were more imposing in name
than in numbers. John Kelly, now the master-spirit of reconstructed
Tammany, and esteemed as a man of personal integrity, led an implacable
warfare, openly proclaiming that Mr. Tilden's nomination would prove
fatal to Democratic success in New York. In this pronounced hostility
Mr. Kelly had the avowed approval or the secret sanction of conspicuous
Democrats whom Mr. Tilden's absorption of power had thrust into the
background. Augustus Schell, chairman of the National committee,
encouraged the opposition; Erastus Corning was on the ground sustaining
it; Chief Justice Church and his friends were known to be in sympathy
with it. Attempts were made to secure support for Governor Allen of
Ohio, for Governor Hendricks of Indiana, and for General Hancock; but
no one of these demonstrations, nor all of them combined, could resist
the steady set of the current towards Mr. Tilden, and the organization
and all the action of the Convention were clearly in the hands of his
friends.

The interests of Mr. Tilden were committed to the care of Mr.
Dorsheimer, who had left the Republican ranks but four years before.
His chief associate was Senator Kernan. The most prominent delegates
from other States were William A. Wallace and Samuel J. Randall of
Pennsylvania, James R. Doolittle and William F. Vilas of Wisconsin,
Judge Abbott of Massachusetts, Daniel W. Voorhees and Governor
Williams of Indiana, Leon Abbott of New Jersey, General Thomas Ewing
of Ohio, Robert M. McLane of Maryland, John A. McClernand of Illinois,
and Henry Watterson of Kentucky. The opening speech of Mr. Augustus
Schell, as chairman of the National Committee, was notable only in
demanding the repeal of the Resumption Act, a demand which expressed
the prevailing Democratic sentiment, and which was the more significant
as coming from one of the most conservative of the Democratic
leaders--one who had large financial interest in New York. Mr. Henry
Watterson was made temporary chairman, and General John A. McClernand
of Illinois permanent president of the Convention.

The platform, reported from the Committee on Resolutions, was believed
to have been prepared under the eye of Mr. Tilden, and was clothed,
as general rumor had it, in the rhetoric of Mr. Manton Marble. It
was the most elaborate paper of the kind ever put forth by a National
Convention. It was marked by the language of an indictment, and
contained the extended argument o