best men of Boston. It was believed
that this appointment had been made in exchange for assurances
of General Butler's support in the approaching election.
Worthington made a poor Collector, and, at the State election
after his appointment, voted for Butler against the candidate
of the Republican Party. But for the indignation caused by
this appointment, I think the delegation from Massachusetts,
with three exceptions, would have supported Mr. Arthur for
reelection. There would have been no movement for Mr. Edmunds,
and but for that movement Mr. Arthur would have received
the Republican nomination. Upon the final ballot the vote
of Massachusetts was seven for Arthur, three for Blaine and
eighteen for Edmunds.

A somewhat interesting incident occurred which shows the depth
of a feeling, which I think was largely a prejudice, which
is still manifesting itself as a disturbing element in American
politics. There was a great desire on the part of those who
were opposed to both Arthur and Blaine, to find a candidate
upon whom they could unite, of such popularity and national
distinction as to make it impossible for the managers for
these candidates to hold their forces together. We thought
that General Sherman was the person that we wanted. It was
known that he had written a letter to Mr. Blaine declining
to have his name used, and that a telegram had been received
from him by a delegate during the session of the convention
to the same effect. But it was thought that if he were once
nominated he would find it impossible to decline, and that
his previous refusal would be an element of strength and not
of weakness in the country. After the adjournment, which
was at 11:45 A. M., on Friday, June 6, the day before the
balloting, I made an arrangement to meet Mr. George William
Curtis, the Chairman of the New York delegation, and one or
two other gentlemen of the same way of thinking, from one
or two other States, and we agreed that when the convention
came in again we would cast the votes of our delegates who
agreed with us for General Sherman. I had been authorized
by a large majority of the Massachusetts delegation to have
this interview, and I knew that I represented their opinions,
although they had not, all of them, spoken to me about General
Sherman. When I got back to the next meeting of the convention,
I made known to them what I had done. I was told by several
of them that they would stand by me, but that