Ireland on +a career of Home Rule if he can receive the support of the Irish +members. The Americans who believe in Mr. Gladstone and are all +honest Home Rulers will think this is an indirect message from +himself, and it would be if it were prudent for Mr. Gladstone to +send the message." + +On my return to New York I did as requested. The story was +published and commented on everywhere, and whether it was due +to American insistence or not, I do not know, but shortly after +Mr. Gladstone succeeded in carrying his Home Rule bill through the +House of Commons, but it was defeated by the Conservatives in the +House of Lords. + +His Irish policy is a tribute to Mr. Gladstone's judgment and +foresight, because in the light and conditions of to-day it is +perfectly plain that if the Gladstone measure had been adopted +at that time, the Irish question would not now be the most difficult +and dangerous in British politics. + +I had many talks with Mr. Parnell and made many speeches in his +behalf and later for Mr. Redmond. I asked him on one occasion +if the Irish desired complete independence and the formation of +an independent government. He answered: "No, we want Home Rule, +but to retain our connection in a way with the British Empire. +The military, naval, and civil service of the British Empire gives +great opportunities for our young men. Ireland in proportion to +its population is more largely represented in these departments +of the British Government than either England, Scotland, or Wales." + +Incidental to the division in Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet, which had +not at this time broken out, was the great vogue which a story of +mine had. I was dining with Earl Spencer. He had been lord +lieutenant of Ireland and was very popular. His wife especially +had been as great a success as the vice-regent. He was called +the Red Earl because of his flowing auburn beard. He was a very +serious man, devoted to the public service and exceedingly capable. +He almost adored Gladstone and grieved over the growing opposition +in the Cabinet. + +The guests at the dinner were all GIadstonians and lamenting these +differences and full of apprehension they might result in a split +in the party. The earl asked me if we ever had such conditions +in the United States. I answered: "Yes." Mr. Blaine, at that +time at the head of President Harrison's Cabinet as secretary +of state, had very serious differences with his chief, and the +people wondered why he remained. Mr. Blaine told me this story +apropos of the situation: The author of a play invited a friend +of his to witness the first production and sent him a complimentary +ticket. During the first act there were signs of disapproval, +which during the second act broke out into a riot. An excited +man sitting alongside the guest of the playwright said: "Stranger, +are you blind or deaf, or do you approve of the play?" The guest +replied: "My friend, my sentiments and opinion in regard to this +play do not differ from yours and the rest, but I am here on a +free ticket. If you will wait a little while till I go out and +buy a ticket, I will come back and help you raise hell." + +The most brilliant member of Mr. Gladstone's Cabinet and one of +the most accomplished, versatile, and eloquent men in Great Britain +was Lord Rosebery. I saw much of him when he was foreign minister +and also after he became prime minister. Lord Rosebery was not +only a great debater on political questions, he was also the most +scholarly orator of his country on educational, literary, and +patriotic subjects. He gathered about him always the people +whom a stranger pre-eminently desired to meet. + +I recall one of my week-end visits to his home at Mentmore, which +is one of the most delightful of my reminiscences abroad. He had +taken down there the leaders of his party. The dinner lasted, the +guests all being men, except Lady Rosebery, who presided, until +after twelve o'clock. Every one privileged to be there felt that +those four hours had passed more quickly and entertainingly than +any in their experience. + +It was a beautiful moonlight night and the very best of English +weather, and we adjourned to the terrace. There were recalled +personal experiences, incidents of travel from men who had been +all over the world and in critical situations in many lands, +diplomatic secrets revealing crises seriously threatening European +wars, and how these had been averted, alliances made and territories +acquired, adventures of thrilling interest and personal episodes +surpassing fiction. The company reluctantly separated when the +rising sun admonished them that the night had passed. + +It has been my good fortune to be the guest of eminent men in +many lands and on occasions of memorable interest, but the rarest +privilege for any one was to be the guest of Lord Rosebery, either +at his city house or one of his country residences. The wonderful +charm of the host, his tact with his guests, his talent for drawing +people out and making them appear at their best, linger in their +memories as red-letter days and nights of their lives. + +All Americans took great interest in the career of Lord Randolph +Churchill. His wife was one of the most beautiful and popular +women in English society, and an American. I knew her father, +Leonard Jerome, very well. He was a successful banker and a highly +educated and cultured gentleman. His brother, William Jerome, +was for a long time the best story-teller and one of the wittiest +of New Yorkers. + +Lord Randolph Churchill advanced very rapidly in British politics +and became not only one of the most brilliant debaters but one +of the leaders of the House of Commons. On one of my visits abroad +I received an invitation from the Churchills to visit them at their +country place. When I arrived I found that they occupied a castle +built in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and in which few modern +alterations had been made. It was historically a very unique and +interesting structure. Additions had been made to it by succeeding +generations, each being another house with its own methods of +ingress and egress. Lord Randolph said: "I welcome you to my +ancestral home, which I have rented for three months." + +Though this temporary residence was very ancient, yet its +hospitalities were dispensed by one of the most up-to-date and +progressive couples in the kingdom. In the intimacy of a +house-party, not too large, one could enjoy the versatility, +the charm, the wide information, the keen political acumen of +this accomplished and magnetic British statesman. It was +unfortunate for his country that from overwork he broke down so +early in life. + +No one during his period could surpass Baron Alfred Rothschild as +host. His dinners in town, followed by exquisite musicales, were +the social events of every season. He was, however, most attractive +at his superb place in the country. A week-end with him there met +the best traditions of English hospitality. In the party were sure +to be men and women of distinction, and just the ones whom an +American had read about and was anxious to meet. + +Baron Rothschild was a famous musician and an ardent lover of +music. He had at his country place a wonderfully trained orchestra +of expert musicians. In the theatre he gave concerts for the +enjoyment of his guests, and led the orchestra himself. Among +the company was sure to be one or more of the most famous artists +from the opera at Covent Garden, and from these experts his own +leadership and the performance of his perfectly trained company +received unstinted praise and applause. Baron Rothschild had the +art so necessary for the enjoyment of his guests of getting +together the right people. He never risked the harmony of his +house by inviting antagonists. + +Lord Rothschild, the head of the house, differed entirely from +his amiable and accomplished brother. While he also entertained, +his mind was engrossed in business and affairs. I had a conference +with him at the time of the Spanish-American War, which might have +been of historical importance. He asked me to come and see him +in the Rothschild banking-house, where the traditions of a century +are preserved and unchanged. He said to me: "We have been for +a long time the bankers of Spain. We feel the responsibility for +their securities, which we have placed upon the market. The +United States is so all-powerful in its resources and spirit that +it can crush Spain. This we desire to avert. Spain, though weak +and poor compared to the United States, has nevertheless the +proudest people in the world, and it is a question of Spanish +pride we have to deal with." + +In answering him I said: "Lord Rothschild, it seems to me that +if you had any proposition you should take it to Mr. John Hay, +our accomplished minister." + +"No," he said; "then it would become a matter of diplomacy and +publicity. Now the Spanish Government is willing to comply with +every demand the United States can make. The government is willing +to grant absolute independence to Cuba, or what it would prefer, +a self-governing colony, with relations like that of Canada to +Great Britain. Spain is willing to give to the United States +Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands, but she must know beforehand +if these terms will be accepted before making the offer because +if an offer so great as this and involving such a loss of territory +and prestige should be rejected by the United States there would +be a revolution in Spain which might overthrow not only the +government but the monarchy. What would be regarded as an insult +would be resented by every Spaniard to the bitter end. That is +why I have asked you to come and wish you to submit this proposition +to your president. Of course, I remain in a position, if there +should be any publicity about it, to deny the whole thing." + +The proposition unfortunately came too late, and Mr. McKinley could +not stop the war. It was well known in Washington that he was +exceedingly averse to hostilities and believed the difficulties +could be satisfactorily settled by diplomacy, but the people were +aroused to such an extent that they were determined not only to free +Cuba but to punish those who were oppressing the Cubans. + +One incident which received little publicity at the time was in +all probability the match which fired the magazine. One of the +ablest and most level-headed members of the Senate was Senator +Redfield Proctor, of Vermont. The solidity of his character and +acquirements and his known sense and conservatism made him a +power in Congress, and he had the confidence of the people. He +visited Cuba and wrote a report in which he detailed as an +eyewitness the atrocities which the government and the soldiers +were perpetrating. He read this report to Mr. McKinley and +Senator Hanna. They both said: "Senator Proctor, if you read +that to the Senate, our negotiations end and war is inevitable." + +The president requested the senator to delay reporting to the +Senate. The excitement and interest in that body were never more +unanimous and intense. I doubt if any senator could have resisted +this rare opportunity not only to be the centre of the stage but +to occupy the whole platform. Senator Proctor made his report +and the country was aflame. + + + +One summer I arrived in London and was suffering from a fearful +attack of muscular rheumatism. I knew perfectly well that I had +brought it on myself by overwork. I had suffered several attacks +before, but this one was so acute that I consulted Sir Henry Thompson, +at that time the acknowledged head of the British medical +profession. He made a thorough examination and with most +satisfactory result as to every organ. "With your perfect +constitution," he said, "this attack is abnormal. Now tell me of +your day and every day at home. Begin with breakfast." + +"I breakfast at a quarter of eight," I said. + +"Then," continued the doctor, "give me the whoIe day." + +"I arrive at my office," I said, "at nine. Being president of +a great railway company, there is a large correspondence to be +disposed of. I see the heads of the different departments and +get in touch with every branch of the business. Then I meet +committees of chambers of commerce or shippers, or of employees +who have a grievance, and all this will occupy me until five +o'clock, when I go home. I take a very short lunch, often at +my desk, to save time. On arriving home I take a nap of ten or +fifteen minutes, and then look over my engagements for the evening. +If it is a speech, which will probably happen four evenings in a +week, I prepare in the next hour and then deliver it at some public +banquet or hall. If I have accepted a formal address or, as we +call them in America, orations, it is ground out on odd evenings, +Sunday afternoon and night." + +The doctor turned to me abruptly and said: "You ought to be dead. +Now, you have the most perfect constitution and less impaired than +any I have examined at your time of life. If you will follow the +directions which I give you, you can be perfectly well and sound +at the age of one hundred. If you continue your present life until +seventy, you will have a nervous breakdown, and thereafter become +a nuisance to yourself and everybody else. I advise absolute rest +at a remote place in Switzerland. There you will receive no +newspapers, and you will hear nothing from the outside world. +You will meet there only English who are seeking health, and they +will not speak to you. Devote your day to walking over the +mountains, adding to your tramp as your strength increases, and +lie for hours on the bank of a quiet stream there, and be intensely +interested as you throw pebbles into it to see how wide you can +make the circles from the spot where the pebble strikes the water." + +I thought I understood my temperament better than the doctor, and +that any rest for me was not solitude but entire change of +occupation. So I remained in London and lunched and dined out +every day for several weeks, with a week-end over every Sunday. +In other ways, however, I adopted the doctor's directions and not +only returned home cured, but have been free from rheumatism +ever since. + +I was in London at both the queen's fiftieth anniversary of her +reign and her jubilee. The reverence and love the English people +had for Queen Victoria was a wonderful exhibition of her wisdom +as a sovereign and of her charm and character as a woman. The +sixty years of her reign were a wonderful epoch in the growth of +her empire and in its relations to the world. + +Once I said to a member of the Cabinet, who, as minister of +foreign affairs had been brought in close contact with the queen: +"I am very much impressed with the regard which the people have +for Queen Victoria. What is her special function in your scheme +of government?" + +"She is invaluable," he answered, "to every prime minister and +the Cabinet. The prime minister, after the close of the debate +in the House of Commons every night, writes the queen a full +report of what has occurred at that session. This has been going +on for more than half a century. The queen reads these accounts +carefully and has a most retentive memory. If these communications +of the prime ministers were ever available to the public, they +would present a remarkable contrast of the minds and the methods +of different prime ministers and especially those two extreme +opposites, Gladstone and Disraeli. The queen did not like Gladstone, +because she said he always preached, but she had an intense +admiration for Disraeli, who threw into his nightly memoranda all +his skill not only as a statesman, but a novelist. The queen also +has been consulted during all these years on every crisis, domestic +or foreign, and every matter of Cabinet importance. The result +is that she is an encycIopaedia. Very often there will be a dispute +with some of the great powers or lesser ones, which is rapidly +growing to serious proportions. We can find no report of its +beginning. The queen, however, will remember just when the +difficulty began, and why it was pushed aside and not settled, +and who were the principal actors in the negotiations. With that +data we often arrive at a satisfactory settlement." + +I remember one garden-party at Buckingham Palace. The day was +perfect and the attendance phenomenally large and distinguished. +While there were places on the grounds where a luncheon was served, +the guests neglected these places and gathered about a large tent +where the royalties had their refreshments. It was an intense +curiosity, not so much to see their sovereign eat and drink, as +to improve the opportunity to reverently gaze upon her at close +range. The queen called various people whom she knew from this +circle of onlookers for a familiar talk. + +When the luncheon was served the attendant produced an immense +napkin, which she spread over herself, almost from her neck to +the bottom of her dress. A charming English lady, who stood beside +me, said: "I know you are laughing at the economy of our Queen." + +"On the contrary," I said, "I am admiring an example of carefulness +and thrift which, if it could be universally known, would be of +as great benefit in the United States as in Great Britain." + +"Well," she continued, "I do wish that the dear old lady was not +quite so careful." + +At a period when the lives of the continental rulers were in great +peril from revolutionists and assassins, the queen on both her +fiftieth anniversary and her jubilee rode in an open carriage +through many miles of London streets, with millions of spectators +on either side pressing closely upon the procession, and there was +never a thought that she was in the slightest danger. She was +fearless herself, but she had on the triple armor of the overmastering +love and veneration of the whole people. Americans remembered +that in the crisis of our Civil War it was the influence of the +queen, more than any other, which prevented Great Britain +recognizing the Southern Confederacy. + +Among the incidents of her jubilee was the greatest naval +demonstration ever known. The fleets of Great Britain were summoned +from all parts of the globe and anchored in a long and imposing +line in the English Channel. Mr. Ismay, at that time the head +of the White Star Line, took the Teutonic, which had just been +built and was not yet in regular commission, as his private yacht. +He had on board a notable company, representing the best, both +of men and women, of English life. He was the most generous of +hosts, and every care taken for the individual comfort of his +guests. In the intimacy for several days of such an excursion +we all became very well acquainted. There were speeches at +the dinners and dances afterwards on the deck for the younger +people. The war-ships were illuminated at night by electric +lights, and the launch of the Teutonic took us down one lane and +up another through the long lines of these formidable defenders +of Great Britain. + +One day there was great excitement when a war-ship steamed into +our midst and it was announced that it was the German emperor's. +Even as early as that he excited in the English mind both curiosity +and apprehension. One of the frequent questions put to me, both +then and for years afterwards at English dinners, was: "What do +you think of the German emperor?" + +Shortly after his arrival he came on to the Teutonic with the +Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VII. The prince knew +many of the company and was most cordial all around. The emperor +was absorbed in an investigation of this new ship and her +possibilities both in the mercantile marine and as a cruiser. +I heard him say to the captain: "How are you armed?" The captain +told him that among his equipment he had a new invention, a +quick-firing gun. The emperor was immediately greatly excited. +He examined the gun and questioned its qualities and possibilities +until he was master of every detail. Then he turned to one of +his officers and gave a quick order that the gun should be +immediately investigated and all that were required should be +provided for Germany. + +I heard a picturesque story from a member of the court, of +Queen Victoria's interest in all public affairs. There was then, +as there is generally in European relations, some talk of war. +The queen was staying at her castle at Osborne on the Isle of Wight. +He said she drove alone down to the shore one night and sat there +a long time looking at this great fleet, which was the main +protection of her empire and her people. It would be interesting +if one could know what were her thoughts, her fears, and her hopes. + +The queen was constantly assisting the government in the maintenance +of friendly relations with foreign powers by entertaining their +representatives at Windsor Castle. When General Grant, after +he retired from the presidency, made his trip around the world, +the question which disturbed our American minister, when General Grant +arrived in London, was how he could be properly received and +recognized. Of course, under our usage, he had become a private +citizen, and was no more entitled to official recognition than any +other citizen. This was well known in the diplomatic circles. +When the ambassadors and ministers of foreign countries in London +were appealed to, they unanimously said that as they represented +their sovereigns they could not yield precedence to General Grant, +but he must sit at the foot of the table. The Prince of Wales +solved this question with his usual tact and wisdom. Under the +recognized usage at any entertainment, the Prince of Wales can +select some person as his special guest to sit at his right, and, +therefore, precede everybody else. The prince made this suggestion +to our minister and performed this courteous act at all functions +given to General Grant. Queen Victoria supplemented this by +extending the same invitation to General and Mrs. Grant to dine +and spend the night with her at Windsor Castle, which was extended +only to visiting royalty. + +I remember that the Army of the Potomac was holding its annual +meeting and commemoration at one of our cities when the cable +announced that General Grant was being entertained by Queen Victoria +at Windsor Castle. The conventions of diplomacy, which requires +all communications to pass through the ambassador of one's country +to the foreign minister of another country before it can reach the +sovereign were not known to these old soldiers, so they cabled +a warm message to General Grant, care of Queen Victoria, +Windsor Castle, England. + +One of the most defightful bits of humor in my recollections of +journalistic enterprise was an editorial by a Mr. Alden, one +of the editors of the New York Times. Mr. Alden described with +great particularity, as if giving the details of the occurrence, +that the messenger-boy arrived at Windsor Castle during the night +and rang the front door-belI; that Her Majesty called out of the +window in quite American style, "Who is there?" and the messenger-boy +shouted, "Cable for General Grant. Is he staying at this house?" +I can only give a suggestion of Alden's fun, which shook the +whole country. + +One of the court officers said to me during the jubilee: "Royalties +are here from every country, and among those who have come over +is Liliuokalani, Queen of the Hawaiian Islands. She is as insistent +of her royal rights as the Emperor of Germany. We have consented +that she should be a guest at a dinner of our queen and spend +the night at Windsor Castle. We have settled her place among +the royalties in the procession through London and offered her +the hussars as her guard of honor. She insists, however, that +she shall have the same as the other kings, a company of the +guards. Having recognized her, we are obliged to yield." The +same officer told me that at the dinner the dusky queen said to +Queen Victoria: "Your Majesty, I am a blood relative of yours." + +"How so?" was the queen's astonished answer. + +"Why," said Liliuokalani, "my grandfather ate your Captain Cook." + + + +One of the most interesting of the many distinguished men who +were either guests on the Teutonic or visited us was Admiral Lord +Charles Beresford. He was a typical sailor of the highest class +and very versatile. He made a good speech, either social or +political, and was a delightful companion on all occasions. He +had remarkable adventures all over the world, and was a word +painter of artistic power. He knew America well and was very +sympathetic with our ideals. I met him many times in many relations +and always with increasing regard and esteem. + +I was entertained by Lord Beresford once in the most original way. +He had a country place about an hour from London and invited me +to come down on a Sunday afternoon and meet some friends. It was +a delightful garden-party on an ideal English summer day. He +pressed me to stay for dinner, saying: "There will be a few friends +coming, whom I am anxious for you to know." + +The friends kept coming, and after a while Lady Beresford said +to him: "We have set all the tables we have and the dining-room +and the adjoining room can hold. How many have you invited?" + +The admiral answered: "I cannot remember, but if we delay the +dinner until a quarter of nine, I am sure they will all be here." + +When we sat down we numbered over fifty. Lord Charles's abounding +and irresistible hospitality had included everybody whom he had met +the day before. + +The butler came to Lord Charles shortly after we sat down and +said: "My lord, it is Sunday night, and the shops are all closed. +We can add nothing to what we have in the house, and the soup +has given out." + +"Well," said this admirable strategist, "commence with those for +whom you have no soup with the fish. When the fish gives out, +start right on with the next course, and so to the close of the +dinner. In that way everybody will get something." + +After a while the butler again approached the admiral and said: +"My lord, the champagne is all gone." + +"Well," said Lord Charles, "start in on cider." + +It was a merry company, and they all caught on to the situation. +The result was one of the most hilarious, enjoyable, and original +entertainments of my life. It lasted late, and everybody with +absolute sincerity declared he or she had had the best time ever. + +I was asked to meet Lord John Fisher, in a way a rival of +Lord Beresford. Both were exceedingly able and brilliant officers +and men of achievement, but they were absolutely unlike; one had +all the characteristics of the Celt and the other of the Saxon. + +One of the most interesting things in Lord Fisher's talk, especially +in view of later developments, was his description of the +discoveries and annexations to the British Empire, made by the +British navy. In regard to this he said: "The British navy had +been acquiring positions of strategic importance to the safety and +growth of the empire from time immemorial, and some fool of a +prime minister on a pure matter of sentiment is always giving away +to our possible enemies one or the other of these advantageous +positions." He referred especially to Heligoland, the gift of +which to Germany had taken place not long before. If Heligoland, +fortified like Gibraltar, had remained in the possession of the +British Government, Germany would not have ventured upon the late war. + +Lord Fisher exemplified what I have often met with in men who have +won eminent distinction in some career, whose great desire was +to have fame in another and entirely different one. Apparently +he wished his friends and those he met to believe that he was +the best storyteller in the world; that he had the largest stock +of original anecdotes and told them better than anybody else. +I found that he was exceedingly impatient and irritable when any +one else started the inevitable "that reminds me," and he was +intolerant with the story the other was trying to tell. But I +discovered, also, that most of his stories, though told with great +enthusiasm, were very familiar, or, as we Americans would +say, "chestnuts." + +During my summer vacations I spent two weeks or more at Homburg, +the German watering-pIace. It was at that time the most interesting +resort on the continent. The Prince of Wales, afterwards +King Edward VII, was always there, and his sister, the Dowager +Empress of Germany, had her castle within a few miles. It was +said that there was a quorum of both Houses of Parliament in +Homburg while the prince was there, but his presence also drew +representatives from every department of English life, the bench +and the bar, writers of eminence of both sexes, distinguished +artists, and people famous on both the dramatic and the operatic +stage. The prince, with keen discrimination, had these interesting +people always about him. There were also social leaders, whose +entertainments were famous in London, who did their best to add +to the pleasure of the visit of the prince. I met him frequently +and was often his guest at his luncheons and dinners. He fell +in at once in the Homburg way. + +The routine of the cure was to be at the springs every morning +at seven o'clock, to take a glass of water, walk half an hour +with some agreeable companion, and repeat this until three glasses +had been consumed. Then breakfast, and after that the great +bathing-house at eleven o'clock. The bathing-house was a +meeting-place for everybody. Another meeting-place was the open-air +concerts in the afternoon. In the evening came the formal dinners +and some entertainment afterwards. + +Both for luncheon and dinner the prince always had quite a large +company. He was a host of great charm, tact, and character. He +had a talent of drawing out the best there was in those about his +table, and especially of making the occasion very agreeable for +a stranger. Any one at his entertainments always carried away +either in the people he met or the things that were said, or both, +permanent recollections. + +I do