ese issues he maintained
a notable silence. His address was rather an appeal to the past--not
an inspiring assurance for the future, seeking pure administration. Of
his personal honesty no one entertained a doubt, but for party ends he
had failed to use his opportunities in exposing and correcting abuses.
To him the country under Republican rule, whatever its shortcomings,
was in the safest hands, and he exhibited no sympathy with those
whose great love for their party made them long to have it stand for
civic righteousness, regardless of whom it might destroy.

As the campaign grew older Republicans cherished the hope of victory.
The break between Kelly and Morrissey had led to the formation of the
Irving Hall Democracy. In this organisation all anti-Tammany elements
found a home, and to test its strength Morrissey declared himself a
candidate for the Senate in the fourth or old Tweed district, which
usually recorded eleven thousand majority for Tammany. The Republicans
promptly endorsed the nomination. This challenge had turned the whole
city into turmoil. Morrissey's audacity in selecting the invincible
stronghold of Tammany for his field of battle, throwing the glamour of
a gloveless ring-contest over the struggle, brought into life all the
concomitants of such a bout. Kelly, leaving his uptown home,
personally led the Tammany forces, and on election day the paralytic,
the maimed, and men feeble from sickness were brought to the polls.

Nevertheless, when the votes were counted Morrissey proved the winner.
Indeed, to the chagrin of Kelly and the alarm of the Democrats,
Tammany candidates had fallen in every part of the city, their
overthrow encouraging the belief that the State had been carried by
the Republicans. Subsequently, when Bigelow's plurality of nearly
fifteen thousand was established, it made defeat doubly
disheartening.[1486] It put Tilden on a pinnacle. It left Conkling on
the ground.

[Footnote 1486: Bigelow, 390,211; Seward, 375,401. Robinson, 389,699;
Spinner, 376,150. Legislature: Senate: 20 Republicans, 12 Democrats.
Assembly: 71 Republicans, 57 Democrats. Morrissey's majority, 3,377.
Dusenberre, Prohibitionist, total vote, 11,103.--Appleton's
_Cyclopaedia_, 1875, p. 564.

Bigelow's majority in New York City was 17,013.--New York _World_,
November 7, 1875.]

CHAPTER XXVI

DEFEAT OF THE REPUBLICAN MACHINE

1876

Much discussion of Conkling's candidacy for President followed the
d