ersuasive
appeals, the Convention was about to compromise the difficulty and
admit both delegations with an equal voice and vote, when Mr. Conkling
took the floor and by a powerful speech succeeded in changing its
purpose. Upon his resolute call the Fenton-Greeley delegation was
excluded, and his own friends were left in full control of the
Convention and of the party organization.

Under ordinary circumstances such a schism would have seemed altogether
unfortunate. At this juncture it looked peculiarly bold and hazardous,
for the "Tweed Ring" had complete control of New York; and apparently
the only hope, and that a feeble one, of rescuing the city and State
from its despotic and unscrupulous thraldom was in a united Republican
party. But the "Tweed Ring," in the very height of its arrogant and
defiant power, was on the eve of utter overthrow and annihilation. The
opportune exposure and conclusive proof of its colossal frauds and
robberies came just then. The effect of the startling revelation was
such that the most absolute political oligarchy ever organized in this
country crumbled to dust in a moment, and the Republicans carried New
York for the first time since 1866.

The unexpected success of 1871 crowning the triumph in the State
Convention fully confirmed the power of Mr. Conkling as the leader of
the party in New York. Mr. Greeley and his followers, already
opposed to the National Administration, now gave way to a still more
unrestrained hostility. All the antipathy which they felt for their
antagonists in the State was transferred to the President. They
ascribed their defeat to the free exercise of the Federal power; and
the indictment, which they had long been framing, was made more severe
from their renewed personal disappointment. In this temper and
position they were not alone. The discontent with the National
Administration was stimulated and increased by powerful journals like
the _New-York Tribune_, the _Chicago Tribune_, and the _Cincinnati
Commercial_.

The drift of events placed the protesting Republicans in an
embarrassing situation. The renomination of General Grant was seen to
be inevitable; and they were left to determine whether they would
remain in the party and acquiesce in what they were unable to prevent,
or whether they would try from the outside the opposition which was
impotent from the inside. They were thus driven by events to extend
into the National field the political