not think the prince bothered about domestic questions. He +was very observant of the limitations and restrictions which the +English Government imposes upon royalty. He was, however, very +keen upon his country's foreign relations. In the peace of Europe +he was an important factor, being so closely allied with the imperial +houses of Germany and Russia. There is no doubt that he prevented +the German Emperor from acquiring a dangerous control over the +Czar. He was very fixed and determined to maintain and increase +friendly relations between the United States and Great Britain. +He succeeded, after many varied and long-continued efforts, in +doing away with the prejudices and hostilities of the French +towards the English, an accomplishment of infinite value to his +country in these later years. + +I was told that the prince required very little sleep, that he +retired to bed late and was an early riser. I was awakened one +night by his equerry calling me up, saying the prince was on +the terrace of the KursaaI and wanted to see me. The lights were +all out, everybody had gone, and he was sitting alone at a table +illuminated by a single candle. What he desired was to discuss +American affairs and become more familiar with our public men, +our ideals, our policies, and especially any causes which could +possibly be removed of irritation between his own country and +ours. This discussion lasted till daylight. + +Meeting him on the street one day, he stopped and asked me to +step aside into an opening there was in the hedge. He seemed +laboring under considerable excitement, and said: "Why do the +people in the United States want to break up the British Empire?" + +I knew he referred to the Home Rule bill for Ireland, which was +then agitating Parliament and the country, and also the frequent +demonstrations in its favor which were occurring in the United States. + +I said to him: "Sir, I do not believe there is a single American +who has any thought of breaking up the British Empire. We are +wedded to the federal principle of independent States, which are +sovereign in their local affairs and home matters, but on +everything you call imperial the United States is supreme. To +vindicate this principle we fought a Civil War, in which we lost +more lives, spent more money, destroyed more property, and incurred +more debt than any contest of modern time. The success of the +government has been so complete that the States which were in +rebellion and their people are quite as loyal to the general +government as those who fought to preserve it. The prosperity +of the country, with this question settled, has exceeded the bounds +of imagination. So Americans think of your trouble with Ireland +in terms of our federated States and believe that all your +difficulties could be adjusted in the same way." + +We had a long discussion in which he asked innumerabIe questions, +and never referred to the subject again. I heard afterwards among +my English friends that he who had been most hostile was becoming +a Home Ruler. + +At another time he wanted to know why our government had treated +the British ambassador, Lord Sackville West, so badly and ruined +his career. The Sackville West incident was already forgotten, +though it was the liveliest question of its time. + +Cleveland was president and a candidate for re-eIection. +Sackville West was the British ambassador. A little company of +shrewd Republican politicians in California thought if they could +get an admission that the British Government was interfering in +our election in favor of Cleveland, it would be a fine asset in +the campaign, and so they wrote to Lord Sackville West, telling +him they were Englishmen who had become naturalized American +citizens. In voting they were anxious to vote for the side which +would be best for their native land; would he kindly and very +confidentially advise them whether to support the Democratic or +the Republican ticket. SackvilIe West swallowed the bait without +investigation, and wrote them a letter advising them to vote the +Democratic ticket. + +There never had been such consternation in diplomatic circles in +Washington. Of course, Mr. Cleveland and his supporters had to +get out from under the situation as quickly and gracefully as possible. + +The administration instantly demanded that the British Government +should recall Lord Sackville West, which was done, and he was +repudiated for his activity in American politics. It was curious +that the prince had apparently never been fully informed of +the facts, but had been misled by Sackville West's explanation, +and the prince was always loyal to a friend. + +One year Mr. James G. Blaine visited Homburg, and the prince +at once invited him to luncheon. Blaine's retort to a question +delighted every American in the place. One of the guests was +the then Duke of Manchester, an old man and a great Tory. When +the duke grasped that Blaine was a leading American and had been +a candidate for the presidency of the United States, all his old +Toryism was aroused, and he was back in the days of George III. +To the horror of the prince, the duke said to Mr. Blaine: "The most +outrageous thing in all history was your rebellion and separation +from the best government on earth." He said much more before +the prince could stop him. + +Blaine, with that grace and tact for which he was so famous, +smilingly said: "Well, your Grace, if George III had had the sense, +tact, and winning qualities of his great-grandson, our host, it is +just possible that we might now be a self-governing colony in +the British Empire." + +The answer relieved the situation and immensely pleased the host. +Lord Rosebery once said in a speech that, with the tremendous +growth in every element of greatness of the United States, if the +American colonies had remained in the British Empire, with their +preponderating influence and prestige, the capital of Great Britain +might have been moved to New York and Buckingham Palace rebuilt +in Central Park. + +At another dinner one of the guests of the prince suddenly shot +at me across the table the startling question: "Do you know +certain American heiresses"--naming them--"now visiting London?" + +I answered "Yes"--naming one especially, a very beautiful and +accomplished girl who was quite the most popular debutante of +the London season. + +"How much has she?" he asked. + +I named the millions which she would probably inherit. "But," +I added, "before you marry an American heiress, you better be sure +that she can say the Lord's Prayer." + +He said with great indignation that he would be astonished if any +American girl could be recognized in English society who had been +so badly brought up that she was not familiar with the Lord's Prayer. + +"All of them are," I replied, "but few heiresses, unless they have +come into their inheritance and can say 'Our Father, who art in +heaven,' will inherit much, because American fathers are very +speculative." + +He continued to express his astonishment at this lack of religious +training in an American family, while the prince enjoyed the joke +so much that I was fearful in his convulsive laughter he would have +a fit of apoplexy. + +Once, at a dinner given by the prince, an old lady of very high +rank and leading position said suddenly to me, and in a way which +aroused the attention of the whole company: "Is it true that +divorces are very common in America?" + +I knew that a denial by me would not convince her or any others +who shared in this belief, then very common in Europe. Of course, +the prince knew better. I saw from his expression that he wished +me to take advantage of the opportunity. I made up my mind quickly +that the best way to meet this belief was by an exaggeration which +would show its absurdity. + +Having once started, the imaginative situation grew beyond my +anticipation. I answered: "Yes, divorces are so common with us +that the government has set aside one of our forty-odd States for +this special purpose. It is the principal business of the authorities. +Most of these actions for divorce take place at the capital, which +is always crowded with great numbers of people from all parts of +the country seeking relief from their marital obligations." + +"Did you ever visit that capital?" asked the prince. + +"Yes, several times," I answered, "but not for divorce. My domestic +relations have always been very happy, but it is also a famous +health resort, and I went there for the cure." + +"Tell us about your visit," said the prince. + +"Well," I continued, "it was out of season when I was first there, +so the only amusement or public occasions of interest were +prayer-meetings." + +The old lady asked excitedly: "Share meetings?" She had been +a large and unfortunate investor in American stocks. + +I relieved her by saying: "No, not share meetings, but religious +prayer-meetings. I remember one evening that the gentleman who +sat beside me turned suddenly to his wife and said: 'We must get +out of here at once; the air is too close.' 'Why, no,' she said; +'the windows are all open and the breeze is fresh.' 'Yes,' he +quickly remarked, 'but next to you are your two predecessors from +whom I was divorced, and that makes the air too close for me.'" + +The old lady exclaimed: "What a frightful condition!" + +"Tell us more," said the prince. + +"Well," I continued, "one day the mayor of the city invited me +to accompany him to the station, as the divorce train was about +to arrive. I found at the station a judge and one of the court +attendants. The attendant had a large package of divorce decrees +to which the seal of the court had been attached, and also the +signature of the judge. They only required to have the name of +the party desiring divorce inserted. Alongside the judge stood +a clergyman of the Established Church in full robes of his sacred +office. When the passengers had all left the cars, the conductor +jumped on to one of the car platforms and shouted to the crowd: +'All those who desire divorce will go before the judge and make +their application.' + +"When they had all been released by the court the conductor again +called out: 'All those who have been accompanied by their partners, +or where both have been to-day released from their former husbands +and wives to be remarried, will go before the rector.' He married +them in a body, whereupon they all resumed their places on the +train. The blowing of the whistle and the ringing of the bell on +the locomotive was the music of their first, second, or third +honeymoon journey." + +The old lady threw up her hands in horror and cried: "Such an +impious civilization must come speedily not only to spiritual and +moral destruction, but chaos." + +Most of the company saw what an amazing caricature the whole story +was and received it with great hilarity. The effect of it was to +end, for that circle, at least, and their friends, a serious +discussion of the universality of American divorces. + +The prince was always an eager sportsman and a very chivalric +one. At the time of one of the races at Cowes he became very +indignant at the conduct of an American yachtsman who had entered +his boat. It was charged by the other competitors that this +American yachtsman violated all the unwritten laws of the contest. + +After the race the prince said to me: "A yacht is a gentleman's +home, whether it is racing or sailing about for pleasure. The +owner of this yacht, to make her lighter and give her a better +chance, removed all the furniture and stripped her bare. He even +went so far, I am told, that when he found the steward had left +his stateroom a tooth-brush, he threw it out of the port window." + +It will be seen from these few anecdotes how intensely human was +the Prince of Wales. He did much for his country, both as prince +and king, and filled in a wise and able way the functions of his +office. Certainly no official did quite so much for the peace of +Europe during his time, and no royalty ever did more to make the +throne popular with the people. I heard him speak at both formal +and informal occasions, and his addresses were always tactful +and wise. + +While at Homburg we used to enjoy the delightful excursions to +Nauheim, the famous nerve-cure place. I met there at one time +a peculiar type of Americans, quite common in former years. They +were young men who, having inherited fortunes sufficient for their +needs, had no ambitions. After a strenuous social life at home +and in Europe, they became hypochondriacs and were chasing cures +for their imaginary ills from one resort to another. + +One of them, who had reached middle life, had, of course, become +in his own opinion a confirmed invalid. I asked him: "What +brought you here? You look very well." + +"That is just my trouble," he answered. "I look very well and +so get no sympathy, but my nervous system is so out of order that +it only takes a slight shock to completely disarrange it. For +instance, the cause of my present trouble. I was dining in Paris +at the house of a famous hostess, and a distinguished company +was present. The only three Americans were two ladies and myself. +I was placed between them. You know one of these ladies, while +a great leader at home, uses very emphatic language when she is +irritated. The dinner, like most French dinners, with many +courses, was unusually long. Suddenly this lady, leaning over +me, said to her sister: 'Damn it, Fan, will this dinner never end?' +The whole table was shocked and my nerves were completely shattered." +The great war, as I think, exterminated this entire tribe. + +I was delighted to find at Nauheim my old friends, Mark Twain and +the Reverend Doctor Joseph Twichell, of Hartford, Conn. Doctor +Twichell was Mark Twain's pastor at home. He was in college with +me at Yale, and I was also associated with him in the governing +corporation of Yale University. He was one of the finest wits +and remarkable humorists of his time. Wit and humor were with +him spontaneous, and he bubbled over with them. Mark Twain's +faculties in that line were more labored and had to be worked out. +Doctor Twichell often furnished in the rough the jewels which +afterwards in Mark Twain's workshop became perfect gems. + +I invited them to come over and spend the day and dine with me +in the evening at Homburg. Mark Twain at that time had the +reputation in England of being the greatest living wit and humorist. +It soon spread over Homburg that he was in town and was to dine +with me in the evening, and requests came pouring in to be invited. +I kept enlarging my table at the Kursaal, with these requests, +until the management said they could go no farther. I placed +Mark Twain alongside Lady Cork, one of the most brilliant women +in England. In the course of years of acquaintance I had met +Mark Twain under many conditions. He was very uncertain in a +social gathering. Sometimes he would be the life of the occasion +and make it one to be long remembered, but generally he contributed +nothing. At this dinner, whenever he showed the slightest sign +of making a remark, there was dead silence, but the remark did +not come. He had a charming time, and so did Lady Cork, but the +rest of the company heard nothing from the great humorist, and +they were greatly disappointed. + +The next morning Mark Twain came down to the springs in his +tramping-suit, which had fairly covered the continent. I introduced +him to the Prince of Wales, and he was charmed with him in their +hour of walk and talk. At dinner that evening the prince said +to me: "I would have invited Mark Twain this evening, if I thought +he had with him any dinner clothes." + +"At my dinner last night," I said, "he met every conventional +requirement." + +"Then," continued the prince, "I would be much obliged if you +would get him for dinner with me to-morrow evening." + +It was very much the same company as had dined with the prince +the night before. Again Twain was for a long time a complete +disappointment. I knew scores of good things of his and tried +my best to start him off, but without success. The prince, who +was unusually adroit and tactful in drawing a distinguished guest +out, also failed. When the dinner was over, however, and we had +reached the cigars, Mark Twain started in telling a story in his +most captivating way. His peculiar drawl, his habit in emphasizing +the points by shaking his bushy hair, made him a dramatic narrator. +He never had greater success. Even the veteran Mark himself was +astonished at the uproarious laughter which greeted almost every +sentence and was overwhelming when he closed. + +There are millions of stories in the world, and several hundred +of them good ones. No one knew more of them than Mark Twain, +and yet out of this vast collection he selected the one which +I had told the night before to the same company. The laughter +and enjoyment were not at the story, but because the English had, +as they thought, caught me in retailing to them from Mark Twain's +repertoire one of his stories. It so happened that it was a story +which I had heard as happening upon our railroad in one of my +tours of inspection. I had told it in a speech, and it had been +generally copied in the American newspapers. Mark Twain's +reputation as the greatest living humorist caused that crowd to +doubt the originality of my stories. + +Mark had declined the cigars, but the prince was so delighted that +he offered him one of the highly prized selection from his own +case. This drew from him a story, which I have not seen in any +of his books. I have read Mark Twain always with the greatest +pleasure. His books of travel have been to me a source of endless +interest, and his "Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc" is the +best representation of the saint and heroine that I know. + +When the prince offered him the cigar, Mark said: "No, prince, +I never smoke. I have the reputation in Hartford, Conn., of +furnishing at my entertainments the worst of cigars. When I was +going abroad, and as I would be away for several years, I gave +a reception and invited all my friends. I had the governor of +the State of Connecticut and the judges of the highest courts, +and the most distinguished members of the legislature. I had +the leading clergymen and other citizens, and also the president +and faculty of Yale University and Trinity College. + +"At three o'clock in the afternoon my butler, who is a colored +man, Pompey by name, came to me and said: 'Mr. Clemens, we have +no cigars.' Just then a pedler's wagon stopped at the gate. In +England they call them cheap jacks. I hailed the merchant and +said: 'What have you in your wagon?' 'Well,' he answered, 'I have +some Gobelin tapestries, Sevres china, and Japanese cloisonne +vases, and a few old masters.' Then I said to him: 'I do not +want any of those, but have you cigars, and how much?' The pedler +answered: 'Yes, sir, I have some excellent cigars, which I will +sell you at seventeen cents a barrel.' I have to explain that +a cent is an English farthing. Then I told him to roll a barrel in." + +"It was a great occasion, one of the greatest we ever had in the +old State of Connecticut," continued Mark, "but I noticed that +the guests left unusually early after supper. The next morning +I asked the butler why they left so early. 'Well,' he said, +'Mr. Clemens, everybody enjoyed the supper, and they were all +having a good time until I gave them the cigars. After the gentleman +had taken three puffs, he said: "Pomp, you infernal nigger, get +me my hat and coat quick." When I went out, my stone walk, which +was one hundred yards long from the front door to the gate, was +just paved with those cigars.'" This specimen of American +exaggeration told in Mark Twain's original way made a great hit. + +I met Mark Twain at a theatrical supper in London given by +Sir Henry Irving. It was just after his pubIishing firm had failed +so disastrously. It was a notable company of men of letters, +playwrights, and artists. Poor Mark was broken in health and +spirits. He tried to make a speech, and a humorous one, but it +saddened the whole company. + +I met him again after he had made the money on his remarkable +lecture tour around the world, with which he met and paid all his +debts. It was an achievement worthy of the famous effort of +Sir Walter Scott. Jubilant, triumphant, and free, Mark Twain that +night was the hero never forgotten by any one privileged to +be present. + + + +One year, after strenuous work and unusual difficulties, which, +however, had been successfully met, I was completely exhausted. +I was advised to take a short trip to Europe, and, as usual, the +four weeks' change of air and occupation was a complete cure. +I decided to include Rome in my itinerary, though I felt that my +visit would be something like the experience of Phineas Fogg, who +did the whole of Europe and saw all there was of it in ten days. + +When I arrived in the Eternal City, my itinerary gave me four days +there. I wanted to see everything and also to meet, if possible, +one of the greatest of popes, Leo XIII. I was armed only with a +letter from my accomplished and distinguished friend, Archbishop +Corrigan. I secured the best-known guide, who informed me that +my efforts to see the sights within my limited time would be +impossible. Nevertheless, the incentive of an extra large commission +dependent upon distances covered and sights seen, led to my going +through the streets behind the best team of horses in Rome and +pursued by policemen and dogs, and the horses urged on by a driver +frantic for reward, and a guide who professionally and financially +was doing the stunt of his life. It was astounding how much ground +was really covered in the city of antiquities and art by this +devotion to speed and under competent guidance. + +When I asked to see the pope, I was informed that his health was +not good and audiences had been suspended. I wrote a letter +to the cardinal-secretary, enclosing Archbishop Corrigan's letter, +and stated my anxiety to meet His Holiness and the limited time +I had. A few hours afterwards I received a letter from the cardinal +stating that the Holy Father appreciated the circumstances, and +would be very glad to welcome me in private audience at eleven +o'clock the next morning. + +When I arrived at the Vatican I was received as a distinguished +visitor. The papal guards were turned out, and I was finally +ushered into the room of Cardinal Merry del Val. He was a young +man then and an accomplished diplomat, and most intimately informed +on all questions of current interest. Literature, music, drama, +political conditions in Europe were among his accomplishments. +He said the usual formula when a stranger is presented to the pope +is for the guest to kneel and kiss his ring. The pope has decided +that all this will be omitted in your case. He will receive you +exactly as an eminent foreigner calling by appointment upon the +President of the United States. + +When I was ushered into the presence of the pope he left his +throne, came forward, grasped me cordially by the hand, and welcomed +me in a very charming way. He was not a well man, and his bloodless +countenance was as white and pallid as his robes. This was all +relieved, however, by the brilliancy of his wonderful eyes. + +After a few preliminary remarks he plunged into the questions in +which he was deeply interested. He feared the spread of communism +and vividly described its efforts to destroy the church, ruin +religion, extirpate faith, and predicted that if successful it +would destroy civilization. + +I told him that I was deeply interested in the encyclical he had +recently issued to reconcile or make more harmonious the relations +between capital and labor. He commenced speaking upon that +subject, and in a few minutes I saw that I was to be privileged +to hear an address from one who as priest and bishop had been +one of the most eloquent orators of the age. In his excitement he +leaned forward, grasping the arms of the throne, the color returned +to his cheeks, his eyes flashed, his voice was vibrant, and I was +the audience, the entranced audience of the best speech I ever +heard upon the question of labor and capital. + +I was fearful on account of his health, that the exertion might be +too great, and so arose to leave. He again said to me, and taking +my hand: "I know all about you and am very grateful to you that +in your official capacity as president of the New York Central +Railroad you are treating so fairly the Catholics. I know that +among your employees twenty-eight thousand are of the Catholic +faith, and not one of them has ever known any discrimination +because of their belief, but all of them have equal opportunities +with the others for the rewards of their profession and protection +in their employment." + +The next day he sent a special messenger for a renewal of the +conversation, but unhappily I had left Rome the night before. + +During my stay in Rome of four days I had visited most of its +antiquities, its famous churches, and spent several hours in the +Vatican gallery. Our American minister, one of the most accomplished +of our diplomats, Mr. William Potter, had also given me a dinner, +where I was privileged to meet many celebrities of the time. + + + +Among English statesmen I found in Lord Salisbury an impressive +figure. In a long conversation I had with him at the Foreign Office +he talked with great freedom on the relations between the +United States and Great Britain. He was exceedingly anxious that +friendly conditions should continue and became most cordial. + +The frequent disposition on the part of American politicians to +issue a challenge or create eruptions disturbed him. I think he +was in doubt when President Cleveland made his peremptory demands +on the Venezuela boundary question if the president recognized +their serious importance, both for the present and the future. He, +however, reluctantly yielded to the arbitration, won a complete +victory, and was satisfied that such irritating questions were +mainly political and for election purposes, and had better be met +in a conciliatory spirit. + +I remember a garden-party at Hatfield House, the historical home +of the Cecils, given in honor of King Victor Emmanuel III, who +had recently come to the throne. Lord Salisbury was of gigantic +proportions physically, while the king was undersized. The contrast +between the two was very striking, especially when they were in +animated conversation--the giant prime minister talking down to +His Majesty, and he with animated gestures talking up to the premier. + +It is not too great a stretch of imagination, when one knows how +traditional interviews and conversations between European rulers +affect their relations, present and future, to find in that +entertainment and conference that the seed there was sown for +the entrance of Italy, at one of the crises of the Great War, on +the side of the Allies and against Germany, to whom she was bound +by the Triple Alliance. + +Mr. Gladstone said to me at one time: "I have recently met a most +interesting countryman of yours. He is one of the best-informed +and able men of any country whom I have had the pleasure of talking +with for a long time, and he is in London now. I wish you would +tell me all about him." + +Mr. Gladstone could not recall his name. As there were a number +of American congressmen in London, I asked: "Was he a congressman?" + +"No," he answered; "he had a more important office." + +I then remembered that DeWitt Clinton, when a United States senator, +resigned to become mayor of the City of New York. On that +inspiration I asked: "Mayor of the City of New York?" + +"Yes, that is it," Mr. Gladstone answered. + +I then told him that it was Abram S. Hewitt, and gave him a +description of Mr. Hewitt's career. Mr. Gladstone was most +enthusiastic about him. + +It was my fortune to know Mr. Hewitt very well for many years. +He richly merited Mr. Gladstone's encomium. He was one of the +most versatile and able Americans in public or private life during +his time. His father was an English tenant-farmer who moved with +his family to the United States. Mr. Hewitt received a liberal +education and became a great success both in business and public +life. He was much more than a business man, mayor of New York, +or a congressman--he was public-spirited and a wise reformer. + +Mr. Hewitt told me two interesting incidents in his career. When +he visited England he was received with many and flattering +attentions. Among his invitations was a week-end to the home +of the nobleman upon whose estates his father had been a +tenant-farmer. When Mr. Hewitt told the nobleman, who was +entertaining him as a distinguished American, about his father's +former relations as one of his tenants, the nobleman said: "Your +father made a great mistake in giving up his farm and emigrating +to the United States. He should have remained here." + +Mr. Hewitt said: "But, my lord, so far as I am concerned I do +not think so." + +"Why?" asked his lordship. + +"Because," answered Mr. Hewitt, "then I could never have been a +guest on equal terms in your house." + +Mr. Hewitt was one of the foremost iron founders and steel +manufacturers of the country. At the time of our Civil War our +government was very short of guns, and we were unable to manufacture +them because we did not know the secret of gun-metal. + +The government sent Mr. Hewitt abroad to purchase guns. The English +gunmakers at once saw the trouble he was in and took advantage +of it. They demanded prices several times greater than they were +asking from other customers, and refused to give him any information +about the manufacture of gun-metal. + +After he had made the contract, with all its exorbitant conditions, +he went to his hotel and invited the foreman of each department +of the factory to meet him. They all came. Mr. Hewitt explained +to them his mission, and found that they were sympathetic with +Mr. Lincoln and his administration and the Union cause. Then he +told them of the trouble he had had with