nd policy for which he
contended.

* * * * *

"I deem it an honor to be called upon by your club, on this sixty-
sixth anniversary of the birthday of General Grant, to present in
brief words this typical American citizen, this illustrious soldier,
this patriotic President. By his tenacious courage and skill the
armies of the Union were led from victory to victory, from Belmont
to Appomattox, until every enemy of the republic laid down his arms
in unconditional surrender. He won from foreign nations reparation
for injuries done to us during the war. He did more than anyone
else to preserve untarnished the public credit and honor. Heroic
to the end, in the hours of death he won his greatest victory by
the story of his life, told in words so plain, truthful, charitable
and eloquent that it will become as classic as the commentaries of
Caesar, but more glorious as the record of a patriot who saved his
country, instead of a conqueror who overthrew its liberties. When
speaking of General Grant I do not know where to begin and where
to end, whether with his personal traits of character, his achievements
as a commander of armies, or his services as an untried magistrate
in civil life; I can only make a mere reference to each of these
elements of his fame."

During the whole of the month of May I remained in Washington, and
attended constantly the sessions of the Senate. I was greatly
interrupted by visits of persons from different parts of the country,
who wished to converse with me in regard to the approaching
convention. I treated them kindly, but referred them to General
Raum for any information he could give them. I was called to New
York on the 8th of June, to attend a meeting of the directors of
the Fort Wayne Railway Company. I stopped at the Fifth Avenue
hotel, where great numbers of politicians called upon me, but I
was charged with having interviews with many persons whom I did
not see. I met the leading politicians of the state, including ex-
Senator Platt, Senators Hiscock and Quay, Charles Emory Smith, of
Philadelphia, and many others. The newspapers had a good many
alleged interviews which never occurred. I then became satisfied
that I would not probably receive more than five or six of the
votes of the New York delegation, as they had generally committed
themselves to Mr. Depew, who was understood to be a candidate.

It was already asserted in the papers that I would not be nominated,
but that