登陆注册
5145700000029

第29章 HORACE GREELEY(1)

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.

同类推荐
  • 入地眼全书

    入地眼全书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 昭忠录

    昭忠录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 大方广佛华严经-实叉难陀

    大方广佛华严经-实叉难陀

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚般若论会释

    金刚般若论会释

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Miracle Mongers

    The Miracle Mongers

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 明伦汇编皇极典登极部

    明伦汇编皇极典登极部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 一元二次爱:在轮回中找到你(套装共三册)

    一元二次爱:在轮回中找到你(套装共三册)

    本书包括一元二次爱:在轮回中找到你(第一卷 重生)、一元二次爱:在轮回中找到你(第二卷 重逢)、一元二次爱:在轮回中找到你(第三卷 葬爱)共3部作品。
  • 寒剑笑江湖

    寒剑笑江湖

    清风明月教本是江湖第一大派却数年前分裂为对立的清风派与明月派,少年李清月身负责任,师从正派却遭正派人士排斥,清风、明月派也不接受他。悠悠江湖,他将何去何从,将如何完成先人嘱托。
  • 冷宠美妻

    冷宠美妻

    初见时,他救她,“这次算你命好,遇见了我!”可却以为她是痴儿,殊不知她是看他看呆了眼!第二次相见,他又救了她,“怎么每次遇到你,都是半死不活的样子!”可从此他们的命运紧紧纠缠在一起。他在她几次遭遇困难时都伸出援手;她在他人生最灰暗时陪在他的身边。从此以后他的耳边都会有人叽叽喳喳的喊他“澜哥哥~~”。虽然他表面冷漠了些,可他却真心疼她、珍惜她,只为她一人绽放笑颜。她看似吊儿郎当,狡猾如狐,却真心把他放在心里。看他们在追逐爱情的途中会发生什么样的故事。或开心或难过,但就这样坚持下去,好像也没什么困难化解不了。也许爱情,就是这样,你追逐着我,我紧随着你。
  • 逍遥雷帝

    逍遥雷帝

    玄气大陆以武为尊!自古以来哪个英雄不是少年时展现出绝代天骄的实力。叶落尘偶得无名宝塔从此实力一步步的提升。最后成就一方神帝,后解决完事破空而去……
  • 步步惊情:总裁的复仇妻

    步步惊情:总裁的复仇妻

    第一次见面时,两个人剑拔弩张,她为了完成任务,他逼供套取信息;第二次见面时,她应聘他的助理,一是为了任务刻意接近,二是为了自己深藏的目的;”对你,我一直很认真,我会对你负责的。““我不喜欢她,因为我爱她,至始至终都只爱她。”他的温柔体贴,让她动了情,动了心,原以为找回了自己失去的身份,亲人和爱人,想要过回普通人的生活,事情却远没有她所想的这么简单.....
  • 花落枝低烟入楼

    花落枝低烟入楼

    她追求的爱情,其实很简单,就是在她回头时,看见他依然还在那里,那么她一定会不顾一切跑过去……
  • 盛世长瑶

    盛世长瑶

    南北朝时期,战乱频繁,国家动荡,宰相之女贺长瑶才华横溢,貌美如花,与太子一见钟情,最后太子即位,封贺长瑶为后,他把最青涩的爱给了长瑶,答应她一生一世一双人。“绿草蔓如丝,杂树红英发。无论君不归,君归芳已歇”
  • 问仙四顾心茫然

    问仙四顾心茫然

    人生而有神灵附体,若寄居神窍,便可炼魂修道。苏云本为世间罕有的双神窍拥有者,但因故无法破窍修道,一直郁郁不得志,直到面临生死大劫,终在机缘巧合下破窍成功,从此走上了一条炼魂成仙的坎坷路。我们这个网文界说是桃源也未尝不可,来这里就是为了心中一份热爱,为了将心中之事向世人说一说。你说我来写小说赚钱才是根本目的,也没错,一文钱难倒英雄汉,又不是不食人间烟火的神仙。不过我更喜欢与各路英雄豪杰以文会友。关于本书,不多说了,请先看完第一章,要是觉得我的文笔思路还凑合,再看个十来章,要觉得还行,您再看百十来章。要觉得书烂戳眼,评论区只管使劲儿,小爷我加精置顶候着。谢谢支持!
  • 莲华传

    莲华传

    莲华:愿天下太平!君离:只要是你想做的,即便是粉身碎骨我也会答应!孟哲:如果可以,我愿来世还做你的哥哥,一辈子替你遮风挡雨!孟子煜:如有来生,我再也不愿生在帝王家。孟浩宇:心儿,如果连你也走了,我要这天下还有何意义?墨亦寒:我这辈子最后悔的一件事就是错过你。墨凡:大师兄,消消气!墨轩:谁说天下太平了,剑就不必出鞘了?熙嬅:我终究,嫁给了爱我的人。庭落:原来,心比天高命如纸薄的人竟是我。北羽:陛下,您嘱托我的事情,臣没有忘。林柯:对不起,国和家我只能选一个!