their employers, and the +hard terms which they had imposed. He asked them then all about +the manufacture of gun-metal. Each one of the foremen was very +clear and explicit as to his part, and so when they had all spoken, +Mr. Hewitt, with his expert knowledge of the business, knew all +the secrets of the manufacture of gun-metaI, which he, of course, +gave to the government at Washington for use in their several +arsenals and shops. + +"Now," he said to his guests, "you have done me a great favor. +I will return it. Your company is obliged by the contract to +deliver this immense order within a limited time. They are going +to make an enormous amount of money out of it. You strike and +demand what you think is right, and you will get it immediately." + +The gun company made a huge profit but had to share some of it +with their workers. It was an early instance of the introduction +of profit-sharing, which has now become common all over the world. + +One of the most interesting Englishmen, whom I saw much of both +in London and in the United States, was Sir Henry Irving. The world +of art, drama, and history owes much to him for his revival of +Shakespeare. Irving was a genius in his profession, and in private +life perfectly delightful. + +He gave me a dinner and it was, like everything he did, original. +Instead of the usual formal entertainment, he had the dinner at +one of the old royal castles in the country, which had become a +very exclusive hotel. He carried us out there in coaches. + +The company of authors, playwrights, and men of affairs made the +entertainment late and the evening memorable. Returning home +on the top of the coach, the full moon would appear and reappear, +but was generally under a cloud. Irving remarked: "I do much +better with that old moon in my theatre. I make it shine or +obscure it with clouds, as the occasion requires." + +I received a note from him at the time of his last visit to the +United States, in which he said that a friend from the western part +of the country was giving him a dinner at Delmonico's to precede +his sailing in the early morning on his voyage home. The company +was to be large and all good friends, and he had the positive +assurance that there would be no speaking, and wished I would come. + +The dinner was everything that could be desired. The company was +a wonderful one of distinguished representatives of American life. +The hours passed along rapidly and joyously, as many of these +original men contributed story, racy adventure, or song. + +Suddenly the host arose and said: "Gentlemen, we have with us +to-night--" Of course, that meant an introductory speech about +Irving and a reply from the guest. Irving turned to me, and in +his deepest and most tragic Macbeth voice said: "God damn his +soul to hell!" However, he rose to the occasion, and an hour or +so afterwards, when everybody else had spoken, not satisfied with +his first effort, he arose and made a much better and longer +speech. He was an admirable after-dinner speaker as well as +an unusual actor. His wonderful presentations, not only of +Shakespeare's but of other dramas, did very much for the stage +both in his own country and in ours. + +Those who heard him only in his last year had no conception of +him in his prime. In his later years he fell into the fault, so +common with public speakers and actors, of running words together +and failing to articulate clearly. I have known a fine speech and +a superior sermon and a great part in a play ruined because of +the failure to articulate clearly. The audience could not follow +the speaker and so lost interest. + +Sir Henry told me a delightful story about Disraeli. A young +relative of Irving's took orders and became a clergyman in the +Established Church. At the request of Irving, Disraeli appointed +this young man one of the curates at Windsor. + +One day the clergyman came to Irving in great distress and said: +"The unexpected has happened. Every one has dropped out, and +I have been ordered to preach on Sunday." + +Irving took him to see Disraeli for advice. The prime minister +said to the young clergyman: "If you preach thirty minutes, +Her Majesty will be bored. If you preach fifteen minutes, +Her Majesty will be pleased. If you preach ten minutes, Her Majesty +will be delighted." + +"But," said the young clergyman, "my lord, what can a preacher +possibly say in only ten minutes?" + +"That," answered the statesman, "will be a matter of indifference +to Her Majesty." + + + +Sir Frederick Leighton, the eminent English artist, and at one time +president of the Royal Academy, was one of the most charming men +of his time. His reminiscences were delightful and told with rare +dramatic effect. I remember a vivid description which he gave me +of the wedding of one of the British royalties with a German +princess. Sir Frederick was one of the large and distinguished +delegation which accompanied the prince. + +The principality of the bride's father had been shorn of territory, +power, and revenue during the centuries. Nevertheless, at the +time of the wedding he maintained a ministry, the same as in the +Middle Ages, and a miniature army. Palaces, built centuries +before, housed the Cabinet. + +The minister of foreign affairs came to Sir Frederick and unbosomed +himself of his troubles. He said: "According to the usual +procedure I ought to give a ball in honor of the union of our house +with the royal family of England. My palace is large enough, but +my salary is only eight hundred a year, and the expense would eat +up the whole of it." + +Sir Frederick said: "Your Excellency can overcome the difficulty +in an original way. The state band can furnish the music, and +that will cost nothing. When the time comes for the banquet, +usher the guests with due ceremony to a repast of beer and pretzels." + +The minister followed the instructions. The whole party appreciated +the situation, and the minister was accredited with the most +brilliant and successful ball the old capital had known for a century. + + + +For several years one of the most interesting men in Europe was +the Duke d'Aumale, son of Louis Philippe. He was a statesman +and a soldier of ability and a social factor of the first rank. +He alone of the French royalty was relieved from the decree of +perpetual banishment and permitted to return to France and enjoy +his estates. In recognition of this he gave his famous chateau +and property at Chantilly to the French Academy. The gift was +valued at ten millions of dollars. In the chateau at Chantilly +is a wonderful collection of works of art. + +I remember at one dinner, where the duke was the guest of honor, +those present, including the host, were mostly new creations in +the British peerage. After the conversation had continued for +some time upon the fact that a majority of the House of Lords had +been raised to the peerage during the reign of Queen Victoria, +those present began to try and prove that on account of their +ancient lineage they were exempt from the rule of parvenu peers. +The duke was very tolerant with this discussion and, as always, +the soul of politeness. + +The host said: "Your Royal Highness, could you oblige us with +a sketch of your ancestry?" + +"Oh, certainly," answered the duke; "it is very brief. My family, +the Philippes, are descendants from AEneas of Troy, and AEneas +was the son of Venus." The mushrooms seemed smaller than even +the garden variety. + +The duke was talking to me at one time very interestingly about the +visit of his father to America. At the time of the French Revolution +his father had to flee for his life and came to the United States. +He was entertained at Mount Vernon by Washington. He told me +that after his father became King of France, he would often +hesitate, or refuse to do something or write something which his +ministers desired. The king's answer always was: "When I visited +that greatest man of all the world, General Washington, at his +home, I asked him at one time: 'General, is it not possible that +in your long and wonderful career as a soldier and statesman that +you have made mistakes?' The general answered: 'I have never +done anything which I cared to recall or said anything which I would +not repeat,' and the king would say: 'I cannot do that or sign +that, because if I do I cannot say for myself what General Washington +said of himself.'" + +The duke asked me to spend a week-end with him at Chantilly, and +it is one of the regrets of my life that I was unable to accept. + +I happened to be in London on two successive Sundays. On the first +I went to Westminster Abbey to hear Canon Farrar preach. The +sermon was worthy of its wonderful setting. Westminster Abbey is +one of the most inspiring edifices in the world. The orator has to +reach a high plane to be worthy of its pulpit. I have heard many +dull discourses there because the surroundings refuse to harmonize +with mediocrity. The sermon of Canon Farrar was classic. It +could easily have taken a place among the gems of English +literature. It seemed to me to meet whatever criticism the eminent +dead, buried in that old mausoleum, might have of these modern +utterances. I left the Abbey spiritually and mentally elated. + +The next Sunday I went to hear Charles Spurgeon. It was a wonderful +contrast. Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle was a very plain +structure of immense proportions but with admirable acoustics. +There was none of the historic enshrining the church, which is +the glory of Westminster Abbey, no church vestments or ceremonials. + +Mr. Spurgeon, a plain, stocky-looking man, came out on the platform +dressed in an ordinary garb of black coat, vest, and trousers. +It was a vast audience of what might be called middle-class people. +Mr. Spurgeon's sermon was a plain, direct, and exceedingly forcible +appeal to their judgment and emotions. There was no attempt at +rhetoric, but hard, hammerlike blows. As he rose in his indignation +and denunciation of some current evils, and illustrated his +argument with the Old Testament examples of the punishment of +sinners, the audience became greatly excited. One of the officers +of the church, in whose pew I sat, groaned aloud and gripped his +hands so that the nails left their mark. Others around him were +in the same frame of mind and spirit. + +I saw there and then that the men who fought with Cromwell and won +the battle of Naseby had in modern England plenty of descendants. +They had changed only in outward deference to modern usages and +conditions. If there had been occasion, Mr. Spurgeon could have +led them for any sacrifice to what they believed to be right. +I felt the power of that suppressed feeling--I would not say +fanaticism, but intense conscientiousness--which occasionally +in elections greatly surprises English politicians. + +Canon Farrar's sermon easily takes its place among the selected +books of the library. Spurgeon's address was straight from the +shoulder, blow for blow, for the needs of the hour. + + + +One of the novel incidents of the generous hospitality which I +enjoyed every year in London was a dinner at the Athenaeum Club +given to me by one of the members of the government at that time. +He was a gentleman of high rank and political importance. There +were twenty-six at the dinner, and it was a representative gathering. + +At the conclusion our host made a very cordial speech on more +intimate relations between the United States and Great Britain, +and then in a complimentary phrase introduced me, saying: "I hope +you will speak freely and without limit." + +I was encouraged by a most sympathetic audience and had a good +time during my effort. No one else was called upon. My host was +complimentary and said: "Your speech was so satisfactory that +I thought best not to have any more." + +Some time afterwards he said to me: "Many of my friends had heard +of you but never heard you, so I made up my mind to give them +the opportunity, and what was really a purely social affair for +every other guest, I turned into an international occasion just +to draw you out. However, the fraud, if it was a fraud, was an +eminent success." + + + +No one in England did more for Americans than Sir Henry Lucy. +Every American knew all about him, because of his reputation, and +particularly because he was the author of that most interesting +column in Punch called the "Essence of Parliament." + +At his luncheons he gathered eminent men in public life and in +the literary and journalistic activities of Great Britain. These +luncheons were most informal, and under the hospitable genius +of Lucy the guests became on intimate terms. There was no table +in London where so many racy stories and sometimes valuable +historical reminiscences could be heard. + +To be a guest at one of Sir Lucy's luncheons was for an American +to meet on familiar terms with distinguished men whom he knew all +about and was most anxious to see and hear. + +At a large dinner I had a pleasant encounter with Sir Henry. +In order to meet another engagement, he tried to slip quietly +out while I was speaking. I caught sight of his retreating figure +and called loudly the refrain of the familiar song, "Linger longer, +Lucy." The shout of the crowd brought Sir Henry back, and the +other entertainment lost a guest. + + + +In several of my visits to London I went to see not only places +of interest but also houses and streets made famous in English +literature. In one of my many trips to St. Paul's Cathedral I was +looking at the tomb of the Duke of Wellington in the crypt and +also at the modest tomb of Cruikshank, the artist, near by. + +The superintendent asked me who I was and many questions about +America, and then said: "Many Americans come here, but the most +remarkable of them all was Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll. He was +very inquisitive and wanted to know all about Wellington's tomb. +I told him that the duke's body was first put in a wooden coffin, +and this was incased in steel; that this had made for it a position +in a stone weighing twenty tons and over that was a huge stone +weighing forty tons. He gave me a slap on the back which sent +me flying quite a distance and exclaimed: 'Old man, you have +got him safe. If he ever escapes cable at my expense to +Robert G. Ingersoll, Peoria, Illinois, U. S. A.'" + + + +I had an opportunity to know that the war by Germany against France +and England was a surprise to both countries. While in London +during part of June, 1914, I met Cabinet ministers and members +of Parliament, and their whole thought and anxiety were concentrated +on the threatened revolution in Ireland. + +The Cabinet had asked the king to intervene and he had called +representatives of all parties to meet him at Buckingham Palace. +After many consultations he declared settlement or compromise were +impossible. The situation was so critical that it absorbed the +attention of the government, the press, and the public. + +About the first of July I was in Paris and found the French worried +about their finances and the increase in their military expenses +which were reaching threatening figures. The syndicate of French +bankers were seriously alarmed. There was no suspicion of German +purpose and preparations for attack. + +While in Geneva a few weeks afterwards I became alarmed by letters +from relatives in Germany who were socially intimate with people +holding very important positions in the government and the army, +and their apprehensions from what their German friends told them +and what they saw led to their joining us in Switzerland. + +One day the Swiss refused to take foreign money or to make exchange +for Swiss, or to cash letters of credit or bank checks. I immediately +concluded that the Swiss bankers knew of or suspected Germany's +hostile intentions, and with only two hours, and two families +with their trunks to pack, we managed to reach and secure +accommodations on the regular train for Paris. There was nothing +unusual either at the railroad station or in the city. + +One of the amusing incidents which are my life-preservers occurred +at the station. Two elderly English spinsters were excitedly +discussing the currency trouble. One of them smoothed out a bank +of England note and said to her sister: "There, Sarah, is a bank +of England note which has been good as gold all over the world +since Christ came to earth, and these Swiss pigs won't take it." + +I told this incident afterwards to a banker in London. He said +they were very ignorant women, there were no bank of England notes +at that time. + +German hostility developed so rapidly that our train was the last +which left Switzerland for France for nearly two months. We were +due in Paris at ten o'clock in the evening, but did not arrive until +the next morning because of the mobilization of French recruits. + +The excitement in Paris was intense. A French statesman said +to me: "We are doing our best to avoid war. Our troops are kept +ten kilometres from the frontier, but the Germans have crossed +and seized strategic points. They will hear nothing and accept +nothing and are determined to crush us if they can." + +From all ranks of the people was heard: "We will fight to the +last man, but we are outnumbered and will be destroyed unless +England helps. Will England help? Will England help?" I have +been through several crises but never witnessed nor felt such +a reaction to ecstatic joy as occurred when Great Britain joined +France. + +The restrictions on leaving Paris required time, patience, and +all the resources of our Embassy to get us out of France. The +helpfulness, resourcefulness, and untiring efforts of our Ambassador, +Myron T. Herrick, won the gratitude of all Americans whom the war +had interned on the continent and who must get home. + +There was a remarkable change in England. When we left in July +there was almost hysteria over the threatening civil war. In October +the people were calm though involved in the greatest war in their +history. They did not minimize the magnitude of the struggle, or +the sacrifices it would require. There was a characteristic grim +determination to see the crisis through, regardless of cost. +Cabinet ministers whom I met thought the war would last three years. + +The constant appeal to me, as to other Americans, was, "When will +you join us? If we fail it is your turn next. It is autocracy and +militarism against civilization, liberty, and representative +government for the whole world." + +We had a perilous and anxious voyage home and found few grasping +the situation or working to be prepared for the inevitable, except +Theodore Roosevelt and General Wood. + + + +XX. ORATORS AND CAMPAIGN SPEAKERS + +During my college days at Yale Wendell Phillips, William Lloyd Garrison, +and Henry Ward Beecher were frequent lecturers, and generally +on the slavery question. I have heard most of the great orators +of the world, but none of them produced such an immediate and +lasting effect upon their audience as Wendell Phillips. He was +the finest type of a cultured New Englander. He was the recipient +of the best education possible in his time and with independent +means which enabled him to pursue his studies and career. Besides, +he was one of the handsomest men I ever saw upon the platform, +and in his inspired moments met one's imaginative conception +of a Greek god. + +Phillips rarely made a gesture or spoke above the conversational, +but his musical voice reached the remotest comers of the hall. +The eager audience, fearful of losing a word, would bend forward +with open mouths as well as attentive ears. It was always a +hostile audience at the beginning of Mr. Phillips's address, but +before the end he swayed them to applause, tears, or laughter, +as a skilled performer upon a perfect instrument. His subject +was nearly always slavery, his views very extreme and for immediate +abolition, but at that time he had a very small following. +Nevertheless, his speeches, especially because of the riots and +controversies they caused, set people thinking, and largely +increased the hostility to slavery, especially to its extension. + +I met Mr. Phillips one evening, after a lecture, at the house of +Professor Goodrich. He was most courtly and considerate to students +and invited questions. While I was charmed, even captivated, by +his eloquence, I had at that time very little sympathy with his +views. I said to him: "Mr. Phillips, your attack to-night upon +Caleb Cushing, one of the most eminent and able public men in +the country, was very vitriolic and most destructive of character +and reputation. It seems so foreign to all I know of you that, +if you will pardon me, I would like to know why you did it." He +answered: "I have found that people, as a rule, are not interested +in principles or their discussions. They are so absorbed in their +personal affairs that they do very little thinking upon matters +outside their business or vocation. They embody a principle in +some public man in whom they have faith, and so that man stands +for a great body of truth or falsehood, and may be exceedingly +dangerous because a large following connects the measure with +the man, and, therefore, if I can destroy the man who represents a +vicious principle I have destroyed the principle." It did not strike +me favorably at the time, nor does it now. Nevertheless, in politics +and in the battles of politics it represents a dynamic truth. + +The perfect preparation of a speech was, in Wendell Phillip's +view, that one in which the mental operations were assisted in +no way by outside aid. Only two or three times in his life did +he prepare with pen and paper an address, and he felt that these +speeches were the poorest of his efforts. He was constantly +studying the art of oratory. In his daily walks or in his library +metaphors and similes were suggested, which he tucked away in +his memory, and he even studied action as he watched the muscular +movements of men whom he saw in public places. He believed that +a perfect speech could be prepared only after intense mental +concentration. Of course the mind must first be fortified by such +reading as provided facts. Having thus saturated his mind with +information, he would frequently lie extended for hours upon his +sofa, with eyes closed, making mental arrangements for the address. +In fact, he used to write his speeches mentally, as Victor Hugo +is said to have written some of his poems. A speech thus prepared, +Phillips thought, was always at the command of the speaker. It +might vary upon every delivery, and could be altered to meet +emergencies with the audience, but would always be practically +the same. + +This method of preparation explains what has been a mystery to +many persons. The several reports of Phillips's lecture on +"The Lost Arts" differ in phraseology and even in arrangement. +Mr. Phillips did not read his speeches in print, and, therefore, +never revised one. He was firmly of the belief that the printed +thought and the spoken thought should be expressed in different +form, and that the master of one form could not be the master +of the other. + +I met many young men like myself in the canvass of 1856, and also +made many acquaintances of great value in after-life. It was +difficult for the older stump speakers to change the addresses +they had been delivering for years, so that the young orators, +with their fresh enthusiasm, their intense earnestness and undoubting +faith, were more popular with the audiences, who were keenly alive +to the issues raised then by the new Republican party. + +The Republican party was composed of Whigs and anti-slavery +Democrats. In this first campaign the old-timers among the Whigs +and the Democrats could not get over their long antagonism and +distrusted each other. The young men, whether their ancestry was +Democratic or Whig, were the amalgam which rapidly fused all +elements, so that the party presented a united front in the campaign +four years afterwards when Mr. Lincoln was elected. + +In the course of that campaign I had as fellow speakers many times +on the platform statesmen of national reputation. These gentlemen, +with few exceptions, made heavy, ponderous, and platitudinous +speeches. If they ever had possessed humor they were afraid of it. +The crowd, however, would invariably desert the statesman for +the speaker who could give them amusement with instruction. The +elder statesmen said by way of advice: "While the people want +to be amused, they have no faith in a man or woman with wit or +anecdote. When it comes to the election of men to conduct public +affairs, they invariably prefer serious men." There is no doubt +that a reputation for wit has seriously impaired the prospects +of many of the ablest men in the country. + +The only exception to this rule was Abraham Lincoln. But when +he ran for president the first time he was comparatively unknown +outside his State of Illinois. The campaign managers in their +literature put forward only his serious speeches, which were very +remarkable, especially the one he delivered in Cooper Union, +New York, which deeply impressed the thoughtful men of the East. +He could safely tell stories and jokes after he had demonstrated +his greatness as president. Then the people regarded his +story-telling as the necessary relief and relaxation of an +overburdened and overworked public servant. But before he had +demonstrated his genius as an executive, they would probably have +regarded these same traits as evidences of frivolity, unfitting +the possessor for great and grave responsibilities. + +I had a very interesting talk on the subject with General Garfield, +when he was running for president. He very kindly said to me: +"You have every qualification for success in public life; you might +get anywhere and to the highest places except for your humor. +I know its great value to a speaker before an audience, but it is +dangerous at the polls. When I began in politics, soon after +graduation, I found I had a keen sense of humor, and that made +me the most sought-after of all our neighborhood speakers, but +I also soon discovered it was seriously impairing the public +opinion of me for responsible positions, so I decided to cut it +out. It was very difficult, but I have succeeded so thoroughly +that I can no longer tell a story or appreciate the point of one +when it is told to me. Had I followed my natural bent I should +not now be the candidate of my party for President of the +United States." + +The reason so few men are humorists is that they are very shy of +humor. My own observations in studying the lives and works of +our public men demonstrate how thoroughly committed to this idea +they have been. There is not a joke, nor a mot, nor a scintilla +of humor irradiating the Revolutionary statesmen. There is a +stilted dignity about their utterances which shows that they were +always posing in heroic attitudes. If they lived and moved in +family, social, and club life, as we understand it, the gloom of +their companionship accounts for the enjoyment which their +contemporaries took in the three hours' sermons then common from +the pulpit. + +As we leave the period of Washington, Hamilton, Jefferson, and +the Adamses, we find no humor in the next generation. The only +relief from the tedium of argument and exhaustless logic is found +in the savage sarcasm of John Randolph, which was neither wit +nor humor. + +A witty illustration or an apt story will accomplish more than +columns of argument. The old-time audience demanded a speech +of not less than two hours' duration and expected three. The +audience of to-day grows restive after the first hour, and is +better pleased with forty minutes. It prefers epigrams to arguments +and humor to rhetoric. It is still true, however, that the press +presents to readers from a speaker who indulges in humor only +the funny part of his effort, and he is in serious danger of +receiving no credit for ability in the discussion of great questions, +no matter how conspicuous that ability may be. The question is +always presented to a frequent speaker whether he shall win the +applause of the audience and lose the flattering opinion of the +critics, or bore his audience and be complimented by readers +for wisdom. + +When I look back over sixty-five years on the platform in public +speaking, and the success of different methods before audiences, +political, literary, business, or a legislative committee, or a +legislature itself, and especially when I consider my own pleasure +in the efforts, the results and compensations have been far greater +than the attainment of any office. For, after all, a man might +be dull and a bore to himself and others for a lifetime and have +the reputation of being a serious thinker and a solid citizen, +and yet never reach the presidency. + +It was always a delight to listen to George W. Curtis. He was +a finished orator of the classic type, but not of the Demosthenian +order. His fine personal appearance, his well-modulated and +far-reaching voice, and his refined manner at once won the favor +of his audience. He was a splendid type of the scholar in politics. +In preparing a speech he took as much pains as he did with a +volume which he was about to publish. + +I accepted under great pressure the invitation to deliver the +oration at the unveiling of the Bartholdi Statue of Liberty in +New York harbor, because the time was so short, only a few days. +Mr. Curtis said to me afterwards: "I was very much surprised that +you accepted that invitation. I declined it because there was only +a month left before the unveiling. I invariably refuse an invitation +for an important address unless I can have three months. I take +one month to look up authorities and carefully prepare it and then +lay it on the shelf for a month. During that period, while you +are paying no attention to the matter, your mind is unconsciously +at work upon it. When you resume correcting your manuscript you +find that in many things about which you thought well you have +changed your mind. Leisurely corrections and additions