in the prosecution of
the Canal ring.[1477] In naming this ticket Tilden had exhibited his
characteristic shrewdness. He exaggerated the partisan aspect of
administrative reform, and strengthened his candidacy for President by
appropriating the glory.

[Footnote 1476: After James Hayes' defeat for register in 1874, Kelly
deprived Morrissey of his district leadership because he stirred up
disaffection among the working men and sowed seeds of disloyalty. In
their contest the Morrissey and Kelly factions were known as
"Swallow-tails" and "Short-hairs," Morrissey, to rebuke Wickham's
custom of requiring cards of callers in advance of admission to his
office, having called upon the Mayor during business hours in evening
dress, with white kids and patent-leather pumps.]

[Footnote 1477: The ticket was as follows: Secretary of State, John
Bigelow, Ulster; Comptroller, Lucius Robinson, Chemung;
Attorney-General, Charles S. Fairchild, New York; Treasurer, Charles
N. Ross, Cayuga; Engineer, John D. Van Buren, New York; Canal
Commissioner, Christopher A. Walruth, Oneida; Prison Inspector, Rodney
R. Crowley, Cattaraugus.

On September 22 the Liberals met at Albany. They eulogised Tilden by
name, favored the Greeley doctrine of a single term for President,
arraigned the Federal administration, and recommended the support of
candidates who would cooeperate with the Executive in his work of
reform.

For governor the Prohibitionists nominated George H. Dusenberre.]

The Republican press, quickly interpreting his purpose, now changed
from praise to censure, scrutinising and criticising every act in his
long public career. It reviewed his war record, disclosed his part in
the convention of 1864, and hinted at uncanny financial transactions.
His service as the figurehead of Tweed's conventions, and his
passiveness after possessing knowledge of the infamous circular of
1868 to which his name had been forged, also became the subject of
severe censure. Though he neither shared Tweed's corrupt counsels nor
sanctioned his audacious schemes, Tilden's abhorrence of wrong, it was
argued, seemed insufficient to break his silence. But the accusation
that cut the deepest, because without palliation, illuminated his
declination to attend the great indignation meeting that appointed the
Committee of Seventy. This fact, established by abundant proof as well
as by his conspicuous absence, created the belief that had the
_Times'_ exposure failed f