end forever the retribution visited upon it by the standing
menace of military force.[1504]

[Footnote 1504: Tilden's _Public Writings and Speeches_, Vol. 2, pp.
237-295.]

The result at Cincinnati increased the necessity for nominating Tilden
at St. Louis, since Wheeler's popularity would materially assist in
replacing New York among reliable Republican States. Nevertheless, the
predatory class who had felt the weight of Tilden's heavy hand
fomented a most formidable opposition at the State convention.[1505]
John Kelly deeply sympathised with the movement. He resented the
rivalry and independence of the Sage of Gramercy Park, and he did not
disguise his hostility. But Kelly's immediate need centred in the
exclusion of the Morrissey delegation, and when the Tilden lieutenants
proscribed it, the way was smoothed for the Governor's unanimous
endorsement with the gag of unit rule.

[Footnote 1505: The Democratic State convention was held at Utica,
April 26, 1876.]

The admission of Kelly's delegates, however, did not close the mouths
of Tilden's opponents.[1506]. Organs of the Canal ring continued to
urge Seymour or Church for President, maintaining that the
convention's action did not bind the delegation. Church supported this
interpretation of the declaration.[1507] But it remained for the
_Express_, the authorised organ of Tammany, to stigmatise Tilden. With
cruel particularity it referred to his many-sided conduct as counsel
and director in connection with the foreclosure and reorganisation of
certain railroads in Illinois, reciting details of the affair in a
manner highly prejudicial to his integrity as a lawyer and his
reputation as a man of wealth. "Of the weak points in Mr. Tilden's
railroad record," the editor suggestively added, "we know more than we
care to publish."[1508] It doubled the severity of the blow because
suit had been instituted to compel Tilden to account for the proceeds
of large amounts of bonds and stock, and instead of meeting the
allegations promptly he had sought and obtained delay. This seemed to
give colour to the indictment.

[Footnote 1506: "It is natural enough that the canal ring and its
followers, Tammany and its adherents, and that sort of Democrats who
are commonly called Bourbons, should labour to defeat the nomination
for high office of the man who represents everything that they oppose,
and opposes everything that they represent; but it will be a most
discouraging thing to