will +perfect the address." + +As my orations and speeches have always been the by-product of +spare evenings and Sundays taken from an intensely active and busy +life, if I had followed any of these examples my twelve volumes of +speeches would never have seen the light of day. + +One of the greatest orators of his generation, and I might say of +ours, was Robert G. Ingersoll. I was privileged to meet +Colonel Ingersoll many times, and on several occasions to be +a speaker on the same platform. The zenith of his fame was reached +by his "plumed-knight" speech, nominating James G. Blaine for +president at the national Republican convention in 1876. It was +the testimony of all the delegates that if the vote could have +been taken immediately at the conclusion of the speech, Mr. Blaine +would have been elected. + +Colonel Ingersoll carried off the oratorical honors that campaign +in a series of speeches, covering the whole country. I say a +series of speeches; he really had but one, which was the most +effective campaign address I ever heard, but which he delivered +over and over again, and every time with phenomenal success, +a success the like of which I have never known. He delivered it +to an immense audience in New York, and swept them off their feet. +He repeated this triumph the next day at an open-air meeting in +Wall Street, and again the next day at a great gathering in +New Jersey. The newspapers printed the speech in full every day +after its delivery, as if it had been a new and first utterance +of the great orator. + +I spoke with him several times when he was one of the speakers +after an important dinner. It was a rare treat to hear him. The +effort apparently was impromptu, and that added to its effect upon +his auditors. That it was thoroughly prepared I found by hearing +it several times, always unchanged and always producing the same +thrilling effect. + +He spoke one night at Cooper Institute at a celebration by the +colored people of Mr. Lincoln's proclamation emancipating them +from slavery. As usual he was master of the occasion and of his +audience. He was then delivering a series of addresses attacking +the Bible. His mind was full of that subject, and apparently he +could not help assailing the faith of the negroes by asking, if +there was a God of justice and mercy, why did he leave them so +long in slavery or permit them ever to be slaves. + +To an emotional audience like the one before him it was a most +dangerous attack upon faith. I was so fond of the colonel and +such an intense admirer of him, I hated to controvert him, but +felt it was necessary to do so. The religious fervor which is so +intense with the colored people, made it comparatively easy to +restore their faith, if it had been weakened, and to bring them +to a recognition of the fact that their blessings had all come +from God. + +Probably the most brilliant speaker of the period immediateIy +preceding the Civil War was Thomas Corwin, of Ohio. We have +on the platform in these times no speaker of his type. He had +remarkable influence whenever he participated in debate in the +House of Representatives. On the stump or hustings he would draw +audiences away from Henry Clay or any of the famous speakers of +the time. I sometimes wonder if our more experienced and more +generally educated audiences of to-day would be swayed by Corwin's +methods. He had to the highest degree every element of effective +speech. He could put his audience in tears or hilarious laughter, +or arouse.cheers. He told more stories and told them better than +any one else, and indulged freely in what is called Fourth of July +exaggeration. He would relieve a logical presentation which was +superb and unanswerable by a rhetorical flight of fancy, or by +infectious humor. Near the close of his life he spoke near +New York, and his great reputation drew to the meeting the +representatives of the metropolitan press. He swept the audience +off their feet, but the comment of the journals was very critical +and unfavorable, both of the speech and the orator. It was an +illustration of what I have often met with: of a speech which was +exactly the right thing for the occasion and crowd, but lost its +effect in publication. Corwin's humor barred his path to great +office, and he saw many ordinary men advance ahead of him. + +The most potent factor in the destruction of his enemies and +buttressing his own cause was his inimitable wit and humor. In +broad statesmanship, solid requirements, and effective eloquence, +he stood above the successful mediocrity of his time--the Buchanans +and the Polks, the Franklin Pierces and the Winfield Scotts--like +a star of the first magnitude above the Milky Way. But in later +years he thought the failure to reach the supreme recognition to +which he was entitled was due to his humor having created the +impression in the minds of his countrymen that he was not a serious +person. + +Wayne MacVeagh was a very interesting and original speaker. He +had a finished and cultured style and a very attractive delivery. +He was past master of sarcasm as well as of burning eloquence on +patriotic themes. When I was a freshman at Yale he was a senior. +I heard him very often at our debating society, the Linonian, where +he gave promise of his future success. His father-in-law was +Simon Cameron, secretary of war, and he was one of the party which +went with Mr. Lincoln to Gettysburg and heard Lincoln's famous +address. He told me that it did not produce much impression at +the time, and it was long after before the country woke up to its +surpassing excellence, and he did not believe the story still +current that Mr. Lincoln wrote it on an envelope while on the train +to Gettysburg. + +MacVeagh became one of the leaders of the American bar and was +at one time attorney-general of the United States. He was successful +as a diplomat as minister to Turkey and to Italy. + +I heard him on many occasions and spoke with him on many after-dinner +platforms. As an after-dinner speaker he was always at his best +if some one attacked him, because he had a very quick temper. He +got off on me a witticism which had considerable vogue at the time. +When I was elected president of the New York Central Railroad, +the Yale Association of New York gave me a dinner. It was largely +attended by distinguished Yale graduates from different parts of +the country. MacVeagh was one of the speakers. In the course of +his speech he said: "I was alarmed when I found that our friend +Chauncey had been elected president of the most unpopular railroad +there is in the country. But rest assured, my friends, that he +will change the situation, and before his administration is closed +make it the most popular of our railroad corporations, because +he will bring the stock within the reach of the poorest citizen +of the land." The stock was then at the lowest point in its history +on account of its life-and-death fight with the West Shore Railroad, +and so, of course, the reverse of my friend MacVeagh's prediction +was not difficult. + +One of the greatest and most remarkable orators of his time was +Henry Ward Beecher. I never met his equal in readiness and +versatility. His vitality was infectious. He was a big, healthy, +vigorous man with the physique of an athlete, and his intellectual +fire and vigor corresponded with his physical strength. There +seemed to be no limit to his ideas, anecdotes, illustrations, and +incidents. He had a fervid imagination and wonderful power of +assimilation and reproduction and the most observant of eyes. He +was drawing material constantly from the forests, the flowers, +the gardens, and the domestic animals in the fields and in the +house, and using them most effectively in his sermons and speeches. +An intimate friend of mine, a country doctor and great admirer of +Mr. Beecher, became a subscriber to the weekly paper in which was +printed his Sunday sermon, and carefully guarded a file of them +which he made. He not only wanted to read the sermons of his +favorite preacher, but he believed him to have infinite variety, +and was constantly examining the efforts of his idol to see if +he could not find an illustration, anecdote, or idea repeated. + +Mr. Beecher seemed to be teeming with ideas all the time, almost +to the point of bursting. While most orators are relying upon +their libraries and their commonplace book, and their friends for +material, he apparently found more in every twenty-four hours than +he could use. His sermons every Sunday appeared in the press. +He lectured frequently; several times a week he delivered +after-dinner speeches, and during such intervals as he had he +made popular addresses, spoke at meetings on municipal and general +reform, and on patriotic occasions. One of the most effective, +and for the time one of the most eloquent addresses I ever heard +in my life was the one he delivered at the funeral of Horace Greeley. + +When the sentiment in England in favor of the the South in our +Civil War seemed to be growing to a point where Great Britain +might recognize the Southern Confederacy, Mr. Lincoln asked +Mr. Beecher to go over and present the Union side. Those speeches +of Mr. Beecher, a stranger in a strange country, to hostile +audiences, were probably as extraordinary an evidence of oratorical +power as was ever known. He captured audiences, he overcame +the hostility of persistent disturbers of the meetings, and with +his ready wit overwhelmed the heckler. + +At one of the great meetings, when the sentiment was rapidly +changing from hostility to favor, a man arose and asked Mr. Beecher: +"If you people of the North are so strong and your cause is so +good, why after all these years of fighting have you not licked +the South?" Mr. Beecher's instant and most audacious reply was: +"If the Southerners were Englishmen we would have licked them." +With the English love of fair play, the retort was accepted with cheers. + +While other orators were preparing, he seemed to be seeking +occasions for talking and drawing from an overflowing reservoir. +Frequently he would spend an hour with a crowd of admirers, just +talking to them on any subject which might be uppermost in his +mind. I knew an authoress who was always present at these +gatherings, who took copious notes and reproduced them with great +fidelity. There were circles of Beecher worshippers in many towns +and in many States. This authoress used to come to New Haven +in my senior year at Yale, and in a circle of Beecher admirers, +which I was permitted to attend, would reproduce these informal +talks of Mr. Beecher. He was the most ready orator, and with his +almost feminine sympathies and emotional nature would add immensely +to his formal speech by ideas which would occur to him in the heat +of delivery, or with comment upon conversations which he had heard +on the way to church or meeting. + +I happened to be on a train with him on an all-day journey, and +he never ceased talking in the most interesting and effective way, +and pouring out from his rich and inexhaustible stores with +remarkable lucidity and eloquence his views upon current topics, +as well as upon recent literature, art, and world movements. + +Beecher's famous trial on charges made by Theodore Tilton against +him on relations with Tilton's wife engrossed the attention of the +world. The charge was a shock to the religious and moral sense +of countless millions of people. When the trial was over the +public was practically convinced of Mr. Beecher's innocence. The +jury, however, disagreed, a few holding out against him. The case +was never again brought to trial. The trial lasted six months. + +One evening when I was in Peekskill I went from our old homestead +into the crowded part of the village, to be with old friends. +I saw there a large crowd and also the village military and fire +companies. I asked what it was all about, and was informed that +the whole town was going out to Mr. Beecher's house, which was +about one and one-half miles from the village, to join in a +demonstration for his vindication. I took step with one of the +companies to which I belonged when I was a boy, and marched out +with the crowd. + +The president of the village and leading citizens, one after +another, mounted the platform, which was the piazza of Mr. Beecher's +house, and expressed their confidence in him and the confidence +of his neighbors, the villagers. Then Mr. Beecher said to me: +"You were born in this town and are known all over the country. +If you feel like saying something it would travel far." Of course, +I was very glad of the opportunity because I believed in him. +In the course of my speech I told a story which had wonderful +vogue. I said: "Mr. Lincoln told me of an experience he had in +his early practice when he was defending a man who had been +accused of a vicious assault upon a neighbor. There were no +witnesses, and under the laws of evidence at that time the accused +could not testify. So the complainant had it all his own way. +The only opportunity Mr. Lincoln had to help his client was to +break down the accuser on a cross-examination. Mr. Lincoln said +he saw that the accuser was a boastful and bumptious man, and so +asked him: 'How much ground was there over which you and my client +fought?' The witness answered proudly: 'Six acres, Mr. Lincoln.' +'Well,' said Lincoln, 'don't you think this was a mighty small +crop of fight to raise on such a large farm?' Mr. Lincoln said +the judge laughed and so did the district attorney and the jury, +and his client was acquitted." + +The appositeness was in the six acres of ground of the Lincoln +trial and of the six months of the Beecher trial. As this was a +new story of Lincoln's, which had never been printed, and as it +related to the trial of the most famous of preachers on the worst +of charges that could be made against a preacher, the story was +printed all over the country, and from friends and consular agents +who sent me clippings I found was copied in almost every country +in the world. + +Mr. Beecher was one of the few preachers who was both most effective +in the pulpit and, if possible, more eloquent upon the platform. +When there was a moral issue involved he would address political +audiences. In one campaign his speeches were more widely printed +than those of any of the senators, members of the House, or +governors who spoke. I remember one illustration of his about +his dog, Noble, barking for hours at the hole from which a squirrel +had departed, and was enjoying the music sitting calmly in the +crotch of a tree. The illustration caught the fancy of the country +and turned the laugh upon the opposition. + +Hugh J. Hastings, at one time editor and proprietor of the +Albany Knickerbocker, and subsequently of the New York Commercial +Advertiser, was full of valuable reminiscences. He began life +in journalism as a very young man under Thurlow Weed. This +association made him a Whig. Very few Irishmen belonged to that +party. Hastings was a born politician and organized an Irish Whig +club. He told me that he worshipped Daniel Webster. + +Webster, he said, once stopped over at Albany while passing through +the State, and became a guest of one of Albany's leading citizens +and its most generous host and entertainer. The gentleman gave +in Webster's honor a large dinner at which were present all the +notables of the capital. + +Hastings organized a procession which grew to enormous proportions +by the time it reached the residence where Mr. Webster was dining. +When the guests came out, it was evident, according to Hastings, +that they had been dining too well. This was not singular, because +then no dinner was perfect in Albany unless there were thirteen +courses and thirteen different kinds of wine, and the whole closed +up with the famous Regency rum, which had been secured by Albany +bon-vivants before the insurrection in the West Indies had stopped +its manufacture. There was a kick in it which, if there had been +no other brands preceding, was fatal to all except the strongest +heads. I tested its powers myself when I was in office in Albany +fifty-odd years ago. + +Hastings said that when Webster began his speech he was as near +his idol as possible and stood right in front of him. When the +statesman made a gesture to emphasize a sentence he lost his hold +on the balustrade and pitched forward. The young Irishman was +equal to the occasion, and interposed an athletic arm, which +prevented Mr. Webster from falling, and held him until he had +finished his address. The fact that he could continue his address +under such conditions increased, if that was possible, the admiration +of young Hastings. Webster was one of the few men who, when drunk +all over, had a sober head. + +The speech was very effective, not only to that audience, but, +as reported, all over the country. Hastings was sent for and +escorted to the dining-room, where the guests had reassembled. +Webster grasped him by the hand, and in his most Jovian way +exclaimed: "Young man, you prevented me from disgracing myself. +I thank you and will never forget you." Hastings reported his +feelings as such that if he had died that night he had received +of life all it had which was worth living for. + +I do not know what were Mr. Webster's drinking habits, but the +popular reports in regard to them had a very injurious effect upon +young men and especially young lawyers. It was the universal +conversation that Webster was unable to do his best work and have +his mind at its highest efficiency except under the influence of +copious drafts of brandy. Many a young lawyer believing this +drank to excess, not because he loved alcohol, but because he +believed its use might make him a second Webster. + +Having lived in that atmosphere, I tried the experiment myself. +Happily for me, I discovered how utterly false it is. I tried +the hard liquors, brandy, whiskey, and gin, and then the wines. +I found that all had a depressing and deadening effect upon the +mind, but that there was a certain exhilaration, though not a +healthy one, in champagne. I also discovered, and found the same +was true with every one else, that the mind works best and produces +the more satisfactory results without any alcohol whatever. + +I doubt if any speaker, unless he has become dependent upon +stimulants, can use them before making an important effort without +having his mental machinery more or less clogged. I know it is +reported that Addison, whose English has been the model of succeeding +generations, in writing his best essays wore the carpet out while +walking between sentences from the sideboard where the brandy +was to his writing-table. But they had heroic constitutions and +iron-clad digestive apparatus in those times, which have not been +transmitted to their descendants. + +I heard another story of Webster from Horace F. Clarke, a famous +lawyer of New York, and a great friend of his. Mr. Clarke said +that he had a case involving very large interests before the +chancellor. He discovered that Mr. Webster was at the Astor House, +and called upon him. Mr. Webster told him that his public and +professional engagements were overwhelming, and that it was +impossible for him to take up anything new. Clarke put a thousand +dollars on the table and pleaded with Mr. Webster to accept a +retainer. Clarke said that Webster looked longingly at the money, +saying: "Young man, you cannot imagine, and I have no words which +can express how much I need that money, but it is impossible. +However, let me see your brief." Webster read it over and then +said to Clarke: "You will not win on that brief, but if you will +incorporate this, I think your case is all right." Clarke said +that when he presented the brief and made his argument before +the chancellor, the chancellor decided in his favor, wholly on +the suggestion made by Mr. Webster. An eminent lawyer told me +that studying Mr. Webster's arguments before the Supreme Court +and the decisions made in those cases he discovered very often +that the opinion of the court followed the reasoning of this +marvellous advocate. + +Henry J. Raymond told me the following story of Mr. William H. Seward. +He said that one morning a messenger came to his office (Raymond +at that time was editor of the New York Times) and said that +Mr. Seward was at the Astor House and wanted to see me. When I +arrived Mr. Seward said: "I am on my way to my home at Auburn, +where I am expected to deliver a speech for the whole country in +explanation and defense of our administration. [Johnson was +president.] When I am ready I will wire you, and then send me +one of your best reporters." About two weeks afterwards Mr. Raymond +received this cryptic telegram from Mr. Seward: "Send me the man +of whom I spoke." + +When the reporter returned he said to Mr. Raymond: "When I arrived +at Auburn I expected that a great meeting had been advertised, but +there were no handbills, notices, or anything in the local papers, +so I went up to Mr. Seward's house. He said to me: 'I am very +glad to see you. Have you your pencil and note-book? If so, we +will make a speech.' After the dictation Mr. Seward said: 'Please +write that out on every third line, so as to leave room for +corrections, and bring it back to me in the morning.' When I gave +the copy to Mr. Seward, he took it and kept it during the day, +and when I returned in the evening the vacant space had been +filled with corrections and new matter. Mr. Seward said to me: +'Now make me a clean copy as corrected.' When I returned with +the corrected copy he remarked: 'I think you and I made a very +poor speech. Let us try it again.' The same process was repeated +a second time, and this corrected copy of the speech was delivered +in part to a few friends who were called into Mr. Seward's library +for the occasion. The next morning these headlines appeared in +all the leading papers in the country: 'GREAT SPEECH ON BEHALF +OF THE ADMINISTRATION BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT A BIG MASS +MEETING AT AUBURN, N. Y.' + +In the career of a statesman a phrase will often make or unmake +his future. In the height of the slavery excitement and while +the enforcement of the fugitive-slave law was arousing the greatest +indignation in the North, Mr. Seward delivered a speech at +Rochester, N. Y., which stirred the country. In that speech, +while paying due deference to the Constitution and the laws, he +very solemnly declared that "there is a higher law." Mr. Seward +sometimes called attention to his position by an oracular utterance +which he left the people to interpret. This phrase, "the higher +law," became of first-class importance, both in Congress, in the +press, and on the platform. On the one side, it was denounced as +treason and anarchy. On the other side, it was the call of +conscience and of the New Testament's teaching of the rights of +man. It was one of the causes of his defeat for the presidency. + +Senator Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, afterwards vice-president, +was in great demand. He was clear in his historical statements +and emphatic in his expression of views. If he had any apprehension +of humor he never showed it in his speeches. His career had been +very picturesque from unskilled laborer to the Senate and the +vice-presidency. The impression he gave was of an example of +American opportunity, and he was more impressive and influential +by his personality and history than by what he said. + +One of the most picturesque and popular stump speakers was +Daniel S. Dickinson. He had been a United States senator and +party leader, and was a national figure. His venerable appearance +gave force to his oratory. He seemed to be of great age, but was +remarkably vigorous. His speeches were made up of epigrams which +were quotable and effective. He jumped rapidly from argument to +anecdote and was vitriolic in attack. + +I had an interesting experience with Mr. Dickinson when running +for secretary of state in 1863. The drawing card for that year, +and the most sought-after and popular for campaign speaking, was +Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts. He had a series of appointments +in New York State, but on account of some emergency cancelled them +all. The national and State committees selected me to fill his +appointments. The most unsatisfactory and disagreeable job in +the world is to meet the appointments of a popular speaker. The +expectations of the audience have been aroused to a degree by +propaganda advertising the genius and accomplishments of the +expected speaker. The substitute cannot meet those expectations, +and an angry crowd holds him responsible for their disappointment. + +When I left the train at the station I was in the midst of a +mass-meeting of several counties at Deposit, N. Y. A large +committee, profusely decorated with campaign badges, were on the +platform to welcome the distinguished war governor of Massachusetts. +I did not meet physically their expectations of an impressive +statesman of dignified presence, wearing a Prince Albert suit +and a top hat. I had been long campaigning, my soft hat was +disreputable, and I had added a large shawl to my campaigning +equipment. Besides that, I was only twenty-eight and looked much +younger. The committee expected at least sixty. Finally the +chairman rushed up to me and said: "You were on the train. Did +you see Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts?" I answered him: +"Governor Andrew is not coming; he has cancelled all his engagements, +and I have been sent to take his place." The chairman gasped and +then exclaimed: "My God!" He very excitedly summoned his fellow +members of the committee and said to them: "Gentlemen, Governor +Andrew is not coming, but the State committee has sent THIS," +pointing to me. I was the party candidate as secretary of state, +and at the head of the ticket, but nobody asked me who I was, nor +did I tell them. I was left severely alone. + +Some time after, the chairman of the committee came to me and +said: "Young fellow, we won't be hard on you, but the State +committee has done this once before. We were promised a very +popular speaker well known among us, but in his place they sent +the damnedest fool who ever stood before an audience. However, +we have sent to Binghamton for Daniel S. Dickinson, and he will +be here in a short time and save our big mass-meeting." + +Mr. Dickinson came and delivered a typical speech; every sentence +was a bombshell and its explosion very effective. He had the +privilege of age, and told a story which I would not have dared +to tell, the audience being half women. He said: "Those +constitutional lawyers, who are proclaiming that all Mr. Lincoln's +acts are unconstitutional, don't know any law. They remind me +of a doctor we have up in Binghamton, who has a large practice +because of his fine appearance, his big words, and gold-headed +cane. He was called to see a young lad who was sitting on his +grandmother's lap. After looking at the boy's tongue and feeling +his pulse, he rested his head in deep thought for a while on his +gold-headed cane and then said: 'Madam, this boy has such +difficulties with the epiglottis and such inflamed larynx that +we will have to apply phlebotomy.' The old lady clasped the boy +frantically to her bosom and cried: 'For heaven's sake, doctor, +what on earth can ail the boy that you are going to put all that +on his bottom?'" + +Mr. Dickinson introduced me as the head of the State ticket. My +speech proved a success, and the chairman paid me the handsome +compliment of saying: "We are glad they sent you instead of +Governor Andrew." + +One of the most effective of our campaign speakers was General Bruce, +of Syracuse, N. Y. The general had practically only one speech, +which was full of picturesque illustrations, striking anecdotes, +and highly wrought-up periods of patriotic exaltation. He delivered +this speech, with necessary variations, through many campaigns. +I was with the general, who was Canal commissioner when I was +secretary of state, on our official tour on the Canal. + +One night the general said to me: "Mr. Blank, who has a great +reputation, is speaking in a neighboring town, and I am going to +hear him." He came back enraged and unhappy. In telling me about +it, he said: "That infernal thief delivered my speech word for +word, and better than I can do it myself. I am too old to get up +another one, and, as I love to speak, I am very unhappy." + +This illustrated one of the accidents to which a campaign speaker +is liable. The man who stoIe the general's speech afterwards +played the same trick on me. He came into our State from New England +with a great reputation. He was a very fine elocutionist, of +excellent presence and manner, but utterly incapable of original +thought. He could not prepare a speech of any kind. However, +he had a phenomenal memory. He could listen to a speech made +by another and repeat it perfectly. His attractive appearance, +good voice, and fine elocution made the speech a great success. +Several orators told me that when they found their efforts a failure +they asked for the cause, and discovered that this man had delivered +their speeches a few nights before, and the audience, of course, +thought the last speaker was a fraud and a thief. + +General Bruce told me a good campaign story of Senator James W. Nye, +of Nevada. Nye was a prominent lawyer of western New York, and +the most eloquent and witty member of the bar of that section, +and also the most popular campaign speaker. He moved to Nevada +and so impressed the people of that young State that he was elected +United States senator. In the Senate he became a notable figure. + +Nye and General Bruce were sent by the national committee to +canvass New England. Nye had become senatorial in his oratory, +with much more dignity and elevation of style than before. He +began his first speech at Bridgeport, Conn., in this way: "Fellow +citizens, I have come three thousand miles from my mountain home, +three thousand feet above the level of the