ts, as well as
the enforcement of laws for the protection of life, liberty and
property.

Judge H.F. Simrall, one of the most brilliant lawyers in the State,--who
came into the Republican party under the leadership of General Alcorn in
1869, and who had served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the
State,--made an effort to canvass the State for Mr. Blaine, but his
former associates, with whom he tried to reason, treated him with such
scanty courtesy that he soon became discouraged and abandoned the
effort.

There were two factions in the Democratic party, Mr. Lamar being the
recognized head of one of them. His political enemies suspected and some
of them accused him of being partial to Mr. Blaine. To save himself and
his friends from humiliation and defeat in his own party it was
necessary for him to dispel that suspicion, and disprove those
accusations. With that end in view he made a thorough canvass of the
State in the interest of Mr. Cleveland and the Democratic party. The
State was returned for Mr. Cleveland by a large majority, for which Mr.
Lamar was in a great measure credited. Mr. Blaine finally saw his
mistake, which he virtually admitted in the speech delivered by him at
his home immediately after the election; but it was then too late to
undo the mischief that had been done. It was like locking the stable
door after the horse had been stolen. That Mr. Blaine died without
having attained the goal of his ambition was due chiefly to his lack of
foresight, poor judgment, political blunders, and a lack of that
sagacity and acumen which are so essential in a successful party leader.

CHAPTER XXIV

INTERVIEW WITH SECRETARY LAMAR ON THE RETAINING OF COLORED MEN IN OFFICE

In selecting his first cabinet Mr. Cleveland did Mr. Lamar and the State
of Mississippi the honor of making him his Secretary of the Interior.
Early in the administration, upon the occasion of my first visit to
Washington after the inauguration of Mr. Cleveland, I called on
Secretary Lamar to pay him my respects and tender him my congratulations
upon his appointment. When I entered his office he was engaged in
conversation with some prominent New York Democrats, Mayor Grace, of New
York City, being one of the party. The Secretary received me cordially;
and, after introducing me to the gentlemen with whom he was conversing,
requested me to take a seat in the adjoining room, which was used as his
private office, until the departure o