ined the Southern leaders in
encouraging the new order of things, it was easy to understand how his
star might still have been in the ascendant had his political
associates been content with power without plunder. Samuel S. Cox,
recently characterised by Greeley as "our carpet-bag representative
in Congress" who had "cast in his lot with thieves,"[1374] also
smoothed the way for his critic's nomination. He could forgive if he
did not forget.

[Footnote 1373: July 9, 1872.]

[Footnote 1374: New York _Tribune_, November 1, 1871. Cox's election to
Congress from New York occurred in 1870, three years after he became a
resident of the State.]

Next to Cox sat John Kelly, the new boss of Tammany. The combativeness
indicated by the form of the head was accentuated by the conspicuous
jaw, the firm, thin-lipped mouth, and the closely cropped hair and
beard, already fading into white; but there was nothing rough or
rowdyish in his manner or appearance. He dressed neatly, listened
respectfully, and spoke in low, gentle tones, an Irish sense of humour
frequently illuminating a square, kindly face. It was noticeable, too,
that although he began life as a mason and had handled his fists like
a professional, his hands were small and shapely. Kelly had served two
years as alderman, four years in Congress, and six years as sheriff.
He had also represented his county in the national conventions of 1864
and 1868. His character for honesty had not been above suspicion. Men
charged that he was "counted in" as congressman, and that while
sheriff he had obtained a large sum of money by illegal methods.[1375]
In 1868 he suddenly sailed for Europe because of alleged ill-health,
where he remained until late in 1871. He was a rich man then.[1376]
Now, at the age of fifty-one, he was destined to make himself not less
powerful or widely known than the great criminal whom he
succeeded.[1377] With the aid of Tilden, O'Conor, and other men
conspicuous in the reform movement, he had reorganised Tammany in the
preceding April, increasing a new general committee to five hundred
members, and with great shrewdness causing the appointment of
committees to cooeperate with the Bar Association, with the Committee
of Seventy, and with the Municipal Taxpayers' Association. These
represented regenerated Tammany. Kelly affected extreme modesty, but
as he moved about the hall of the national convention, urging the
nomination of Greeley, the delegates recognised