sea, to discuss with +you these vital questions for the safety of our republic." The +next night, at New Haven, he said: "I have come from my mountain +home, five thousand feet above the level of the sea, to discuss +with you these vital questions of the safety of our republic." +Bruce interrupted him, saying: "Why, senator, it was only three +thousand feet last night." Nye turned savagely on Bruce: "Bruce, +you go to the devil!" Resuming with the audience, he remarked +very impressively: "As I was saying, fellow citizens, I have +come from my mountain home, ten thousand feet above the level +of the sea, to, etc." + +A story which illustrates and enforces the argument helps a political +speech, and it is often the only part of the speech which is +remembered. I have often heard people say to me: "I heard you +speak thirty, forty, or fifty years ago, and this is the story +you told." Sometimes, however, the story may prove a boomerang +in the most unexpected way. + +For many years, when I spoke in northern New York I was always +met at the Syracuse station by a superintendent of the Lackawanna +Railroad with a special train filled with friends. He carried +me up to my destination and brought me back in the morning. It +was his great day of the year, and during the trip he was full +of reminiscences, and mainly of the confidences reposed in him +by the president of the road, my old and valued friend, Samuel Sloan. + +One fall he failed to appear, and there was no special train to +meet me. I was told by friends that the reason was his wife had +died and he was in mourning. The morning after the meeting I +started to call upon him, but was informed that he was very hostile +and would not see me. I was not going to lose an old friend like +that and went up to his office. As soon as I entered, he said: +"Go away, I don't want to see you again." I appealed to him, +saying: "I cannot lose so good a friend as you. If there is +anything I have done or said, I will do everything in my power +to make it right." He turned on me sharply and with great emotion +told this story: "My wife and I lived in loving harmony for over +thirty years, and when she died recently I was heartbroken. The +whole town was sympathetic; most of the business houses closed +during the hour of the funeral. I had arranged to have ministers +whom my wife admired, and with them selected passages of scriptures +and hymns to which she was devoted. A new minister in town was +invited by the others to participate, and without my knowledge. +I looked over the congregation, all Mary's friends. I listened +to the services, which Mary herself would have chosen, and said +to Mary's spirit, which I knew to be hovering about: 'We are all +paying you a loving tribute.' Then the new minister had for his +part the announcement and reading of a hymn. At the last Republican +convention at Saratoga, in order to illustrate the condition of +the Democratic party, you told a story about a boy walking among +the children's graves in the old cemetery at Peekskill, eating +green apples and whistling 'Nearer, my God, to Thee.' The new +minister gave that hymn, 'Nearer, my God, to Thee.' Your story +came up in my mind, and I burst out laughing. I disgraced myself, +insulted the memory of Mary, and I never want to see you again." + + + +XXI. NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONVENTIONS + +When the Republican convention met in 1912 I was again a delegate. +In my fifty-six years of national conventions I never had such an +intensely disagreeable experience. I felt it my duty to support +President Taft for renomination. I thought he had earned it by +his excellent administration. I had many ties with him, beginning +with our associations as graduates of Yale, and held for him a +most cordial regard. I was swayed by my old and unabated love +for Roosevelt. In that compromise and harmony were impossible. +I saw that, with the control of the organization and of the +convention on the side of Mr. Taft, and with the wild support for +Roosevelt of the delegates from the States which could be relied +upon to give Republican majorities, the nomination of either +would be sure defeat. + +I was again a delegate to the Republican convention of 1916. +The party was united. Progressives and conservatives were acting +together, and the convention was in the happiest of moods. It was +generally understood that Justice Hughes would be nominated if +he could be induced to resign from the Supreme Court and accept. +The presiding officer of the convention was Senator Warren G. Harding. +He made a very acceptable keynote speech. His fine appearance, +his fairness, justice, and good temper as presiding officer +captured the convention. There was a universal sentiment that if +Hughes declined the party could do no better than to nominate +Senator Harding. It was this impression among the delegates, many +of whom were also members of the convention of 1920, which led +to the selection as the convention's candidate for president of +Warren G. Harding. + +My good mother was a Presbyterian and a good Calvinist. She +believed and impressed upon me the certainty of special Providence. +It is hard for a Republican to think that the election of +Woodrow Wilson was a special Providence, but if our candidate, +Mr. Hughes, had been elected he would have had a hostile Democratic +majority in Congress. + +When the United States went into the war, as it must have done, +the president would have been handicapped by this pacifist Congress. +The draft would have been refused, without which our army of +four millions could not have been raised. The autocratic measures +necessary for the conduct of the war would have been denied. +With the conflict between the executive and Congress, our position +would have been impossible and indefensible. + +I had a personal experience in the convention. Chairman Harding +sent one of the secretaries to me with a message that there was +an interval of about an hour when the convention would have nothing +to do. It was during such a period the crank had his opportunity +and the situation was dangerous, and he wished me to come to +the platform and fill as much of that hour as possible. I refused +on the ground that I was wholly unprepared, and it would be madness +to attempt to speak to fourteen thousand people in the hall and +a hundred million outside. + +A few minutes afterwards Governor Whitman, chairman of the New York +delegation, came to me and said: "You must be drafted. The +chairman will create some business to give you fifteen minutes +to think up your speech." I spurred my gray matter as never before, +and was then introduced and spoke for forty-five minutes. I was +past eighty-two. The speech was a success, but when I returned +to my seat I remembered what General Garfield had so earnestly +said to me: "You are the only man of national reputation who +will speak without preparation. Unless you peremptorily and +decisively stop yielding you will some day make such a failure +as to destroy the reputation of a lifetime." + +In a letter President Harding has this to say in reference to +the occasion: "Just about a year ago (1916) it was my privilege +as chairman of the Republican convention at Chicago to call upon +you for an address. There was a hiatus which called for a speech, +and you so wonderfully met the difficult requirements that I sat +in fascinated admiration and have been ready ever since to pay +you unstinted tribute. You were ever eloquent in your more active +years, but I count you the old man eloquent and incomparable in +your eighties. May many more helpful and happy years be yours." + +I was again a delegate to the convention in June, 1920. The +Republicans had been for eight years out of office during +Mr. Wilson's two terms. The delegates were exceedingly anxious +to make no mistake and have no friction in the campaign. + +The two leading candidates, General Wood and Governor Lowden, +had nearly equal strength and were supported by most enthusiastic +admirers and advocates. As the balloting continued the rivalry +and feeling grew between their friends. It became necessary to +harmonize the situation and it was generally believed that this +could be best done by selecting Senator Warren G. Harding. + +Very few conventions have a dramatic surprise, but the nomination +of Governor Coolidge, of Massachusetts, for vice-president came +about in a very picturesque way. He had been named for president +among the others, and the speech in his behalf by Speaker +Frederick H. Gillett was an excellent one. Somehow the convention +did not seem to grasp all that the governor stood for and how +strong he was with each delegate. When the nominations for +vice-president were called for, Senator Medill McCormick presented +Senator Lenroot, of Wisconsin, in an excellent speech. There +were also very good addresses on behalf of the Governor of Kansas +and others. + +When the balloting was about to start, a delegate from Oregon +who was in the rear of the hall arose and said: "Mr. Chairman." +The chairman said: "The gentleman from Oregon." The Oregon +delegate, in a far-reaching voice, shouted: "Mr. Chairman, +I nominate for vice-president Calvin Coolidge, a one-hundred-per-cent +American." The convention went off its feet with a whoop and +Coolidge was nominated hands down. + +I again had a personal experience. The committee on resolutions, +not being prepared to report, there was that interval of no +business which is the despair of presiding officers of conventions. +The crowd suddenly began calling for me. While, of course, I had +thought much on the subject, I had not expected to be called upon +and had no prepared speech. Happily, fifteen thousand faces and +fifteen thousand voices giving uproarious welcome both steadied +and inspired me. Though I was past eighty-six years of age, my +voice was in as good condition as at forty, and was practically +the only one which did fill that vast auditorium. The press of +the country featured the effort next day in a way which was +most gratifying. + +Among the thousands who greeted me on the streets and in the +hotel lobbies with congratulations and efforts to say something +agreeable and complimentary, I selected one compliment as unique. +He was an enthusiast. "Chauncey Depew," he said, "I have for +over twenty years wanted to shake hands with you. Your speech +was a wonder. I was half a mile off, way up under the roof, and +heard every word of it, and it was the only one I was able to hear. +That you should do this in your eighty-seventh year is a miracle. +But then my father was a miracle. On his eighty-fifth birthday he +was in just as good shape as you are to-day, and a week afterwards +he was dead." + + + +XXII. JOURNALISTS AND FINANCIERS + +In reminiscences of my journalistic friends I do not include many +of the most valued who are still living. Of those who have passed +away one of the most faithful and devoted was Edward H. Butler, +editor and proprietor of the Buffalo Evening News. + +Mr. Butler began at the bottom as a newspaper man and very early +and rapidly climbed to the top. He secured control of the +Evening News and soon made one of the most, if not the most, +widely circulated, influential, and prosperous papers of western +New York. Personally and through his paper he was for many years +my devoted friend. To those he loved he had an unbounded fidelity +and generosity. He possessed keen insight and kept thoroughly +abreast of public affairs was a journalist of high order. + +It was my privilege to know Charles A. Dana very well. I first +met him when he was on the New York Tribune and closely allied +with Horace Greeley. He made the New York Sun one of the brightest, +most original, and most quoted newspapers in the United States. +His high culture, wonderful command of English, and refined taste +gave to the Sun a high literary position, and at the same time +his audacity and criticism made him a terror to those with whom +he differed, and his editorials the delight of a reader. + +Personally Mr. Dana was one of the most attractive and charming +of men. As assistant secretary of war during Lincoln's administration +he came in intimate contact with all the public men of that period, +and as a journalist his study was invaded and he received most +graciously men and women famous in every department of intellectual +activity. His reminiscences were wonderful and his characterizations +remarkable. He might have published an autobiography of rare value +and interest. + +When the elder James Gordon Bennett died the newspaper world +recognized the loss of one of the most remarkable and successful +of journalists and publishers. His son had won reputation in the +field of sport, but his contemporaries doubted his ability to +maintain, much less increase, the sphere of the New York Herald. +But young Bennett soon displayed rare originality and enterprise. +He made his newspaper one of national and international importance. +By bringing out an edition in Paris he conferred a boon upon +Americans abroad. For many years there was little news from the +United States in foreign newspapers, but Americans crazy for news +from home found it in the Paris edition of the New York Herald. + +Mr. Bennett was a good friend of mine for half a century. He was +delightful company, with his grasp of world affairs and picturesque +presentation of them. A President of the United States who wished +to change the hostile attitude of the Herald towards his +administration and himself asked me to interview Mr. Bennett. +The editor was courteous, frank, but implacable. But some time +afterwards the Herald became a cordial supporter of the president. +The interview and its subsequent result displayed a characteristic +of Bennett. He would not recognize that his judgment or action +could be influenced, but his mind was so open and fair that when +convinced that he was wrong he would in his own way and at his +own time do the right thing. + +Mr. Bennett did me once an essential service. It was at the time +when I was a candidate for re-election to the United States Senate. +I cabled him in Paris and asked that he would look into the situation +through his confidential friends, reporters, and employees, and +if he found the situation warranted his taking a position to do so. +Of course the Herald was an independent and not a party journal +and rarely took sides. But not long afterwards, editorially and +reportorially, the emphatic endorsement of the Herald came, and +positive prediction of success, and were of great help. He was +one of my groomsmen at my wedding in 1901. + +Among the thousands of stories which appear and disappear like +butterflies, it is a curious question what vogue and circulation +one can have over others. By an accident I broke one of the +tendons of my heel and was laid up in my house for some time, +unable to walk. The surgeon fixed the bandage in place by a +liquid cement which soon solidified like glass. + +Julian Ralph, a brilliant young newspaper reporter, wrote a long +story in the New York Sun about a wonderful glass leg, which had +been substituted for the natural one and did better work. The +story had universal publication not only in the United States +but abroad, and interested scientists and surgeons. My mail grew +to enormous proportions with letters from eager inquirers wanting +to know all the particulars. The multitude of unfortunates who +had lost their legs or were dissatisfied with artificial ones wrote +to me to find out where these wonderful glass legs could be obtained. + +The glass-leg story nearly killed me, but it gave Ralph such a +reputation that he was advanced to positions both at home and +abroad, where his literary genius and imagination won him many +honors, but he never repeated his success with my glass leg. + +I suppose, having been more than half a century in close contact +with matters of interest to the public, or officially in positions +where I was a party to corporate activities or movements which +might affect the market, I have been more interviewed than any +one living and seen more reporters. No reporter has ever abused +the confidence I reposed in him. He always appreciated what I +told him, even to the verge of indiscretion, and knew what was +proper for him to reveal and what was not for publication. In the +critical situations which often occurred in railway controversies, +this cordial relationship with reporters was of great value in +getting our side before the public. + +One reporter especially, a space writer, managed for a long time +to get from me one-half to a column nearly every day, sometimes +appearing as interviews and at other times under the general +phrase: "It has been learned from a reliable source." + +I recall a personal incident out of the ordinary. I was awakened +one stormy winter night by a reporter who was well known to me, +a young man of unusual promise. I met him in dressing gown and +slippers in my library. There he told me that his wife was ill, +and to save her life the doctor informed him that he must send +her West to a sanitarium. + +"I have no money," he continued, "and will not borrow nor beg, +but you must give me a story I can sell." + +We discussed various matters which a paper would like to have, +and finally I gave him a veiled but still intelligible story, +which we both knew the papers were anxious to get. He told me +afterwards that he sold the interview for enough to meet his +present needs and his wife's journey. Some time after he entered +Wall Street and made a success. + + + +I have known well nearly all the phenomenally successful business +men of my time. It is a popular idea that luck or chance had much +to do with their careers. This is a mistake. All of them had +vision not possessed by their fellows. They could see opportunities +where others took the opposite view, and they had the courage of +their convictions. They had standards of their own which they +lived up to, and these standards differed widely from the ethical +ideas of the majority. + +Russell Sage, who died in the eighties, had to his credit an estate +which amounted to a million dollars for every year of his life. +He was not always a money-maker, but he was educated in the art +as a banker, was diverted into politics, elected to Congress, and +became a very useful member of that body. When politics changed +and he was defeated, he came to New York and speedily found his +place among the survival of the fittest. Mr. Sage could see before +others when bad times would be followed by better ones and +securities rise in value, and he also saw before others when +disasters would follow prosperity. Relying upon his own judgment, +he became a winner, whether the market went up or down. + +I met Mr. Sage frequently and enjoyed his quick and keen appreciation +of men and things. Of course, I knew that he cultivated me because +he thought that from my official position he might possibly gain +information which he could use in the market. I never received +any points frorn him, or acted upon any of his suggestions. I think +the reason why I am in excellent health and vigor in my eighty-eighth +year is largely due to the fact that the points or suggestions of +great financiers never interested me. I have known thousands who +were ruined by them. The financier who gives advice may mean well +as to the securities which he confidentially tells about, but an +unexpected financial storm may make all prophecies worthIess, +except for those who have capital to tide it over. + +One of the most certain opportunities for fortune was to buy Erie +after Commodore Vanderbilt had secured every share and the shorts +were selling wildly what they did not have and could not get. An +issue of fraudulent and unauthorized stock suddenly flooded the +market and thousands were ruined. + +As Mr. Sage's wealth increased, the generous and public-spirited +impulses which were his underlying characteristics, became entirely +obscured by the craze for accumulation. His wife, to whom he was +devotedly attached, was, fortunately for him, one of the most +generous, philanthropic, and open-minded of women. She was most +loyal to the Emma Willard School at Troy, N. Y., from which she +graduated. Mrs. Sage wrote me a note at one time, saying: "Mr. Sage +has promised to build and give to the Willard School a building +which will cost one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, and he +wants you to deliver the address at the laying of the corner-stone." +I wrote back that I was so overwhelmed with business that it was +impossible for me to accept. She replied: "Russell vows he will +not give a dollar unless you promise to deliver the address. This +is the first effort in his life at liberal giving. Don't you +think he ought to be encouraged?" I immediately accepted. + +Mrs. Sage was a Mayflower descendant. At one of the anniversaries +of the society she invited me to be her guest and to make a speech. +She had quite a large company at her table. When the champagne +corks began to explode all around us, she asked what I thought she +ought to do. I answered: "As the rest are doing." Mr. Sage +vigorously protested that it was a useless and wasteful expense. +However, Mrs. Sage gave the order, and Mr. Sage and two objecting +gentlemen at the table were the most liberal participants of her +hospitality. The inspiration of the phizz brought Sage to his +feet, though not on the programme. He talked until the committee +of arrangements succeeded in persuading him that the company +was entirely satisfied. + +Jay Gould told me a story of Sage. The market had gone against +him and left him under great obligations. The shock sent Sage +to bed, and he declared that he was ruined. Mr. Gould and +Mr. Cyrus W. Field became alarmed for his life and went to see +him. They found him broken-hearted and in a serious condition. +Gould said to him: "Sage, I will assume all your obligations and +give you so many millions of dollars if you will transfer to me +the cash you have in banks, trust, and safe-deposit companies, +and you keep all your securities and all your real estate." The +proposition proved to be the shock necessary to counteract Sage's +panic and save his life. He shouted, "I won't do it!" jumped out +of bed, met all his obligations and turned defeat into a victory. + +Sage could not personally give away his fortune, so he left it +all, without reservations, to his wife. The world is better and +happier by her wise distribution of his accumulations. + +One of Mr. Sage's lawyers was an intimate friend of mine, and he +told me this story. Sage had been persuaded by his fellow directors +in the Western Union Telegraph Company to make a will. As he was +attorney for the company, Sage came to him to draw it. + +The lawyer began to write: "I, Russell Sage, of the City of +New York, being of sound mind" . . . (Sage interrupted him in +his quick way by saying, "Nobody will dispute that") "do publish +and devise this to be my last will and testament as follows: +First, I direct that all my just debts will be paid." . . . +("That's easy," said Sage, "because I haven't any.") "Also my +funeral expenses and testamentary expenses." ("Make the funeral +simple. I dislike display and ostentation, and especially at +funerals," said Sage.) "Next," said the lawyer, "I give, devise, +and bequeath" . . . (Sage shouted: "I won't do it! I won't do it!" +and left the office.) + +Nothing is so absorbing as the life of Wall Street. It is more +abused, misunderstood, and envied than any place in the country. +Wall Street means that the sharpest wits from every State in the +Union, and many from South America and Europe, are competing with +each other for the great prizes of development, exploitation, +and speculation. + +I remember a Wall Street man who was of wide reading and high +culture, and yet devoted to both the operation and romance of +the Street. He rushed into my room one night at Lucerne in +Switzerland and said: "I have just arrived from Greece and have +been out of touch with everything for six weeks. I am starving for +news of the market." + +I enlightened him as well as I could, and then he remarked: "Do +you know, while in Athens our little party stood on the Acropolis +admiring the Parthenon, and one enthusiastic Grecian exclaimed: +'There is the wonder of the world. For three thousand years its +perfection has baffled and taught the genius of every generation. +It can be copied, but never yet has been equalled. Surely, +notwithstanding your love of New York and devotion to the ticker, +you must admire the Parthenon.' I answered him, if I could be +transported at this minute to Fifth Avenue and Broadway and could +look up at the Flatiron Building, I would give the money to +rebuild that old ruin." + +While conditions in the United States because of the World War +are serious, they are so much better than in the years following +the close of the Civil War, that we who have had the double +experience can be greatly encouraged. Then one-half of our country +was devastated, its industries destroyed or paralyzed; now we are +united and stronger in every way. Then we had a paper currency +and dangerous inflation, now we are on a gold standard and with +an excellent banking and credit system. The development of our +resources and wonderful inventions and discoveries since the +Civil War place us in the foremost position to enter upon world +commerce when all other nations have come as they must to +co-operation and co-ordination upon lines for the preservation +of peace and the promotion of international prosperity. + +Many incidents personal to me occur which illustrate conditions +following the close of the war between the States. I knew very +rich men who became paupers, and strong institutions and corporations +which went into bankruptcy. I was in the Union Trust Company of +New York when our financial circles were stunned by the closing +of its doors following the closing of the New York Stock Exchange. + +One of my clients was Mr. Augustus Schell, one of the ablest and +most successful of financiers and public-spirited citizens. The +panic had ruined him. As we left the Union Trust Company he had +his hat over his eyes, and his head was buried in the upturned +collar of his coat. When opposite Trinity Church he said: +"Mr. Depew, after being a rich man for over forty years, it is +hard to walk under a poor man's hat." When we reached the +Astor House a complete reaction had occurred. His collar was +turned down, his head came out confident and aggressive, his hat +had shifted to the back of his head and on a rakish angle. The +hopeful citizen fairly shouted: "Mr. Depew, the world has always +gone around, it always will go around." He managed with the aid +of Commodore Vanderbilt to save his assets from sacrifice. In +a few years they recovered normal value, and Mr. Schell with his +fortune intact found "the world had gone around" and he was +on top again. + +I have often felt the inspiration of Mr. Schell's confidence and +hope and have frequently lifted others out of the depths of despair +by narrating the story and emphasizing the motto "The world always +has gone around, the world always will go around." + +Illustrating the wild speculative spirit of one financial period, +and the eagerness with which speculators grasped at what they +thought points, the following is one of my many experiences. + +Running down Wall Street one day because I was late for an important +meeting, a well-known speculator stopped me and shouted: "What +about Erie?" I threw him off impatiently, saying, "Damn Erie!" +and rushed on. I knew nothing about Erie speculatively and was +irritated at being still further delayed for my meeting. + +Sometime afterwards I received a note from him in which he said: +"I never can be grateful enough for the point you gave me on Erie. +I made on it the biggest kill of my life." + +I have often had quoted to me that sentence about "fortune comes +to one but once, and if rejected never returns." When I declined +President Harrison's offer of the position of secretary of state +in his Cabinet, I had on my desk a large number of telegrams +signed by distinguished names and having only that quotation. +There are many instances in the lives of successful men where +they have repeatedly declined Dame Fortune's gift, and yet she +has finally rewarded them according to their desires. I am inclined +to think that the fickle lady is not always mortally offended by +a refusal. I believe that there come in the life of almost everybody +several opportunities, and few have the judgment to wisely decide +what to decline and what to accept. + +In 1876 Gardner Hubbard was an officer in the United States railway +mail service. As this connection with the government was one of +my duties in the New York Central, we met frequently. One day +he said to me: "My son-in-law, Professor Bell, has made what +I think a wonderful invention. It is a talking telegraph. We +need ten thousand dollars, and I will give you one-sixth interest +for that amount of money." + +I was very much impressed with Mr. Hubbard's description of the +possibilities of Professor Bell's invention. Before accepting, +however, I called upon my friend, Mr. William Orton, president +of the Western Union Telegraph Company. Orton had the reputation +of being the best-informed and most accomplished electrical expert +in the country. He said to me: "There is nothing in this patent +whatever, nor is there anything in the scheme itself, except as +a toy. If the device has any value, the Western Union owns a +prior patent called the Gray's patent, which makes the Bell +device worthless." + +When I returned to Mr. Hubbard he again convinced me, and I would +have made the investment, except that Mr. Orton called at my house +that night and said to me: "I know you cannot afford to lose +ten thousand dollars, which you certainly will if you put it in +the Bell patent. I have been so worried about it that contrary +to my usual custom I have come, if possible, to make you promise +to drop it." This I did. + +The Bell patent