ng
that "the fault is not to be laid at the door of Senator
Conkling."[1263] Conkling also explained that "Greeley was
pertinaciously supported by all those connected with the custom-house.
He failed from a want of confidence in him, so general among the
delegates that electioneering and persuasion could not prevail against
it, and even those who voted for him declared, in many instances, that
they did so as a harmless compliment, knowing that he could not be
nominated."[1264] Greeley himself avoided the controversy, but his
acknowledgment of Fenton's loyal support and his sharp censure of
Curtis indicated full knowledge of Conkling's strategy, to whom,
however, he imputed no "bad faith," since "his aid had not been
solicited and none promised."[1265] Nevertheless, the great editor did
not forget!

[Footnote 1263: September 10 and 14, 1870.]

[Footnote 1264: From speech of July 23, 1872, New York _Times_, July
24, 1872.]

[Footnote 1265: New York _Tribune_, September 13, 1870.]

CHAPTER XIX

TWEED WINS AND FALLS

1870

The campaign that followed the control of Tweed and Conkling combined
the spectacular and the dramatic. The platform of each party was
catchy. Both congratulated Germany for its victories and France for
its republic. Cuba also was remembered. But here the likeness ceased.
Democrats praised Hoffman, arraigned Grant, sympathised with Ireland,
demanded the release of Fenian raiders and the abolition of vexatious
taxes, declared the system of protection a robbery, and resolved that
a license law was more favourable to temperance than prohibition. On
the other hand, Republicans praised the President, arraigned the
Governor, applauded payments on the national debt and the reduction of
taxation, denounced election frauds and subventions to sectarian
schools, and resolved that so long as towns and cities have the right
to license the sale of liquor, they should also have the right to
prohibit its sale. The live issue, however, was Tammany and the Tweed
frauds. Congress had authorised Circuit Courts of the United States to
appoint in every election district one person from each party to watch
the registration and the casting and the count of votes. It had also
empowered United States marshals to appoint deputies to keep order at
the polls and to arrest for offences committed in their presence.
Against these acts the Democrats vigorously protested, declaring them
unconstitutional, revolutionary,