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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 e