was sustained in the courts against the Gray, +and the telephone system became immediately popular and profitable. +It spread rapidly all over the country, and innumerable local +companies were organized, and with large interests for the privilege +to the parent company. + +I rarely ever part with anything, and I may say that principle +has brought me so many losses and so many gains that I am as yet, +in my eighty-eighth year, undecided whether it is a good rule or +not. However, if I had accepted my friend Mr. Hubbard's offer, it +would have changed my whole course of life. With the dividends, +year after year, and the increasing capital, I would have netted +by to-day at least one hundred million dollars. I have no regrets. +I know my make-up, with its love for the social side of life and +its good things, and for good times with good fellows. I also +know the necessity of activity and work. I am quite sure that +with this necessity removed and ambition smothered, I should +long ago have been in my grave and lost many years of a life which +has been full of happiness and satisfaction. + +My great weakness has been indorsing notes. A friend comes and +appeals to you. If you are of a sympathetic nature and very fond +of him, if you have no money to loan him, it is so easy to put +your name on the back of a note. Of course, it is rarely paid at +maturity, because your friend's judgment was wrong, and so the note +is renewed and the amount increased. When finally you wake up +to the fact that if you do not stop you are certain to be ruined, +your friend fails when the notes mature, and you have lost the +results of many years of thrift and saving, and also your friend. + +I declined to marry until I had fifty thousand dollars. The happy +day arrived, and I felt the fortunes of my family secure. My +father-in-law and his son became embarrassed in their business, +and, naturally, I indorsed their notes. A few years afterwards +my father-in-law died, his business went bankrupt, I lost my +fifty thousand dollars and found myself considerably in debt. As +an illustration of my dear mother's belief that all misfortunes +are sent for one's good, it so happened that the necessity of +meeting and recovering from this disaster led to extraordinary +exertions, which probably, except under the necessity, I never +would have made. The efforts were successful. + +Horace Greeley never could resist an appeal to indorse a note. +They were hardly ever paid, and Mr. Greeley was the loser. I met +him one time, soon after he had been a very severe sufferer from +his mistaken kindness. He said to me with great emphasis: +"Chauncey, I want you to do me a great favor. I want you to have +a bill put through the legislature, and see that it becomes a law, +making it a felony and punishable with imprisonment for life for +any man to put his name by way of indorsement on the back of +another man's paper." + +Dear old Greeley kept the practice up until he died, and the law +was never passed. There was one instance, which I had something +to do with, where the father of a young man, through whom Mr. Greeley +lost a great deal of money by indorsing notes, arranged after +Mr. Greeley's death to have the full amount of the loss paid to +Mr. Greeley's heirs. + + + +XXIII. ACTORS AND MEN OF LETTERS + +One cannot speak of Sir Henry Irving without recalling the wonderful +charm and genius of his leading lady, Ellen Terry. She never +failed to be worthy of sharing in Irving's triumphs. Her remarkable +adaptability to the different characters and grasp of their +characteristics made her one of the best exemplifiers of Shakespeare +of her time. She was equally good in the great characters of other +playwrights. Her effectiveness was increased by an unusual ability +to shed tears and natural tears. I was invited behind the scenes +one evening when she had produced a great impression upon the +audience in a very pathetic part. I asked her how she did what +no one else was ever able to do. + +"Why," she answered, "it is so simple when you are portraying ------" +(mentioning the character), "and such a crisis arises in your +life, that naturally and immediately the tears begin to flow." +So they did when she was illustrating the part for me. + +It was a privilege to hear Edwin Booth as Richelieu and Hamlet. +I have witnessed all the great actors of my time in those characters. +None of them equalled Edwin Booth. For a number of years he was +exiled from the stage because his brother, Wilkes Booth, was +the assassin of President Lincoln. His admirers in New York felt +that it was a misfortune for dramatic art that so consummate an +artist should be compelled to remain in private life. In order +to break the spell they united and invited Mr. Booth to give a +performance at one of the larger theatres. The house, of course, +was carefully ticketed with selected guests. + +The older Mrs. John Jacob Astor, a most accomplished and cultured +lady and one of the acknowledged leaders of New York society, +gave Mr. Booth a dinner in honor of the event. The gathering +represented the most eminent talent of New York in every department +of the great city's activities. Of course, Mr. Booth had the seat +of honor at the right of the hostess. On the left was a distinguished +man who had been a Cabinet minister and a diplomat. During the +dinner Mr. Evarts said to me: "I have known so and so all our +active lives. He has been a great success in everything he has +undertaken, and the wonder of it is that if there was ever an +opportunity for him to say or do the wrong thing he never failed." + +Curiously enough, the conversation at the dinner ran upon men +outliving their usefulness and reputations. Several instances +were cited where a man from the height of his fame gradually +lived on and lived out his reputation. Whereupon our diplomat, +with his fatal facility for saying the wrong thing, broke in by +remarking in a strident voice: "The most remarkable instance of a +man dying at the right time for his reputation was Abraham Lincoln." +Then he went on to explain how he would have probably lost his +place in history through the mistakes of his second term. Nobody +heard anything beyond the words "Abraham Lincoln." Fortunately +for the evening and the great embarrassment of Mr. Booth, the tact +of Mrs. Astor changed the subject and saved the occasion. + +Of all my actor friends none was more delightful either on the +stage or in private life than Joseph Jefferson. He early appealed +to me because of his Rip Van Winkle. I was always devoted to +Washington Irving and to the Hudson River. All the traditions +which have given a romantic touch to different points on that +river came from Irving's pen. In the days of my youth the influence +of Irving upon those who were fortunate enough to have been born +upon the banks of the Hudson was very great in every way. + +As I met Jefferson quite frequently, I recall two of his many +charming stories. He said he thought at one time that it would +be a fine idea to play Rip Van Winkle at the village of Catskill, +around which place was located the story of his hero. His manager +selected the supernumeraries from among the farmer boys of the +neighborhood. At the point of the play where Rip wakes up and +finds the lively ghosts of the Hendrick Hudson crew playing bowls +in the mountains, he says to each one of them, who all look and +are dressed alike: "Are you his brother?" + +"No," answered the young farmer who impersonated one of the ghosts, +"Mr. Jefferson, I never saw one of these people before." As ghosts +are supposed to be silent, this interruption nearly broke up +the performance. + +During the Spanish-American War I came on the same train with +Mr. Jefferson from Washington. The interest all over the country +at that time was the remarkable victory of Admiral Dewey over the +Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila. People wondered how Dewey +could sink every Spanish ship and never be hit once himself. +Jefferson said in his quaint way: "Everybody, including the +secretary of the navy and several admirals, asked me how that could +have happened. I told them the problem might be one which naval +officers could not solve, but it was very simple for an actor. The +failure of the Spanish admiral was entirely due to his not having +rehearsed. Success is impossible without frequent rehearsaIs." + +Returning for a moment to Washington Irving, one of the most +interesting spots near New York is his old home, Wolfert's Roost, +and also the old church at Tarrytown where he worshipped, and +of which he was an officer for many years. The ivy which partially +covers the church was given to Mr. Irving by Sir Walter Scott, +from Abbotsford. At the time when the most famous of British +reviewers wrote, "Whoever read or reads an American book?" +Sir Walter Scott announced the merit and coming fame of +Washington Irving. But, as Rip Van Winkle says, when he returns +after twenty years to his native village, "how soon we are forgot." + +There was a dinner given in New York to celebrate the hundredth +anniversary of Washington Irving's birth. I was one of the speakers. +In an adjoining room was a company of young and very successful +brokers, whose triumphs in the market were the envy of speculative +America. While I was speaking they came into the room. When +I had finished, the host at the brokers' dinner called me out and +said: "We were much interested in your speech. This Irving you +talked about must be a remarkable man. What is the dinner about?" + +I answered him that it was in celebration of the hundredth +anniversary of the birth of Washington Irving. + +"Well," he said, pointing to an old gentleman who had sat beside +me on the speakers' platform, "it is astonishing how vigorous he +looks at that advanced age." + +It was my good fortune to hear often and know personally +Richard Mansfield. He was very successful in many parts, but +his presentation of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was wonderful. +At one time he came to me with a well-thought-out scheme for +a national theatre in New York, which would be amply endowed and +be the home of the highest art in the dramatic profession, and +at the same time the finest school in the world. He wanted me +to draw together a committee of the leading financiers of the +country and, if possible, to impress them so that they would +subscribe the millions necessary for carrying out his ideas. +I was too busy a man to undertake so difficult a project. + +One of the colored porters in the Wagner Palace Car service, who +was always with me on my tours of inspection over the railroad, +told me an amusing story of Mr. Mansfield's devotion to his art. +He was acting as porter on Mansfield's car, when he was making +a tour of the country. This porter was an exceedingly intelligent +man. He appreciated Mansfield's achievements and played up to +his humor in using him as a foil while always acting. When they +were in a station William never left the car, but remained on guard +for the protection of its valuable contents. + +After a play at Kansas City Mansfield came into the car very late +and said: "William, where is my manager?" + +"Gone to bed, sir, and so have the other members of the company," +answered William. + +Then in his most impressive way Mansfield said: "William, they +fear me. By the way, were you down at the depot to-night when +the audience from the suburbs were returning to take their trains +home?" + +"Yes, sir," answered William, though he had not been out of the car. + +"Did you hear any remarks made about my play?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Can you give me an instance?" + +"Certainly," replied William; "one gentleman remarked that he +had been to the theatre all his life, but that your acting to-night +was the most rotten thing he had ever heard or seen." + +"William," shouted Mansfield, "get my Winchester and find that man." + +So Mansfield and William went out among the crowds, and when +William saw a big, aggressive-looking fellow who he thought would +stand up and fight, he said: "There he is." + +Mansfield immediately walked up to the man, covered him with his +rifle, and shouted: "Hold up your hands, you wretch, and take +back immediately the insulting remark you made about my play +and acting and apologize." + +The man said: "Why, Mr. Mansfield, somebody has been lying to +you about me. Your performance to-night was the best thing I ever +saw in my life." + +"Thank you," said Mansfield, shouldering his rifle, and added in +the most tragic tone: "William, lead the way back to the car." + +Among the most interesting memories of old New Yorkers are the +suppers which Mr. Augustin Daly gave on the one hundredth performance +of a play. Like everything which Daly did, the entertainment was +perfect. A frequent and honored guest on these occasions was +General Sherman, who was then retired from the army and living +in New York. Sherman was a military genius but a great deal more. +He was one of the most sensitive men in the world. Of course, +the attraction at these suppers was Miss Rehan, Daly's leading +lady. Her personal charm, her velvet voice, and her inimitable +coquetry made every guest anxious to be her escort. She would +pretend to be in doubt whether to accept the attentions of +General Sherman or myself, but when the general began to display +considerable irritation, the brow of Mars was smoothed and the +warrior made happy by a gracious acceptance of his arm. + +On one of these occasions I heard the best after-dinner speech +of my life. The speaker was one of the most beautiful women +in the country, Miss Fanny Davenport. That night she seemed +to be inspired, and her eloquence, her wit, her humor, her sparkling +genius, together with the impression of her amazing beauty were +very effective. + +P. T. Barnum, the showman, was a many-sided and interesting +character. I saw much of him as he rented from the Harlem Railroad +Company the Madison Square Garden, year after year. Barnum never +has had an equal in his profession and was an excellent business +man. In a broad way he was a man of affairs, and with his vast +fund of anecdotes and reminiscences very entertaining socially. + +An Englishman of note came to me with a letter of introduction, +and I asked him whom he would like to meet. He said: "I think +principally Mr. P. T. Barnum." I told this to Barnum, who knew +all about him, and said: "As a gentleman, he knows how to meet me." +When I informed my English friend, he expressed his regret and +at once sent Barnum his card and an invitation for dinner. At the +dinner Barnum easily carried off the honors with his wonderful +fund of unusual adventures. + +My first contact with Mr. Barnum occurred many years before, when +I was a boy up in Peekskill. At that time he had a museum and +a show in a building at the corner of Ann Street and Broadway, +opposite the old Astor House. By skilful advertising he kept +people all over the country expecting something new and wonderful +and anxious to visit his show. + +There had been an Indian massacre on the Western plains. The +particulars filled the newspapers and led to action by the government +in retaliation. Barnum advertised that he had succeeded in +securing the Sioux warriors whom the government had captured, +and who would re-enact every day the bloody battle in which they +were victorious. + +It was one of the hottest afternoons in August when I appeared +there from the country. The Indians were on the top floor, under +the roof. The performance was sufficiently blood-curdling to +satisfy the most exacting reader of a penny-dreadful. After +the performance, when the audience left, I was too fascinated +to go, and remained in the rear of the hall, gazing at these +dreadful savages. One of them took off his head-gear, dropped +his tomahawk and scalping-knife, and said in the broadest Irish +to his neighbor: "Moike, if this weather don't cool off, I will +be nothing but a grease spot." This was among the many illusions +which have been dissipated for me in a long life. Notwithstanding +that, I still have faith, and dearly love to be fooled, but not +to have the fraud exposed. + + + +Wyndham, the celebrated English actor, was playing one night in +New York. He saw me in the audience and sent a messenger inviting +me to meet him at supper at the Hoffman House. After the theatre +I went to the hotel, asked at the desk in what room the theatrical +supper was, and found there Bronson Howard, the playwright, and +some others. I told them the object of my search, and Mr. Howard +said: "You are just in the right place." + +The English actor came later, and also a large number of other +guests. I was very much surprised and flattered at being made +practically the guest of honor. In the usual and inevitable +after-dinner speeches I joined enthusiastically in the prospects +of American contributions to drama and especially the genius of +Bronson Howard. + +It developed afterwards that the actors' dinner was set for several +nights later, and that I was not invited or expected to this +entertainment, which was given by Mr. Howard to my actor friend, +but by concert of action between the playwright and the actor, +the whole affair was turned into a dinner to me. Broadway was +delighted at the joke, but did not have a better time over it than I did. + +The supper parties after the play which Wyndham gave were among +the most enjoyable entertainments in London. His guests represented +the best in society, government, art, literature, and drama. His +dining-room was built and furnished like the cabin of a yacht and +the illusion was so complete that sensitive guests said they felt +the rolling of the sea. + +One evening he said to me: "I expect a countryman of yours, +a charming fellow, but, poor devil, he has only one hundred and +fifty thousand pounds a year. He is still young, and all the +managing mothers are after him for their daughters." + +When the prosperous American with an income of three-quarters +of a million arrived, I needed no introduction. I knew him very +well and about his affairs. He had culture, was widely travelled, +was both musical and artistic, and his fad was intimacy with +prominent people. His dinners were perfection and invitations +were eagerly sought. On the plea of delicate health he remained +a brief period in the height of the season in London and Paris. +But during those few weeks he gave all that could be done by lavish +wealth and perfect taste, and did it on an income of twenty +thousand dollars a year. + +Most of the year he lived modestly in the mountains of Switzerland +or in Eastern travel, but was a welcome guest of the most important +people in many lands. The only deceit about it, if it was a +deceit, was that he never went out of his way to deny his vast +wealth, and as he never asked for anything there was no occasion +to publish his inventory. The pursuing mothers and daughters +never succeeded, before his flight, in leading him far enough to ask +for a show-down. + +Many times during my visits to Europe I have been besieged to know +the income of a countryman. On account of the belief over there +in the generality of enormous American fortunes, it is not difficult +to create the impression of immense wealth. While the man would +have to make a statement and give references, the lady's story +is seldom questioned. I have known some hundreds and thousands +of dollars become in the credulous eyes of suitors as many millions, +and a few millions become multimillions. In several instances +the statements of the lady were accepted as she achieved her ambition. + + + +For a tired man who has grown stale with years of unremitting work +I know of no relief and recuperation equal to taking a steamer +and crossing the ocean to Europe. I did this for a few weeks +in midsummer many times and always with splendid and most refreshing +results. With fortunate introductions, I became acquainted with +many of the leading men of other countries, and this was a +liberal education. + +There is invariably a concert for charities to help the sailors +on every ship. I had many amusing experiences in presiding on +these occasions. I remember once we were having a rough night +of it, and one of our artists, a famous singer, who had made a +successful tour of the United States, was a little woman and +her husband a giant. He came to me during the performance and +said: "My wife is awfully seasick, but she wants to sing, and +I want her to. In the intervals of her illness she is in pretty +good shape for a little while. If you will stop everything when +you see me coming in with her, she will do her part." + +I saw him rushing into the saloon with his wife in his arms, and +immediately announced her for the next number. She made a great +triumph, but at the proper moment was caught up by her husband +and carried again to the deck. He said to me afterwards: "My wife +was not at her best last night, because there is a peculiarity +about seasickness and singers; the lower notes in which she is +most effective are not at such times available or in working order." + +Augustin Daly did a great service to the theatre by his wonderful +genius as a manager. He discovered talent everywhere and encouraged +it. He trained his company with the skill of a master, and produced +in his theatres here and in London a series of wonderful plays. He +did not permit his artists to take part, as a rule, in these concerts +on the ship, but it so happened that on one occasion we celebrated +the Fourth of July. I went to Mr. Daly and asked him if he would +not as an American take the management of the whole celebration. +This appealed to him, and he selected the best talent from his +company. Among them was Ada Rehan. I knew Miss Rehan when she +was in the stock company at Albany in her early days. With +Mr. Daly, who discovered her, she soon developed into a star of +the first magnitude. + +Mr. Daly persisted on my presiding and introducing the artists, +and also delivering the Fourth of July oration. The celebration +was so successful in the saloon that Mr. Daly had it repeated +the next night in the second cabin, and the night after that in +the steerage. The steerage did its best, and was clothed in +the finest things which it was carrying back to astonish the old +folks in the old country, and its enthusiasm was greater, if +possible, than the welcome which had greeted the artists among +the first and second cabin passengers. + +After Miss Rehan had recited her part and been encored and encored, +I found her in tears. I said: "Miss Rehan, your triumph has been +so great that it should be laughter." + +"Yes," she said, "but it is so pathetic to see these people who +probably never before met with the highest art." + + + +Among the many eminent English men of letters who at one time +came to the United States was Matthew Arnold. The American lecture +promoters were active in securing these gentlemen, and the American +audiences were most appreciative. Many came with letters of +introduction to me. + +Mr. Arnold was a great poet, critic, and writer, and an eminent +professor at Oxford University and well-known to our people. +His first address was at Chickering Hall to a crowded house. +Beyond the first few rows no one could hear him. Explaining this +he said to me: "My trouble is that my lectures at the university +are given in small halls and to limited audiences." I advised +him that before going any farther he should secure an elocutionist +and accustom himself to large halls, otherwise his tour would be +a disappointment. + +He gave me an amusing account of his instructor selecting +Chickering Hall, where he had failed, and making him repeat his +lecture, while the instructor kept a progressive movement farther +and farther from the stage until he reached the rear seats, when +he said he was satisfied. It is a tribute to the versatility of +this great author that he learned his lesson so well that his +subsequent lectures in different parts of the country were very +successful. + +Once Mr. Arnold said to me: "The lectures which I have prepared +are for university audiences, to which I am accustomed. I have +asked my American manager to put me only in university towns, but +I wish you would look over my engagements." + +Having done this, I remarked: "Managers are looking for large +and profitable audiences. There is no university or college in +any of these towns, though one of them has an inebriate home and +another an insane asylum. However, both of these cities have +a cultured population. Your noisiest and probably most appreciative +audience will be at the one which is a large railroad terminal. +Our railroad people are up-to-date." + +I saw Mr. Arnold on his return from his tour. The description +he gave of his adventures was very picturesque and the income +had been exceedingly satisfactory and beyond expectation. + +Describing the peculiarities of the chairmen who introduced him, +he mentioned one of them who said: "Ladies and gentlemen, next +week we will have in our course the most famous magician there +is in the world, and the week after, I am happy to say, we shall +be honored by the presence of a great opera-singer, a wonderful +artist. For this evening it is my pleasure to introduce to you +that distinguished English journalist Mr. Edwin Arnold." Mr. Arnold +began his lecture with a vigorous denial that he was Edwin Arnold, +whom I judged he did not consider in his class. + +Mr. Arnold received in New York and in the larger cities which +he visited the highest social attention from the leading families. +I met him several times and found that he never could be reconciled +to our two most famous dishes--terrapin and canvasback duck--the +duck nearly raw. He said indignantly to one hostess, who chided +him for his neglect of the canvasback: "Madam, when your ancestors +left England two hundred and fifty years ago, the English of that +time were accustomed to eat their meat raw; now they cook it." +To which the lady answered: "I am not familiar with the customs +of my ancestors, but I know that I pay my chef, who cooked the +duck, three hundred dollars a month." + +We were all very fond of Thackeray. He did not have the general +popularity of Charles Dickens, nor did he possess Dickens's dramatic +power, but he had a large and enthusiastic following among our +people. It was an intellectual treat and revelation to listen +to him. That wonderful head of his seemed to be an enormous and +perennial fountain of wit and wisdom. + +They had a good story of him at the Century Club, which is our +Athenaeum, that when taken there after a lecture by his friends +they gave him the usual Centurion supper of those days: saddlerock +oysters. The saddlerock of that time was nearly as large as +a dinner-plate. Thackeray said to his host: "What do I do with +this animal?" + +The host answered: "We Americans swallow them whole." + +Thackeray, always equal to the demand of American hospitality, +closed his eyes and swallowed the oyster, and the oyster went +down. When he had recovered he remarked: "I feel as if I had +swallowed a live baby." + +We have been excited at different times to an absorbing extent +by the stories of explorers. None were more generally read than +the adventures of the famous missionary, David Livingstone, +in Africa. When Livingstone was lost the whole world saluted +Henry M. Stanley as he started upon his famous journey to find him. +Stanley's adventures, his perils and escapes, had their final +success in finding Livingstone. The story enraptured and thrilled +every one. The British Government knighted him, and when he +returned to the United States he was Sir Henry Stanley. He was +accompanied by his wife, a beautiful and accomplished woman, and +received with open arms. + +I met Sir Henry many times at private and public entertainments +and found him always most interesting. The Lotos Club gave him +one of its most famous dinners, famous to those invited and to +those who spoke. + +It was arranged that he should begin his lecture tour of the +United States in New York. At the request of Sir Henry and his +committee I presided and introduced him at the Metropolitan +Opera House. The great auditorium was crowded to suffocation +and the audience one of the finest and most sympathetic. + +We knew little at that time of Central Africa and its people, and +the curiosity was intense to hear from Sir Henry a personal and +intimate account of his wonderful discoveries and experiences. +He thought that as his African life was so familiar to him, it must +be the same to everybody else. As a result, instead of a thriller +he gave a commonplace talk on some literary subject which bored +the audience and cast a cloud over a lecture tour which promised +to be one of the most successful. Of course Sir Henry's effort +disappointed his audience the more because their indifference +and indignation depressed him, and he did not do justice to himself +or the uninteresting subject which he had.selected. He never again +made the same mistake, and the tour was highly remunerative. + +For nearly a generation there was no subject which so interested +the American people as the adventures of explorers. I met many +of them, eulogized them in speeches at banquets given in their +honor. The people everywhere were open-eyed, open-eared, and +open-mouthed in their welcome and eagerness to hear them. + +It is a commentary upon the fickleness of popular favor that the +time was so short before these universal favorites dropped out +of popular attention and recollection. + + + +XXIV. SOCIETIES AND PUBLIC BANQUETS + +The most unique experience in my life has been the dinners given +to me by the Montauk Club of Brooklyn on my birthday. The Montauk +is a social club of high standing, whose members are of professional +and business life and different political and religious faiths. + +Thirty years ago Mr. Charles A. Moore was president of the club. +He was a prominent manufacturer and a gentleman of wide influence +in political and social circles. Mr. McKinley offered