Congress and popularity with the labouring classes, to whom he paid
large wages and generously contributed fresh-air enjoyments, summed up
his strength.[1644] Pomeroy was better known. His public record, dating
from the famous speech made in the Whig convention of 1855, had kept
him prominently before the people, and had he continued in Congress he
must have made an exalted national reputation. But the day of younger
men had come. Besides, his recent vote for John F. Smyth, the head of
the Insurance Department, injured him.[1645] Robertson, as usual, had
strong support. His long public career left a clear imprint of his
high character, and his attractive personality, with its restrained
force, made him a central figure in the politics of the State.

[Footnote 1644: The sale of a condition powder for cattle started
Starin on the road to wealth, which soon discovered itself in the
ownership of canal, river, and harbour boats, until he became known as
High Admiral of the Commerce of New York. Like success attended his
railroad operations.]

[Footnote 1645: Pomeroy was district-attorney of his County, 1851-56;
in the Assembly, 1857; in Congress, 1861-69, being elected speaker in
place of Colfax on the day the latter retired to be sworn in as
Vice-President; mayor of Auburn, 1875-76; State Senate, 1878-79.]

Hiscock was then on the threshold of his public career. He began life
as the law partner and political lieutenant of his brother, Harris, an
adroit politician, whose violent death in 1867, while a member of the
constitutional convention, left to the former the Republican
leadership of Onondaga County. If his diversion as a Liberal
temporarily crippled him, it did not prevent his going to Congress in
1876, where he was destined to remain for sixteen years and to achieve
high rank as a debater on financial questions. He was without a sense
of humour and possessed rather an austere manner, but as a highly
successful lawyer he exhibited traits of character that strengthened
him with the people. He was also an eminently wary and cautious man,
alive to the necessity of watching the changeful phases of public
opinion, and slow to propound a plan until he had satisfied himself
that it could be carried out in practice. It increased his influence,
too, that he was content with a stroke of practical business here and
there in the interest of party peace without claiming credit for any
brilliant or deep diplomacy.

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