m in an office which he has gained by the simple
repudiation of the ladder that lifted him. It is the general record of
usurpers that though sustained they do their favours to the other
side.... I have no faith in a President whose only distinct act is
ingratitude to the men who voted for him and to the party which gave
him its fealty. In the domain and forum of honour that sense of Mr.
Hayes's infidelity stands forward and challenges him. It is felt by
honest men all over the country. He smiles and showers on the
opposition the proofs of a disturbed mind."

Speaking of the civil service order the Senator was no less severe.
"That celebrated reformatory order was factional in its intent, made
in the interests of envious and presuming little men. Sherman
(secretary of the treasury) goes out to Ohio and makes speeches in
defiance of it; McCrary (secretary of war) goes to Iowa and manages a
convention in spite of it; and Devens (attorney-general) says the
order meant itself to be disobeyed, and that the way to obey it was to
violate it."[1629]

[Footnote 1629: New York _Herald_, November 9, 1877. Respecting this
interview Conkling made a personal explanation in the Senate, in which
he said: "Though some of the remarks in question may at some time have
been made in private casual conversations, others of them never
proceeded from me at any time."--New York _Tribune_, November 13. It
is assumed that the portions quoted above, taken from a three-column
interview, are substantially correct, since they are corroborated by
several persons now living (1908) who heard the Senator's expressions.
See, also, Alfred R. Conkling, _Life of Conkling_, pp. 552-554.

"Mr. Conkling, in all his conversations, seemed to consider men who
differed from him as enemies of the human race."--White,
_Autobiography_, Vol. 1, p. 188.

"Conkling spoke with great severity of President Hayes, and said he
hoped it would be the last time that any man would attempt to steal
the presidency."--Hoar, _Autobiography_, Vol. 2, p. 44.]

Conkling's criticism of the fitful execution of the civil service
order was not too severe. Instead of justifying the expectations he
had aroused by vigorously enforcing the principles of his letter of
acceptance and inaugural address, the President, as if inthralled by
some mysterious spell, had discredited his professions by his
performances. The establishment of a real change in the system of
appointments and of office-ho