him the +position of secretary of the navy, which Mr. Moore declined. He +came to me one day with a committee from the club, and said: +"The Montauk wishes to celebrate your birthday. We know that it +is on the 23d of April, and that you have two distinguished +colleagues who also have the 23d as their birthday--Shakespeare +and St. George. We do not care to include them, but desire only +to celebrate yours." + +The club has continued these celebrations for thirty years by +an annual dinner. The ceremonial of the occasion is a reception, +then dinner, and, after an introduction by the president, a speech +by myself. To make a new speech every year which will be of +interest to those present and those who read it, is not easy. + +These festivities had a fortunate beginning. In thinking over +what I should talk about at the first dinner, I decided to get +some fun out of the municipality of Brooklyn by a picturesque +description of its municipal conditions. It was charged in the +newspapers that there had been serious graft in some public +improvements which had been condoned by the authorities and excused +by an act of the legislature. It had also been charged that the +Common Council had been giving away valuable franchises to their +favorites. Of course, this presented a fine field of contrast +between ancient and modern times. In ancient times grateful +citizens erected statues to eminent men who had deserved well of +their country in military or civic life, but Brooklyn had improved +upon the ancient model through the grant of public utilities. +The speech caused a riot after the dinner as to its propriety, +many taking the ground that it was a criticism, and, therefore, +inappropriate to the occasion. However, the affair illustrated +a common experience of mine that unexpected results will sometimes +flow from a bit of humor, if the humor has concealed in it a stick +of dynamite. + +The Brooklyn pulpit, which is the most progressive in the world, +took the matter up and aroused public discussion on municipal +affairs. The result was the formation of a committee of one hundred +citizens to investigate municipal conditions. They found that +while the mayor and some other officials were high-toned and +admirable officers, yet the general administration of the city +government had in the course of years become so bad that there +should be a general reformation. The reform movement was successful; +it spread over to New York and there again succeeded, and the +movement for municipal reform became general in the country. + +The next anniversary dinner attracted an audience larger than +the capacity of the club, and every one of the thirty has been +an eminent success. For many years the affair has received wide +publicity in the United States, and has sometimes been reported +in foreign newspapers. I remember being in London with the late +Lieutenant-Governor Woodruff, when we saw these head-lines at +a news-stand on the Strand: "Speech by Chauncey Depew at his +birthday dinner at the Montauk Club, Brooklyn." During this nearly +third of a century the membership of the club has changed, sons +having succeeded fathers and new members have been admitted, but +the celebration seems to grow in interest. + +During the last fourteen years the president of the club has been +Mr. William H. English. He has done so much for the organization +in every way that the members would like to have him as their +executive officer for life. Mr. English is a splendid type of +the American who is eminently successful in his chosen career, +and yet has outside interest for the benefit of the public. Modest +to a degree and avoiding publicity, he nevertheless is the motive +power of many movements progressive and charitable. + +Twenty-four years ago a company of public-spirited women in the +city of Des Moines, Iowa, organized a club. They named it after +me. For nearly a quarter of a century it has been an important +factor in the civic life of Des Moines. It has with courage, +intelligence, and independence done excellent work. At the time +of its organization there were few if any such organizations in +the country, and it may claim the position of pioneer in women's +activity in public affairs. + +Happily free from the internal difficulties and disputes which so +often wreck voluntary associations, the Chauncey Depew Club is +stronger than ever. It looks forward with confidence to a successful +celebration of its quarter of a century. + +I have never been able to visit the club, but have had with it +frequent and most agreeable correspondence. It always remembers +my birthday in the most gratifying way. I am grateful to its +members for bestowing upon me one of the most pleasurable compliments +of my life. + +A public dinner is a fine form of testimonial. I have had many +in my life, celebrating other things than my birthday. One of +the most notable was given me by the citizens of Chicago in +recognition of my efforts to make their great Columbian exhibition +a success. Justice John M. Harlan presided, and distinguished +men were present from different parts of the country and representing +great interests. Probably the speech which excited the most +comment was a radical attack of Andrew Carnegie on the government +of Great Britain, in submitting to the authority of a king or a +queen. Canada was represented by some of the high officials of +that self-governing colony. The Canadians are more loyal to the +English form of government than are the English themselves. My +peppery Scotch friend aroused a Canadian official, who returned +his assault with vigor and interest. + +It is a very valuable experience for an American to attend the +annual banquet of the American Chamber of Commerce in Paris. +The French Government recognizes the affair by having a company +of their most picturesquely uniformed soldiers standing guard both +inside and outside the hall. The highest officials of the French +Government always attend and make speeches. The American Ambassador +replies in a speech partly in English, and, if he is sufficiently +equipped, partly in French. General Horace Porter and Henry White +were equally happy both in their native language and in that of +the French. The French statesmen, however, were so fond of +Myron T. Herrick that they apparently not only grasped his cordiality +but understood perfectly his eloquence. The honor has several +times been assigned to me of making the American speech in +unadulterated American. The French may not have understood, but +with their quick apprehension the applause or laughter of the +Americans was instantly succeeded by equal manifestations on +the part of the French. + +Among the many things which we have inherited from our English +ancestry are public dinners and after-dinner speeches. The public +dinner is of importance in Great Britain and utilized for every +occasion. It is to the government the platform where the ministers +can lay frankly before the country matters which they could not +develop in the House of Commons. Through the dinner speech they +open the way and arouse public attention for measures which they +intend to propose to Parliament, and in this way bring the pressure +of public opinion to their support. + +In the same way every guild and trade have their festive functions +with serious purpose, and so have religious, philanthropic, economic, +and sociological movements. We have gone quite far in this +direction, but have not perfected the system as they have on the +other side. I have been making after-dinner speeches for sixty +years to all sorts and conditions of people, and on almost every +conceivable subject. I have found these occasions of great value +because under the good-fellowship of the occasion an unpopular +truth can be sugar-coated with humor and received with applause, +while in the processes of digestion the next day it is working with +the audience and through the press in the way the pill was intended. +A popular audience will forgive almost anything with which they +do not agree, if the humorous way in which it is put tickles +their risibilities. + +Mr. Gladstone was very fine at the lord mayor's dinner at Guild Hall, +where the prime minister develops his policies. So it was with +Lord Salisbury and Balfour, but the prince of after-dinner speakers +in England is Lord Rosebery. He has the humor, the wit, and the +artistic touch which fascinates and enraptures his audience. + +I have met in our country all the men of my time who have won fame +in this branch of public address. The most remarkable in +effectiveness and inspiration was Henry Ward Beecher. A banquet +was always a success if it could have among its speakers +William M. Evarts, Joseph H. Choate, James S. Brady, Judge John R. Brady, +General Horace Porter, or Robert G. Ingersoll. + +After General Grant settled in New York he was frequently a guest +at public dinners and always produced an impression by simple, +direct, and effective oratory. + +General Sherman, on the other hand, was an orator as well as a +fighter. He never seemed to be prepared, but out of the occasion +would give soldierly, graphic, and picturesque presentations of +thought and description. + +Not to have heard on these occasions Robert G. Ingersoll was to +have missed being for the evening under the spell of a magician. +I have been frequently asked if I could remember occasions of this +kind which were of more than ordinary interest. + +After-dinner oratory, while most attractive at the time, is +evanescent, but some incidents are interesting in memory. At +the time of Queen Victoria's jubilee I was present where a +representative of Canada was called upon for a speech. With the +exception of the Canadian and myself the hosts and guests were +all English. My Canadian friend enlarged upon the wonders of his +country. A statement of its marvels did not seem sufficient for +him unless it was augmented by comparisons with other countries +to the glory of Canada, and so he compared Canada with the +United States. Canada had better and more enduring institutions, +she had a more virile, intelligent, and progressive population, +and she had protected herself, as the United States did not, +against undesirable immigration, and in everything which constituted +an up-to-date, progressive, healthy, and hopeful commonwealth she +was far in advance of the United States. + +I was called upon immediately afterwards and said I would agree +with the distinguished gentleman from Canada that in one thing +at least Canada was superior to the United States, and it was +that she had far more land, but it was mostly ice. I regret to +remember that my Canadian friend lost his temper. + +One of the historical dinners of New York, which no one will forget +who was there, was just after the close of the Civil War, or, as +my dear old friend, Colonel Watterson, called it, "The War between +the States." The principal guests were General Sherman and +Henry W. Grady of Atlanta, Ga. General Sherman, in his speech, +described the triumphant return of the Union Army to Washington, +its review by the President, and then its officers and men returning +to private life and resuming their activities and industries as +citizens. It was a word-picture of wonderful and startling +picturesqueness and power and stirred an audience, composed +largely of veterans who had been participants both in the battles +and in the parades, to the highest degree of enthusiasm. Mr. Grady +followed. He was a young man with rare oratorical gifts. He +described the return of the Confederate soldiers to their homes +after the surrender at Appomattox. They had been four years +fighting and marching. They were ragged and poor. They returned +to homes and farms, many of which had been devastated. They had +no capital, and rarely animals or farming utensils necessary to +begin again. But with superb courage, not only on their own part +but with the assistance of their wives, sisters, and daughters, +they made the desert land flourish and resurrected the country. + +This remarkable description of Grady, which I only outline, came +as a counterpart to the triumphant epic of General Sherman. The +effect was electric, and beyond almost any that have ever occurred +in New York or anywhere, and Grady sprang into international fame. + +Joseph H. Choate was a most dangerous fellow speaker to his +associates who spoke before him. I had with him many encounters +during fifty years, and many times enjoyed being the sufferer by +his wit and humor. On one occasion Choate won the honors of the +evening by an unexpected attack. There is a village in western +New York which is named after me. The enterprising inhabitants, +boring for what might be under the surface of their ground, +discovered natural gas. According to American fashion, they +immediately organized a company and issued a prospectus for the +sale of the stock. The prospectus fell into the hands of Mr. Choate. +With great glee he read it and then with emphasis the name of +the company: "The Depew Natural Gas Company, Limited," and waving +the prospectus at me shouted: "Why limited?" + +There have been two occasions in Mr. Choate's after-dinner speeches +much commented upon both in this country and abroad. As I was +present on both evenings, it seems the facts ought to be accurately +stated. The annual dinner of the "Friendly Sons of St. Patrick" +occurred during one of the years when the Home Rule question was +most acute in England and actively discussed here. At the same +time our Irish fellow citizens, with their talent for public life, +had captured all the offices in New York City. They had the mayor, +the majority of the Board of Aldermen, and a large majority of +the judges. When Mr. Choate spoke he took up the Home Rule +question, and, without indicating his own views, said substantially: +"We Yankees used to be able to govern ourselves, but you Irish +have come here and taken the government away from us. You have +our entire city administration in your hands, and you do with us +as you like. We are deprived of Home Rule. Now what you are +clamoring for both at home and abroad is Home Rule for Ireland. +With such demonstrated ability in capturing the greatest city on +the western continent, and one of the greatest in the world, why +don't you go back to Ireland and make, as you would, Home Rule +there a success?" + +I was called a few minutes afterwards to a conference of the +leading Irishmen present. I was an honorary member of that society, +and they were in a high state of indignation. The more radical +thought that Mr. Choate's speech should be resented at once. +However, those who appreciated its humor averted hostile action, +but Mr. Choate was never invited to an Irish banquet again. + +The second historical occasion was when the Scotch honored their +patron Saint, St. Andrew. The attendance was greater than ever +before, and the interest more intense because the Earl of Aberdeen +was present. The earl was at that time Governor-General of Canada, +but to the Scotchmen he was much more than that, because he was +the chief of the Clan Gordon. The earl came to the dinner in full +Highland costume. Lady Aberdeen and the ladies of the vice-regal +court were in the gallery. I sat next to the earl and Choate sat +next to me. Choate said: "Chauncey, are Aberdeen's legs bare?" +I looked under the tabIe-cloth and discovered that they were +naturally so because of his costume. I answered: "Choate, they are." + +I thought nothing of it until Choate began his speech, in which +he said: "I was not fully informed by the committee of the +importance of the occasion. I did not know that the Earl of Aberdeen +was to be here as a guest of honor. I was especially and +unfortunately ignorant that he was coming in the full panoply of +his great office as chief of Clan Gordon. If I had known that +I would have left my trousers at home." + +Aberdeen enjoyed it, the ladies in the gallery were amused, but +the Scotch were mad, and Choate lost invitations to future Scotch dinners. + +Few appreciate the lure of the metropolis. It attracts the +successful to win greater success with its larger opportunities. +It has resistless charm with the ambitious and the enterprising. +New York, with its suburbs, which are really a part of itself, +is the largest city in the world. It is the only true cosmopolitan +one. It has more Irish than any city in Ireland, more Germans +and Italians than any except the largest cities in Germany or +Italy. It has more Southerners than are gathered in any place +in any Southern State, and the same is true of Westerners and +those from the Pacific coast and New England, except in Chicago, +San Francisco, or Boston. There is also a large contingent from +the West Indies, South America, and Canada. + +The people who make up the guests at a great dinner are the +survival of the fittest of these various settlers in New York. +While thousands fail and go back home or drop by the way, these +men have made their way by superior ability, foresight, and +adaptability through the fierce competitions of the great city. +They are unusually keen-witted and alert. For the evening of +the banquet they leave behind their business and its cares and +are bent on being entertained, amused, and instructed. They are +a most catholic audience, broad-minded, hospitabIe, and friendly +to ideas whether they are in accord with them or not, providing +they are well presented. There is one thing they will not submit +to, and that is being bored. + +These functions are usually over by midnight, and rarely last +so long; while out in the country and in other towns, it is no +unusual thing to have a dinner with speeches run along until +the early hours of the next morning. While public men, politicians, +and aspiring orators seek their opportunities upon this platform +in New York, few succeed and many fail. It is difficult for a +stranger to grasp the situation and adapt himself at once to its +atmosphere. I have narrated in preceding pages some remarkable +successes, and will give a few instances of very able and +distinguished men who lost touch of their audiences. + +One of the ablest men in the Senate was Senator John T. Morgan, +of Alabama. I was fond of him personally and admired greatly his +many and varied talents. He was a most industrious and admirable +legislator, and a debater of rare influence. He was a master of +correct and scholarly English, and one of the very few who never +went to the reporters' room to correct his speeches. As they were +always perfect, he let them stand as they were delivered. + +Senator Morgan was a great card on a famous occasion among the +many well-known men who were also to speak. Senator Elihu Root +presided with his usual distinction. Senator Morgan had a prepared +speech which he read. It was unusually long, but very good. On +account of his reputation the audience was, for such an audience, +wonderfully patient and frequent and enthusiastic in its applause. +Mistaking his favorable reception, Senator Morgan, after he had +finished the manuscript, started in for an extended talk. After +the hour had grown to nearly two, the audience became impatient, +and the senator, again mistaking its temper, thought they had +become hostile and announced that at many times and many places +he had been met with opposition, but that he could not be put down +or silenced. Mr. Root did the best he could to keep the peace, +but the audience, who were anxious to hear the other speakers, +gave up hope and began to leave, with the result that midnight +saw an empty hall with a presiding officer and an orator. + +At another great political dinner I sat beside Governor Oglesby, +of Illinois. He was famous as a war governor and as a speaker. +There were six speakers on the dais, of whom I was one. Happily, +my turn came early. The governor said to me: "How much of the +gospel can these tenderfeet stand?" "Well, Governor," I answered, +there are six speakers to-night, and the audience will not allow +the maximum of time occupied to be more than thirty minutes. Any +one who exceeds that will lose his crowd and, worse than that, +he may be killed by the eloquent gentlemen who are bursting with +impatience to get the floor, and who are to follow him." + +"Why," said the governor, "I don't see how any one can get started +in thirty minutes." + +"Well," I cautioned, "please do not be too long." + +When the midnight hour struck the hall was again practically +empty, the governor in the full tide of his speech, which evidently +would require about three hours, and the chairman declared the +meeting adjourned. + +Senator Foraker, of Ohio, who was one of the appointed speakers, +told me the next morning that at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where +he was stopping, he was just getting into bed when the governor +burst into his room and fairly shouted: "Foraker, no wonder +New York is almost always wrong. You saw to-night that it would +not listen to the truth. Now I want to tell you what I intended +to say." He was shouting with impassioned eloquence, his voice +rising until, through the open windows, it reached Madison Square Park, +when the watchman burst in and said: "Sir, the guests in this +hotel will not stand that any longer, but if you must finish your +speech I will take you out in the park." + +During Cleveland's administration one of the New York banquets +became a national affair. The principal speaker was the secretary +of the interior, Lucius Q. C. Lamar, who afterwards became +United States senator and justice of the Supreme Court. Mr. Lamar +was one of the ablest and most cultured men in public life, and +a fine orator. I was called upon so late that it was impossible +to follow any longer the serious discussions of the evening, and +what the management and the audience wanted from me was some fun. + +Lamar, with his Johnsonian periods and the lofty style of +Edmund Burke, furnished an opportunity for a little pleasantry. +He came to me, when I had finished, in great alarm and said: +"My appearance here is not an ordinary one and does not permit +humor. I am secretary of the interior, and the representative of +the president and his administration. My speech is really the +message of the president to the whole country, and I wish you +would remedy any impression which the country might otherwise +receive from your humor." + +This I was very glad to do, but it was an instance of which I have +met many, of a very distinguished and brilliant gentleman taking +himself too seriously. At another rather solemn function of this +kind I performed the same at the request of the management, but +with another protest from the orator and his enmity. + +In reminiscing, after he retired from the presidency, Mr. Cleveland +spoke to me of his great respect and admiration for Mr. Lamar. +Cleveland's speeches were always short. His talent was for +compression and concentration, and he could not understand the +necessity for an effort of great length. He told me that while +Justice Lamar was secretary of the interior he came to him one +day and said: "Mr. President, I have accepted an invitation to +deliver an address in the South, and as your administration may +be held responsible for what I say, I wish you would read it over +and make any corrections or suggestions." + +Mr. Cleveland said the speech was extraordinarily long though +very good, and when he returned it to Secretary Lamar he said to +him: "That speech will take at least three hours to deliver. +A Northern audience would never submit to over an hour. Don't +you think you had better cut it down?" The secretary replied: +"No, Mr. President; a Southern audience expects three hours, and +would be better satisfied with five." + +Justice Miller, one of the ablest of the judges of the Supreme Court +at that time, was the principal speaker on another occasion. He +was ponderous to a degree, and almost equalled in the emphasis +of his utterances, what was once said of Daniel Webster, that +every word weighed twelve pounds. I followed him. The Attorney- +General of the United States, who went back to Washington the next +day with Justice Miller, told me that as soon as they had got +on the train the justice commenced to complain that I had wholly +misunderstood his speech, and that no exaggeration of interpretation +would warrant what I said. The judge saw no humor in my little +effort to relieve the situation, and took it as a reply of opposing +counsel. He said that the justice took it up from another phase +after leaving Philadelphia, and resumed his explanation from +another angle as to what he meant after they reached Baltimore. +When the train arrived at its destination and they separated in the +Washington station, the justice turned to the attorney-general +and said: "Damn Depew! Good-night." + +Such are the perils of one who good-naturedly yields to the +importunities of a committee of management who fear the failure +with their audience of their entertainment. + +The great dinners of New York are the Chamber of Commerce, which +is a national function, as were also for a long time, during the +presidency of Mr. Choate, those of the New England Society. The +annual banquets of the Irish, Scotch, English, Welsh, Holland, +St. Nicholas, and the French, are also most interesting, and +sometimes by reason of the presence of a national or international +figure, assume great importance. The dinner which the Pilgrims +Society tenders to the British ambassador gives him an opportunity, +without the formalities and conventions of his office, of speaking +his mind both to the United States and to his own people. + +The annual banquets of the State societies are now assuming greater +importance. Each State has thousands of men who have been or +still are citizens, but who live in New York. Those dinners +attract the leading politicians of their several States. It is +a platform for the ambitious to be president and sometimes succeeds. + +Garfield made a great impression at one of these State dinners, +so did Foraker, and at the last dinner of the Ohio Society the +star was Senator Warren G. Harding. On one occasion, when McKinley +and Garfield were present, in the course of my speech I made a +remark which has since been adopted as a sort of motto by the +Buckeye State. Ohio, I think, has passed Virginia as a mother +of presidents. It is remarkable that the candidates of both great +parties are now of that State. I said in the closing of my speech, +alluding to the distinguished guests and their prospects: "Some +men have greatness thrust upon them, some are born great, and some +are born in Ohio." + +One of the greatest effects produced by a speech was by +Henry Ward Beecher at an annual dinner of the Friendly Sons of +St. Patrick. At the time, the Home Rule question was more than +ordinarily acute and Fenianism was rabid. While Mr. Beecher had +great influence upon his audience, his audience had equal influence +upon him. As he enlarged upon the wrongs of Ireland the responses +became more enthusiastic and finally positively savage. This +stirred the orator up till he gave the wildest approval to direct +action and revolution, with corresponding cheers from the diners, +standing and cheering. Mr. Beecher was explaining that speech +for about a year afterwards. I was a speaker on the same platform. + +Mr. Beecher always arrived late, and everybody thought it was +to get the applause as he came in but he explained to me that it +was due to his method of preparation. He said his mind would +not work freely until three hours after he had eaten. Many speakers +have told me the same thing. He said when he had a speech to make +at night, whether it was at a dinner or elsewhere, that he took +his dinner in the middle of the day, and then a glass of milk +and crackers at five o'clock, with nothing afterwards. Then in +the evening his mind was perfectly clear and under absolute control. + +The Lotos Club has been for fifty years to New York what the +Savage Club is to London. It attracts as its guests the most +eminent men of letters who visit this country. Its entertainments +are always successful. For twenty-nine years it had for its +president Mr. Frank R. Lawrence, a gentleman with a genius for +introducing distinguished strangers with most felicitous speeches, +and a committee who selected with wonderful judgment the other +speakers of the evening. A successor to Mr. Lawrence, and of +equal merit, has been found in Chester S. Lord, now president of +the Lotos Club. Mr. Lord was for more than a third of a century +managing editor of the New York Sun, and is now chancellor of +the University of the State of New York. + +I remember one occasion where the most tactful man who ever appeared +before his audience slipped his trolley, and that was Bishop Potter. +The bishop was a remarkably fine preacher and an unusually attractive +public speaker and past master of all the social amenities of life. +The guest of the evening was the famous Canon Kingsley, author +of "Hypatia" and other works at that time universally popular. +The canon had the largest and reddest nose one ever saw. The +bishop, among the pleasantries of his introduction, alluded to +this headlight of religion and literature. The canon fell from +grace and never forgave the bishop. + +On Lotos nights I have heard at their best Lord Houghton, statesman +and poet, Mark Twain, Stanley the explorer, and I consider it one +of the distinctions as well as pleasures of my life to have been +a speaker at the Lotos on more occasions than any one else during +the last half century. + +In Mr. Joseph Pulitzer's early struggles with his paper, the +New York World, the editorial columns frequently had very severe +attacks on Mr. William H. Vanderbilt and the New York Central +Railroad. They were part, of course, of attacks upon monopoly. +I was frequently included in these criticisms. + +The Lotos Club gave a famous dinner to George Augustus Sala, the +English writer and journalist. I found myself seated beside +Mr. Pulitzer, whom I had never met. When I was called upon to +speak I introduced, in what I