most things were coming their way.
American politicians have not always shown an ability to read clearly
the American people. Whether the politicians were in error on August
14, 1864, and again on August twenty-third, two dates that were turning
points, is a matter of debate to this day. As to August fourteenth,
they have this, at least, in their defense. The country had no political
observer more keen than the Scotch free lance who edited The New York
Herald. It was Bennett's editorial view that Lincoln would do well
to make a virtue of necessity and withdraw his candidacy because "the
dissatisfaction which had long been felt by the great body of American
citizens has spread even to his own supporters."(3) Confident that
a great reaction against Lincoln was sweeping the country, that the
Manifesto had been launched in the very nick of time, a meeting of
conspirators was held in New York, at the house of David Dudley Field,
August fourteenth. Though Wade was now at his home in Ohio, Davis was
present. So was Greeley. It was decided to ask Lincoln to withdraw. Four
days afterward, a "call" was drawn up and sent out confidentially near
and far to be signed by prominent politicians. The "call" was craftily
worded. It summoned a new Union Convention to meet in Cincinnati,
September twenty-eighth, for the purpose either of rousing the party to
whole-hearted support of Lincoln, or of uniting all factions on some new
candidate. Greeley who could not attend the committee which drew up the
"call" wrote that "Lincoln is already beaten."(4)

Meanwhile, the infection of dismay had spread fast among the Lincoln
managers. Even before the meeting of the conspirators on the fourteenth,
Weed told the President that he could not be reelected.(5)

One of his bravest supporters, Washburne, came to the dismal conclusion
that "were an election to be held now in Illinois, we should be beaten."
Cameron, who had returned from Russia and was working hard for Lincoln
in Pennsylvania, was equally discouraging. So was Governor Morton in
Indiana. From all his "stanchest friends," wrote his chief manager to
Lincoln, "there was but one report. The tide is setting strongly against
us."(6)

Lincoln's managers believed that the great host of free voters who are
the balance of power in American politics, were going in a drove toward
the camp of the Democrats. It was the business of the managers to
determine which one, or which ones, among the voices of