The political disaster to Mr. Greeley was followed by a startling and
melancholy conclusion. He was called during the last days of the
canvass to the bedside of his dying wife, whom he buried before the
day of election. Despite this sorrow and despite the defeat, which,
in separating him from his old associates, was more than an ordinary
political reverse, he promptly returned with unshaken resolve and
intrepid spirit to the editorship of the _Tribune_,--the true sphere
of his influence, the field of his real conquests. But the strain
through which he had passed, following years of incessant care and
labor, had broken his vigorous constitution. His physical strength
was completely undermined, his superb intellectual powers gave way.
Before the expiration of the month which witnessed his crushing defeat
he had gone to his rest. The controversies which had so recently
divided the country were hushed in the presence of death; and all the
people, remembering only his noble impulses, his great work for
humanity, his broad impress upon the age, united in honoring and
mourning one of the most remarkable men in American history.

[(1) Zebulon B. Vance had served in Congress prior to the war. He had
participated in the Rebellion and had thus become subject to the
disabilities imposed by the Fourteenth Amendment. His disabilities
were removed at a later date, but at this time their remission had not
been asked and they were still resting upon him. With the full
knowledge that he was thus disqualified he was elected to the Senate,
and the Senate declined to recognize an election defiantly made in the
face of the Constitutional objection.]

[(2) Senator Sumner retired from the canvass and sailed for Europe in
September. Hostile as he was to President Grant, he saw in the end
that his defeat would subject the nation to Democratic rule and to
a ruinous re-action, which Mr. Greeley as President could not prevent.]

CHAPTER XXIII.

The friends of General Grant intended that his second inauguration
(March 4, 1873) should be even more impressive than the first; but
the skies were unpropitious, and the day will long be remembered, by
those who witnessed the festivities, for the severity of the
cold,--altogether exceptional in the climate of Washington. It
destroyed the pleasure of an occasion which would otherwise have been
given to unrestrained rejoicing over an event that was looked upon by
the great majority of the peo