had to say about the distinguished +guest, this bit of audacity. I said substantially, in addition to +Mr. Sala: "We have with us to-night a great journalist who comes +to the metropolis from the wild and woolly West. After he had +purchased the World he came to me and said, 'Chauncey Depew, +I have a scheme, which I am sure will benefit both of us. Everybody +is envious of the prestige of the New York Central and the wealth +of Mr. Vanderbilt. You are known as his principal adviser. Now, +if in my general hostility to monopoly I include Mr. Vanderbilt and +the New York Central as principal offenders, I must include you, +because you are the champion in your official relationship of the +corporation and of its policies and activities. I do not want +you to have any feeling against me because of this. The policy +will secure for the World everybody who is not a stockholder in +the New York Central, or does not possess millions of money. When +Mr. Vanderbilt finds that you are attacked, he is a gentleman and +broad-minded enough to compensate you and will grant to you both +significant promotion and a large increase in salary.'" Then I +added: "Well, gentlemen, I have only to say that Mr. Pulitzer's +experiment has been eminently successful. He has made his newspaper +a recognized power and a notable organ of public opinion; its +fortunes are made and so are his, and, in regard to myself, all +he predicted has come true, both in promotion and in enlargement +of income." When I sat down Mr. Pulitzer grasped me by the hand +and said: "Chauncey Depew, you are a mighty good fellow. I have +been misinformed about you. You will have friendly treatment +hereafter in any newspaper which I control." + +The Gridiron Club of Washington, because of both its ability and +genius and especially its national position, furnishes a wonderful +platform for statesmen. Its genius in creating caricatures and +fake pageants of current political situations at the capital and +its public men is most remarkable. The president always attends, +and most of the Cabinet and justices of the Supreme Court. The +ambassadors and representatives of the leading governments +represented in Washington are guests, and so are the best-known +senators and representatives of the time. The motto of the club +is "Reporters are never present. Ladies always present." Though +the association is made up entirely of reporters, the secrecy is +so well kept that the speakers are unusually frank. + +There was a famous contest one night there, however, between +President Roosevelt and Senator Foraker, who at the time were +intensely antagonistic, which can never be forgotten by those +present. There was a delightful interplay between William J. Bryan +and President Roosevelt, when Bryan charged the president with +stealing all his policies and ideas. + +If the speaker grasped the peculiarities of his audience and its +temperament, his task was at once the most difficult and the most +delightful, and my friend, Mr. Arthur Dunn, has performed most +useful service in embalming a portion of Gridiron history in his +volume, "Gridiron Nights." + +Pierpont Morgan, the greatest of American bankers, was much more +than a banker. He had a wonderful coIlection in his library and +elsewhere of rare books and works of art. He was always delightful +on the social side. He was very much pleased when he was elected +president of the New England Society. The annual dinner that year +was a remarkably brilliant affair. It was the largest in the +history of the organization. The principal speaker was William Everett, +son of the famous Edward Everett and himself a scholar of great +acquirements and culture. His speech was another evidence of +a very superior man mistaking his audience. He was principal of +the Adams Academy, that great preparatory institution for +Harvard University, and he had greatly enlarged its scope and +usefulness. + +Mr. Everett evidently thought that the guests of the New England +Society of New York would be composed of men of letters, educators, +and Harvard graduates. Instead of that, the audience before him +were mainly bankers and successful business men whose Puritan +characteristics had enabled them to win great success in the +competitions in the great metropolis in every branch of business. +They were out for a good time and little else. + +Mr. Everett produced a ponderous mass of manuscript and began +reading on the history of New England education and the influence +upon it of the Cambridge School. He had more than an hour of +material and lost his audience in fifteen minutes. No efforts of +the chairman could bring them to attention, and finally the educator +lost that control of himself which he was always teaching to the +boys and threw his manuscript at the heads of the reporters. From +their reports in their various newspapers the next day, they did +not seem to have absorbed the speech by this original method. + +Choate and I were both to speak, and Choate came first. As usual, +he threw a brick at me. He mentioned that a reporter had come to +him and said: "Mr. Choate, I have Depew's speech carefully prepared, +with the applause and laughter already in. I want yours." Of +course, no reporter had been to either of us. Mr. Choate had in +his speech an unusual thing for him, a long piece of poetry. When +my turn came to reply I said: "The reporter came to me, as +Mr. Choate has said, and made the remark: 'I already have Choate's +speech. It has in it a good deal of poetry.' I asked the reporter: +'From what author is the poetry taken?' He answered: 'I do not +know the author, but the poetry is so bad I think Choate has +written it himself.'" + +Mr. Choate told me a delightful story of his last interview with +Mr. Evarts before he sailed for Europe to take up his ambassadorship +at the Court of St. James. "I called," he said, "on Mr. Evarts +to bid him good-by. He had been confined to his room by a fatal +illness for a long time. 'Choate,' he said, 'I am delighted with +your appointment. You eminently deserve it, and you are +pre-eminently fit for the place. You have won the greatest +distinction in our profession, and have harvested enough of its +rewards to enable you to meet the financial responsibilities of +this post without anxiety. You will have a most brilliant and +useful career in diplomacy, but I fear I will never see you again.'" + +Mr. Choate said: "Mr. Evarts, we have had a delightful partnership +of over forty years, and when I retire from diplomacy and resume +the practice of the law I am sure you and I will go on together +again for many years in the same happy old way." + +Evarts replied: "No, Choate, I fear that cannot be. When I think +what a care I am to all my people, lying so helpless here, and +that I can do nothing any more to repay their kindness, or to help +in the world, I feel like the boy who wrote from school to his +mother a letter of twenty pages, and then added after the end: +'P. S. Dear mother, please excuse my longevity.'" + +Where one has a reputation as a speaker and is also known to oblige +friends and to be hardly able to resist importunities, the demands +upon him are very great. They are also sometimes original and unique. + +At one time, the day before Christmas, a representative of the +New York World came to see me, and said: "We are going to give +a dinner to-night to the tramps who gather between ten and eleven +o'clock at the Vienna Restaurant, opposite the St. Denis Hotel, +to receive the bread which the restaurant distributes at that hour." +This line was there every night standing in the cold waiting their +turn. I went down to the hotel, and a young man and young lady +connected with the newspaper crossed the street and picked out +from the line a hundred guests. + +It was a remarkable assemblage. The dinner provided was a beautiful +and an excellent one for Christmas. As I heard their stories, +there was among them a representative of almost every department +of American life. Some were temporarily and others permanently +down and out. Every one of the learned professions was represented +and many lines of business. The most of them were in this +condition, because they had come to New York to make their way, +and had struggled until their funds were exhausted, and then they +were ashamed to return home and confess their failure. + +I presided at this remarkable banquet and made not only one speech +but several. By encouraging the guests we had several excellent +addresses from preachers without pulpits, lawyers without clients, +doctors without patients, engineers without jobs, teachers without +schools, and travellers without funds. One man arose and said: +"Chauncey Depew, the World has given us such an excellent dinner, +and you have given us such a merry Christmas Eve, we would like +to shake hands with you as we go out." + +I had long learned the art of shaking hands with the public. Many +a candidate has had his hands crushed and been permanently hurt +by the vise-like grip of an ardent admirer or a vicious opponent. +I remember General Grant complaining of this, of how he suffered, +and I told him of my discovery of grasping the hand first and +dropping it quickly. + +The people about me were looking at these men as they came along, +to see if there was any possible danger. Toward the end of the +procession one man said to me: "Chauncey Depew, I don't belong +to this crowd. I am well enough off and can take care of myself. +I am an anarchist. My business is to stir up unrest and discontent, +and that brings me every night to mingle with the crowd waiting +for their dole of bread from Fleischmann's bakery. You do more +than any one else in the whole country to create good feeling and +dispel unrest, and you have done a lot of it to-night. I made up +my mind to kill you right here, but you are such an infernal good +fellow that I have not the heart to do it, so here's my hand." + +On one occasion I received an invitation to address a sociological +society which was to meet at the house of one of the most famous +entertainers in New York. My host said that Edward Atkinson, +the well-known New England writer, philosopher, and sociologist, +would address the meeting. When I arrived at the house I found +Atkinson in despair. The audience were young ladies in full +evening dress and young men in white vests, white neckties, and +swallow-tails. There was also a band present. We were informed +that this society had endeavored to mingle instruction with +pleasure, and it really was a dancing club, but they had conceived +the idea of having something serious and instructive before the ball. + +Mr. Atkinson said to me: "What won me to come here is that in +Boston we have a society of the same name. It is composed of +very serious people who are engaged in settlement and sociological +work. They are doing their best to improve the conditions of +the young women and young men who are in clerical and other +employment. I have delivered several addresses before that society, +and before the audiences which they gather, on how to live +comfortably and get married on the smallest possible margin. Now, +for instance, for my lecture here to-night I have on a ready-made +suit of clothes, for which I paid yesterday five dollars. In that +large boiler there is a stove which I have invented. In the oven +of the stove is beef and various vegetables, and to heat it is +a kerosene lamp with a clockwork attached. A young man or a young +woman, or a young married couple go to the market and buy the cheap +cuts of beef, and then, according to my instructions, they put it +in the stove with the vegetables, light the lamp, set the clockwork +and go to their work. When they return at five, six, or seven +o'clock they find a very excellent and very cheap dinner all ready +to be served. Now, of what use is my five-dollar suit of clothes +and my fifty-cent dinner for this crowd of butterflies?" + +However, Mr. Atkinson and I made up our minds to talk to them as +if they needed it or would need it some day or other, and they +were polite enough to ask questions and pretend to enjoy it. +I understand that afterwards at the midnight supper there was more +champagne and more hilarity than at previous gatherings of this +sociological club. + +During one of our presidential campaigns some young men came up +from the Bowery to see me. They said: "We have a very hard time +down in our district. The crowd is a tough one but intelligent, +and we think would be receptive of the truth if they could hear +it put to them in an attractive form. We will engage a large +theatre attached to a Bowery beer saloon if you will come down +and address the meeting. The novelty of your appearance will +fill the theatre." + +I knew there was considerable risk, and yet it was a great +opportunity. I believe that in meeting a crowd of that sort one +should appear as they expect him to look when addressing the best +of audiences. These people are very proud, and they resent any +attempt on your part to be what they know you are not, but that +you are coming down to their level by assuming a character which +you presume to be theirs. So I dressed with unusual care, and +when I went on the platform a short-sleeved, short-haired genius +in the theatre shouted: "Chauncey thinks he is in Carnegie Hall." + +The famous Tim Sullivan, who was several times a state senator +and congressman, and a mighty good fellow, was the leader of the +Bowery and controlled its political actions. He came to see me +and said: "I hope you will withdraw from that appointment. I do +not want you to come down there. In the first place, I cannot +protect you, and I don't think it is safe. In the second place, +you are so well known and popular among our people that I am +afraid you will produce an impression, and if you get away with +it that will hurt our machine." + +In the course of my speech a man arose whom I knew very well as +a district leader, and who was frequently in my office, seeking +positions for his constituents and other favors. That night he +was in his shirt-sIeeves among the boys. With the old volunteer +fireman's swagger and the peculiar patois of that part of New York, +he said: "Chauncey Depew, you have no business here. You are +the president of the New York Central Railroad, ain't you, hey? +You are a rich man, ain't you, hey? We are poor boys. You don't +know us and can't teach us anything. You had better get out +while you can." + +My reply was this: "My friend, I want a little talk with you. +I began life very much as you did. Nobody helped me. I was a +country boy and my capital was this head," and I slapped it, +"these legs," and I slapped them, "these hands," and I slapped +them, "and by using them as best I could I have become just what +you say I am and have got where you will never arrive." + +A shirt-sleeved citizen jumped up from the audience and shouted: +"Go ahead, Chauncey, you're a peach." That characterization +of a peach went into the newspapers and was attached to me wherever +I appeared for many years afterwards, not only in this country +but abroad. It even found a place in the slang column of the great +dictionaries of the English language. The result of the meeting, +however, was a free discussion in the Bowery, and for the first +time in its history that particular district was carried by +the Republicans. + +After their triumph in the election I gave a dinner in the +Union League Club to the captains of the election districts. +There were about a hundred of them. The district captains were +all in their usual business suits, and were as sharp, keen, +intelligent, and up-to-date young men as one could wish to meet. +The club members whom I had invited to meet my guests were, of +course, in conventional evening dress. The novelty of the occasion +was so enjoyed by them that they indulged with more than usual +liberality in the fluids and fizz and became very hilarious. Not +one of the district captains touched a drop of wine. + +While the club members were a little frightened at the idea of +these East-siders coming, my guests understood and met every +convention of the occasion before, during, and after dinner, as if +it was an accustomed social function with them. The half dozen +who made speeches showed a grasp of the political questions of +the hour and an ability to put their views before an audience which +was an exhibition of a high order of intelligence and self-culture. + +In selecting a few out-of-the-way occasions which were also most +interesting and instructive, I recall one with a society which +prided itself upon its absence of narrowness and its freedom of +thought and discussion. The speakers were most critical of all +that is generally accepted and believed. Professor John Fiske, +the historian, was the most famous man present, and very critical +of the Bible. My good mother had brought me up on the Bible and +instilled in me the deepest reverence for the good book. The +criticism of the professor stirred me to a rejoinder. I, of course, +was in no way equal to meeting him, with his vast erudition and +scholarly accomplishments. I could only give what the Bible critic +would regard as valueless, a sledge-hammer expression of faith. +Somebody took the speech down. Doctor John Hall, the famous +preacher and for many years pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian +Church, told me that the Bible and the church societies in England +had put the speech into a leaflet, and were distributing many +millions of them in the British Isles. + +It is singular what vogue and circulation a story of the hour will +receive. Usually these decorations of a speech die with the +occasion. There was fierce rivalry when it was decided to celebrate +the four hundredth anniversary of the landing of Columbus in +America, between New York and Chicago, as to which should have +the exhibition. Of course the Western orators were not modest in +the claims which they made for the City by the Lakes. To dampen +their ardor I embroidered the following story, which took wonderfully +when told in my speech. + +It was at the Eagle Hotel in Peekskill, at which it was said +George Washington stopped many times as a guest during the +Revolutionary War, where in respect to his memory they preserved +the traditions of the Revolutionary period. At that time the bill +of fare was not printed, but the waiter announced to the guest +what would be served, if asked for. A Chicago citizen was dining +at the hotel. He ordered each of the many items announced to him +by the waiter. When he came to the deserts the waiter said: "We +have mince-pie, apple-pie, pumpkin-pie, and custard-pie." The +Chicago man ordered mince-pie, apple-pie, and pumpkin-pie. The +disgusted waiter remarked: "What is the matter with the custard?" +Alongside me sat a very well-known English gentleman of high +rank, who had come to this country on a sort of missionary and +evangelistic errand. Of course, he was as solemn as the task he +had undertaken, which was to convert American sinners. He turned +suddenly to me and, in a loud voice, asked: "What was the matter +with the custard-pie?" The story travelled for years, was used +for many purposes, was often murdered in the narration, but managed +to survive, and was told to me as an original joke by one of the +men I met at the convention last June in Chicago. + +After Chicago received from Congress the appointment I did all +I could to help the legislation and appropriations necessary. +The result was that when I visited the city as an orator at the +opening of the exhibition I was voted the freedom of the city, was +given a great reception, and among other things reviewed the school +children who paraded in my honor. + +The Yale alumni of New York City had for many years an organization. +In the early days the members met very infrequently at a dinner. +This was a formal affair, and generally drew a large gathering, +both of the local alumni and from the college and the country. +These meetings were held at DeImonico's, then located in +Fourteenth Street. The last was so phenomenally dull that there +were no repetitions. + +The speakers were called by classes, and the oldest in graduation +had the platform. The result was disastrous. These old men all +spoke too long, and it was an endless stream of platitudes and +reminiscences of forgotten days until nearly morning. Then an +inspiration of the chairman led him to say: "I think it might be +well to have a word from the younger graduates." + +There was a unanimous call for a well-known humorist named Styles. +His humor was aided by a startling appearance of abundant red hair, +an aggressive red mustache, and eyes which seemed to push his +glasses off his nose. Many of the speakers, owing to the +imperfection of the dental art in those days, indicated their +false teeth by their trouble in keeping them in place, and the +whistling it gave to their utterances. One venerable orator in his +excitement dropped his into his tumbler in the midst of his address. + +Styles said to this tired audience: "At this early hour in the +morning I will not attempt to speak, but I will tell a story. +Down at Barnegat, N. J., where I live, our neighbors are very fond +of apple-jack. One of them while in town had his jug filled, and +on the way home saw a friend leaning over the gate and looking +so thirsty that he stopped and handed over his jug with an offer of +its hospitality. After sampling it the neighbor continued the +gurgling as the jug rose higher and higher, until there was not +a drop left in it. The indignant owner said: 'You infernal hog, +why did you drink up all my apple-jack?' His friend answered: +'I beg your pardon, Job, but I could not bite off the tap, because +I have lost all my teeth.'" The aptness of the story was the +success of the evening. + +Some years afterwards there was a meeting of the alumni to form +a live association. Among those who participated in the organization +were William Walter Phelps, afterwards member of Congress and +minister to Austria; Judge Henry E. Howland; John Proctor Clarke, +now chief justice of the Appellate Division; James R. Sheffield +(several years later) now president of the Union League Club; +and Isaac Bromley, one of the editors of the New York Tribune, +one of the wittiest writers of his time, and many others who have +since won distinction. They elected me president, and I continued +such by successive elections for ten years. + +The association met once a month and had a serious paper read, +speeches, a simple supper, and a social evening. These monthly +gatherings became a feature and were widely reported in the press. +We could rely upon one or more of the faculty, and there was always +to be had an alumnus of national reputation from abroad. We had +a formal annual dinner, which was more largely attended than +almost any function of the kind in the city, and, because of the +variety and excellence of the speaking, always very enjoyable. + +The Harvard and Princeton alumni also had an association at that +time, with annual dinners, and it was customary for the officers +of each of these organizations to be guests of the one which gave +the dinner. The presidents of the colleges represented always +came. Yale could rely upon President Dwight, Harvard upon +President Eliot, and Princeton upon President McCosh. + +Of course, the interchanges between the representatives of the +different colleges were as exciting and aggressive as their +football and baseball contests are to-day. I recall one occasion +of more than usual interest. It was the Princeton dinner, and +the outstanding figure of the occasion was that most successful +and impressive of college executives, President McCosh. He spoke +with a broad Scotch accent and was in every sense a literalist. +Late in the evening Mr. Beaman, a very brilliant lawyer and partner +of Evarts and Choate, who was president of the Harvard Alumni +Association, said to me: "These proceedings are fearfully prosaic +and highbrow. When you are called, you attack President McCosh, +and I will defend him." So in the course of my remarks, which +were highly complimentary to Princeton and its rapid growth under +President McCosh, I spoke of its remarkable success in receiving +gifts and legacies, which were then pouring into its treasury every +few months, and were far beyond anything which came either to +Yale or Harvard, though both were in great need. Then I hinted +that possibly this flow of riches was due to the fact that +President McCosh had such an hypnotic influence over the graduates +of Princeton and their fathers, mothers, and wives that none of +them felt there was a chance of a heavenly future unless Princeton +was among the heirs. + +Mr. Beaman was very indignant and with the continuing approval +and applause of the venerable doctor made a furious attack upon +me. His defense of the president was infinitely worse than my +attack. He alleged that I had intimated that the doctor kept tab +on sick alumni of wealth and their families, and at the critical +moment there would be a sympathetic call from the doctor, and, +while at the bedside he administered comfort and consolation, +yet he made it plain to the patient that he could not hope for +the opening of the pearly gates or the welcome of St. Peter unless +Princeton was remembered. Then Beaman, in a fine burst of oratory, +ascribed this wonderful prosperity not to any personaI effort or +appeal, but because the sons of Princeton felt such reverence and +gratitude for their president that they were only too glad of an +opportunity to contribute to the welfare of the institution. + +The moment Beaman sat down the doctor arose, and with great +intensity expressed his thanks and gratitude to the eloquent +president of the Harvard alumni, and then shouted: "I never, +never, never solicited a gift for Princeton from a dying man. +I never, never, never sat by the bedside of a dying woman and +held up the terrors of hell and the promises of heaven, according +to the disposition she made of her estate. I never, never looked +with unsympathetic and eager anticipation whenever any of our +wealthy alumni appeared in ill health." + +The doctor, however, retaliated subsequently. He invited me to +deliver a lecture before the college, and entertained me most +delightfully at his house. It was a paid admission, and when +I left in the morning he said: "I want to express to you on behalf +of our college our thanks. We raised last evening through your +lecture enough to fit our ball team for its coming contest with +Yale." In that contest Princeton was triumphant. + +The Yale Alumni Association subsequently evoluted into the Yale Club +of New York, which has in every way been phenomenally prosperous. +It is a factor of national importance in supporting Yale and keeping +alive everywhere appreciation and enthusiasm for and practice of +Yale spirit. + +My class of 1856 at Yale numbered ninety-seven on graduation. +Only six of us survive. In these pages I have had a continuous +class meeting. Very few, if any, of my associates in the New York +Legislature of 1862 and 1863 are alive, and none of the State +officers who served with me in the succeeding years. There is +no one left in the service who was there when I became connected +with the New York Central Railroad, and no executive officer in +any railroad in the United States who held that position when +I was elected and is still active. + +It is the habit of age to dwell on the degeneracy of the times +and lament the good old days and their superiority, but Yale is +infinitely greater and broader than when I graduated sixty-five +years ago. The New York Legislature and State executives are +governing an empire compared with the problems which we had to +solve fifty-nine years ago. + +I believe in the necessity of leadership, and while recognizing +a higher general average in public life, regret that the world +crisis through which we have passed and which is not yet completed, +has produced no Washington, Lincoln, or Roosevelt. I rejoice that +President Harding, under the pressure of his unequalled responsibilities, +is developing the highest qualities of leadership. It is an +exquisite delight to visualize each administration from 1856 and +to have had considerable intimacy with the leaders in government +and the moulders of public opinion during sixty-five unusually +laborious years. + +Many who have given their reminiscences have kept close continuing +diaries. From these voluminous records they have selected according +to their judgment. As I have before said, I have no data and must +rely on my memory. This faculty is not logical, its operations are +not by years or periods, but its films unroll as they are moved +by association of ideas and events. + +It has been a most pleasurable task to bring back into my life +these worthies of the past and to live over again events of greater +or lesser importance. Sometimes an anecdote illumines a character +more than a biography, and a personal incident helps an understanding +of a period more than its formal history. + +Life has had for me immeasurable charms. I recognize at all times +there has been granted to me the loving care and guidance of God. +My sorrows have been alleviated and lost their acuteness from a +firm belief in closer reunion in eternity. My misfortunes, +disappointments, and losses have been met and overcome by abundant +proof of my mother's faith and teaching that they were the discipline +of Providence for my own good, and if met in that spirit and +with redoubled effort to redeem the apparent tragedy they would +prove to be blessings. Such has been the case. + +While new friends are not the same as old ones, yet I have found +cheer and inspiration in the close communion with the young of +succeeding generations. They have made and are making this a +mighty good world for me. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg Etext of My Memories of Eighty Years, by Depew + diff --git a/old/depew10.zip b/old/depew10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b10c9ad --- /dev/null +++ b/old/depew10.zip |