kindled in every heart; nor did they know that the speech
spoken in their hearing would be read and pondered by half a million
voters within a month. Richard H. Dana pronounced it "the keynote of
the new party."[464] But though sown in fruitful soil, insufficient
time was to elapse before election for such arguments to root and
blossom; and when the votes were counted in November, the
Know-Nothings had polled 146,001, the Republicans 135,962, the Softs
90,518, and the Hards 58,394. Samuel L. Selden, the candidate of the
Hards and Softs for judge of the Court of Appeals, had 149,702.
George F. Comstock was also declared elected, having received 141,094,
or nearly 5000 less than Headley for secretary of state. In the
Assembly the Republicans numbered 44, the Know-Nothings 39, and the
Hards and Softs 45.

[Footnote 464: _Diary of R.H. Dana_, C.F. Adams, _Life of Dana_, Vol.
1, p. 348.]

"The events of the election," wrote Seward, "show that the
Silver-Grays have been successful in a new and attractive form, so as
to divide a majority of the people in the cities and towns from the
great question of the day. That is all. The rural districts still
remain substantially sound. A year is necessary to let the cheat wear
off."[465] To a friend who was greatly alarmed at the success of the
Know-Nothings, he wrote: "There is just so much gas in any ascending
balloon. Before the balloon is down, the gas must escape. But the
balloon is always sure not only to come down, but to come down _very
quick_. The heart of the country is fixed on higher and nobler things.
Do not distrust it."[466]

[Footnote 465: F.W. Seward, _Life of W.H. Seward_, Vol. 2, p. 258.]

[Footnote 466: _Ibid._, p. 259.]

After the election, some people held the opinion that the prospect of
a united anti-slavery party was not so favourable as it had been at
the close of 1854; and men were inclined then, as some historians are
now, to criticise Seward for not forcing the formation of the
Republican party in New York in 1854 and putting himself at its head
by making speeches in New England and the West as well as in New York.
"Had Seward sunk the politician in the statesman," says Rhodes; "had
he vigorously asserted that every cause must be subordinate to Union
under the banner of opposition to the extension of slavery--the close
of the year would have seen a triumphant Republican party in every
Northern State but California, and Seward its acknowledged leader.